18. Jax
Jax
The SUV eats up the dark mountain road, headlights cutting through the trees like a blade.
Ava sleeps beside me, curled up under my jacket with her head resting against the window.
Her breathing is soft and even, those full lips parted just enough to make me want to pull over and taste them. She looks peaceful.
My grip tightens on the wheel. I should’ve dropped her at the safe house hours ago. Right after we stopped for barbecue. The safe house was mere miles from the restaurant. Instead I keep driving deeper into the mountains, buying every extra minute I can with her.
My phone vibrates against the console. Mason’s name flashes on the screen. I answer before the second ring, keeping my voice low.
“Yeah.”
“Jax, where the hell are you?” Mason’s voice comes through rough and pissed. “You missed the drop-off window. Team’s waiting. What’s going on?”
I glance at Ava. She stirs a little but doesn’t wake. “Change of plans. I need more time with her.”
Silence stretches for a beat. Then Mason lets out a low curse. “Jax, you’re not doing what I think you’re doing, are you?”
I don’t deny it. “I can’t hand her over to WITSEC. Not yet. Maybe not ever.”
“Jesus Christ.” His tone shifts, part warning, part understanding. “You know what happens if you go rogue on this. They’ll come after you too.”
“If anyone should get it, it’s you,” I growl back. “A few months ago you disappeared with Riley into that cabin and didn’t surface for weeks. Same damn situation. You looked at her and the rules stopped mattering. Tell me I’m wrong.”
Mason exhales hard. I can practically see him pacing that cabin of his.
“This isn’t the same. Riley’s situation was different.
Ava’s testimony is key to taking down Carlos and the whole cartel.
You keep her off the books and you’ll end up in jail, brother.
Or worse. They don’t mess around with marshals who go dark. ”
I know he’s right. Doesn’t change the storm raging inside my chest. Ava’s laugh from dinner still echoes in my head, the way she licked barbecue sauce off her fingers and blushed when I wiped her lip.
The way she looked at me like I was her hero instead of just the man assigned to keep her alive.
I care about her. Deep. Maybe even love her.
The kind of feeling that sinks into your bones and refuses to let go.
“I’m not turning her over,” I say, voice flat and final. “Not until I know she’s safe for good. Not until she’s mine.”
Mason’s quiet for a long moment. “You’re playing with fire. Call me when you come to your senses. And watch your back.”
The line goes dead. I stare at the road ahead, jaw locked so tight it aches.
I pull over onto the narrow shoulder. The engine ticks down as I kill it. Cold mountain air rushes in when I step out and close the door quietly behind me. I walk a few paces away, boots sinking into the frost-hardened ground, and drag a hand through my hair.
“Fuck,” I mutter, the word fogging in the night air.
How the hell do I keep this beautiful woman all to myself? The thought of handing her off to some faceless program, never seeing her smiles or hearing her ramble about library books again, twists something ugly in my gut.
I lean against the vehicle and stare up at the stars punching through the black sky. I have a plan. A crazy one.
I look back through the window at Ava, still sleeping so trustingly in the vehicle. My chest tightens with primal dominance. She’s mine to protect. Mine to claim. And I’ll be damned if I let anyone take her from me.
Even if it costs me everything.