24. Jaxon
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Jaxon
It wasn’t just yelling—he was hurting Lila.
I froze for a second, my breath catching in my chest. She was standing there, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her head lowered, as if trying to shrink into herself.
Nate’s words hit her like fists.
“Why are you acting like this, Lila?” His voice was low, but there was no mistaking the anger in it. “Flirting with all of them like it’s nothing! Like you’re just out there throwing yourself at them!”
I could feel my blood boil.
I wanted to say something, to step in right away, but I knew if I did, it would escalate. Lila was clearly upset, her face a mix of shock and hurt as Nate’s words cut deeper and deeper.
Her eyes glistened, but she didn’t let the tears fall.
“Stop it, Nate,” she said quietly, but I could hear the tremor in her voice. “Please.”
But he was on a roll now. “You think I don’t see it? You think I don’t see how you look at them? How you let them get so close to you? You’ve been flirting with Jaxon, Colt, and Ryan all night. You think you can play all of us like this and nothing’s going to happen? You think it’s just fun for you? It’s not. I know you’ve been through shit, but this…”
Lila stepped back a little, as if she could physically distance herself from the words. Her lip trembled, but she didn’t speak.
She just looked at him, her silence cutting deeper than any of his accusations.
That was enough.
My fists clenched, and my heart pounded in my chest. I couldn’t just stand there.
I had to do something, so I moved.
Fast.
“Nate,” I said, my voice hard, colder than it had been all night. My words sliced through the tension between them. “That’s enough.”
He spun around to face me, his face flushed with rage. “What the hell are you doing here, Jaxon? Stay out of this.”
I didn’t move, didn’t flinch.
“No. I’m not going to stay out of it.” My voice was steady, but I was seething. “You’re way out of line, man. That kind of shit isn’t gonna fly.”
Nate’s eyes narrowed, and I saw the muscles in his jaw twitch. He stepped toward me, his chest puffing out. “Stay out of it, Jaxon. This is between me and my sister.”
I didn’t back down. “No, it’s between you and your sister and the way you’re treating her. This isn’t the way to handle things, man. You don’t get to talk to her like that.”
I saw his fist ball up at his side, and I knew exactly what was coming.
He was about to take a swing, and I’d been through enough of these situations to know how to deal with it. I didn’t hesitate.
As soon as his fist came flying toward me, I caught his wrist mid-air, twisting his arm so it was pinned behind his back. He let out a grunt of frustration, trying to jerk away, but I held him in place, my grip firm and unyielding.
“You don’t get to treat her like that, Nate,” I growled. “Not while I’m standing here. Not ever.”
He struggled in my hold, his anger burning in his eyes. “You think you can take me, Jaxon? You think you’re so much better than me?”
I didn’t answer. I didn’t need to.
My silence was enough.
Lila was standing behind me now.
“Nate, please.” She sounded exhausted. She was drained, physically and emotionally. “This isn’t you. I don’t want to fight with you.”
The moment she spoke, her voice soft but pleading, something shifted in Nate’s expression. For a split second, his rage faltered, replaced by a flicker of regret.
But it didn’t last.
His pride was too thick, his anger too far gone.
“Don’t you dare try to guilt me, Lila,” he snapped, his voice cracking slightly. “You brought this on yourself.”
“Nate, that’s enough,” I said again, my patience running razor thin. “You’re drunk, and you’re saying things you’ll regret. Let’s get you out of here before you do something even worse.”
He tried to jerk away from my hold, but I tightened my grip, keeping him steady. “I don’t need you to tell me what to do, Jaxon! She’s my sister. This is my business.”
“You’re making it mine when you act like this,” I shot back, my voice like steel. “You’re too drunk to even know what you’re saying.”
“Nate, please,” Lila said again, her voice trembling. “Just stop.”
I didn’t wait for him to argue further. I nodded toward the ballroom door.
“Stay here, Lila,” I said, not taking my eyes off Nate. “I’ll handle this.”
Her hesitation was palpable, but eventually, she nodded.
“Okay,” she whispered.
I began steering Nate toward the exit, his drunken resistance nothing I couldn’t handle. He grumbled under his breath, still fuming, but he didn’t try to fight me this time.
Once we reached the front of the building, I flagged down one of the valet attendants.
“I need a car for him,” I said, my tone leaving no room for questions. “Now.”
The valet nodded quickly, disappearing to retrieve one of the town cars the event organizers had on standby for situations just like this.
“You’re so damn righteous, huh?” Nate muttered, his words slurring together. “Big, tough Jaxon, swooping in to save the day.”
I ignored him, keeping my grip on his arm. He was stumbling now, his anger giving way to exhaustion, though his mouth was still running. “You think you’re a hero or something? You don’t even know what’s going on between her and…”
“I know enough,” I interrupted sharply. “I know she’s your sister, and you’re supposed to protect her, not tear her down.”
The car pulled up, and I opened the door, practically shoving him inside.
He sat there, glaring up at me, but the fight in him was gone.
He looked more like a sulking child than the angry man from moments ago.
“I’ll have someone pick up your car in the morning,” I said, my voice firm. “Go home, Nate. Sleep it off.”
He didn’t respond, just muttered something under his breath as the driver pulled away, leaving me standing there in the cold.
I let out a long breath, running a hand through my hair. My heart was still pounding, the adrenaline from the confrontation making it hard to think straight. But when I turned back toward the garden, the only thought in my mind was Lila.
I found her where I’d left her, leaning against the stone railing. Her arms were wrapped around herself, and she was staring down at the ground, her expression distant and broken.
“Lila,” I said softly as I approached.
She looked up, and the pain in her eyes hit me like a punch to the gut.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she said quietly. “He’s my brother.”
“I know,” I said, stopping a few feet away, giving her space. “But he was out of control, and he was hurting you. I wasn’t going to just stand there and let that happen.”
She let out a shaky breath, her shoulders slumping. “He doesn’t even know, Jaxon. About… everything. He doesn’t know what’s been going on, and he’s already so angry.”
I frowned, stepping closer. “Then why is he acting like this?”
She shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. “Because he thinks I’m making a mess of my life. Again. And maybe he’s right.”
“Don’t say that,” I said firmly. I reached out, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. “You’re not making a mess, Lila. You’re figuring things out. That’s allowed.”
She looked up at me, her hazel eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “I don’t even know where to start, Jaxon. Everything feels so… complicated.”
I hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Then start with this,” I said softly. “You’re not alone in this, Lila. You’ve got people who care about you. Me, Ryan, Colt… we’re here for you. Even Nate, when he’s sober and thinking straight.”
Her lip trembled, and for a moment, I thought she might break down. But then she nodded, her shoulders relaxing just a fraction.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “Can we get out of here?”
I nodded. “Whatever you want.”