Chapter 15
JAX
Jax snickered when he saw the Esme and Rogue were once again in a heated glaring contest. The further she got into her pregnancy, the more irritated at them she became. Especially Rogue. Though he had a feeling that was more because Rogue was constantly telling her to stop working and go be with her man, but of course, the stubborn woman would point out that if she had to sit at home for too long, she was going to end up shooting said man; she’d hold Rogue responsible, and end up shooting him, too.
“Now, babe, don’t go threatening us with a good time,” Jax joked, drawing her angry stare. “But if you want to spend some time with me, you come on into the shop and tell me all about the problem. And if I have to kick your man’s ass, you just let me know. He’s big, but I’m fast.” He winked at her, and he saw her lips twitch, trying not to smile. He grinned, pleased. He liked his reputation as one of the jokesters in the club, mostly because otherwise everyone else would be damn growly and grumpy all the time.
“She’d probably end up shooting your ugly ass,” Rogue growled, still ticked off.
“Now, Rogue, we both know you don’t think my ass is that ugly,” Jax chided. “You stare at it enough every day. Honestly I was getting a bit nervous.” Rogue’s blue eyes narrowed icily. Jax just grinned at him, knowing full well that Rogue wouldn’t do shit to him while Esme stood there.
“Fuck off,” Rogue ordered, then turned on his heel and stormed back into the garage, letting the door slam behind him.
“What’s up his ass today?” Esme asked, clearly exasperated as she moved to sink into her chair. Jax didn’t miss the relief that washed over her at being able to sit. After seeing Royal and Harlow go through the same thing, he could only imagine how nice it was to not have so much pressure on her body by standing.
“No clue, but probably something with the twins or Scarlett,” Jax guessed.
Esme sighed. “Probably. I’m starting to think I don’t want to be around during the year the girls go to college. He’s going to be worse than he is now, mark my words.”
Jax winced. Yeah, he could see that happening. He wasn’t looking forward to it either. “Why were the two of you fighting this time?” he asked, leaning against the desk.
“He’s pushing me to stop working again,” she whined. “I’m serious that I don’t want to stop until I absolutely have to, Jax. I need to do something or I’ll go crazy. And we both know that as much as Rogue is saying it, it’s Fury pushing it through him because he knows I’ll ignore him.”
Yeah, that sounded like Fury. “You still got what, three months left?”
“Probably, but babies come when they want to. I need this baby to cook for at least another two before we’re in the safe zone. Gabe came early, so I have a feeling that this little one will too.”
“When do you find out what you’re having?” Jax asked curiously. There was a bet going on whether Gabe would have a little brother, or if the club would welcome another infant girl to their ranks.
Esme’s face split into a wide grin. “I already know, but I’m keeping it to myself until I can do something fun to tell Fury,” she replied. “He’s been after me to find out, but he freaks out the ultrasound techs with how overbearing he can be so he’s not welcome back to the ultrasound clinic until we’re closer to delivery.” She laughed. “He wasn’t happy, but I told him that if I have to find a new clinic so late in my pregnancy, I really will shoot him, so he’s relented. For now.”
Yeah, Jax couldn’t see that lasting for very long either. “I got my bets on a boy,” he told her with a grin. “So, see what you can do to help me out, huh?”
She grinned back. “I’m surprised you didn’t pick girl. Pretty much everyone else has.”
He winked. “I like to go against the grain. You know, like my entire personality.”
She snickered. “Yeah, you’re different alright.”
“Well, if you don’t want to stop working, then we’ll figure shit out, but you need to meet your man halfway or we’re going to be up shit creek, and I could do without a busted nose when he gets pissed off,” he warned her. She gave him a confused look. “He’s not going to be mad that you’re working, he’ll be pissed that we’re busy enough that you need to work to keep up,” he explained. “You know we call him Fury for a reason, right? When he gets pissed, he’s about as bad as Rogue, just a little less crazy. He would kick our asses just for thinking that you should do any more work.”
Esme sighed. “I swear, that man is a pain in my ass. How the hell is you doing your job and doing it well a reason to be pissed at anyone?” She shook her head. “Men don’t make any fucking sense.”
He grinned at her. “But we’re a lot of fun, and we keep you on your toes.”
“So do dogs,” she drawled. “And we have one, who just this morning decided the best nap spot for his muddy, dirty ass was right on top of the pile of clean clothes on the bed. I had to wash them all over again.”
Jax chuckled, unable to help himself. “He wanted to make sure you didn’t forget about him.”
“I could have done without that reminder.”
Before Jax could reply, his phone rang, and he frowned when he saw Tom’s name on the screen. “Prospect,” he answered. “Problem?”
“There’s a guy here at the gate insisting he needs his car checked over,” Tom said briskly.
Every hair on the back of Jax’s neck stood up, but he didn’t want to alarm Esme. “Did you tell him that we’re full and can’t take any more clients right now?” he asked. That was the story that the Prospects got, anyway.
“I did,” Tom confirmed. “But he’s insisting that he needs it looked at because he can’t drive any further. Told him to call one of the tow companies in town to come and help him, but he’s refusing. I tried calling Rogue, but he didn’t answer, and Razor’s returning that other car back to Ms. Kitty.” Ms. Kitty was a regular customer they helped out constantly. She was a sweet older lady whose car was always breaking down on her. She had lost her husband a few years ago, who had been a mechanic back in his day.
“What’s he look like?” Jax asked. His phone buzzed, and he looked to see Tom had sent him a picture of the man when he was looking away. He didn’t look like either Leon or Felix from the pictures Glitch and Code had searched up. Still, he didn’t have a good feeling about this, and he never doubted his instincts. “Keep him there,” Jax ordered. “I’ll be down to have a look in a few minutes.”
“Got it,” Tom acknowledged and hung up.
“Looks like I have to head to the gate to check on someone’s car,” Jax grumbled. Esme was eyeing him curiously, but didn’t voice her obvious question. Instead, she just nodded and turned back to her computer.
Jax headed into the garage and saw Rogue cleaning up his station, scowling. “Problem at the gate,” Jax told him briskly. Rogue paused and looked at him in question. “There’s some asshole at the gate demanding that we look at his car. Won’t take the answer that we’re full.”
“You think it’s one of the fuckers after your woman?” Rogue asked, moving to his tool box and pulling out his gun, checking it.
“Can’t think of anyone else it would be,” Jax replied grimly, grabbing his own gun and sliding it into the back pocket of his coveralls. He also grabbed a couple of smaller hand tools and a few rags. If by chance this was someone who really was just having car trouble, then he would do what he could to get them going. They didn’t need someone pulling their attention away. “Tom sent a picture, and it doesn’t look like her ex or the bookie’s guy, but since we don’t know the identity of the third guy, we can’t be too careful.”
Rogue nodded. “You send that picture to Code?”
Jax stopped and quickly sent it. “I have now.”
Rogue sent a text of his own as well. As they headed down the long driveway, he remarked, “I’ve let Ice and Steel know to keep an eye out. They’re both on rounds right now. Just in case this is a diversion so one of those bastards can try and sneak onto the grounds. Where is your woman right now?”
“In the clubhouse. She said she was getting some food.”
Neither of them spoke during the rest of the walk down to the gate, but the tension between them was easily felt. He checked his phone before they got there, but saw nothing from Code. He hoped his brother had seen the message, but it was too late to worry now.
He noticed first that the car was a black SUV, with tinted windows and mud on the tires. When they came out the gate, a man climbed out of the driver’s side and strode towards them looking like he thought he was important, but his hands were fidgeting, like he didn’t know what to do with them. Jax took him in quickly.
He stood at six feet, wearing a simple pair of jeans, a navy polo shirt, and dark sunglasses. On his feet were a pair of fancy black shoes that were scuffed and coated with mud. His hair was black, and slicked back, giving him a prissy, rich boy vibe. Jax instantly didn’t like him or trust him, but he merely stepped forward and said, “I hear you need a mechanic. I’m afraid we’re full for the day, but I can have a look at it and see if we can get you moving, at least into town where someone else can help you.”
The guy’s face gave nothing away. “Yeah, your guy at the gate said that,” he replied, an air to his tone that spoke to an upper-class upbringing. “I didn’t realize that mechanic shops shut the gates during business hours.”
“This one does,” Rogue said gruffly, drawing the man’s gaze. “So, what’s the problem?”
The man’s lips twisted slightly at the obvious brush-off. “I doubt you’re going to be able to tell out here,” the man replied, pushing. “Something’s rattling underneath.”
“You’d be surprised what we can diagnose out here,” Jax replied easily, taking a step toward the vehicle. The man didn’t move an inch. “Are you going to let me check, or just stand there?” he asked him, arching a brow.
Everything happened so fast that afterwards, Jax wasn’t sure how he managed to keep from getting caught in the crossfire.
Bullets flew from the passenger window. Jax cursed, even as the guy in front of him reached around to pull his own gun. “Where the fuck is she?” the man demanded, drawing down on him, but then he screamed as a bullet whizzed past him and he backpedaled fast to get behind the SUV.
“Go, go go!” Jax heard a voice in the car shout, and the SUV roared to life. Jax wanted to say that he was able to shoot out the tires and exterminate the assholes, but a bullet grazed the side of his head and he went down, pain searing across his scalp and his ears ringing.
He rolled to his side, trying to keep himself low but also help Tom and Rogue, who were shooting after the SUV as it peeled away. Then he felt it. Rumbling. He managed to turn his head despite the pain and watched as a group of motorcycles gave chase. How did his brothers get out the gate so fast? He closed his eyes, trying to stop the ringing and the pain in his head.
“Jax! Fucking hell, Jax, answer me,” he heard some shouting at him, the sound muffled and far away. He forced himself to open his eyes and saw Rogue kneeling over him, looking pissed as hell. His ears stopped ringing in time for him to hear Rogue add, “If you fucking die on me and leave me to deal with your woman, I’m going to kill you myself. I don’t need another pain in my ass right now.”
“But I’m your favorite pain in the ass,” Jax joked hoarsely. He let Rogue help him to his feet, swaying as he tried to right himself. Shit, how close had that bullet been? He could feel blood dripping down the side of his face, but he was alive, so he was fine. Besides, Doc would get him stitched up.
“You are, but I have uses for you, so if you die, I’m going to be pissed,” Rogue replied, eyeing him for a moment before he looked at Tom. “You get the plate number?”
“Yeah, sent it to Code already,” Tom said grimly. Jax looked over at him, and despite being in a shootout, as brief as it was, the prospect didn’t appear to be shaken up. He was calm as a cucumber, gun still in hand.
Rogue’s phone rang, and he pulled it out. “Speak,” he barked. After a moment he said, “Got it. Text Savage and tell him we’ll need Church in an hour to talk this shit out. Jax got grazed, so we’re going to need Doc to stitch him up and stuff a few extra brain cells back in.” Jax flipped him off, but Rogue ignored him. “Who’s in the clubhouse with the women?” He listened for a moment. “Alright, tell Sam to keep an eye on them. And let Ice and Steel know we’ll need them in an hour.” Then he hung up. “Code said the plate was stolen, so that’s a dead end. He’s still running the picture.” He looked at Tom. “You good?”
Tom nodded. “Fine.”
Rogue gave a curt nod. “Good. Jax, you good to walk back up?”
Jax nodded, but cursed at the fresh wave of pain in his head. “Yeah, should be. Fuck, this hurts.”
“Surprised your head’s still attached, since it’s full of hot air most of the time,” Rogue replied drily.
“Love you too, asshole,” Jax replied sweetly. Then he turned and saw the closed gate. “Wait, if the gate’s closed, who the hell went after those assholes?” The compound had a second exit that no one else knew about, but there was no way in hell that they got to the bikes that fast. There was a reason it was rarely, if ever, used.
Rogue scowled. “Looks like the Predators have come to visit,” he replied darkly.
Jax couldn’t help but laugh, even with the pain in his head and the blood on his face. The twins loved to mess with Rogue and say that Scarlett would leave him for one of them. Everyone knew that would never happen, but it got under Rogue’s skin, and that was all the twins needed. Still, right now, Jax was perfectly happy to have them around since they were the ones giving chase to the bastard.
When they reached the clubhouse, he walked inside and headed straight for Doc’s infirmary. Doc just pointed to the waiting medical bed and drawled, “Sit your ass down so I can get you stitched up. I’d offer a brain scan, but we all know that your brain is smaller than the rest of ours so I’ll bypass that.”
Jax rolled his eyes. “Fuck off,” he huffed. He barely even winced as Doc worked to get him cleaned and stitched up. Just as Doc finished, the door opened and in strode Saylor, who looked worried, and Savage and Rogue right behind her.
Saylor immediately moved to his side. “Are you alright?” she demanded, looking at the stitches carefully, her hand gripping his tight.
Jax accepted the warmth that spread in his chest knowing she was concerned for him. “I’m fine,” he assured her. “Just a scratch. I’m still as pretty as ever, and now I have a battle scar to impress you,” he added with a wicked grin.
Saylor rolled her eyes. “Uh huh, sure.”
“We need to get some details from you, brother,” Savage interjected. “You feel up to talking?”
“Sure,” he said with a nod.
“Good.” Savage looked at Saylor. “I assume if I tell you to leave, you’re going to ignore me?” She leveled him with a cool stare, and Savage muttered something under his breath. “Fine.” He looked at Jax. “Did you get a good look at the guy who got out of the car?”
“Yeah,” Jax answered. He shared all the details he could remember. Then looked at Saylor. “Does he sound familiar to you?”
She shook her head. “No one like that rings a bell. Are you sure they were after me?”
“The man said ‘where’s the girl’, and you’re the only one with anyone after them currently,” Rogue told her bluntly.
She looked at him and then back at Jax, her lips thinning. “I guess that answers that.”
“There was a second man in the car,” Savage prompted, looking at Jax expectantly.
Jax nodded. “I wasn’t at a good angle to see who him. The window rolled down super quick, and then there were bullets flying and I was focused on the asshole in front of me.” He looked at Rogue. “Did you get a look at him?”
Rogue shook his head. “The inside was darkened, and I ducked down for cover before I started firing back. Voice sounded familiar though.”
“Was it Leon?” Saylor asked. She looked at Jax. “You heard him yelling at us in the clearing. Did it sound like the same man?”
Jax thought about it. “It could have been,” he hedged. “But honestly, with so many shots , I can’t be sure.”
“We’ll hope that the Predators catch them and bring them back to us,” Savage said. “Church is in an hour. You good for that?” Jax nodded. “Good.” Then Savage stepped around Saylor and clapped him on the shoulder. “Glad you’re okay, brother. As ugly as your face is, we’d probably miss it around here.”
Jax couldn’t help but laugh. “So many of you telling me about my face, I’m thinking you like it more than you’re ready to admit,” he joked. “At least one of us has to be pretty around here.” Saylor rolled her eyes and Rogue and Savage ignored him, heading out the door.
“Don’t let the stitches get wet,” Doc ordered, drawing his attention. He looked at Saylor. “You know how to remove stitches?” She nodded. “Good. If I’m not around, they can come out in about a week. Until then, watch his head, and as much as you want to punch him, aim below the neck.”
“Jeez, thanks, man,” Jax huffed sarcastically.
Doc grinned at him. “Just looking out for you, brother. Now, get the hell out so I can clean this shit up before Church.”
Jax stood from the medical bed and pulled Saylor toward the door, his fingers intertwined with hers. As soon as they walked out, he heard the noise and tried not to groan. He was really hoping that he would get a few more minutes alone with Saylor before everything went to shit.
“If I’d have known you had this much fun going on, I’d have made it back sooner,” a loud voice boomed excitedly.
“We locked the gate, not sure how your ugly ass made it in,” Jax heard Savage remark.
“Awww, did you miss me, big guy? I know, I’m so pretty to look at, but we have to spread the gorgeous that is me around, you know. Can’t hide this face and body from those that need to see it.”
“Who the hell is that?” she asked Jax quietly as they made their way forward.
“That is one of the reasons you’re about to see Rogue lose his shit,” Jax answered, unable to hide his grin. When they walked out into the common room and he saw the Predators filing in, and the twins grinning their faces off as they came up the steps from the gym, he knew things were about to get interesting.