I took my hand out of the circle that was made up of Finn, Zach, an unconscious Jessica, my father, and I and wiped the tears away from my eyes. It was true. Jessica had once been pregnant with my child and Jared had forced her to get rid of it. A part of me still wanted to refuse what I just saw with my own two eyes but I knew I couldn't. I grabbed the wastebasket next to my desk and proceeded to throw up in it. My vision was clouded with despair and rage. Three years. This had happened three years ago, and I was just now finding out about it now! With neither my best friend nor my girl knowing that I knew. How could she keep this from me? I thought she loved me.

"I'm sorry you had to find out this way," my father broke the silence that loomed over the room. "Why did she feel the need to tell you and not me?" I turned to my brother.

"W-what?" He asked, dumbfounded. Of course, he didn't get it. He was never the last one to know.

"I said, why did she tell you and not me? You're a stranger to her, but she still trusted you more than she trusted me. How could she?!" The volume of my voice made Jessica stir in her sleep.

"That's the only thing you're taking from this? Seriously Tanner, what the hell? That's not what this is about. How are you mad at me and her over this?" He spat back.

"How could she not tell me!?" I yelled. I didn't care what he was saying. I was stuck on it now. She didn't fucking tell me. No one fucking told me.

Zach lifted her in his arms, "I think I ought to take her some other place to sleep."

"Thanks a good idea. Thank you for your help, Zachary." My father said softly. He exited the room and my father closed the doors.

The room was silent again, but this time it was filled with tension. It emanated off of Finn and I. Father sat back in his chair and watched us with careful eyes. "You understand now why she needs to be in better hands, right?"

"No! You can't take her now! This is the worst possible time to tear us apart! I love her!" Why did no one understand that I wasn't going to let her get away from me?

"What's the difference, Tann? What, are you going to get rid of Jared?" Finnigan questioned.

"No. This is his home too. I can't just kick him out. I'll have him apologize, and he won't ever lay hands on her again. He was only looking out for me. He had good intentions." To be fair, Jared had forced the abortion on Jessica for me. He knew that would have been a disaster for my father while he was trying to get elected. Plus, Jessica and I were on thin ice at that point too. He had his reasons. I was the only one to see his side though.

"Jesus Christ, Tanner, have you lost all of your humanity? If you loved her you'd kill Jared. Or at the very least kick him out of your life. He's caused so much damage to her. You don't love her, you love him. Whether it's brotherly or not it's stronger than what you feel for Jess and it's blinding you." Finnigan's eyes were caring but I knew better than to trust him. He only wanted Jess because I had her.

"I don't need to take this." I threw open one of the double doors. "You'll take her over my dead body."

I went to walk away but was swiftly pushed up against the other door. My father pinned me to it by my throat. "Finnigan, go check on Jess. Make sure to close the door please." He ordered through clenched teeth.

"Yes father," Finnigan obeyed. He walked out the door and shut it without another word. I didn't expect any different. Finnigan never stood up for me, especially around father. Why would he? My incompetence kept him the favorite.

"Listen you little brat. This is more than your little crush on a human now. Jessica is an asset I will not lose. If you or your little friend do anything and I mean anything to jeopardize her life I will not hesitate to end yours. I don't care if you're my son. I can get a new one, a better one. Do I make myself clear?" My father whispered.

Boy was this familiar. Another one of our loving father's wonderful talks. And Jessica wondered why I spent Christmas with just her and Jared. My father hates me, I knew it, he knew it, and Finnigan knew it. I was shocked he even gave me birthday presents let alone let me live.

His grip tightened around my throat, "I said do I make myself clear?"

I rolled my eyes, "yes, your majesty."

He let go of me and backed up, "good. I'm glad we could finally come to an understanding."

If there was one thing I was glad my father was good at it, it would be his knack for underestimating me. I wasn't afraid of him. We hadn't come to 'an understanding'. Far from it actually. Jessica was mine. It didn't matter who tried to get in my way. I'd get her back again. I just knew it.