Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
jenna
The bell rings, signaling that the school day is officially over.
The classroom looks good, but I’m making sure to put everything in its place and leave it ready for Monday morning.
Plopping myself down into my chair I get to work on all of the tasks I haven’t been able to get to throughout the day.
Answering emails, planning and prepping my lessons for the following week, calling parents.
I’m on a mission to get this all done, so I won’t have to take it home with me and ruin my weekend plans of doing nothing.
I turn to reply, “You too! Tell your wife and that sweet baby of yours hello for me.” With that, I’m on my way to the car, finally free to spend my weekend however I want.
Once I’m outside the front doors of the school, the cold air instantly hits my skin, leaving goosebumps all over my body.
This morning, in my hurry, I quickly threw on my favorite green maxi dress, a white cardigan, and my cute sneakers—fashionable and comfortable, but not suitable for this type of weather.
I start walking faster to my car, the only one still left in this creepy parking lot.
The flickering lights around the parking area give me an anxious, visceral feeling I can’t shake.
I glance around the lot, making sure I’m alone, and relax a bit when I don’t see anyone in sight.
I almost drop my keys when the loud sound of a motorcycle roars up the street, startling me.
That’s weird—why would anyone be at the school this late at night?
Maybe it’s Blaze and Marley, or Cal needing something for Sarah?
But that bad feeling sits heavy in my stomach, so I get in my car and lock my doors just as the motorcycle pulls around to the front of the building.
I sit and watch, unable to get a good look at the man’s face when he takes off his helmet, but I focus on what’s on his back.
I take a moment, examining the name and the large image of a Reaper with blood dripping from its mouth, covering the back of his leather vest. It looks nothing like the vests Axel and his club were wearing last night.
I take out my phone and dial Marley. The man pulls out his phone and looks to be making a call as well, seemingly unaware of my presence just a few yards away.
Marley answers on the second ring. “Hey, Jen, where are you? It’s late, and I already ordered Chinese!” I can imagine her doing a little happy dance at the thought of food.
“I’m still at school, but Mar, I just got into my car, and a guy on a motorcycle who looks to be part of a motorcycle club pulled into the parking lot.
I’m the only one here except for the janitor.
Do you have any idea why he’d be here this late?
” I say, staring at the man. He’s just hung up his call and is getting off his bike.
“His cut says Reaper MC on it. Do you know him by chance?”
The gasp on the other end of the line sends a shiver down my spine. Marley’s voice comes through the phone, deathly serious. “Jenna, stay in your car and don’t get out for any reason. Matter of fact start driving here, now!”
I clench my hand into a fist, trying to focus my anxiousness on something else. I hear Marley talking to someone, but it’s not me.
“You’re really starting to freak me out,” I say as the man turns and catches sight of my car. The parking lot is dimly lit, so I’m not sure he can even see me.
“Hey, Teach, can you hear me?” It’s not Marley on the phone anymore; it’s a voice I don’t recognize. “Jenna, my name is Jax. I’m from the club. Can you tell me what you see? What’s going on?”
My throat catches as the man smiles in my direction.
Shit, he can totally see me. I look down at my door handle, making sure it’s locked, and glance around for anything in my car I can use to protect myself.
I find a stick of deodorant and a phone cord.
I make a mental note to remedy my ill-equipped car in the future.
The man sets his helmet down on the seat of his bike and starts to saunter over to my car.
“He’s coming over to the car. I’m going to put you on speaker and set my phone down, okay?” I do what I say without waiting for a response and set the phone face down on my thigh so the man can’t see the light from the screen.
“Jenna, goddammit, don’t open your door. Drive away,” Jax roars through the phone.
But it’s too late. The man is at my window.
The man is a giant—he must be 6’4” and looks like he works out at least three times a day.
His biceps are bigger than my head. He bends down, and I notice his extremely greasy long brown hair tied up in a bun and a scraggly beard that really needs to be tended to.
He looks at me with eyes as black as the night, seemingly empty, and a smile that makes my stomach churn.
“Hi, Miss. I hope I didn’t scare you. I’m just looking for someone. Think you can help me?” he says in a deep, scratchy voice.
I take a deep breath to stop my voice from shaking. “I’m sorry. Everyone’s gone home for the night. You might want to check back on Monday.” I’m happy about the window between us, but it honestly doesn’t feel like enough separation.
“Well, shit. I knew it was a little late but thought I’d try anyway,” he says as he scratches his scruffy chin and stands to his full height.
I should start my car, say goodbye, and leave, but something inside me is extremely curious about who he’s here to see.
“Who are you looking for? Maybe I can tell them you were looking for them on Monday,” I say as sweetly as possible.
He eyes me for a minute and then nods. “Her name is Jenna Waters. You know her? I guess she teaches here.”
I think my heart stops in my chest. Why in the world would this man be looking for me? I’ve never seen him in my life. Think, Jenna. Think. Keep talking so he doesn’t get suspicious.
“Oh yeah, I know Ms. Waters. I’ll let her know that Mr.…” I pause for his name.
“Death,” he states.
“Uh… that Death was here to see her.” I give him a big smile, shoving my keys into the ignition to get the hell out of here.
“Wait, can you give her a message for me?” he says. I nearly groan. All I want is to go home and forget this whole creepy exchange ever happened.
“Sure, what’s the message?” I ask, watching as he bends back down so his face is level with mine in the window. Catching sight of his cut, I notice a patch similar to Axel’s—Enforcer.
“Tell her to let her new MC friends know the Reapers are moving in, and if they don’t want a war, they’ll leave our fucking brothers alone,” he snarls at me. I gasp at the venom he spews with every word.
“Oh, and Jenna,” he says with a straight face, obviously catching on to my lie, “you really shouldn’t be out here alone this late at night.
Never know what could happen.” With that, he taps my window with his knuckle and saunters back to where he parked.
I can’t breathe, my hands are shaking and I feel like I’m going to throw up.
How the hell did I get wrapped up in all of this?
In less than 24 hours of Marley taking me to that party I’m accosted by a terrifying stranger who is using me to send his threatening messages? Of course, because this is what happens when you hang out with bikers.
“Jenna!” Jax’s voice roars through the car. I grab my phone off my lap, staring at the call I completely forgot about.
“I’m okay. Did you hear all of that?” I say, my voice still shaking. God, I hate how scared he made me.
“I heard it all. I already called the club. Are you okay to drive?” Jax’s voice is a mix of worry and annoyance.
“Yeah, I think I’m fine,” I reply softly, though I need a moment to process what just happened.
“Okay, get to the apartment now. Don’t make any stops. You hear me?”
I take a deep breath, counting my breaths until they even out and I feel like I can drive again. “I hear you. Be there soon.”
The line goes dead, and I sit in my car in silence. What the hell have I gotten myself involved in? I shake my head, trying to pull it together, and put the car in drive. I need to get out of here.
I drive in silence until I’m in front of my apartment building. While looking for a parking spot, I notice four motorcycles parked in front of the door that leads up to our apartment. Part of me doesn’t want to go up. I want to get far away from whatever mess I’ve been dragged into.
I park, turn off the car, and hear my phone chime in the passenger seat.
Axel
Where are you?
Clearly, he’s already heard about my new “friend” Death.
I’m not in the mood for Axel right now. I already have to go into my apartment and deal with the other members of his club.
I lightly bang the back of my head against the headrest and curse myself for even thinking I was going to have a chill night in with Marley.
The universe just loves to watch me squirm.
My emotions are all over the place, so I settle on sending a short text to let him know I’m safe.
Jenna
I just pulled up to my apartment. How did you get my number, stalker?
I hit send and rest my head back on the seat. I just need a few moments to myself before facing the onslaught of questions waiting for me inside.
Just as I relax, the door to the apartments flies open, and a large figure barrels out, heading straight for me. What is it with large men accosting me in my car tonight?
The figure gets closer, and I realize it’s Axel… here at my apartment, looking extremely pissed.
“Open the door, Angel,” he orders even before reaching my car.
I hesitate but ultimately unlock the door and get out.
“Okay, before you get all macho-man on me, you should know I did nothing wrong. I literally just walked to my car—”
Before I can finish my sentence, Axel’s hands are on my body, and his mouth is fused to mine. This kiss isn’t sweet; it’s intense, soul-crushing.
After the evening I’ve had, I don’t want to fight Axel or push him away.
I melt into his body, letting his embrace soothe my frayed nerves.
When I try to pull back and catch my breath, Axel pulls me closer.
Having his arms wrapped around me makes me feel like they can protect me from anything or anyone.
He finally moves back just enough so our foreheads are touching. I take a deep breath of his masculine scent and try to focus on what I was saying before he interrupted me. “Scared me tonight, babe.”
I blink up at him, confused. We’ve known each other for less than 24 hours, so why is he so worried about me? And what’s with all the pet names?
“I’m fine. Really, he just scared me. But I’ll be okay, I promise. You didn’t have to come here. You can go—I just need to get inside and wash today off,” I say in a rush, trying to downplay everything. Whatever this is right now between us is what got me in this mess in the first place.
Axel’s eyes flare with fury. “You think I’m going to leave you here without me?
Absolutely not. They know who you are now.
You’re a part of this because of the club.
The Reapers think you have ties to us and showed tonight that they’re willing to go to any length to get what they want—even harassing you at a fucking school.
” His jaw twitches with rage as he tries to keep his cool.
I place my hands on his chest and look up into his eyes. His jaw ticks again as he turns us towards the apartment building. Tucking me into his side, he puts his arm over my shoulder, keeping me close to his body.
I let out a breath, feeling some of the tension leave my shoulders as I lean into him. My brain is telling me that I need to pull away, put some distance between us, but my body isn’t quite following along.
“Thank you for being here. I know you don’t know me, but having you here is calming my nerves. I can’t explain it, but there’s something about you,” I sigh as we walk through the door.
“Yeah, babe. I feel it too.” He kisses the top of my head and lets out a rough sigh. “When I got the call that you were in trouble…” He shakes his head like he’s trying to get rid of a bad thought. “Shit, I had to make sure you were safe for myself.” Axel looks down at me with his piercing eyes.
“Well, I’m fine. Truly I am,” I say, smiling to lighten the mood. “But what I don’t understand is—why me? I only just heard about you guys yesterday. I’m not a part of the club,”
“Babe, that’s something I’m going to figure out. I’m sorry I didn’t have someone with you. Fuck, I didn’t think you were someone they’d connect to us, honestly,” he says, his expression darkening for a moment before shifting the conversation. “Come on, your food just got here.”
He chuckles as my stomach growls loudly, making me realize how hungry I really am.