Plastered against the wall, trying not to touch the asshole, I scoot sideways against the wall to get away. Opening my hand to let go of his shirt, I look down and see Jax’s other hand, also with a knife in it, is pointed at his ribs, just over where my hand was gripping his shirt.
A small line of blood is sliding down the side of the man’s sweaty neck and my stomach roils. Beads of sweat are rolling down his face like someone turned on a faucet and I look away as I move away from him.
“Behind me, Lepa.” Jax says, his voice deep and demanding, but he doesn’t take his eyes off the man.
Tilting his head, he looks at the man with curiosity and a hint of amusement. “You were saying?”
“I-I said nothing.” The guy grits out between clenched teeth.
“My record for keeping someone alive while their blood slowly drains from their body is over twenty-four hours.” Jax pauses and watches the blood slide down his skin. “But I wouldn’t mind another shot at that record.”
The guy quietly whisper hisses, “fuuuck,” under his breath.
“Let me refresh your memory. You said you were going to do some damage to her pretty face.” As he is saying it, he drags the very tip of the blade up the man’s neck to his face. I watch the skin split open over his jaw like it’s being cut by a surgical scalpel as he slides it across his cheek.
Even though a combination scream and growl are coming from between the man’s clenched teeth, he still doesn’t move. I clap my hands over my mouth as I try not to lose my breakfast or make a sound.
“I believe the other thing you said was that you would go after her ten-year-old niece. What did you mean by that?” The hand holding the knife over his ribs moves down and around his front, close to his privates.
“What’s going on in here?” The voice booms behind us from the door to the small room.
It’s Chuck, and he’s holding a rifle pointed at Jax. I step between them and hold my hand up. “The big guy grabbed me.”
Chuck quickly points the rifle at the floor, so it won’t point at me. “Turn around.” He orders, looking at Jax.
Jax turns around and his arm goes around my waist, the knives gone from his hands, and he pulls my back to his front as we take a step away from the sweaty, bleeding guy who turns around looking like he’s going to attack.
Chuck aims the rifle at him. “What happened?”
“He fucking cut me, that’s what happened.”
Fuzziness is closing in around the edges of my vision, regardless of the measured breaths I’m taking. Jax’s arm tightens around my waist and his mouth lowers to my ear. “Breath with me, Lepa. In and hold for three, out for three. You feel my arm around you, holding you to me? In and hold, out for three.” His voice lowers even more, so I’m the only one who can hear him. “You are right where you belong, next to me.”
Chucklooks at me and takes a step toward me, the rifle pointed to the floor. “Marley, hun, are you okay?”
The guy makes a break for it and runs through the door with Chuck hot on his heels. “Stop, I’m calling the cops.”
Jax moves like a cat and is in front of me, cradling my face in his hands. His eyes are Jax’s eyes again and his brows are pulled together as he looks at me. “With me, Lepa, let’s count”
I grip his arms, and we breathe together for several counts until the lightheadedness recedes. Nodding that I’m okay, I look in his eyes, trying to find what I saw earlier, but it’s gone. He’s the same Jax that kissed me this morning.
“I’m sorry I scared you, and I’m so fucking sorry I left you. I never should have done it.” His eyes move over my face, taking in every tiny flinch or movement.
“It’s okay.” I say with another deep breath. “I told you to go, it’s not your fault.”
He shakes his head. “I knew better, it won’t happen again. But you need to know right now, I will kill any man who harms or threatens you.”
Is it twisted that a thrill runs through me? I’ve always had protective brothers. When I was younger, it was a nuisance that they blocked all forms of excitement. After the attack, I was grateful that no excitement could get through them, I was protected from all sides and that made me feel safe.
But now? Now a gorgeous six foot two, intense man stands in front of me, the only man that has ever made my body sing with just a kiss. I watched him threaten a man’s life. For me.
Shaking my head between his hands, I’m still looking for what I saw earlier. “You didn’t look like yourself, and you were so angry.”
He pulls in a deep breath as his eyebrows twitch together, and he nods. “I was angry, Lepa, I was furious. Someone wastouching what is mine. But I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Another thrill marches through me as Jax’s flag of protection and affection is securely planted on the hill of all the trauma and shadows I’ve been carrying around all these years. A whisper-quiet understanding forms at that very moment as our eyes are locked together. Acceptance.
I am his, and he is mine.
