8. Jax
Chapter eight
Jax
T he first light of dawn crept through the gap between the motel room curtains, casting a pale glow over the rumpled sheets. Jax's eyes flicked open, and he immediately felt a pang of anxiety twist in his gut. He instinctively reached for his phone on the nightstand, only to remember it wasn’t there.
And anyway, his phone was switched off—had to stay that way for their safety. He had it in his backpack, sealed up in Farraday bag that blocked electromagnetic signals so it couldn’t be tracked.
Taking a deep breath, he reminded himself of his purpose: to protect Mia.
Her soft breathing filled the room as she stirred awake beside him. For a moment, her eyes widened in panic, then they softened slightly. “Oh,” she said. “Sorry. I was dreaming I was back at the club.”
“That’s okay,” said Jax. “There’s a lot going on for you right now. I won’t judge you if you get scared sometimes.”
Mia pouted. "I’m not scared. I don’t get scared.”
“Everyone gets scared,” replied Jax.
“Not me. Nope. Never.”
Jax didn’t want to push Mia on that. Clearly, it was important to her that she was brave no matter what challenges she faced. Hopefully, she’d learn that feeling your feelings wasn’t a weakness. It was a strength.
“What time is it?" she asked.
"Early," Jax replied, glancing at his watch. "But we should get up and keep moving."
"Where to?" she asked, curiosity lacing her voice. The innocence in her question tugged at his heart.
"Can't tell you yet," he teased, a small grin spreading across his face. "It's a surprise." The truth was, he didn't have it all figured out either, but he knew he wanted to give her something special—a moment of respite amid the chaos.
"Fine," she huffed, feigning irritation as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. "I'll just go get ready then."
As Mia disappeared into the bathroom, Jax's thoughts raced. He needed to make a plan, and fast. They couldn't stay in one place for too long, not with danger lurking in every shadow. But more than anything, he wanted to show Mia that there was still beauty in the world—that there was a life beyond fear.
The warm, buttery scent of freshly made pancakes wafted through the air as Jax held the diner door open for Mia. The soft jingle of the bell above the entrance announced their arrival. Inside, the cozy space was filled with laughter and the low murmur of conversation. The red vinyl benches and checkered tablecloths were a nod to simpler times.
"Table for two?" asked the elderly waitress, her eyes kind and welcoming.
"Please," Jax replied, glancing at Mia, who looked around the diner with an expression of awe. He could tell she felt out of place, but he wanted her to experience something authentic and homey, where she didn't have to hide who she was.
"Here you go, dears," the waitress said, leading them to a corner booth by the window. The sun streamed in, casting a warm glow on Mia's skin.
"Thank you," Mia murmured, sliding into the booth and picking up the menu. She looked at Jax with a smirk. “I thought I wasn’t allowed out and about,” she whispered. “In case anyone sees me.”
Jax shrugged. “We won’t draw attention to ourselves. But I think you’re allowed some freedom, don’t you?”
Mia swallowed and nodded. “If I can remember how to do it.”
As they scanned the options on the menu, Jax couldn't help but notice how Mia's green eyes sparkled with curiosity. "So, what are you thinking about getting?"
"Maybe just some eggs and toast," she replied hesitantly. "I don't know. It all looks so good."
"Get whatever you want," Jax encouraged, his voice gentle and reassuring. "You deserve it. Have it all if you want."
Mia bit her lip and nodded, finally settling on scrambled eggs, bacon, and hash browns. As they sipped their coffee, waiting for their food to arrive, Jax noticed Mia's gaze drifting to the world outside the window.
"I’ve never traveled out of Chicago before," she admitted, tearing her eyes away from the scenery. "I've never really had the chance to travel."
Jax's mind began to race, an idea forming as he considered their situation. "Let's change that," he said with a determined smile. "Starting today. I’m taking you on an off-grid road trip."
Mia looked at him, her eyes wide with surprise and hope. "Really?"
Jax nodded. "There's this place called Pioneer Village at Spring Mill State Park, just a few hours from here. It's like stepping back in time to the 1800s. No modern technology is allowed. What do you say?"
Mia's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she set down her fork. "That sounds amazing. I'd love that."
"Great. We'll head there after breakfast," he said, taking a bite of his pancakes.
As they continued eating, Jax noticed that Mia kept eyeing his pancakes with interest. He cut a piece and held it out to her, a teasing smile on his lips. "You have to try this, it's delicious."
Mia looked hesitant but took the offered bite, her eyes widening at the taste. "Oh wow. I can't remember the last time I had syrup. It's really good."
"See? Told you," Jax said, feeling a warm satisfaction at seeing her enjoy herself. "Now finish up, we've got a living history lesson waiting for us."
The sun cast a golden glow on the lush Indiana countryside as Jax drove, stealing glances at Mia beside him. Her eyes were wide with wonder, taking in the rolling hills and dense woods that stretched out before them.
"Never seen anything like this, huh?" he asked, amused by her amazement.
"Never," she replied, her voice soft and full of awe. "This is . . . beautiful."
Jax couldn't help but smile at her reaction. It felt good for him too, appreciating the vastness of the world outside his computer screen. He knew at that moment that he wanted to show her more, to give her a life beyond the confines of the city they had left behind.
Pioneer Village finally came into view, its rustic buildings and cobblestone paths nestled amongst the trees. The sound of hooves on stone and the smell of woodsmoke filled the air as they stepped out of the car and began to explore the historic settlement.
"Check it out," Jax said, pointing to a blacksmith hammering away at a glowing piece of metal. Mia watched, fascinated, as sparks flew from the anvil, the rhythmic pounding echoing through the village.
"Look over there," she whispered, tugging on his arm and leading him toward a woman weaving cloth on a wooden loom. They stood side by side, observing as the weaver's skilled hands worked quickly and efficiently, creating intricate patterns in the fabric.
"Hard to believe people used to do everything by hand," he thought aloud. For a fleeting moment, he wondered what it would be like to trade his computer for a simpler life, devoid of constant digital distractions.
"Sometimes," Mia said, her voice barely more than a whisper, "I think I was born at the wrong time."
They wandered through the village, the scent of wood smoke and freshly turned earth filling their nostrils.
"Let's check out the gristmill," Jax suggested, guiding Mia towards the wooden structure perched on the edge of a gently flowing creek. As they approached, the rhythmic creaking of the water wheel blended with the burble of the stream, creating a calming melody that seemed to transport them even further back in time.
Finding a quiet spot near the mill, they sat down on a patch of soft grass, their hands still entwined. Jax studied Mia's face, her eyes filled with wonder and curiosity as she took in their surroundings.
"Isn't it amazing how people used to live like this?" Mia asked, her voice tinged with awe. "No phones, no computers . . . just working with their hands, relying on each other."
"Yeah," Jax agreed. "It's... refreshing, in a way."
He realized that, for the first time in a long while, he wasn't preoccupied with work or his online crusades. Instead, he was fully engaged in the here and now, sharing this experience with Mia—and it felt damn good.
"Thanks," he murmured, his gaze shifting to the water wheel as it continued its hypnotic dance.
"Sometimes, we all need a little reminder to slow down and appreciate what's right in front of us," Mia said, her voice gentle yet wise beyond her years. As she leaned closer, resting her head on his shoulder, Jax felt a surge of protectiveness mixed with desire—a fierce need to shield her from the darkness that had tainted her life, while also exploring the depths of their connection.
“Let’s go sit down awhile,” said Mia. “I want to just soak it all up.”
The sun reflected off the surface of the water, casting a shimmering light on the surrounding trees as Jax and Mia sat side by side on the grassy bank. The rhythmic sound of the gristmill wheel turning in the background filled the air with a tranquil hum.
"Y'know, this is kind of weird for me," Jax admitted, his fingers idly tracing patterns in the soft earth beside him. "Being cut off from technology like this."
Mia turned to look at him, her eyes curious. "How so?"
Jax sighed, trying to find the right words. "I mean, I'm used to being connected all the time. But now . . . it's like I've been forced to step back and really take in the world around me. It's frustrating in some ways, but at the same time . . . I can't deny there's something almost freeing about it."
"Life without smartphones and computers, huh?" Mia said, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Welcome to the dark ages, Daddy."
Jax chuckled, feeling a warmth spread through his chest at her playful tone. Even though she was using that nickname jokingly, it felt good. Really fucking good.
“You don’t go on those chatrooms in real life, do you?” Mia asked suddenly. “You know, looking at cam girls?”
Jax blinked at her. “Never. I work with computers, I don’t use them for entertainment or sport. And I never, ever look at women like that. Paying them money to get naked for me. I only did that with you because I had to look real.”
Mia swallowed. “You never asked me to get naked.”
“True,” Jax said quickly. “Like I said before, your body is your own, Mia. I just want to help you feel as comfortable and safe as possible.”
Mia nodded. “I’m starting to.”
“Good,” replied Jax. “You want a sandwich?”
She grinned. “You trying to fatten me up?”
Jax chuckled. “Wouldn’t do you any harm.”
Mia grabbed the sandwich he held out for her and started to wolf it down.
Jax watched her happily. It felt so damn good to take care of someone like this. It had been a helluva long time since he’d had a Little to look after. Didn’t have time for dating with all that screen time he engaged in. Not that Mia was his Little, obviously.
"Actually . . ." Mia began, hesitating for a moment before continuing. She seemed bolder now, more open in sharing her thoughts. "This whole place reminds me of the stories I used to read when I was younger."
"Really?" Jax asked, genuinely intrigued. He loved seeing this softer, more vulnerable side of her—the Mia who had found solace in the pages of a book.
"Uh-huh," she nodded. "Growing up in foster care, life wasn't always easy. But books were my escape, y'know? I'd lose myself in these worlds filled with adventure and magic, and for a little while, I could forget about everything else. I loved Jungle Book. Found that one in a library once. I liked Dickens, too. His larger-than-life characters were like my friends."
Jax's heart clenched at the thought of the pain she'd endured, but he couldn't help but admire her resilience. "That's amazing," he said quietly, reaching out to gently squeeze her hand. "I'm glad you had that."
"Me too," Mia agreed, her expression softening as she gazed out across the water. "And being here, in this village . . . it feels like stepping into one of those stories. Like we're characters in our own little tale."
"Is that so?" Jax teased, his lips curving into a smirk. "Well, then we'd better make sure it's one hell of a story, don't you think?"
"Definitely," Mia grinned, the light in her eyes shining brighter than ever. "A story worth remembering, no matter what comes our way."
“One with a happy ending, too.”
They walked around the place a while longer, taking everything in. Jax couldn't help but feel a sense of calm wash over him as he and Mia followed this shadowy trail deeper into the park. It was as if they were leaving the weight of their pasts behind them with each step they took, and all that mattered now was the present—this stolen moment of peace.
Mia sighed contentedly. “I don’t want to leave.”
Jax smiled. “Then let’s not. Not tonight, at least.”
“What do you mean?” Mia asked, frowning.
"There are cozy log cabins available at the park, apparently. They have fireplaces and rustic furnishings. Not a television in sight. How does that sound?"
"Perfect," Mia breathed, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"Great, I'll book one for us."
"Thank you, Jax," Mia said, touching his arm gently. "For everything."