LIII

'Dear daughter. . .'

'Dear daughter. . .'

Those two words stared back at Emerald, glaring at her and mocking her from the surface of the bloodstained paper. She was currently at home, alongside Jordan, who had been adamant on not leaving her by herself.

Thankfully, while the entire hullabaloo went down, her mother had been too tired and deep in her sleep to wake up to the sight of the blood on the hospital floor and Emerald's lower area, as well as the mess that was Oriana's face.

Not wanting to deliver such terrible news to her while she was still so weak and on a day that was meant to be the happiest day for the entire family, they had decided to keep it from her for now, at least until she recovered a bit. But Emerald had been too restless to sit still.

One look at her pale and sweaty face, slightly swollen, dull and bloodshot smaragd orbs, shaking form and shattered demeanor, and one would easily know that something was wrong. So, coupled with the fact that she had dried blood stains on her palms and thighs, Luca and Jordan had insisted that she'd be brought home to gather her thoughts and gain her composure before facing Maggie again.

Luca had stayed behind with his wife at the hospital and although his entire countenance had also shrieked anger, fear, worry and pain all mixed together like potions in a witch's cauldron, he had been in a better position to keep himself composed, while Oriana had also stayed behind to have her face and body inspected by a doctor with Logan accompanying her.

Everything seemed to be falling apart for the family, but the weight of it all hit differently on Emerald as she sat on a kitchen barstool, her posture rigid and ramrod stiff as though she were a sculpted gargoyle sitting at the top of a spooky castle.

Her eyes remained glued to the words on the letter and she felt her entire being crumble to pieces when she stopped at familiar words.

'By now, your sister should be on her way to me. . .'

She furiously balled her fists, the letter turning crumpled between her palm from the force. Her hands shook, her entire body shook as she wept bitterly, silently, tears streamed down her face but not a single sound escaped her lips as she held her head in her hands.

The devil was back.

Her father was back and he had her sister in his merciless claws.

Tears of guilt raced down her face but she refused to let the sobs out, choosing to punish herself with the pain of her throat burning, her chest tightening as the sobs battled violently for a release - one she refused to render.

'Why couldn't he just leave her alone?!' Emerald thought furiously and the next thing anyone knew, the ceramic vase that had been beautifully adorning the kitchen counter laid in broken pieces on the floor.

Still overwhelmed by the cauldron of intense emotions coursing through her veins, Emerald mindlessly crouched down beside the broken vase before hurriedly grabbing some sharp pieces and fisting her hands with the shards still enclosed in them.

Still adamantly refusing to scream or sob, she tightened her fists further, feeling as the shards dug into her skin, hoping that the physical pain would overshadow the emotional one, but nothing seemed to work. The pregnant and turbulent dark clouds of mental and emotional agony settled deeply within her, refusing to leave.

Too engrossed in her pain, Emerald didn't hear the sharp call of her name from his lips, neither did she hear the approach of rapid footsteps nearing her until she felt him wrap his arms around her.

It wasn't until she was cuddled up in a familiar embrace, it was only until a familiar deep and husky voice whispered in her ears to let it all out, did she finally open her mouth to cry and the entire household echoed with her agonising wails.

▬▬▬▬▬

Grunting softly, Jordan rose to his feet, straightening himself out from his crouched position with his hands occupied by a broom and a dustpan filled with shards of the shattered vase; some of the broken pieces had blood splotches on them and sight of it pulled at the strings of Jordan's heart.

After carefully and properly disposing of the trash, Jordan walked into the living room, where Emerald sat, completely motionless as she continued to stare into space - something she had been doing before and after her crying episode.

Her posture was tense, stiff and almost defensive as she sat, her back not touching the backrest of the couch and her bandaged hands facing upwards on her thighs.

Jordan sighed heavily as he moved towards her. Moving the first aid kit he had used in treating her wounds off to the side, he sat on the living room's centre table before carefully taking her hands in his. Even with his touch, she made no movement, neither did her eyes detach themselves from the wall in front of them.

Jordan scooted forward, moving closer but careful not to hurt her injure hands as he moved his legs in a position to cage hers. "Gem," he whispered, seeking her attention, but once again, she paid him no attention.

With eyes turning glossy at her unresponsive state, Jordan moved one of his hands up to cup her face so her eyes could meet his. Finally, he succeeded and the look in her eyes - or perhaps, the lack thereof - scared Jordan to no end.

The Emerald sitting before him was so similar, too akin to the old Emerald Pearce. She had crawled back into her shell and this time, it turned out to be even worse than before. This wasn't his Gem; she was an empty and hollow shell of what she used to be, of what he had put in effort to show her was her true self.

Her bottomless and now dark eyes were the solid evidence of that.

"G-gem," Jordan's pained voice cracked as he stared into her unblinking eyes. Her eyes bored into his, but he couldn't see himself in them. It was as if a cloud of afflicting thickness had spread over her orbs, blocking her vision of the rest of the world.

As Jordan opened his mouth to speak again, the chime of the door bell suddenly rang through the otherwise, silent house and that mere sound was enough to jolt Emerald into a frenzy.

Her eyes went wide and it appeared as though the thick clouds had been finally lifted because Jordan could, once again, see his reflection in her eyes but the emotion that accompanied his appearance was one he never wanted to ever see in her again.

Fear.

Her lips quivered, her body trembled as she held onto Jordan for dear life. The adrenaline pumping through her veins overwhelmed her, her senses filling with the fight-or-flight response so much so that the pain from squeezing her bruised hands so tightly didn't occur to her, but Jordan, who began to feel some wetness around his wrists where her hands held him, immediately released her hold on him so he could take a look.

Her hands were starting to bleed again, but that fact still didn't register in her brain as her eyes began to dart around the house, seemingly looking for a place to hide; a safe haven.

"Gem, please calm down. Your hands are bleeding again," Jordan attempted to calm her and her head immediately snapped to his direction again. She leaned in so she could whisper to him.

"He's here, Jordan. He's here," she chanted, her eyes going back to dart around.

Knowing fully well who 'he' was, Jordan's jaw tightened significantly but for now, his main priority was his Gem, so with that in mind, he pulled her quivering fragile figure into his embrace, holding her tightly against his chest.

"No, Gem, he's not here. I won't let him harm you, baby, trust me."

"P-please, Jordan, please," her voice shook, her tone wavering. "Don't let him t-take me. H-he already has Armani. Please, J, we need to get A-armi back. Please."

The way her body trembled violently against his, the way her bloodied hands fisted his shirt regardless of their injured state, the way her tears soaked his shirt unconsciously and most importantly, the way her voice dripped with fear, every single thing ripped Jordan's heart apart.

He hated seeing her like this; he despised the one person that had struck fear so deeply into her heart and as a tear escaped his eye, Jordan, with a resolve so unshakable, vowed in his heart to protect his Gem and everyone she loved.

He vowed in his heart to bring hell upon the one person that had dared to bring Emerald crashing down into who she used to be, the person she had tried so hard to leave behind. He would bring Carl Johansson to his downfall, even if it would cost him his own life.

Even if it would mean dragging him down to hell with him.

"I promise you, Gem."

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The atmosphere in the living room was tense and almost suffocating as the silence settled heavily in the room. The graveness of the current situation was evident and eminently palpable as the sullen expressions on the faces of the two men in the room, failed to be lifted.

Jordan and Leonardo were absolutely quiet as each of them occupied the couches in the living room. With unequivocal tenseness presently dwelling within his body, Jordan sat on one of the couches, both of his elbows resting on his thighs with his hands shoved deep into his raven black hair, tugging the tousled locks while simultaneously supporting his head.

His frame appeared hunched over as he dwelled on the thoughts running desultorily in his head. Different thoughts ran a marathon in his head, causing a state of turmoil in his emotions as well. Jordan, unable to sit still anymore, sprung to his feet to begin pacing back and forth in the living room.

On the other hand, Leonardo - who had also been sitting on a couch opposite Jordan as silent as a graveyard himself - was mildly jolted out of his own thoughts when Jordan jumped to his feet. Leonardo's eyes followed the profile of the man, who began pacing restlessly before him.

He could sense the anger, uneasiness, as well as the other negative emotions radiating off of Jordan and although both men had their oceanic differences and often clashed at times, Leonardo couldn't help but be empathetic towards his brother-in-law and for the first time ever, the man felt compelled to utter some words of comfort.

Tentatively, he softly cleared his throat before opening his mouth to speak. "Everything will be alright."

On hearing Leonardo speak, Jordan's pacing came to a halt and his hard gaze shifted to the man who sat stiffly on the couch. Jordan, for a moment, couldn't help but stare at him.

Considering their differences and countless clashes, Jordan would've never expected to hear such comforting words from Leonardo and a tinge of appreciation spread through his chest, but what the harsh expression on his face conveyed to Leonardo wasn't one of gratitude.

Seeing as Jordan's harsh glare refused to ease up, Leonardo stymied a squirm underneath his brother-in-law's gaze, his sitting stance one of discomfort, but regardless of having no idea what to say in order to pacify the man standing above him, Leonardo parted his lips to speak when Jordan finally decided to talk.

"Thank you."

His words were curt and emotionless as always, but the usual hardness and evidently stifled ravenous hatred etched in his tone, were nowhere to be found and in response, Leonardo's tensed form finally slackened, signaling relief, before he replied with a single nod in Jordan's direction.

Just as the previously suffocating air in the room toned down and dissipated, light footsteps resonated round the house, indicating that someone was walking down the stairs and heading towards the living room. Leonardo rose to his feet and Jordan swiveled around to face the doorway just as Carol walked into the living area, a grim expression on her face directed at her brother.

With tauten eyebrows, Jordan approached his sister, stopping directly in front of her. "What's wrong?" he questioned, noticing her countenance.

Carol looked away for a second, heaving a sigh, before turning back to look at him. "You knew beforehand, didn't you?" Her words were straight to the point without beating about the bush.

She took in the quick change in expressions on his face - from one of slight confusion to sudden realisation and then back to his signature blank look - as she awaited his response, something that never came.

"And you kept it from her?" she questioned further, watching the subtle tick in Jordan's jaw, the only change in demeanor he let slip.

Carol sighed again at his unresponsiveness. "Go, talk to her, J. The least she deserves is some explanation. It is about her father, isn't it?" She took a step closer to him, taking his forearm into her palms. "Even though you did it for her safety, she still deserves to know everything."

She advised, pulling away but not before giving his forearm a gentle squeeze. Turning around and heading towards the doorway of the living room, she halted momentarily, just enough to crane her neck and announce their departure.

"Nardo and I are going to join Keel with the others at the hospital," she paused, twisting her body so she could meet his eyes properly. "Please, try to fix things, J. You're the one she needs the most at this time."

▬▬▬▬▬

Treading lightly down the hallway leading from the stairs of the house to the other rooms on the first floor, Jordan's footsteps were soft, yet determined as he made his way down the barely illuminated space, coming to a halt in front of Emerald's childhood room, which had now become their room in her parents' home.

Exhibiting no action of hesitance, he pulled open the door before walking into the room. His every actions were done gently in order to not startle her as he came to take in her form sitting on the edge of the bed with her feet planted on the ground and the god-damned bloody sheet of paper still in her hold.

Jordan approached her slowly, his chest tightening with unease when she continued to stare into space, making no move to look at him. Finally reaching the edge of the bed, some inches away from her, he opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Emerald.

"You knew."

Her voice was quiet and distant when she spoke, still staring aimlessly into nothingness. Not knowing what to respond to her, Jordan let out a soft sigh, his eyes downcast as he contemplated a response.

When no reply came from Jordan, Emerald finally blinked and slowly turned her head to look at the man who was now staring at her. "You did, didn't you?" she stated and the expression on his face spoke louder than his words could.

"I did." He confessed.

Turning her face away again, Emerald squeezed her eyes shut, a quivering breath escaping her lips as she released the letter in her grasp, not minding it falling to the ground. "Why?" she choked out, evidently holding back a sob and that was Jordan's queue to move closer to her. He knelt by her side, tentatively placing a hand on her exposed knee.

"I'm really sorry I kept it from you for so long, but I don't regret it, Gem." He voiced softly, relief flooding his being when Emerald made no move away from his touch; he began to draw comforting circles on her knees and lower thighs.

Opening her eyes, Emerald looked down at him with dull green orbs shimmering with held back tears. "Since w-when?" she asked, her eyes boring into his.

Jordan looked away for a second before facing her again. "Since he was spotted in the States about two weeks or so ago." A lone tear escaped Emerald's eyes, but Jordan wasn't done. He had kept quite a few things from her and he didn't want to hide them anymore, so he continued.

"Since you mentioned his name, I had gotten my men to carry out some findings about him and it came to my notice that he had been released from prison in Australia two days prior to when I got the information.

Within those two days, he had somehow managed to cross the borders of America and it made me wonder how he managed to do it in such a short time. I had my guesses that perhaps he had help from someone or something, but I made no move on him because he wasn't anywhere near Manhattan or Boston."

Pausing, Jordan shifted to take a seat on the floor instead of kneeling, but he kept up with his massage on her thighs. "I told my men to keep an eye on him and so far, he had made no threats to you and your family, until late last night when Owen informed me of Johansson purchasing a single white rose from a flower shop in Back Bay."

Jordan tilted to his side, resting his weight on his left butt cheek so he could pull out his phone from his right pocket. He unlocked it, opened the message app and showed Emerald his last conversation with Owen Skull.

Her eyes scanned the text for a moment before she looked away, trailing her eyes to where Jordan's hands traced patterns on her thighs. "'He knew he was being watched'. What did he mean by that?" she asked.

Jordan hummed. "During the time we were monitoring his movements, he had been making appearances in strange places while simultaneously making stops in normal places, as though he were dropping hints, but also trying to appear harmless.

One time, he went into a club; a club that I knew was only exclusive to their gang members. He entered freely and only left in the wee hours of the morning. The next day, he went grocery shopping and purchased items any normal person would.

He kept this up until three days ago, before he, then, gave us something he must have thought to be a very clear warning." Jordan paused, immediately gaining Emerald's attention when she finally turned her head to meet his gaze. Her gaze was inquisitive as she waited for him to continue.

"There was a tattoo on his neck, one he had had every intention of showing off to us. It was a triangle with an open mouthed spitting Cobra head in the middle. A gang symbol," he explained. "Since then, he had been frequenting the club, visiting casinos, hanging out with other gang members openly and even going as far as flashing his gun holsters.

He knew we were on to him, but I did nothing because he still hadn't made a move against you and that was my greatest mistake, Gem." He grabbed her hands, running the pads of his thumbs over her knuckles.

"I'm really sorry, Mera, but I did it to protect your happiness. These last few weeks, you've been over the moon and I loved seeing you happy, seeing you smile. I was selfish about your happiness and I hid things from you. I really am sorry, Gem."

Emerald sighed. "You chose my happiness over everyone's safety, Cal. You didn't think that perhaps if you had told me and we had focused on finding a way to eradicate him first, then I could finally be happy. We all could finally be happy. You didn't think that."

Jordan remained silent, his head hanging with eyes downcast. "I'm sorry," he muttered sincerely, raising his head to meet her gaze.

Emerald sighed again, her eyes glistening with tears once again. "I'm not angry at you, Cal. I'm just really worried about Armi," her voice wobbled and she released a shaky breath.

"I'm worried about what he might be doing to her right now. I have no idea why he's involving my family when I'm the one he's after. And here I am, crying and being the useless mess I always am."

"Gem," Jordan sighed, standing up from the floor so he could sit beside her on the bed. He wrapped his arms around her, bringing her face to rest between the crook of his neck. "He's doing it to hurt you again. He knows that you're healing and that you've regained your happiness and he's trying to break you again.

He's trying to ruin you again by hurting the ones dear to you, but I know you, Gem. You're strong, you're undefeatable, you're you. And I love you for who you are, not for what Carl tries to make you to be.

I will always be here for you, my love. Always. Never forget that."

Jordan whispered, making sure his every word came out firm and resolute. Emerald pulled slightly away from his neck, her green orbs shimmering with unshed tears, but the gratitude and love she felt for the man holding her, was insurmountable and intense as it shone through her teary gaze.

She knew that Jordan had only hidden Carl's release from her for her own sake and she was aware that her father must know how much Jordan meant to her, that was why he had tried to cause a rift between them by taunting her in the letter for not knowing about his release when her dear 'boy toy' - as he had written - knew about it.

But what Carl didn't know was that what was between her and Jordan wasn't mere lust or admiration. It was something stronger, something much more intense, something that had stood the test of time and difficulties.

It was love. . . and love conquered all.

"I love you, Cal. So very much," she whispered, her eyes dancing between both of his.

Placing a gentle hold on the back of her neck, Jordan guided her face to his, their lips meeting for a surely overdue visit.

"I love you too, Gem. So fucking much."

Minutes later, the couple were tangled among the sheets, cuddling up with each other. Emerald, who hadn't been able to catch some sleep since the hospital, was in the middle of dwindling between succumbing to sleep and staying awake.

No matter how worried she was for Armani and how much she willed herself to stay awake, the vines of sleep entrapping her mind was too powerful to fight against. But when she finally succumbed and her eyelids fluttered shut, a ping was quick to awaken her again.

She felt Jordan pull away slightly to reach for something on the nightstand. He turned back to her with his phone in hand and his expression etched in grim seriousness.

On meeting Emerald's concerned eyes, he explained. "It's a text from Owen."

Her eyes widened considerably at his words and just then, Jordan showed her the simple text.

"He has made contact once again."