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“Get her inside!” His voice yells into the night, as he struggles to turn towards me. “She needs medical attention.” They push him against the hood of the police van, tightening the cuffs.

He hisses in pain and my tears start again. One turns to two. Then three, and four, they fall and fall. Dripping down my face and soaking the sheer clinging to my chilled skin.

“Stop! You’re hurting him!” I scream.

“Scarlett!” He calls out. “Baby, go inside! You don’t need to see this.”

Then as if time stops, I’m silenced by three words, not three words you might expect to hear. Even those three little words couldn’t have compared to the shock of hearing these.

“Cohen James Black, you're under arrest for the beating of Alan Anderson.” They finish reading him the police caution and move to load him in the back of the police van.

“Cohen?” I’m not even sure if anyone can hear me, my voice barely audible. I try again. “Cohen!”

His head hangs forward.

“No. No. Nooooooo!” I fight my way to him.

Nothing.

Cohen. James. Black. James Black. It has to be a coincidence.

Piers is staring at Cohen, as if seeing him for the first time and I look at him the same way… it can't be. The black hair and blue eyes, even the square set stubborn jaw.

Willow comes to his side, her face white as a sheet, her sharp intake of breath causes me to look at her.

“CJ?” She whispers. All heads jerk in her direction. CJ? Cohen James? It could be, but… How does she know Cohen?

“I thought your last name was James?” Piers pulls me back as I throw myself at Cohen as all hell breaks loose. “Who is CJ?”

“This is the same guy from the Pub? The Ship’s Wheel?” Piers is now questioning Willow and my eyes are locked straight ahead on Cohen’s face as he winces.

The Ship’s Wheel? Our place. The place we should be having dinner right now. Not standing on the walkway having my world ripped apart.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Piers demands. “What is going on?” I have no clue.

“Cohen please, look at me!” I scream until my throat could bleed, beating on his chest while he just stands there and takes it. “What is she talking about? Who is CJ? Why did they say your last name is Black?”

“Ma'am, step back please, let us do our job.” I’m being pulled backwards, my bare feet scrape on the cold pavement.

“Not until he looks at me!” Sobs rack my body. Look at me!

“Ma'am, calm down! Somebody please get this woman under control.”

“Sod off, and quit calling me ma’am! I don't need medical attention. I need answers for fucks sake!”

“Get her sedated!” I hear them yell, the roar of voices is enough to make my head explode.

“Don’t you touch her!” Piers is giving orders at the same time Teddy rushes forward.

“Look at her! If you care about her at all, fucking look at her and answer the question before she gets hurt.” His voice roars out, and I’ve never heard Teddy so angry.

“Yes.” He lifts his tortured gaze to mine and I blink back tears. “I am Cohen James Black. James Black’s bastard son. I’m so sorry, Scarlett. So fucking sorry. I never meant for you to find out like this.”

He drops his head and doesn't say another word as they put them in the back of the van, and I nearly collapse, if it wasn't for Teddy holding me up, I probably would.

“No. NO.” I lean forward, gripping my knees… it’s as if all the air has been sucked from my lungs with a giant vacuum. My stomach wretches, and vomit explodes from my mouth and onto the ground. I heave and heave until my body is finished expelling every emotion along with every ounce of fluid I possess.

I'm ushered and lifted into the back of a car. I can hear Teddy and Piers arguing.