Notice me

CHAPTER IX

Jethro and Dacia stood frozen seeing his house completely redecorated with broken glass and red paint. The words so explicit he thanked god they didn't have a child present. The couch was clawed open, pillow stuffings at their feet and angry rants splattered on the walls. It was supposed to be a small dinner between the three of them considering Rory was stuck at work and it's been a while since they've just sat down and enjoyed a meal together.

He kept his hand around Dacia's waist and arm in front of Zoe not wanting them to see anything else that might disturb them. Dacia shrieked when she caught sight of the photo frame of her and Jethro, the glass cover was broken and her face was completely scratched out.

Who would do such a thing?

For a minute her mind switched to emerald but the thought of Jethro allowing her here when he'd already promised Dacia was way out of the question. Whoever did this surely hadn't thought out everything clearly. Jethro Gionatti was a big name in a small town like Ivory, he owned the town gleaner, a twelve story building that had half the town employed stretching its news to as far as other countries for their daily gossip. God help whoever did this.

"Stay here while I collect my things" she could hear the anger lacing his voice. He went up the stairs leaving the pair looking around at the mess they've come home to. Dacia looked shaken but the same couldn't be said for Zoe. She felt a wave of anxiety creep up her neck slowly eating its way in to her heart.

"Zoe breathe, everything's about to be sorted it's nothing we can't fix" Dacia grabbed onto her cheeks looking in her eyes smiling reassuringly.

Approaching footsteps stopped the exchange as Jethro emerged with a stone face a medium sized brief case in his hand. He gathered them in front of him turning them to the door, slowly closing it behind him. The car was still parked in the drive way but suspiciously enough a white envelope was etched onto the windshield.

Without creating too much attention Jethro stepped in front of a curious Dacia picking at the envelope. Relieved they entered the vehicle happy to leave but the fear of knowing weighing heavily on their chests.

"Je-"

" not now Dacia" usually Dacia would argue back telling him off but this time surprised her even more when Dacia silently obliged without even a harsh glare.

Trees blurred past the mirrors idling away half the time with their popping colors . She couldn't think straight with her mind playing practical hopscotch. What was she doing!
Ugh! She felt so frazzled.

The car pulled into the sheriffs parking lot and without even a single warning Jethro got out of the car. She noticed Rory's car in the driveway but shunned it away. He was where he needed to be and she was trying to find out how long it'd be till she knew where she belonged.

A loud ruckus was heard followed by the sound of breaking glass and falling objects. She heard the unmistakeable sound of Jethro cursing. Dacia jumped out of the car without a second to spare while she was hot on her trail.
Other officers and some civilians were looking ahead at Jethro who had Rory on the ground tearing him a new pair.

Rory blocked Jethro's advances and within a second she saw him flip Jethro over with his leather belt wrapped around his two wrist putting him in a headlock.

"Stop!" Dacia screamed while she stood speechless.

Rory ignored her with his face angry and red. His bottom lip was busted and a forming red bruise was almost throbbing on his cheek. Jethro was livid but remained unmoving.

"EVERYONE LEAVE!" the tense silence was broken. Rory sent everyone a harsh glare daring them to defy him. His eyes stuck to Zoe's but quickly averted. He couldn't look her in the eyes after what he just saw.

He pushed Jethro away grabbing onto the belt shaft pulling him free. Jethro went to lunge at him once again but Dacia's stepped in before he could've done anymore damage or at least tried to.

Angry breaths left both men. Dacia looked at Jethro shocked before she held him by his waist, he froze but responded back nonetheless. Dacia always knew when he needed her most.

"Why are you all standing there what happened!" Zoe could feel her throat close up with anxiety. Even she hadn't expected to release such a loud outburst.

"Yea Tate why don't you tell them why I had to beat the shit out your ass" Jethro spit near Rory's feet. Dacia gasped at the blood mixed with saliva.

She went to check him but he subtly turned away from her. Zoe looked at Rory who didn't once glance at her. Jethro and Rory never had any bad blood. Believe it or not they were good friends. Neither of the two could believe what they just saw.

"It's nothing Jethro" he glared back.

"The fuck it's nothing my whole fucking house was torn to shreds because of some fuck up you had how many damn years ago. What if they were there when we came through the door asshole! The guards were all unconscious upstairs with a fucking 'B' carved in their foreheads. Explain to me in your own moronic terms how that's nothing" by now he was seething and ready to have a go at him again but Dacia kept a firm grip.

"I said I'll handle it" he had no idea how anyone found him. He changed his whole identity even his background. Someone had to have had information on him before he even joined the naval corps.

"Rory..." Zoe looked at him with soft eyes encouraging him to at least elaborate.

"It's nothing you have to worry about Zoe" he didn't even give her a simple glance just a vague sentence before he left through the door determination marring his face.

She went to go after him but he slammed the door in her face.

Thank you for reading💝. 1041 words.
Happy Sunday. I can't believe I missed church😱😭