I enter the living room in search of Jake. I know the time I spent in Tobias' room must be driving him crazy. He's probably sitting on the edge of his seat, waiting to discover whether his relationship with Tobias is truly over. I push open the door and Jake's head snaps up. His blue eyes search mine and I give him a smile. It's all he needs. The relief that floods through his face warms my insides. He extends his hand for me and I slip my hand inside his. Within a split second, I'm pulled into his lap and his arm is securely wrapped around me.

"Is everything good, Wentworth?" Jake says while breathing in his favorite spot on my neck.

"Yeah, all good. We talked it out." I smile down at him.

I'm amazed to find the tension completely disappearing from Jake.

The old Jake Melvin would have felt the need to investigate himself... usually with a physical fight. This version of Jake only needs to hear my reassurances to know everything is okay. I love how much he trusts me. The door swings open and Tobias enters before nodding his head in Jake's direction.

"Are we good, man?"

Jake pauses for a moment before looking at me. His eyes soften and I feel his arm tighten around my frame.

"If Emily says we're good, we're all good."

Tobias breathes a sigh of relief before walking into the living room. He drops down on the opposite sofa before reaching for his phone. My heart hurts for him when I notice the deflation in his usual confident posture. Finding out Jane is breaking up with him plus revealing he was previously in love with me must be overwhelming and exhausting for him. I grimace when I realize Jane has already moved on and Tobias is oblivious to her continuing betrayal.

"We have something else to tell you, Tobias." I say quietly.

I climb out of Jake's hold and take a seat beside him. Tobias places his phone down before glancing between Jake and I. Nobody speaks. As soon as Tobias senses the uneasiness in the room, he leans forward and his expression turns serious.

"What is it?" Tobias questions us both. Jake stands up and walks toward Tobias before taking a seat. He slides a supportive arm around his cousin's shoulders.

"This isn't easy to say, T," Jake says quietly. Tobias stiffens against Jake.

"Did somebody die?" Tobias asks with a narrowed expression.

"Somebody might die," Jake mutters under his breath.

I don't want to be the person to tell him Jane is cheating on him. It's like picking up a shard of his broken heart to stab him with it. How many blows can he take before he crumbles under the pain? I give Jake a knowing look, silently asking him to be the bearer of bad news. I don't think I can stomach breaking Tobias' heart any further.

"I don't want to tell you this, but Jane is cheating on you." Jake finally delivers the bad news.

Tobias' face contorts with hurt and anger. His entire body stiffens but his leg bounces up and down with adrenaline. He throws Jake's arm off his shoulder before springing to his feet.

"I knew it! I had a feeling all along. Who is it?" His voice holds no emotion behind it.

Tobias begins pacing the room and his aura turns murderous.

"It's a guy named Dylan. That's all we know," Jake tells him.

Tobias stops pacing before sliding his hands into his hair.

"Fuck!" He screams with anger.

I wince at the harsh tone of his voice. It's difficult watching him descend back into darkness, but this time, I won't let him.

"Tobias, calm down. We can help you get through –"

My words are cut off when Tobias spins around to set his icy glare on me. I recoil at the darkness radiating from his eyes. There's a complete switch to the vulnerable Tobias I spoke to upstairs.

"Calm down? You want me to calm down?" Tobias screams before taking a step toward me.

My body immediately freezes in response and a lump lodges itself in my throat.

"Are you fucking crazy?!" Tobias yells at me. Jake springs to his feet and steps between Tobias and I. He shoves hard on Tobias' chest with force and sends him stumbling back.

"You need to watch how you talk to the mother of my child. Back the fuck off before I put my fist through your face," Jake spits out at him.

When he's certain Tobias is no longer going to come near me, he helps me off the couch and guides me toward the door. I keep my eyes averted from Tobias. I want to help him, but I won't do it whilst he's angry at the wrong person.

"Let's get out of here, Wentworth." Jake murmurs to me.

His touch is exactly what I need to remind myself I'm safe when he's around. Jake will forever be my safe haven.

"You'd think I'd hurt her? Huh?" Tobias yells out at us.

His anger remains fresh and raw. Jake pauses at the doorway before turning around and glaring at his cousin.

"Watch your mouth. Are you seriously screaming at the person who saved all of our damn lives? Even after everything she's been through with Trevor? You're a fucking mess, Tobias. I don't want Emily anywhere near you."

Tobias pauses for a brief moment and his dark eyes brew with strong emotions. He turns his attention to me and for a split second, I see the sadness consuming him.

"Do you think I would hurt you?" Tobias asks me in a slightly lower tone.

I shake my head, but my answer isn't what he wants to hear.

"Not intentionally, Tobias," I whisper before leaving the room with Jake by my side.

As soon as the door is shut, Tobias loses control. He begins yelling, cursing and smashing furniture to the floor. Just like that, he sends himself back into the darkness. This is what he meant when he said he wasn't good enough for me. The Melvin's grew up with rage and pain, but Jake learned how to control his emotions... Tobias didn't. I know I can't help him, but it doesn't alleviate the guilt gnawing inside me as I walk away.

*

Yesterday was full of drama. After a long sleep, I stir in my sheets before immediately thinking of Tobias. I hope he's okay. Yesterday could potentially be one of the worst days of his life. I turn around, expecting to find Jake sleeping beside me. The bed is empty and it looks like he didn't come to bed at all last night. The sheets are cold and his presence is nowhere to be found. I sit up straight and frown as I search the room.

"Jake?" I call out his name.

It's unlikely for him not to come to bed all night. I remember him slipping out of the room late last night... Did he ever return? A bad feeling settles deep in my gut. The bedroom window is wide open which allows cold gusts of air to invade the room. I climb out of bed to slam the window shut. It's a gray morning and the trees surrounding the Melvin household look as sinister as ever. I scan the outside area before heading to the bathroom. The urge to pee constantly is driving me crazy.

When I'm done in the bathroom, I begin heading downstairs to find Jake. The house is quiet... too quiet. Where is everyone? The bad feeling from earlier returns and I feel goosebumps scatter down my arms. As I approach the kitchen, I hear muffled voices coming from inside. As soon as I turn the door handle to enter, the voices silence. When I step inside the kitchen, I don't expect to find two police officers sitting at the dining table with Michelle and Myra. The two women look exhausted, with dark bags under their eyes and their usual immaculate hair disheveled. All four sets of eyes stare directly at me. What are the police doing here at seven AM in the morning?

"Who is this?" The male police officer asks Michelle.

"This is Emily. She's my son's girlfriend," Michelle answers quietly.

The officer begins sprawling in his notepad which only deepens my confusion. Does this have something to do with Jake? Myra springs out of her seat before approaching me.

"Myra? What's going on?"

I whisper as she grabs my arm before guiding me out of the kitchen. She shuts the door firmly behind her before turning to look at me with fear in her eyes. She reminds me so much of Ivory.

"Where is everyone? Ivory? Jake? Tobias?" I question her.

Myra takes a deep breath before looking at me with uncertainty.

"We need you to do something big for us, Emily," Myra whispers.

My eyes grow wide because I've rarely seen the woman look this rattled. Whatever it is, it must be bad. I nod my head slowly.

"Yeah, okay. What is it?" I question her.

"We need an alibi," Myra whispers to me with large fear-stricken eyes.

Uneasiness churns in my stomach. An alibi for what?

"Jake. Where is Jake?" I whisper his name with a new found fear.

The lack of his presence in the house feels suffocating. He should be here. Myra doesn't appear to be listening to me because her eyes hold a distant glaze in them. I've never seen her look so panicked.

"I think Tobias has done something terrible," Myra's voice wobbles unsteadily.

Her large eyes begin to fill with tears and I reach out my hand to comfort her.

"What has he done, Myra? Does it involve Jake?"

I'm desperate for more information. I recall how angry Tobias was last night... I've never seen him look so angry. Considering Jake isn't home or hasn't slept in his bed, I figure it involves him somehow. Myra searches my face before taking several deep breaths to compose herself. She looks like she's on the verge of bursting into tears, screaming and losing her mind all at the same time.

"Yes, I think Jake is involved too," Myra confirms my worst nightmare.

What has Jake and Tobias done now? The two have always been in trouble with the law, but I thought they were turning over a new page in their book. Especially Jake... He wouldn't risk breaking the law knowing I need him and our unborn child needs him. I grab hold of Myra's shoulder before looking at her with a serious expression. I feel her body trembling underneath my hold.

"What is it, Myra? What are they involved in?"

I whisper, careful not to talk too loud incase the officer's hear us. The Melvin's reputation with the police is incredibly difficult. Myra grabs hold of my hand before a tear slips from her eye. She looks terrified and her aura begins to seep into me. Never in my wildest dreams do I expect her to reveal the boys are mixed up with the worst crime possible...

"I think Tobias murdered the boy Jane was cheating on him with."