Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
axel
I can hear my phone buzzing, but all I want is for it to stop so I can go back to sleep.
It’s dark in my room except for the light peeking out the top of my blackout curtains.
I should get up, but I was up late last night, and I need a few more minutes to shut the world out.
The annoying sound keeps going and seems egregiously loud in this silent room.
When the buzzing finally stops, I roll over and try to close my eyes again, basking in the silence.
But of course, I can’t fall back asleep.
Ever since Jenna left, I can’t sleep at night.
Something about having her next to me brought a calm I haven’t been able to replace.
I reach up, putting my hand behind my head and staring at the bare ceiling.
Fuck, I miss her.
The past four months have been hell. I pretty much go to the garage, get shit done for the club, and then come back here to pass out.
Only to start it all again the next day.
I still have a prospect tailing Jenna full-time; he keeps an eye on her, and it gives me peace of mind.
With all the Reaper shit still going on, I can’t have her out there unprotected.
Although today, I had to pull Shiny from her detail. She’s with Marley all day anyway, so she’s covered. Blaze keeps tabs on that woman like a psycho. But I guess that’s what love does to you.
Dragging myself out of bed, I head to the bathroom and turn on the shower, making sure the water is hot before stepping in.
The last few months have been quiet with the club.
Too quiet, if I’m being honest. After the fight at Tipsy, the Reapers have seemingly vanished.
They haven’t even popped up creeping around town.
Something’s up, and it’s leaving us all constantly checking our backs.
I close my eyes and lightly shake my head.
This is what they want. They want us so fucking paranoid that we can’t even see their attack.
That’s why I think today is a bad fucking idea.
If we were smart, we’d have this wedding here in the compound.
But Marley has to have the wedding at some fancy venue on the far end of town.
I’ve spent the last three days making sure we have proper security and prepping all of my men accordingly.
Even with catching the club rat, I have a feeling we aren’t out of the woods yet.
Tex, one of the newer prospects, had been caught making calls to a number in Reaper territory.
When Ace traced the call, it led straight to the snake himself, Red.
I had to put an end to the treachery, so I took him out like the rat he was.
Just the thought of that motherfucker makes my blood boil.
He put this club in danger. He put everyone in danger.
I get out of the shower and check my personal phone; no notifications are there.
I grab my work cell and see two missed calls—one from a local tow company and another from a random number.
It’s Saturday, and we’re closed, so it sucks to be the sorry fucker that got towed to our shop.
I toss the phone on my bed and head over to where D has hung up my suit.
I get my pants and dress shirt on, only to hear my phone buzz again.
Damn, someone isn’t getting the hint. Before I pick it up, the buzzing stops, and a voicemail appears.
I don’t know why I feel obligated to open it.
Shit, I couldn’t even work today if I wanted to.
The dial tone beeps, and then I hear it—her silky voice. The sound travels straight to my heart, tightening in my chest. Her voice sounds a little shaky and unsure as she leaves a message.
“Hi, um, this is a message for the mechanic for Gears her teeth are chattering, and her lips are almost blue.
“No, Mar, I have to go. S-see you at the ceremony.” Jenna removes the phone from her ear and holds it at her side. We just stand there staring at each other for a minute, both not quite sure how to handle this. Finally, she breaks the silence.
“Did someone send you to help me? Because I have this h-handled,” she says, waving a hand toward the car. The tips of her fingers are almost blue from how cold she must be. How long has she been here, and why didn’t she wait in the car?
“I can see that,” I reply. “Why didn’t you wait in your car?”
“Answer my question first,” Jenna shoots back, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms.
There’s my little badass.
“No one sent me,” I say, shaking my phone in the air. “Got a voicemail saying a stubborn teacher needed some help.” I meet her eyes again, and this time they widen when realization hits.
“Wait, you’re the mechanic the tow truck driver had me call?” She glances around at the shop. “I didn’t know.” Her voice drops to a whisper.
“Babe, now you have to answer my question.” I close the distance between us and wrap my arms around her.
She’s ice cold and stiffens at first, but quickly sinks into me as I hold her tight.
“Why didn’t you wait in your car? You’re freezing.
Where’s your jacket?” I pull my shop keys from my pocket, still not letting her go, and open the front door.
Warmth spills out, and Jenna practically moans in gratitude.
“T-the driver left with the keys. I think it was an accident, and by the time I realized, he had already taken off. I tried c-calling him a few times, but the call kept dropping,” she says through chattering teeth.
Her body is trembling so hard I don’t know how she’s even standing.
I’m going to have a word with whoever the fuck left her stranded here.
“I have a blanket in my office. You okay to walk with me and get it?” I ask, my voice low as I bury my face in her hair. The familiar scent of lavender and vanilla washes over me, and the tightness in my chest starts to ease.
“Y-yes, please,” she stammers, still shaking, as we make our way toward the back of the shop. My office sits at the far side of the garage, with a large window looking out into the work area.
“I tried to get a ride service to pick me up, but you have the worst service h-here. None of my apps would open,” Jenna grumbles. She looks down at her phone and then suddenly smacks her forehead.
“The cake.” She turns abruptly out of my arms and starts heading back toward the entrance. Before she gets too far, I slide my arm around her waist and pull her back, grounding her.
“What?” I ask, searching her beautifully scrunched face.
“The cake! That’s the only reason I was driving out here. It’s in my car… but I don’t have my keys. Oh God, Marley is going to freak!” Her voice pitches higher with every word, her panic rising.
“Can’t do anything about it right now. Let’s get that blanket first, and then we’ll figure everything out from there.” I turn us back toward my office. Jenna’s hands grip my suit jacket for warmth, her trembling still constant.
As we walk, I can feel her putting space between us. It’s like she just remembered we haven’t spoken in months. I tighten my arm around her waist, unwilling to let her pull away.
I unlock the blue metal door and hold it open for her.
My office isn’t large, just big enough for a desk and two extra chairs for meetings.
I grab a soft, plush black blanket from the basket under my desk.
Sierra keeps extra gloves, socks, blankets, and other necessities for working in a cold garage during the winter months.
“Here,” I say, draping the blanket around Jenna’s shoulders as she sits in one of the chairs across from my desk. Unconsciously, I rub my hands up and down her arms, trying to warm her.
“Thank you,” she says shyly as a shiver runs down her body.
I need to put some space between us, I need to talk to her about everything that’s happened with us.
I may not get another chance. I decide to sit in my chair, rolling myself forward until my legs are under the desk.
Leaning forward with my elbows on the smooth wood, I rake my hands through my hair.
Jenna glances at me quickly, then averts her eyes to look around the room, clearly trying to avoid the conversation hanging in the air.