He touched what's mine. He stripped Adeline of her innocence and became the ultimate boogeyman to her nightmares.
And the sad part is…I know exactly what she's going through. I know that fear and anxiety. I know it all too well.
"Lucien," Jax says softly, clasping his hand over my shoulder and shattering my thoughts.
My eyes meet his with a murderous glare, and he quickly relinquishes his grip and takes a step back.
Smart move on his part.
I step away as well, not trusting myself right now to not murder everyone in sight and take my anger out on the people who truly don't deserve it.
The man who does deserve all of my hatred is dead, unfortunately, and I deeply regret not prolonging his suffering.
Raking my fingers through my hair in desperation, I meet Jax's concerned gaze. "No," I croak out the answer to his question. "I think I got to her just in time."
Jax nods solemnly and goes back to Adeline, kneeling down beside the couch. He murmurs softly to her even though she's now dead to the world thanks to the pain pills he gave her. And then I watch as he gently brushes the back of his knuckles against her soft cheek.
I squeeze my eyes shut and breathe through clenched teeth. Jax is lucky that he's family, or he'd be dead right now for touching my girl.
My girl?
I don't know exactly when the switch flipped, but this possessive need over Adeline has been in full force the past few hours. I don't want anyone touching her or even fucking looking at her. And I want — no,needto keep her safe at any cost.
In that same respect, I realize she's my biggest weakness, and I've never allowed myself to have one before. In the work that I do, I always have enemies, big or small. And I never worried about death. I know it will come for me eventually and probably brutally.
But now…now I have something worth living for. I havesomeoneworth living for. And the only reason I would willingly leave this earth is if I was sacrificing my life for hers.
My legs carry me over to both of them before my brain has a chance to stop me. Jax stares lovingly down at the sleeping beauty…her face now marred with cuts, scrapes and deep, purplish bruises…but still just as beautiful as ever.
"I'm going to clean and dress her wounds. The bruising should go away within a couple of weeks," Jax tells me.
The thought of seeing the evidence of what happened tonight in the upcoming weeks ahead nearly guts me. Her flawless skin will be tarnished with perfect reminders of what took place, and I won't even be able to look at her without feeling the profound guilt of the fact that I didn't protect her when she needed me most.
Every cut and scratch on her is like another slice to my black soul, slowly stabbing me from the inside out.
This is all my fault. If only I had let her go…none of this would have happened.
"Take care of her, Jax," I grit out before walking away from them.
Unable to take any more self-loathing, I force myself from the room and go to my office where I know there are two loyal friends who I usually try to stay away from, but who are always waiting for me —JackandJameson.
CHAPTER 5
ADELINE
MY EYELIDS SLOWLY flutter open. Groaning, I work open my sore mouth and swallow hard, wincing at the discomfort in my tender throat.
There's a dull ache all over my body under a layer of fog that must be from some kind of medicine. It's making my brain feel like mush and my thoughts muddled together.
Feeling around to the soft surface below me, I peer through my tangled hair around the dark room. I squint, trying to see something…anything…with the help of the moonlight filtering in through the two large windows to my left.
I'm not in my room. I know that for a fact.
And having no idea where I am throws me right into a panic.
Whose room is this?I wonder as my eyes sweep over the king-sized bed with expensive sheets I'm currently laying in.
Slowly and carefully, I struggle to sit up. The room instantly turns on its axis, spinning faster and faster. My head throbs with a ferocious headache, and I have to force myself not to throw up after bile quickly collects in the back of my sore throat.
