14. Mia
Chapter fourteen
Mia
A second awakening. It was later now. The sun was higher in the sky. Mia’s limbs felt heavy and relaxed. She smiled as she remembered the way Jax had claimed her early this morning. She let out a long, silent yawn and was about to put her arm around Jax when she realized he was sitting up already, and she saw the glow of a screen.
He was looking at his phone? Wasn’t that forbidden? Had he lost interest in her now that they’d had sex, and gone back to his old addiction to technology? Oh god. Maybe he was already on Tinder, looking for some other lay. Someone sweeter, simpler, sexier than her.
No. Stop it, Mia.
She had caught herself doing it again. Freaking herself out for no reason. Convincing herself that the world was out to get her. She had to remind herself that not everybody out there was a bad guy. Not everyone was a Chad.
Jax seemed so engrossed in his phone screen, though. Why was that? What was he up to?
Ever so slowly, quietly, trying not to let her sleeping bag make the tiniest rustle, she sat up just enough to see what Jax was doing.
She was right about it being a phone. And from here, she could see that he was writing a message.
Rehab is going fine thanks. Probably be a few days longer.
Her eyes widened. Rehab? A few days longer? Was he speaking in code? Or was he lying to someone about his whereabouts for some kind of sinister—
No. Stop it again, Mia.
Just ask him.
"Jax?" Mia hesitated, uncertainty lacing her voice.
Jax shoved the phone in his backpack, turning around, cheeks blazing, like he’d just been caught up to no good. "Yeah?" His gaze flicked to meet hers, a mix of curiosity and wariness.
"Your phone... What were you doing?" Her heart pounded as she braced for his reaction.
"What was I doing?" Jax's tone was nonchalant, but Mia didn't miss the way his jaw clenched.
“Who were you chatting to?” she pressed, her green eyes searching his face for any hint of deception.
"Nobody important," he dismissed, a bit too quickly for her liking. "Just some personal business."
"Personal business?" Mia echoed, raising an eyebrow. The more evasive Jax became, the more her suspicions grew. She wanted to trust him, but her past taught her that trust could be a dangerous thing.
"Yep," he replied, avoiding her gaze. "It’s nothing to worry about. And I’m being very careful. We’ll go back off-grid again now."
"Right." Mia forced a smile.
"Hey, why don't we go for a walk?" Jax suggested, seemingly eager to change the subject. "Get some fresh air, clear our heads?"
"Sure," Mia agreed, trying to sound relaxed. As they stood up, her legs felt unsteady. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.
The tension between them was palpable as they walked side by side, neither speaking. Mia couldn't help but steal glances at Jax, searching his face for any signs of deceit. She tried to maintain a calm facade, but inside, her thoughts churned with doubt and worry.
"Jax, can I ask you something?" she finally ventured, unable to remain silent any longer.
"Of course," he replied, trying to sound casual. "What's on your mind?"
"Would you ever lie to me?" Her voice trembled slightly as she asked the question, fearing his response.
"Not unless I did it to protect you," he admitted quickly, his gaze fixed on the ground in front of them.
"Are you having to protect me right now?" Mia pressed, her heart pounding in her ears.
Jax hesitated, the tension between them thickening like a storm brewing on the horizon. Finally, he looked up, his eyes meeting hers with a mix of guilt and resolve.
"Mia, there are things . . . things I can't tell you yet," he started, his voice low and pained. "It's not because I don't trust you. Or because I think you can’t handle it. It's because . . . because I need to keep you safe."
Mia's breath caught in her throat at his words. The feeling of dread that had been gnawing at her since she saw that text on his phone intensified, wrapping around her heart like a vice.
"Safe from what, Jax?" Mia demanded, her voice more forceful now. "What aren't you telling me?”
“Nothing important.”
“But you get why this is hard for me? I don’t want to feel like you’re being evasive because it makes me think crazy stuff.”
“What kind of stuff?”
“You know, like, who are you really? Are you really who you say you are?” These thoughts were difficult to admit. She didn’t want to seem paranoid. “Sometimes I even worry that you don’t really know Savannah. That all of this is some elaborate prank."
Jax looked torn, as if he was battling some internal conflict. He ran a hand through his hair, his brow furrowed in frustration. “Little one,” he said, “I understand why your mind goes to those places. Look, I want to promise you, I’m who I say I am. And of course I know Savannah. I’m taking you to meet her as soon as I know for sure that we’re safe. That’s the main reason I turned on my phone this morning. To check there’s no sign of us being tracked. To see if we’re in the clear.”
Mia sniffed. “And . . .? Are we in the clear? Are we safe?”
Jax held her hands, giving them a squeeze. “You’re always safe when you’re with me, Mia.”
Mia bit the inside of her cheek. “I don’t find it easy to trust people. I’ve been tricked before.”
Jax’s hazel eyes searched hers for a moment before he spoke. "I know it's hard, Mia. But I promise you, you can trust me."
"Can I?" She couldn't help the tremor in her voice as she finally confronted him about the text message. "What about that text you got? The one about rehab?"
Jax blinked, clearly caught off guard by her question. "That was . . . look, Mia, it's complicated."
"Complicated?" Her heart raced, fear and anger battling for dominance within her. "How?"
"Let's just say my brothers are worried about me, okay?" He shifted uncomfortably, avoiding her gaze. "I told them I went to rehab. I know it’s not an ideal situation. I hate being dishonest with them. But I couldn’t tell them I rescued you. And honestly, it sounds corny, but this kind of is my rehab. I’ve been away from screens except for that one time, haven’t I? Out in the open, feeling alive." He looked into her eyes again. “I can’t tell them I’m with you just yet, Mia. Not until I know that nobody is chasing you anymore.”
"Are you sure?" Mia pressed, her voice still shaking. "Because I need to know I can trust you, Jax."
"Trust is earned, Mia," he replied, meeting her eyes again with a fierce intensity. "And I'll do whatever it takes to earn yours."
"Alright," she agreed quietly, her voice steadier now. "Just don't make me regret it."
"Never," he vowed, his eyes burning with determination. Then, his expression softened. “How about we go down to the river? Take a dip in the water and clean off?”
Mia hesitated, glancing back toward the tent. An idea began to form in her mind, fueled by her lingering suspicions. "Actually, I'm really tired," she lied, forcing a yawn. "I think I'll stay here and rest while you go, Daddy."
"Are you sure?" Jax asked, concern etched on his face.
"Positive," she insisted, giving him a weak smile. "Go on, enjoy yourself. I'll be here when you get back."
"Alright," Jax hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. "I won't be long. Get some rest, babygirl."
As soon as she reached the tent, Mia sprang into action, her heart pounding with determination. She needed to know the truth about Jax, and that meant finding his phone. If he was hiding something, she'd find it—and confront him once and for all. No more secrets, no more lies. Only then could she decide if she could truly trust him, or if her fragile hope for a better future was just another illusion.
The tent seemed to close in around Mia as she frantically searched for Jax's phone, her heart pounding like a drumbeat in her ears. Her fingers trembled as she rifled through his belongings, the fear of being caught consuming her every thought.
"Come on, where is it?" she muttered under her breath, frustration mounting with each passing second. She’d seen him tossing it in here before, but where was it?
Her mind raced with questions and doubts, but her resolve remained unshaken—she had to know the truth.
Just then, she noticed a small black bag. Mia's heart leaped at the sight, and she held her breath as she carefully pulled it free. The weight and shape felt familiar in her hand, and she silently prayed that this was what she had been searching for.
As she unsealed the bag, a rush of relief washed over her when she saw the sleek contours of Jax's phone inside.
"Thank you," Mia exhaled, her fingers shaking as she picked up the device and switched it on. She didn't have much time before Jax returned from the river, so she needed to work fast.
The screen glowed, demanding a passcode. Mia's heart hammered in her chest as she racked her brain for possible combinations. She didn’t know Jax’s date of birth. When it came down to it, she really didn’t know much about him. The only things she knew were the names of his brothers and his favorite book.
But wait.
1984 .
That was his favorite novel.
There’s no way. . . .
She typed in the four digits and blinked in surprise. It had worked! To her relief and astonishment, the phone unlocked, revealing a virtual treasure trove of information. Mia's fingers flew across the screen, navigating to the messages app. She scrolled through the list of contacts, searching for Savannah's name. Her pulse quickened with each passing second, the anticipation building like a fire inside her.
"Come on, where are you?" she whispered, finally spotting the name she sought: “Savvy.”
As she tapped on the conversation, she braced herself for what she might find. The most recent message was sent from this phone just an hour ago. It read: “I will never, ever bring Mia back to you.”
Mia felt a cold shiver running down her spine. Her heart hammered in her chest, each beat a frantic plea for help. The fear that had been simmering beneath the surface now threatened to boil over, consuming her entirely.
Jax had kidnapped her. He had taken her to the forest, off-grid. He had fucked her and now he was planning to kill her.
She was about to scroll through more messages when she heard Jax’s voice outside the tent. He sounded like he was a few yards away. “Damn, that water’s cold!”
What should she do? Her hands were shaking. Should she run? Try to bash him in the head with the phone when he walked in here?
Her fingers tremored as she hastily typed out a message to Savannah. “HELP MIA,” she wrote and hit the send button.
"Shit, shit, shit," she muttered under her breath as she tossed the phone back in Jax’s backpack. She couldn't believe she was doing this, but what choice did she have? Jax had become an enigma, and her instincts screamed that something was terribly wrong.
As the zip on the tent began to open, Mia braced herself for what was to come, her fingers clenching into fists and her jaw tightening with determination. She refused to let fear define her or control her actions any longer.
"Bring it on," she whispered, as the tent's flap began to rustle.