Caught in the Middle

Chapter 18

"Julia!"  Mace yelled running over to us.  He stopped short when he saw I had Gavin's arm thrown over my shoulder.  "What happened?"

I paused, "It's a long story, Mace."

I sighed as I looked over at Jacks who stepped out of the car and walked over to us.

Mace followed my glance, his eyes narrowing at Jacks. "Who are you?"  Mace asked not too nicely.

"Mace, this is Jacks.  Jacks, my brother, Mace."  I said looking at each other them.

Mace's jaw clenched and before I could say anything, Mace swung on Jacks.  His fist connected with Jacks jaw with a loud snap sending him flying to the ground.

"Mace!"  I screamed, making him turn to look at me with wild eyes, "How dare you bring him here!  After he just left you!" 

I flinched at his harsh words and how angry his voice sounded.

"Mace, come on man, lets..."  Gav began making Mace look at him icily.

"And you!  How dare you disappear with my sister for a month without even a call.  If you weren't obviously hurt, I'd put you on the ground as well!"

While Mace was yelling Silas and Paul stepped out on the porch looking with wide eyes.

Gav stood up straighter and moved farther away from me, so I wasn't helping him.

Jacks had already gotten up and was now standing a few feet away, smart of him.

Mace turned his glare on me, "You have no idea how worried I was."

I looked down at the ground, "I know, but we need to explain."

Mace sighed and nodded, "I'll go make some coffee, you look like you need it."

We followed behind Mace into the house without a word.  I think we were just too tired to fight with Mace.  As I reached the porch Paul enveloped me into a huge bear hug.

"Jules."  He whined, "I thought I was your only love." 

I rolled my eyes and pushed away from him, but I didn't miss the glare that Jacks gave him. 

Silas was next and he pulled me in a hug.  He held me longer than I expected.

"We were really worried about you, Julia."  He whispered in my hair.

I only nodded, a large lump forming in my throat.  Of course they were.

I glanced back at Jackson and Gav as Silas let me go.

Jackson's jaw was clenched and Gavin just smirked at me.  Obviously liking that Jacks was jealous.  I walked into the house first, followed by the guys.

"Damn Jules, looking great from back here!"  Paul yelled and he ommphed as one of the guys elbowed him in the stomach.

"Come on Gav, I was just playing."  He said after he caught his breath and I couldn't help but smile.  As we reached the living room I sat on the couch beside Jackson as Paul plopped down beside me, putting his hand on my leg.

Gav came and stood in front of us, "If you want to keep that hand, you best move it."  He said glaring at Paul.

Paul narrowed his eyes at Gav, "What exactly happened this past month.

"Maybe you should listen to him, if you know what's good for you."  Jacks said his voice void of emotion.

Paul held his hands up in surrender, "Down boys, no need to get all pissy."

He got up from the couch and took a seat in the loveseat beside Silas, as Gav sat down beside me.

I glanced at Jacks who was still glaring at Paul just as Mace came in the living room with a tray of coffee.  I didn't take one, neither did Jacks or Gavin as Mace took a seat in the recliner putting the tray on the coffee table.

"So explain."  He said once he was seated.

I glanced at Mace and Gav who both looked at me with worried looks.

"Well, I don't know where to start."

"How about the beginning?"  Mace asked harshly.

"Um..." I began just as Jacks cut me off.

"I never left her like you think.  I was delivering a package for someone and they framed me.  I wasn't delivering the right package and I was locked up." 

"You mean drugs."  Mace interrupted.

Jacks grimaced, "I don't know, I never asked what was in the package, I just did my job and got paid."

"And put my sister in danger in the process!"

"I took care of her."  Jacks exclaimed.

Mace nodded setting his coffee on the table, this was getting heated, "By leaving her at a trap house where she could have been raped or killed!"  Mace screamed.

I didn't know I was crying until Gav grabbed my hand at his and I looked up at him with blurry eyes.

"I would never intentionally hurt her!  I did whatever I could to take care of her.  Give her whatever she needed!"  Jacks yelled back.

"A home?  An education?  Food?"  Mace asked ticking each one off.

"I did whatever I could to take care of her for years.  Where were you at that time!?"  Jacks screamed his face fuming.

Everything went silent as Mace stared at Jackson with mixed emotions; anger, hate, loathing.

"At least I gave her the things she needed;  A warm bed, a house over her head, fridge full of food."

Jacks jumped out of his seat storming over to Mace, "Don't think for a second just because you are rich and were able to do those things doesn't mean I wouldn't have!  I love Jules and would give her the shirt off my back any day.  Hell!"  He stood up straight running his hands through his hair, "I have given her the shirt off my back!"

My head was reeling, A lot of things were said in that short amount of time.  He loved me?  Since when?  How come he had never said anything before? 

Mace was standing now, and I didn't even notice that he had gotten up.

"If you loved her, you wouldn't have run away from the foster home, where she had shelter and food!" 

Jacks spun on him getting in his face, "Why?  So she could get raped by our drunk foster dad?  Do you know how many times I had to pull him off of her at night?  How many times I was beat because I wouldn't let him touch her!?  How many nights she stayed up crying while she watched through the crack of the closet door while I was beaten half to death!  How many times I walked in her bedroom to see him holding her down while she squirmed to get away!" 

Tears were streaming down my face now as Jacks said everything that had happened to make us run away from our foster home.  I looked around the room with my face streaked with tears.  All eyes were looking at me, with worry, anger, and pity.  They pitied me for what happened, the worst thing they could do to me, is pity me.  I looked at Mace who was not looking at Jacks, but was now looking at me with the same expression as the others. 

Not able to stand their looks I ran out of the room and up the stairs to Gavin's room, shutting and locking the door behind me.  How dare Jacks tell everyone about my past.  He had no right to tell everyone, I was the only one who could do that.   I collapsed on the bed and cried my eyes out and let the darkness overcome me. 

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I'm so so so sorry it has taken me so long to upload, but I just started a new job and I've been majorly tired.... but here it is, so comment and vote!!!