**Alex's POV**
I turned the corner to meet the eyes of Jess. Relief flooded through me when I knew for sure it was her. She seemed nervous, feet planted to the ground. Her eyes grew to be wide as saucers as her focus caught onto something behind me. I turned quickly to come face to face with a stern looking couple.
I looked behind me and made eye contact with Jess. She could tell by the look on my face that I wanted to know who these people were, and why she seemed so afraid of them. She shook her head, followed by motioning for me to come to her.
I slowly faced forwards again and took easy steps backwards. My eyes never left those of the couple who looked like they wanted to destroy someone. My steps became bigger and faster as the couple neared. Their peculiar eyes watched me as I made the stealthy move to my sister.
"Alex," Jess breathed, quiet enough so I could only here. Her small hand wound around my wrist, and she forcefully yanked me back into her body. Her eyes never left those of the couple advancing towards us.
"Who are they?" I mumbled back to her. Her body language was frigid and tense. She was frightened.
"My new family," she sarcastically scoffed. Just the sound of those particular words tumbling from her mouth sent a shiver throughout me. The fact that they had the nerve to say she was "family" disgusted me.
"They are not and never will be your family," I reassured her. Jess seemed to relax for a slight second at my words, but the voices of the couple could be hear, causing her to tense yet again.
"It's okay Jess, I won't let them near you. Harry and Seth will be here any second now," I told her, taking her hand behind my back and rubbing circles across the top of it with my thumb. Jess's breaths were heavy and shaky as she breathed into my ear. I wanted more than anything to turn around and hug her, but I knew it was the last thing I should do.
"Relax," I whispered somewhat harshly back to Jess. She drew in a deep breath towards my tone, knowing she needed to to calm down.
"I can't. They're horrible people," she whispered in my ear. The fear in her tone sent worry through me. A sense of protectiveness washed over me, erasing any other emotion I had felt.
"Have no fear, Al is here," I joked to her. A small, not so enthusiastic, chuckle fell from her lips.
The couple were not far from us now. I could hear what they were talking about, but I tuned it out, knowing it was something I probably didn't want to know.
"Who are you?" The man grumbled in my direction. I moved so Jess was completely covered by me. I stood tall and held my ground.
"I'm her sister," I said proudly. In the inside, I felt like crumbling, but I needed to be strong. For Jess.
"Oh really? The man who gave her to us said she didn't have any living family," the man scoffed. Anger seared through me. He was talking about her as if she was just some dog you buy.
"We may not be sisters by blood, but we are sisters. No one will take her from me," I growled. The man's nostrils flared as he finally made eye contact with me. There was a certain eerie darkness to them that instantly had my knees shaking with fear.
"How are you so sure about that?" The man mocked, stepping up right in front of my face.
"I won't let it happen," I said. The man's eyes darkened as fury raged through him. Before I knew what was happening, I was on the ground, clutching my cheek.
"I don't think so," the man sneered, an extremely evil glint in his eye. A squeal sounded to my right, and I turned to see Jess being held in the woman's arms. Fear was written all over her, even as she struggled to be free of the woman's grasp.
