It is eerily reminiscent of the night before, our long vigil waiting for our brothers to come home. Without Gray, they might all be dead now, and god knows what might be happening to me. Still, I can’t muster any feelings of gratitude.
The despair of those long hours returns as I sit down, glancing at Flynn, who is watching Gray like he’s about to drop a bomb.
“So what do you want?” Flynn finally asks, as Gray turns to us, his hands in his pockets.
“Half a million dollars,” he says flatly.
“No one asked you to pay off Scott’s debt,” I spit out, and Flynn’s hand finds mine on the table.
“He saved our lives, Jax,” he says softly.
I glare daggers at Gray, but he doesn’t bother acknowledging me.
Gray continues. “I intend to get my money back, with interest. From now on, I’m a majority shareholder in your new club.”
“Fuck you!” I say as Flynn sucks in a breath.
“I just laid down a shit ton of money for Mr. Big Time Gambler over there,” he says, nodding to Scott. “You’ll still manage the club. But it’ll be my name above the door.”
Sweat springs up at the base of my spine at the ruthless man standing in front of me. I’ve never seen this side of Gray. I’veheard about it from everyone who works for him, but I never thought he would take away something so precious to all of us.
He knows how much this club means to me. Why would he do this?
I look to Flynn, expecting fireworks, arguments—anything. But my brother is leaning back in his chair, his watery eyes focused on Gray’s shoes.
“Alright.”
It’s the only word he says as I stare at him in disbelief.
“Flynn, you can’t!” I say helplessly, but when I look at Scott, he has the same expression on his face of resigned acceptance. “You?—”
“We don’t have a choice, Jax,” Flynn replies flatly. “He owns us now.” My older brother looks up at Gray, real hatred in his eyes for a moment. “On one condition.”
I breathe out. This is where he negotiates a future deal, something that releases us from these terms in the end and gives us some control back. I brace myself for the showdown.
“Whatever is between you and Jax stops now,” Flynn murmurs. “She doesn’t need you anymore. Not like that.”
I blink at him, my mouth falling open. Slowly, I look at Gray, whose eyes flicker to me; the bright blue irises I’ve dreamed about so many times are emotionless as he squares his shoulders and gives one decisive, gut-wrenching nod.
“Done.”
I spring up from my seat, glaring at my brother. “Fuck you. All of you,” I snap out. “You don’t get to decide what I will and won’t do. And as for you,” I say, turning to Gray. “Go to hell and take your fuckinginvestmentwith you, you piece of shit.”
I storm out of the room and up the stairs.
I’ve finally seen Gray Jones’s true colors, just in the nick of time.
Chapter 44
Gray
Istand in the living room, staring after Jax, forcing myself to stay still when all I want to do is run after her.
The last couple of hours have thrown me for a huge loop. There’s so much shit roiling around in my chest right now. Things I don’t want to deal with but I know I need to.
Scott pushes himself off the wall and turns to his older brother, arms held out in a despairing gesture.
“What the hell? What has Jax been doing for you these last few weeks?”
