Chapter 67: Chapter 67

Sixty Seven - Freedom.

Tobias' POV -

"Emily! It's okay!" I yell, reassuring her. I walk up to her, prying her arms away from her face so she can look straight into my eyes.

"It's okay," I repeat and she looks around, her eyes big and wild.

"It's not okay! I just killed a man Tobias! I took his life!" She yells, panicking. I grip onto her tightly, pulling her into my chest. She clutches my shirt, her tears adding to the blood stains that were already mixed deep into the fabric.

"Shh. It's okay! You'll be okay," I reassure her, knowing how the pain felt. I knew she wasn't violent on the inside, just an innocent soul who'd been dragged into a living hell. I pull her back, tucking the loose strands of hair behind her ear. I tilt her chin up and search her eyes, watching as they calm down.

"You saved my life," I tell her firmly, never letting my eyes drop from hers. She nods silently, tears drying on her face.

"He was an evil man, right?" Emily questions and I nod, giving her a warm smile.

"Yeah, he was an evil man," I whisper back, wiping the last of her tears away with my thumb. I lean forward and place a soft kiss onto her forehead, letting my lips linger on her skin. She tenses underneath me but doesn't protest and I know I haven't crossed a line this time. I pull back and take her hand in mine, gently tugging her forward.

"Come on, we need to see if Jake is okay." I say softly and she nods blankly, letting me guide her down the stairs. We both walk slowly, carefully taking the steps one by one. I can feel how tense Emily is beside me, her body shaking from the nights events.

"It's going to be okay," I whisper, squeezing her hand gently. She nod: and we both enter the chaos that was once our living room. I look around at the shattered furniture, glass, television and the two guys lying unconscious on the floor along with Jake. Blood stains the carpet and I shake my head at the disaster —

"Mum is going to lose her shit." I mumble, my eyes wide at the mess in her room. I feel Emily still beside me and I turn to find her biting the inside of her cheek, holding back a laugh. Her eyes meet mine and she finally bursts out laughing, her eyes glistening with tears.

"I'm so sorry, if I don't laugh, I'll cry."

Her smile is infectious and soon enough I'm laughing alongside her, both our sounds filling the room as we make our way towards Jake who's slowly stirring awake. His eyes snap open, panic settling inside him once he remembers what was happening.

"Emily?" He yells out, sitting up straighter. Once his gaze falls on Emily, he stops yelling and stares at her, his shoulders slumped in relief.

"Why are you two laughing? Is that a good sign?" He asks, frowning at both of us. I look at Emily and back at Jake, nodding my head.

"Amil's dead, he's gone Jake." I say finally, shaking my head in disbelief. I can't believe that it's all finally over. Jake's jaw falls open as he attempts to pull himself up off the floor. Emily runs forward to his aid and helps him up, swinging one arm around his shoulders.

"He's gone. Are you okay Muffin?" Jake asks, his tone of voice in disbelief. Emily nods weakly, giving him a reassuring smile. He pulls her closer and kisses the top of her hair, wrapping her tightly in his arms as he leans against the wall. He breathes out deeply, his chin on top of her head. His eyes meet mine as he holds her tighter and he gives me a small smile —

"Thank you," he mouthes and I nod back at him, feeling genuinely relieved she's back in his arms. . .

Where she belongs.

"Did you shoot him?" Jake asks me, searching my eyes and I shake my head, nodding towards Emily.

"Your badass girlfriend swung a bat to his head and saved my fucking life." I chuckle, feeling extremely grateful to be breathing right now. Jake's eyes widen and he pulls Emily back, holding her shoulders —

"You killed Amil?" He asks in disbelief and she nods silently, her body tensing up.

"She's in shock," I explain and Jake nods, knowing exactly how she's feeling. He sits down on the couch and pulls her into his lap, grunting a little from the effort. Emily instantly curls up in his lap, cuddling further into him for protection. I walk over and take a seat next to him, groaning from the pain in my arm and sides where I've been hit badly.

Jake's arm immediately drapes over my shoulders and he pulls me into him. I know he needs me but I also need him. We may be tough, strong and seem like nothing phases us but every now and then we crumble a little, needing the strength of our loved ones to get us through it.

Emily's hand reaches for mine and she squeezes it for support. I return her squeeze and a warm feeling spread over my heart as all three of us sat there, leaning on each other.

A house absolutely trashed, one dead body and two barely alive ones.

The only people that mattered are alive right now and that's all I'm grateful for.

*****

Emily's POV -

I can't believe it. I killed Amil.

At first, I refused to believe it. One moment, Amil is alive and threatening to kill Tobias. The next, he's lying on the floor with his head split open and blood seeping out. I thought I wouldn't be able to handle taking someone's life but sitting in Jake's arm, I feel unexplainably calm, relieved even. . .

"Does it make me sick that I'm glad he's dead?" I mumble against Jake's chest and he shakes his head, pulling me closer into him.

"Like I said before Emily, he was an evil man." Tobias says, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.

"He was going to kill Tobias. You saved his life," Jake explains softly, his words a low murmur.

"What are we going to do about his body?" I suddenly realise, sitting up straight and staring at them both. Jake looks at Tobias and Tobias looks back at Jake, both of them having a silent conversation through their eyes. I wait patiently, glancing between them both before Jake finally speaks —

"Tobias and I know a few people who can get rid of it. They completely destroy all evidence so don't worry about that Muffin."

I slap a hand over my mouth, realisation finally dawning on me.

"I'm a murderer. I'm going to go to prison." I whisper, the sickening feeling settling inside my stomach.

"I'll be locked up for years and used as someone's play thing," I gasp and Tobias glances at Jake, his eyes shining with humour. Jake lets out a chuckle followed by Tobias.

"You won't go to prison Muffin. If I didn't know how to get away with breaking the law, do you think I'd still be a free man right now? Or Tobias? I'm in a gang. Well, I was in a gang." He corrects himself, his mouth turning up into a wide smile as he realises he's free.

Free from Amil and the hold he had on him.

I nod at his words, relief finally washing over me as I realise everything has come to an end. We're both free to live our life together without me constantly worrying if Jake would come home alive or be driven away in the back of a police car.

Freedom is an amazing feeling and right now all three of us felt relieved to finally be free from the prisons inside our minds. Tobias is free from the man who'd ruined his life and stuck a bullet through his chest. I'm free of constantly worrying about Jake's safety, free of Trevor and Jones. Last but not least, Jake is free of Amil and free of the gang.

The violence and murder could now be put behind him and he could live his life the way he wants, not how Amil commands him to.

"Is it over? Are we free?" I ask both Tobias and Jake, causing them to think hard for a few moments. Jake eventually breaks the silence, his head nodding at me.

"It's over," he whispers, his voice full of relief.

"We're all free."