TARA'S POV
The throbbing of my head pulled me back to consciousness. "What is going on?" I muttered, tugging against my restraints. My hands were tied above my head to the bedpost.
"Ah you're awake, good. I'm sorry baby, I didn't mean to hurt you. All of this is just necessary until you remember that I'M the man for you. We're meant to be together. All of this shit, was just a test, we can pass the test babe. We just can't give up on each other." He sat on the bed beside me, stroking my hair.
"So knocking me out and kidnapping me is all part of a test?" I hiss.
"I wish it didn't happen like this. I just needed you to hear me out. You have no idea how sorry I am that I hurt you. I love you, Tara."
"Then let me go." I purr, playing on his obvious emotion.
"I wish I could," he cries out, "if I let you go; you will run off and won't give me a chance to explain."
"Untie me, I will not run. I will hear what you have to say. I promise."
The tears in his eyes tugged on my heartstrings. 'What the hell is wrong with you, Knowles, he knocked you out and kidnapped you. Don't feel sorry for him.'
He moved to untie me, "I know I'm an asshole. I've made so many mistakes since we got here-in Charming-I took you for granted. I thought you'd always be there, I was cocky. I never imagined you'd leave me behind, but when you did I didn't know how to deal with it. You're my Tara, the love of my life, and I messed that up. You have no idea how sorry I am." He was visibly sobbing now, "I just need to know you can forgive me. I need you, Tara, I can't live without you. You're a good person, a healer," he took my hands in his, "heal me babe, you're the only person who can. We can get married, I know I was against marriage before, but that's all I want now. You, me, a house full of kids."
I have no idea what to say, I know there's no way I'll ever take him back but I need to be smart, if I say the wrong thing, he could snap. He's very unstable. That much is obvious.
"I will eventually forgive you, Jace. You were my entire world for a long time, but it will take time. I need time, can you give me that? You owe me that much after everything."
"Yes. As long as I know you can forgive me and we will one day be together again, we will eventually be okay and this will all be a bad dream." He looked relieved, the smile I used to adore on his lips.
"Okay, take me back home. Please."
"To him?" He frowns.
"To Donna's, we will figure out what's going on another day. Right now, I'm just tired and my head is killing me." 'and to Jax but I'm not going to tell you that psycho.'
"Okay. Sorry about your head." He mutters. "Let's get you home."
"Thank you." I smile as sweetly as I can manage.
"Tara?" The door bangs against the wall after it was kicked in, Jax on the other side. "Thank fuck," he rushes to me, "are you okay? Did he hurt you?" He held me against his body.
"He didn't hurt me." I lie, but behind his concern for me is a rage that worried me.
"Go outside with the guys, I'll be out there in a minute." He kissed me quickly before letting me go.
"What are you going to do?" I ask, not moving.
"You don't need to worry about that. Just go outside, please." He nudges me toward the door.
"No," I hold my ground, "let him go. He didn't hurt me, just let him go." I don't know why I feel the strange need to protect Jace, clearly he needs help, but I can't just walk away and let them hurt him.
"Babe, I can't do that." Jax protested.
"I'm not asking." I fold my arms up and move to stand in front of Jace, "let him go."
I could tell he's getting pissed, I'm sure he doesn't understand what's happening, why I'm defending Jace, hell I don't even know why I'm doing it.
"Take her outside," Jax muttered to one of the guys by the door. "I'm sorry, but this has to be done."
"If you do this," I struggle against the guy they call Happy's hold, "then tell me goodbye now. I will cut all ties with you." The words caught in my throat.
"Let her go." Jax growled and turned to Jace. "She just saved your life. Leave Charming, if I ever see you here again, I won't stop. Do you understand? GO NOW, before I change my mind."
Jace stared at me for a moment, "Go." I mouthed.
"Give me a minute with her." Jax ordered and the guys left the room without a word.
"What the hell was that?" He glared at me, frustration and confusion evident in his expression.
"He didn't deserve to die." I shrug.
"He knocked you out and kidnapped you." He scoffed and balled his hands into fists.
"How did you know he knocked me out?"
"The janitor that guarded the door when he tried to assault you in the bathroom saw him. This is what I do, Tara. I don't stand by and let fuckers hurt the people I care about."
"I'm sorry. I didn't grow up in this life, so beating someone to a pulp or worse is not okay with me, especially if it's because of me. I know this is maybe what you do and something I'll have to get used to if I want to be with you but I will tell you now, that I'll never like it or agree with it." I take his hands in mine. "I want to be with you, Jax, I can see myself loving you one day but I couldn't let you hurt him. Forgive me, please?"
"I'm not mad at you, Tara. I'm just trying to understand how you wanted to let him walk away after the things he's done to you. Don't you think if he did it once he's capable of doing it again?"
"I'll be more careful. Let's just move on, please?" I step toward him and rest my head against his chest, feeling relief when he finally wraps his arms around me and kisses the top of my head.
"I'm glad you're okay. If he would've hurt you any worse than he did, I wouldn't have stopped no matter what you said. It took all I had to stop today, I won't be able to do that again. He better stay away and you better not ask me to again if he doesn't."
The venom in his words were terrifying. If he ever sees Jace again, I have no doubt that he will act without a second thought, without any hesitation, this is what he does. He said it himself.
Author's Note: This chapter was rushed, I didn't want to leave you with the cliffhanger until next week, but I hope you enjoyed it!
Have a great weekend! I'll update more next week!
