Within the Shadows by J.D MCG (knowledgeable books to read .txt) 📕

going to tell me what happened at the cemetery?' he threw a question back at him.

The both of them smiled before Barnes came up with an idea.

'You buy me a drink and I'll tell you all about it.'

'Tonight?' said Jacob.

'Okay, I'll let the guys know. We could all do with a distraction.'

Jacob arrived home early that evening, thinking he’d beat both Belle and Kate home. He threw his keys on the kitchen side, grabbed a glass from the cupboard and poured himself a glass of water. Once the water touched his lips, he could feel the liquid making its way down his throat. He chugged the entire glass before pouring another one.

'Hey, slow down,' he heard a voice say from across the apartment. 'Must have been a good night, you dirty stop out,' Belle laughed.

'You don't know the half of it,' he smiled at her as he turned around from the kitchen sink.

Belle gasped as she caught sight of his bruised face, from hitting the floor.

'My god. What happened to you?'

'You know, the usual kidnapping and being tied to a chair scenario.'

Belle didn't know whether to laugh, thinking he was telling a joke or to worry as if something serious had happened to him.

'Looks like you went ten rounds with Mike Tyson.'

'It looks worse than it is.'

'Are you going to tell me what happened?' she continued to ask.

'Got hit, then tied up overnight. Nothing more than that.'

'Crap night then,' she chuckled. 'At least you can say your life is never boring.'

'Indeed,' he agreed with a smile. 'Enough about me, how's your day been?'

'Actually, there's something I've been meaning to tell you,' she said with concern.

'Oh yeah, what's that?'

'A man followed me to work earlier. I'm fine, but there's something you should know. He thought I was Kate,' she informed him.

'What did he want with Kate?' he asked, knowing already who this man was and what he wanted.

'He didn't say. To be honest I didn't give him time to explain. I was too frightened and rushed off to work as quick as I could.'

'You did the right thing, Belle. You let me know if you see this man again.'

'Who is he?'

'I don't know,' he lied. 'But I'll find out.'

'Thanks, Jacob. I had to tell you.'

'And I'm glad you did.' Belle started to walk into her bedroom, before Jacob continued, 'Not a word to Kate. I don't want her worried about this.'

Belle nodded, agreeing with him and entered her bedroom. Jacob let out a long and hard sigh before picking up his phone and dialling Adam's number.

'Hi, brother,' he greeted. 'He's found Kate. I don't know what to do.'

Kate entered the apartment as Adam began to speak on the other end, but Jacob didn't want to discuss it with their sister in the room.

'Adam, she's just walked in,' he whispered. 'I'll talk to you soon.'

He hung up the phone as Kate approached the kitchen, glaring at the bruise on her brother’s face.

'Wow, what happened to you?' She questioned him too.

'Nothing to worry about,' he replied, wanting to take the attention off of him. 'How was school?'

'Same old. People are still tip-toeing around me,' she confided in him.

'I know. I still get it at work,' he confessed. 'It will take a while before things go back to normal.'

'I guess,' she said with a saddened voice.

'Well, I've got to get ready. I'm off out with the team. Me and Barnes are going to have a catch-up.'

'You've found Barnes?'

'Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. They found Barnes late last night and Lily is in custody,' he explained.

'Damn. I was hoping you'd say she was six feet under,' Kate announced her thoughts about Lily.

'I know what she did was vicious, but...'

'But nothing, Jacob. That bitch killed my mother and our father. I know she was your fiancee but you can't feel sympathetic for her.'

'I don't,' he replied.

'Well, it seems like you are. I get you have memories and had a life together but she's a cold-blooded killer and always will be,' she shouted before storming off to her room.

Jacob remained in the kitchen with his head in his hands again. He and Barnes were out of danger but the list of problems kept on growing. He did love Lily but knew Kate was right. He needed to stop being sympathetic. She was a killer.

Jacob scurried off to his bedroom to get ready. He showered quickly, then got dressed after deciding which shirt would be more suitable for a night out after kidnappings. He sneaked out of the apartment and made his way to the bar they all agreed to meet at.

Barnes found himself a table and sat alone while waiting for the others, clutching a beer in his hand. He stared around the bar, people laughing, joking and enjoying themselves. This is what life is about, he thought. Barnes' perspective on life had changed since his ordeal. Knowing how much he still cared for his ex-wife, he wanted to try to work things out. He now realised what life was about.

Barnes checked up on his daughters, before phoning Vanessa to see how she was doing. He still had feelings for her and was ecstatic that she was going to recover.

'I'm glad you're going to be fine. If you need anything, just let me know,' he said before hanging up the phone.

Ally entered the bar next and her eyes immediately locked onto Barnes.

'Hey. How long have you been here?'

'Not long,' he replied, slipping his phone back into his pocket. 'You look lovely. Definitely gonna turn a few heads.'

Ally just smiled. 'How are you?'

'I'm getting there. Just a strange week.'

'How’re the girls doing? It must have been