“No, he has no idea where I am. I...” I bite my cheek, looking for the right words.
I can’t tell her that the moment I saw her, everything inside me shifted. That I haven’t got her off my mind for a second since. That the need to keep her safe has been clawing at my lungs, making holes until it felt like I’d never catch a full breath again.
I doubt such a confession would go down well after the handful of sentences we’ve exchanged thus far.
It’s too soon.
And the last thing I want is to scare her away.
Also, I have no idea what sort of hell Jax has put her through, so treading lightly is wise.
“I’ve seen a lot of women in bad situations. You looked like you needed someone to see what you were hiding.” I reach out, brushing my fingers down her bruised cheek, my heartrate picking up at the feel of her skin. She’s so warm... so fucking soft. “How often does this happen?”
She inches away, letting her hair cover her face. “Bruises? Often. Daily. It’s been a while since I haven’t sported any.”
The kind of anger that can’t be shaken off floods my system. It’ll stay there, buried beneath my skin, waiting for blood. My grip on the wheel tightens until it creaks.
You can’t kill him. Don’t even think about it.
Fuck my rational brain.
“It’s okay,” Leilani adds as if sensing that I’m spiraling.
“It’snotokay, but I’ll have to be patient and wait a while before I can kill the fucker.”
She inhales sharply, her head snapping back my way. “What? Why? You can’t do that.”
“Of course I can. And I will the moment he’s dispensable.” We crawl forward, the traffic jam clearing slowly. “Don’t worry your pretty head about it. The main thing now is getting yousomewhere safe, somewhere he won’t find you, because believe me, he’ll be looking.”
“Oh, I know. He won’t let me go this easily. I’m surprised he didn’t shoot you the moment you grabbed his throat.”
I chuckle, turning left at the lights. “I’d like to see him try.” Shifting in my seat, I straighten my back. “Care to tell me how you ended up with him?”
She chews her lip, glancing out the window.
“You don’t have to,” I add after a long pause.
“No, it’s not that... but it’s hard to explain and I still haven’t processed it all. I can assure you it wasn’t by choice.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Please, whoever the hell rules above, below, or anywhere in this twisted universe, please don’t let it be a repeat of what Violet went through.
The mere thought of this girl beside me being hurt and used the way Violet was drives me fucking insane.
Jesus... ifthisis how Broadway felt then I one hundred percent understand the elaborate kills he performed on those men who raped his girl for months.
I don’t know that Jax sexually abused Leilani. I don’t know if it ever went that far, but my brain doesn’t care. It serves up a carousel of images anyway. Him pushing her down. Forcing her to submit. Her tears, fear, bruises darker than the one covering her face.
My stomach rolls and my mind fills with ideas of topping Broadway’s best performances to bring the most horrific, painful death to Jax.
It would be beautiful. Carnage of the highest order. Blood everywhere and me... loving every second, a manic smile curling my lips the whole fucking time.
Whoever said Carter, Broadway, Ryder, and I aren’t entirely right in our heads was spot on. The pictures flashing before myeyes chillmetothe bone, let alone anybody not used to our line of work.
Then again, I never pretend I’m not sick and twisted or that I shouldn’t be wearing a straitjacket in a psych ward by now.
There are at least a dozen more questions I want to ask Leilani. How far has Jax taken it? Is he the only one who’s hit her? Are there other men I should track down and eliminate?
