Tangled Love

Tobias' POV -

The front door opens and I hear a groan followed by a loud thump. I frown and grab the knife I keep under my bed before heading for the stairs. I walk across the landing, carefully making sure I don't expose myself to whoever it is downstairs.

The sight that greets me is a living nightmare.

What looked so little like Jake lay by the door, his clothes ripped in several places. Blood pours from his mouth and his face is black and bruised, one eye completely swollen and shut closed. He leans against the wall, using one arm to prop himself up before groaning loudly, hissing in pain.

I shoot down the stairs, taking them two at a time and jump down the last few.

"Jake!" I yell, kneeling down beside him. I gently lift his face and examine his cuts. He groans from the movement and I clench my jaw tightly, reaching for his hands. They're completely fine, no bruises or cuts. That meant Jake never fought back.

He always fought back unless it was Amil.

realise he'd been beaten up for what happened earlier tonight. I punch the floor next to me letting some

explain this to them. He gingerly shakes his head before closing his one good eye, resting back into the wall.

mouth and down his chin. He's

"She's okay, don't speak."

need her help. I don't want her to see this but I can't do it alone. She appears at the top of the stairs within seconds, rubbing sleep from her eyes. Once she see's me with a

tell her firmly, motioning for her to come downstairs and help me. She quickly trots down the stairs and kneels in front of Jake, tears forming

He's barely alive

lets out a loud sob, placing a hand on Jake's cheek and I bite the inside of my cheek forcing myself to stay

his other arm. On the count of three."

my shoulders and Ivory does the same on his other side. My other hand settles on his lower back —

He groans loudly, his knees buckling underneath his weight. I grit my teeth tighter as

ask and I hear her mumbling in agreement, her voice thick with emotion.

I instruct and we both shuffle him forwards slowly towards the staircase, leaving a trail of blood behind us.