Drive [h.f-t. & j.l.] (COMPLETED)

Chapter 20 - Found

found - trenton
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josephine's pov

My breath catches in my throat as I try to process everything Jax just told me, eyes not able to tear away from Hero.

"You.. were using me? From the beginning?" I ask quietly, surprised that my voice was even loud enough to be heard. Hero's face softens a bit for a moment, his eyes staring into mine as if he was trying to make me understand through his gaze alone.

"I didn't know it'd turn out this way." He says and I almost laugh at how cliché that sounded. But instead, I felt anger bubble u inside me at his words.

"How did you think it would turn out?" I ask him sharply and louder, swallowing hard. Just then, Tanaka emerges from his office, looking furious as he took in the scene in front of him. He glares at his son.

"You told her?" He asks and Jax just shrugs, crossing his arms.

"About time somebody did." He simply answers and I press my lips together, shaking my head and looking at the ground, concentrating on the slight pain on my palms from digging my fingernails in the flesh.

"Hold on... When we found out about Josephine's father, after the mall job.. you already knew?" Emilia speaks up, sounding genuinely confused.

"...Yes." Tanaka simply says, even though I could hear the hesitation at first in his voice.

"I was totally in the dark too, Jo! Don't blame us!" Levi exclaims but I ignore him, lifting my gaze again to meet someone's eyes.

"How could you, Hero? How could you hide this from me?" I ask weakly, wrapping my arms around my waist as if to protect myself from the heartache crashing over me.

"I don't know what I can tell you to make this right." He says, almost emotionless, even though his eyes were wild with too many of them. I nod slowly, feeling more tears well up in my eyes.

"Yeah. I don't know what you could say either." I say and just then, the shrill laughter og Gianchi cuts the silence.

"This is hilarious!" He shouts, slapping his knee as if he had just heard the funniest joke in his life.

"Shut your fucking mouth before I shut it permanently, Gi." Emilia says sharply and I would thank her if I weren't trying to hold it together with everyone staring at me. Gianchi's laughter gnaws at me and I shake my head.

"I can't... I can't do this." I say and ashamed, I run for the exit, intend to not turning around. 

"Josephine! Your car-" Levi starts but I cut him off, not looking back. 

"I don't want anything you people gave me!" I shout and shove my way through the door into the street, the morning sun blinding me. I hurry down the sidewalk, moving quickly.

"Josephine, wait! Let me explain-" Hero's voice suddenly calls after me and I clench my fists, whirling around, causing him to almost crash into me. 

"And why should I believe a word of your explanation? You've done nothing but lie to me from day one!" I shout and he winces at my words, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them again and looking down at me.

"I didn't know you back then. I didn't care about you. You were just a random stranger, someone the crew could use." He starts, and if it was possible for my heart to break, even more, it did just that right at that moment.

"I was nobody to you." I say quietly

"You were. But once I actually got to know you... At some point, it all stopped being pretend." Hero continues and I slowly shake my head, feeling the hot, wet tears sliding down my cheeks. Hero runs his hand through his hair. "Let me be honest for once. Whether you believe me or not.. whether you forgive me or not.. please at least let me explain." He continues and I ponder his words for a second, simultaneously wondering why my legs weren't taking me as far away from his and this garage as possible. Hero takes my silence as a sign for him to go on. "Please, let's go somewhere more private an-"