Unfortunately, Merritt heard him. "You're not going anywhere. Not until you tell us what the ever-loving shit just happened." Merritt spoke up as he stood.
"Please. I can't be the reason you guys get hurt" Jack answered.
"What are you talking about?" Henley asked, also rising to her feet.
"What did he say?" Daniel asked sternly, quickly loosing his patience.
No answer.
"WHO WAS IT?" Daniel yelled, stepping closer to face Jack.
"I-I can explain everything later, but right now you just-you're gonna have to trust me" Jack answered.
Henley was the first to cave, "Alright Jack, we trust you. Just please, stay safe"
Merritt followed suit, stepping out of the youngest's path.
"No" Daniel exclaimed, replacing Merritt's spot, "I'm not letting you leave on your own" Daniel explained.
"Danny, just let him-" Henley was cut off.
"No! You guys didn't hear this man's threats earlier" Daniel explained.
"I'm sorry. Threats?" Merritt questioned.
"Earlier, when I asked to talk to Jack, it was because this man called and threatened Jack" Daniel started, subtly grasping Jacks wrist so he couldn't run off, "The majority of the threat was that Jack belonged to him" Daniel finished.
"Jack," Daniel turned back towards the uncomfortable horseman, "I'm only going to ask one more time. Who w-"
There was a loud banging at the door.
"JACOB! You son of a bitch! I know you're in there!" A voice yelled.
Jack suddenly started to struggle against Daniel's hold.
More banging continued as Jack started to talk, "He's not anyone you want anger, trust me" Jack whisper-yelled.
"You did," Henley pointed out, "On the phone" she continued.
"Yeah, but you guys don't understand him like I do" Jack explained.
"Then help us understand" Merritt spoke.
The banging suddenly stopped and in the silence Jack responded, "You can't. It's complicated," Jack paused at the sound of a soft clicking.
He knew that sound all too well.
"Okay. This isn't going to make much sense, but just listen" Jack spoke softly and quickly, "The man that called me is picking our lock right now. He's going to come in here and grab me" Jack explained, "Please don't fight back"
"What!? Jack! How could we not-"
"Please. I don't want you guys getting hurt" Jack pleaded.
"Jack, we-" Daniel was cut off by the door slamming open.
"I thought I taught you to never talk back, Jacob." The man spoke as he started forward, "I thought I raised you better than that" He said as he pushed Henley into the couch, "You know what happens when you talk back?" The man pushed Merritt into the coffee table, "You get hurt." The man shoved Daniel to the ground "But I don't like hurting you" He grabbed Jack's arm, "So we'll just have some fun instead.
As the two passed him, Daniel quickly palmed his phone into Jack's back pocket.
"You three" The man yelled, pushing Jack further out the door, "I know about your little games. Don't try anything funny, or your little prince charming here gets hurt." He threatened, "Well, more hurt than he's already going to be" The man smiled, "And we wouldn't want to ruin his pretty little face now would we?" The man stroked Jack's cheek as Jack recoiled and gave a look of disgust, as if he was about to throw up.
The man gave Jack one final push before slamming the door.
The three were silent as they all tried to process what just happened.