Chapter {65}

Emrys Belle:

Damon took one step towards me. He was dressed all in black, I suppose it was to hide all the blood splatters that he inevitably has on his clothes though his arms remained bare. I could just about see the glow of the blood drops shine under the fluorescent light dangling from the middle of the room, scattered around his tattoos. At each movement of his body I could make out more droplets, his knuckles red raw, unsure as to what was his blood or Jeremy's covering his hands.

"Emrys. What are you doing here." it didn't even come out as a question but more like a direct order that I did not dare go against.

"You told me you'd let me know when you brought Jeremy in so I could speak to him. Not hide him away and beat his half to death." I exclaimed a little more sharply than I intended.

"I don't have to tell you everything." he gritted out, his fists clenching besides him.

"I am your wife Damon. Aj is our son and I have just as much of a right to know what the fuck is going on as you do." I yelled this time, pointing fingers at him.

It wasn't until then that I realised there were a few more people in this room than I originally thought. Everleigh, Asher and Carter were in the room further in the shadows.

"You can't be here." was all that Damon said next.

"Can't? Can't be here?! Damon, are you joking? I have every right to be here. I want to help, I can help and the fact that you are keeping me away from everything is not helping me. I can't just sit down politely and just wait for you to come to my rescue every time. I am a part of this family too. I am more capable than you think I am." I tried so hard to keep my composure and show I was strong, strong enough to be a Mortimer.

"Honey, she's right. Let her talk to Jeremy." Everleigh stepped forward and stood beside me, holding my arm up as if she was afraid my legs would give out at any moment. She wasn't wrong.

"Mum, this is not something you need to get involved in. This is between Emrys and I." Damon shot back to his mother, his eyes never leaving mine.

"I beg to differ boy. You need to let Emrys do what she has to do. No matter how hard you try, the women in this family are strong and will do what they want regardless of your consent to their actions, so might as well let her try." Asher came in next.

I was grateful for both of them for coming to my defence. I just didn't understand why Damon did not want me to help find our son.

"I'm going insane here Damon. I don't want to have to look over my shoulder at every noise I hear when you are not around. About who will come in next and try to take Aurora away from me. I need to find Aj and you can't keep me sheltered from all this. I'm involved now and if Jeremy knows anything he will tell me, he always does." I affirmed.

"But I have to protect you. It's my job to protect you and the kids. You're too special to be shown this side of my world, my sunshine." his voice softened, the tension leaving his arms ever so slightly.

I turned my head and smiled softly to Everleigh letting her know she could let me go. I took a few more steps forward until I reached Damon.

"I can handle it. I married you for you, every part of you. Even the uglier parts that you don't wish to show." I spoke sincerely.

I hate what he does. The same 'job' that took my father away from me at such a young age, the same 'job' that is keeping me from my son, watching the people I love get hurt for no good reason in my humble opinion. Yet, I can't help but be involved. I knew what I was getting myself in, even if it means risking our lives like this.

Damon's composure softened, he kissed the top of my head then stepped aside revealing an unrecognisable Jeremy. I audibly gasped, bringing my fingers to my lips in hopes to disguise it a little. I approached him, slumped in this metal chair, his hands tied behind it back. His once shiny jet black hair now rough and splattered with blood hanging over his forehead, small pieces stuck the sides of his face. Despite being well beaten up with a swollen eye and bloodied lip I could still make out his sharp jaw, the very light freckles that used to dust over his cheeks and nose completely covered under bruises and blood.

"Jeremy." I whispered.

He managed to just about lift his head in my direction, his sea blue eyes shocking brighter against his bruised skin.

"Hey you." he cracked a smile only to wince at the pain he must be feeling.

I had the strongest urge to clean all the wounds I could see knowing there were probably more that were hidden by the little clothing he had left on.

"Oh Jeremy, what have you gotten yourself into this time?" I sigh crouching down to his level.

"I've had worse happen to me, trust me birdie, a lot worse." he was trying to keep spirits up but I have known Jeremy pretty much all my life and I know he has never been beaten and tortured this much.

"Where's Aj, Jeremy? Where's our son?" I cut to the chase, I just knew that Damon was clenching his fists when I said that Aj was Jeremy's and I's son.

"I need to know and get him back home." I continued.

"I don't have him, Ems. I've tried to say that to the brute you call a husband." he gritted out, his ocean eyes shooting daggers at Damon who was leaning against the wall.

I lifted my hand up to stop Damon from coming any closer and potentially killing Jeremy with one punch. He could hear him halt in his steps, I didn't dare look in his direction, I needed information from Jeremy, I know he knows something about Aj's whereabouts.

"Jeremy, please, I know you know something I don't. Please, if you ever loved me or him you would tell me where my son is." I pleaded, I didn't care if I was weak in front of the man I once loved.

Jeremy's head dropped to his chest again, his eyes leaving mine, my heart sinking a little lower.

"Jer?" I shook him a little, panic slowly seeping in.

He can't have passed out. He can't do this to me.

"I can't tell you. He'll kill you if you go anywhere near him. He wants you dead, Emrys. I can't let that happen." he painfully lifted his eyes back to mine. I shot a look at Damon and his parents who were still in the room to see if they had heard what Jeremy had just said, but thankfully they didn't seem to have heard, making me let out a breath. I don't think I want him to be around to hear what Jeremy might say and end up killing him before I got to hear what I wanted.

"Is it okay to talk to him in private?" I asked innocently, hoping that they would let me.

"Of course honey, We'll be on the other side of the door if you need us." Everleigh started to usher all the boys out before Damon or Asher had the opportunity to object. The soft click of the door could be heard after a few seconds. I waited for a minute to make sure they were fully outside the door before I turned my attention back to Jeremy.

"Who? Who wants me dead?" I asked, my hands turning to grip his shoulders to keep his upright.

"Aj is safe there, they haven't harmed him. I can assure you nothing has happened to Aj. I made sure of it. I just can't let you die." he pleaded, his voice cracking at the idea of me dying.

"Jeremy, I'm not going to die. Who has Aj?" I continued with more urgency.

"I can't tell you, I know you will try and protect him but I have to protect you."

I was growing more and more frustrated with these men in my life that were so desperate to protect me, but my son needs me. He's alone in a foreign environment and for all I know could be having a massive fit or panic attack because it's all too much for little Aj to handle in one go.

"Jeremy, I won't ask again. Where is Aj?" I was seething, it's not hard to give me an answer. I didn't understand why he was delaying it.

"Emrys, he will kill you. These people are not messing around. He's waited years to be able to hurt you. He never loved you, or your mo-". Jeremy paused. Knowing full well he had given away more than he wanted to.

"My mom? Is that what you were going to say Jer? My mom? He never loved me or my mom?" I repeated.

"Ems, please just for once listen to me." his tone had changed, it was harsher than before.I was taken aback and ended up falling to the floor so I was now sat down on the cold concrete, my legs giving out from being crouched for so long and from the sheer force of Jeremy's words. He was mad now.

"I don't do this to hurt you. But I can't give you explicit details even if I wanted to because I don't know why he's doing it. All I know is that Aj is safe and will remain unharmed, he promised me he would be." Jeremy rushed out.

"Who's the 'He' you are talking about? Why do they want me dead?" I could see the frustration radiating from Jeremy. I could only mirror his frustration, he's not the one hanging about and wasting time waiting for him to answer my questions.

"Think. Emrys, think of the one man in your life that probably hates you more than he ever hated your dad." he shot out.

I paused. Silence heavy in the room.

It couldn't be? Could it?

"Steven?"

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Hello my lovelies!

Super long chapter for you, just couldn't stop writing, but you know how much I love a cliffhanger...

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until next time

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