Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 38973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Since I was angry, it took me and Jax half the time it took to walk where we’d gotten to get back to the house. I flung open the front door and shoved my boots off before spinning around to face Jax, my arms crossed over my chest as I glared at him.
“Well?” I demanded. “Fucking call him, douchebag.”
Jax rolled his eyes as he pulled his burner phone from his pocket. “You’re being a child, Ace.”
“Fuck you,” I seethed. “You were the one who went behind my back and dug into my past, then had the audacity to ask Rico fucking Martinez to kill people for you. Call him!” I shouted.
I was so angry. So hurt. I felt betrayed. Once again, Jax had gone behind my back and broken my trust. He’d always been the one person in the world who never abandoned me, never walked away from me, but this was the second time he’d gone behind my back like this.
Gunner’s hands settled over my shoulders, and he drew me back against him, wrapping his arms around my chest, binding me to him. A tear ran down my cheek, and I quickly reached up to wipe it away as Jax dialed Rico’s number. When I sniffled, he looked up at me, his face expressionless as the ringing of his phone filled the tense silence.
“Jax,” Rico drawled, his Mexican accent more noticeable than usual. Usually, it was almost non-existent. “What can I do for you?”
“Not Jax,” I snapped. “What does he owe you?” I demanded.
“For?” Rico asked, not sounding as laid back anymore. His tone was stiffer, a chilling warning riding his words.
I glared at the phone, my muscles bunched so tightly, I was trembling against Gunner. “Don’t play stupid with me, Rico.”
Rico only chuckled. “Kid, I’m afraid you’ll need to be more specific. I’ve heard more from Jax in the past three days than I have the entire time he’s been out of lock-up.”
I glared at Jax. He only shrugged at me. “What the fuck has he contacted you for?” I demanded, more tears burning in my eyes. Was Jax going behind our brothers’ backs? Was he doing work for Rico? What the fuck was going on?
“Jax called me a few days ago, asking for help to track you down. He doesn’t owe me anything for that. I like you, kid, and I didn’t want anything to happen to you.” I winced. Too bad no one had gotten there in time to prevent that. Gunner’s muscles bunched around me, and he buried his face in my hair, inhaling deeply. I knew it bothered him that he hadn’t gotten to me in time, and I wished I could take that guilt away from him. I gripped his forearms, digging my nails in, hoping it soothed him.
“The night you were rescued, he called me again, asking me to run a background check on you.” Gunner released me, and I looked up to find him glaring at Jax. I grabbed his hand, hoping it kept him calm. I was angry at Jax, but I didn’t want Gunner to hurt him. “He asked me to eliminate everyone who touched you.” He sighed. “He doesn’t owe me anything for that either, Ace. I have a specific kind of hatred for mother fuckers who touch kids.”
I stared at Jax, tears blurring my vision. “I hate you,” I croaked. “And I hate that I still love you despite you constantly doing shit behind my back.”
Jax ended the call without even bothering to say bye to Rico. He shrugged at me as he shoved his phone in his pocket. “I told you, kid—I’ll always do what I think is in your best interest. And knowing there were other people out there who hurt you and were getting to live their best lives—who, might I add, were hurting other kids—” I swallowed thickly, vomit churning in my gut, “didn’t sit right with me. So, I made the call. Hate me all you want, Ace. Again—I’ll always do what I think is best for you, even if that hurts you for a little while or makes you hate me.”
My chin wobbled. Tears streaked down my cheeks. Gunner reached to pull me back into his arms, but I shook my head and stepped up close to Jax, tilting my head back to look up at him. I took a deep breath, preparing myself to touch him. “You’re such a dick,” I croaked, jabbing my finger into his chest.
Jax arched a brow at me. “That’s old news, kid.”
Sniffling, I cautiously wrapped my arms around him. He tensed for a second before he hugged me back, squeezing his arms around me and resting his chin on the top of my head.
“I know I’m not exactly as human as the rest of you,” Jax said quietly, “but just like Blakely, kid, I’d take a bullet for you without hesitation. And I will always do what’s needed so you’re safe, and for the rest of my life, I’ll always end the lives of anyone who hurts you.”