I bite my lips, trying my best to make sense of what is this.

The note, as it seems to be, is written impeccably with emotions of someone who doesn't wish to hurt the person receiving it but conveying the feeling who is truthfully thinking of themselves as a prisoner.

And to top it off, the handwriting. It is a replica of mine.

Done in perfection from the slight tilt I have on the 'i' to the long loops of my 'g', 'f' and 'y'.

There is no doubt in my mind that anyone who knew my writing and knew me, if were to receive this, they will accept this as something that I have written personally.

Hell, I would have believed it to be written by me, except this letter, these words and feelings, these were not mine.

I had never felt trapped living with him.

And pretending?

I had been in love with Jayden Carter since the very day I realised the true meaning and magnitude of the word 'love'.

I read it again, going over the words as I feel my heart shatter at the realization that this must be the letter Jay and Michael had been talking about. And to make things worse, I am hit with the knowledge that Jayden, the man who has so readily been saving me despite every doubt that he had and all the unanswered questions in his head, had read this.

How hard it must have been for him?

To think that the girl he loved, the girl he worked to protect was just pretending him to be safer. To think all our memories that we had shared meant nothing to me.

That he meant nothing to me.

Yet, from the day he had found about me again. All he had done was protect me like before. He stayed away, not asking a single question regarding all this because in his mind I had never been in love with him, so how was I to suffer without him, like he did without me?

He gave me space, yet stood like a protective shield in front of me.

My lips tremble, as I think how his heart must have been crushed when he had first read this. And how many nights he must have stayed awake, blaming himself for my supposed death. How hard must have it been for him to live with the constant guilt.

I know he must have linked it back to Sarah's death.

A new found respect for Jayden blooms in me.

Determined, I get back up again and keep the note back in the cover, keeping it in it's rightful place and pick up the clothes from before and leave the room.

I walk down the small stairs, turning the corner to enter the kitchen where I see him standing in his shirt and pants, his jacket thrown over the back of one of the chairs.

He is standing in front of the stove, stirring something with one hand as the other held his phone in his ear, as he listens to whatever is being said on the other side.

I make my way to the small dining table and sit quietly on one of the chairs, facing him. I see his back tense for a moment before his deep, throaty voice booms in the previously serene atmosphere.

"What the hell do you mean by THE POLICE TOOK THEM AWAY? WHAT ARE THE LEVEL 7 PEOPLE DOING?"

I flinch at first, the sudden voice scaring me for a second before I pay attention to what he is saying. Amused, I roll my eyes at the bossy nature of the man who yells curses in his phone. The person on the other side must have said something in response as he speaks in a calmer tone.

"I don't care about which strings you have to pull. Get the incident cleared. No one should speak about this, and get the ones still alive in Base 6 for interrogation."

And the rude man that he is, Jayden cuts the phone before looking at the food that he was stirring and turning it off. He takes a deep breath before he turns around, his blue eyes losing their hard look and widening at the sight of me.

I feel a grin take over my face, the love, adoration and the respect I had for him increasing by minute. He clears his throat before asking, "How much did you hear?"

"Nothing big. Just how you are a jerk type boss, who is throwing a tantrum when things don't go as he wish them to go."

He rolls his eyes at me, giving me a pointed look, "Says the girl who had painted her whole home blue when she received a red car instead of the blue one you wanted?"

I stand up, throwing my hands up in surrender. I make my way to him, saying, "The idea was yours babe. You can't just blame me."

His lips stretch in a smile, as he shakes his head at me.

"Brought me my clothes?"

I gesture to the clothes on the chair next to the one I sat a few minutes ago. He picks them up, turning to raise an eyebrow at me.

"A t-shirt as well?"

"Yes, you have an unhealthy habit that I wish to cure." I say, facing the pot he was stirring to see the chicken broth, harm and covered.

"You can start while I take a minute to change. If you want you can take your portion to the room you wish to sleep in." With that I hear him leave the kitchen.

A pang of hurt and despair hits me, making my heart clench painfully. He believes the note, and why won't he when I have done everything to prove the piece of paper right. He is still keeping me away, giving me the space I don't need.

I swallow thickly before moving around the kitchen, getting bowls and spoons, taking out the salad he had prepared and the pack of pre-cooked bread rolls that need only few minutes in the oven to be ready.

He never did like the soup without bread. But the thick liquid has been a tradition each time me or Sarah had periods.

And he still made it.

By the time he comes back, I had set the table for the both of us.

Soup served and the huge bowl of salad in the middle, while I had taken out the warm bread out of the oven. His gaze takes in the table before moving up to me, scanning me in disbelieve. His eyes then fall to the plate I held, softening at the sight of the rolls.

"You remember."

I bite my lower lip, heart feeling heavy at the disbelieve in his voice. I clear my throat and speaking, hoping to lighten the vibe.

"Well, you missed it. And you made soup, had to make sure you eat it as well." I add a shrug and then motion him to sit across me.

He does so, giving me a smile and taking a sip of the broth as well.

"So, how is your pain?"

I swallow before answering, "The pain meds you gave me were good. Though the pain in back is there, just not as strong."

He nods, going for a roll. "That's good. So, you can take my room and I can take the guest room next to mine."

Confused, I look at him with a frown, "Why?"

Rolling his beautiful blue eyes at me, he replies, "Well, according to your logic it should be like that right? You kicked me out from my room in the apartment as well."

Remembering the day, which felt like a lifetime ago, I smile sheepishly at him.

"Well, in my defence, I had seen your sort of interrogate someone in the guestroom of your flat. I was not about to stay there."

He shakes his head at me, continuing his dinner.

"So what was the phone call about?"

He takes a few minutes to think over something before he answers, "Apparently someone had called the PD so a few minutes after we left, they arrived and took them in custody. Due to the Kane matter, the sheriff seems to be more alert and is thinking of using them to gain some info."

The previous playful mood evaporates as we both take a moment to gather what all we know. I add, "I know the PD was getting nowhere even with their informers. It will be their jackpot."

"How do you know this?"

I contemplate whether to answer or not, but decide that there needs to be no secrecy between us.

"Sheriff's daughter is my friend. She... She helps her mother and is quite sharp. She told me about this a few days ago. Her mom was thinking of using higher ups with Law Immunities to get info."

He hums, rubbing the back of his neck and speaking, "If this is so, they will know about you being the price target for Murdering Kane. We either need to get into the PD and stop them or get the men killed before they speak."

"And how do you plan on doing that? Not only it is risky, it can also result in the PD working out the impending war that is brewing between the two gangs."

He nods, his face grim as he replies, "That is bound to be happen sooner or later. But if it can help you stay safe, I will prefer it to be sooner. Though we still have time."

Confused, I look up at him with a frown.

Seeing this he explains further.

"Due to the fact that some of them were hurt, the PD will first have to take all of them to the hospital. From there, the dead ones will be shifted to the morgue for further instructions while the ones hurt will get treatment, the rest will be medically checked. So it will be after twenty four hours from now that they will be in custody for inquiry."

"So basically I have twenty four hours to think of stopping them or my future is screwed?"

"Princess, I will not let it happen. You are not alone." His hand comes to grip mine as he stares at me with soft eyes. My heart clenches at the promise in his eyes. he will make sure I am alive and well by the end of it all.

I turn my hand around in his and lace my fingers with his, looking at how perfect the two fit with each other before I gently give him a squeeze. I look up to see his eyes still on me, snapping to mine in disbelieve only when I reply.

"I know Jay. I trust you."

********************************************

A/N: Heya there readers!

How are you people? Uh... What are your opinions guys? Is Ashlyn gonna ask him about the note? 

And anyone who has any good books to share please do so, I really need something new to read and I can't find anything.

Vote, comment and share.

Love, Rupanshi.