Chapter 19
SAYLOR
The moment Saylor reached the edge of the tree line where the open clearing began, she sprang into action. Using her foot, she kicked up a cloud of dirt and rocks at Leon, and she heard him curse in outrage as she ran. “Saylor!” he roared, and she heard him coming after her.
Saylor didn’t look back, weaving through the trees as much as she could. She had to get back to the clubhouse, but she would have to circle the grounds without Leon catching her. Determination had her picking up speed. Her lungs burned, her feet pounded on the ground, and she could hear Leon chasing after her, crashing through the forest.
“I’m going to kill you!” he screamed vehemently. A shot rang out, and a tree far to her right exploded with the impact. She still ducked out of reflex, but she didn’t slow. She looked around and saw the clubhouse up ahead. She was getting closer.
But she had no time to celebrate because just outside the clearing, stepped another man, one she’d never seen before. The gun in his hand was pointed at the head of one of the twins, his arm wrapped around her neck in a chokehold. She was struggling with all her might, but the man pressed it tighter to her temple. Saylor skidded to a stop, frozen in horror. She was pretty sure it was Win he had a hold of, the side of her head sticky with blood from where he must have hit her with his gun. “Take one more step, and she dies,” the man warned her dangerously, in a voice devoid of emotion.
Saylor heard Leon getting closer, and she knew she had to make a decision. “Let her go,” she gasped to the man, holding his stare. “She’s not part of this. She’s just a kid.”
“Like I give a fuck,” the man spat. “She’s gonna help me get what I want, and then get me the hell out of here. I might even let her live, but I want that book. I suggest you give it to me, or the girl dies.” He pressed the barrel even tighter to her head, and Win let out a whimper before she cut it off and stilled.
“I don’t have it,” Saylor told him as calmly as she could, even as Leon slowed behind her, close enough that she turned her body to see both men. Leon was panting, clearly not used to running so much. “The MC has it,” she continued. She had to assume that this was the third man that was after her. The one who shot at her at the cafe. “One of whom is this girl’s father, and he’s going to be fucking pissed when he sees what you did to her.”
The man’s cold eyes never moved from hers. “Well, if that’s the case, perhaps I should demonstrate what will happen if they don’t get me the book…” He trailed off, and Saylor’s entire body froze with terror as his finger tightened on the trigger. She knew that, unlike Leon, this man would not miss. Win would be dead before she hit the ground.
Suddenly, Leon let out a screech of pain, and another voice screamed, “Win, now!”
The man holding Win loosen his chokehold just enough for her to let out a scream of determination, and then she managed to flip the big man over her shoulder, sending them both to the ground. Saylor was amazed that the gun didn’t go off, and Win scrambled away from the man before he could regain his bearings to grab her again. Saylor rushed toward her, helping her to her feet. Then she saw Wren emerge from behind a tree, her face a mask of hardened determination. “You need to run,” Saylor told them both. “Get the men. Go. Now.”
“We’re not leaving you,” Wren snapped at her. Win gave a weak nod, but Saylor could see she was fighting to keep herself upright. Fuck.
“Yes, you are,” she hissed. “Your sister needs medical attention. She needs to be your top priority right now. We need your father and the other guys. I’ll hold them off. Go.” She turned and saw that both Leon and the new man were getting up, everything about them screaming danger. Leon looked incensed, while the other man looked like he was envisioning her murdered corpse on the ground.
She heard the girls shuffling back, and then their footfalls picking up the pace. She had to trust that they were getting away, which left her alone with these two fuckers. What she needed was to separate them from their guns. She could handle them on her own, but if they had their guns in hand, she was at a serious disadvantage. She’d figure something out. If she failed she would be dead, and she didn’t relish dying this way.
“You are far more trouble than you’re worth,” the new man said, advancing on her and lifting his gun. “All because you couldn’t mind your own damn business.”
“I believe that was Leon, not me,” she corrected him tightly. “He was the one that blackmailed you, not me. I was trying to get back at him for beating me, and I thought I was taking his casino cheats.”
“Good point,” he deadpanned. Then he turned on his heel, and she watched in shock as he fired his gun, dropping Leon where he stood, a bullet lodged between his eyes. Holy shit. “There, that’s one problem taken care of,” the man said calmly, turning back to her. “Now, the book. I’m not leaving without it. And unless you want the corpse of every man, woman, and child on this compound used as kindling when I burn this place to the ground you’re going to make sure I get it.” He lifted his gun and aimed it at her again.
A shot cracked through air, and the man hissed as he ducked, holding his cheek. Saylor hunched over, quickly jumping back and turning to run, but stopped when she saw Tom appear from the trees, his own gun drawn as he approached the man now crouched down on the ground. But the moment Tom got close enough, the man released a low snarl and launched himself at him.
Saylor didn’t know what to do, but she couldn’t leave Tom to handle this alone. She rushed forward but hit the ground when the gun went off again. She heard them grunting and the sound of fists on flesh, and when she looked up, she saw that the man was getting the upper hand, straddling Tom, while Tom struggled to hold his arm back so he couldn’t point the gun the man was still somehow clutching in his hand. Tom’s weapon was nowhere to be seen. She scrambled to her feet, running forward, but then a wild cry filled the air, and a figure slammed into the man hard enough to send them both toppling away from Tom. It also set the gun off again.
“No!” Tom screamed, terror and pain in his voice as he rushed to his feet. Saylor ran past him toward the pair, her heart in her throat.
The man threw off a limp Wren, her body landing with a thud on the ground as he moved to get to his feet. Saylor let out a scream of her own, one of rage and determination as she launched herself at him, taking him down, not even caring that the gun went off yet again, the singe of the bullet along her bicep nothing more than a slight irritation. She was too angry, too determined to make him pay.
Every ounce of her training rose inside her, and she managed to get him pinned, punching him hard in the face; she dug her knee into his wrist, making him drop the gun with a groan of pain. She wailed on his face a few more times, red tinging her vision. He hurt Karissa and Glitch, and now both of the twins. People who were innocent in all of this. He didn’t deserve to live. She’d gladly go to jail for murder.
“Saylor, stop,” Tom’s yell penetrated the red haze as he grabbed ahold of her, pulling her away. “Stop,” he ordered again when she struggled. “You can’t kill him. We need answers, okay?” She stilled, knowing he was right, but it took another couple of seconds before she gathered herself enough to acknowledge him, and he pulled away. Then he was turning and heading for Wren, her prone form unmoving.
Saylor followed him. Tom checked her over, a grim look on his face, and fear in his eyes. “She’s alive,” he told her. “It looks like the bullet grazed her, but she’s out cold.”
Saylor knelt beside him, but turned her head when she heard the other man groan as he tried to rise, but then fall back to the ground, moaning in pain. She picked up his gun from where it lay discarded, and thought again that she could handle living in a prison cell for the rest of her life just to get to end his.
“Saylor!” Jax’s voice screamed, drawing her attention. She turned to see the MC running toward them. Leading the pack was Jax, but close behind him was Rogue, who looked to be seconds away from committing murder. She had to guess Win made it back to the clubhouse. When his gaze landed on Tom, rising to stand with an unconscious Wren in his arms, he let out a roar that had her eyes widening and even backing up a step. Holy shit, that was another level of rage.
Rogue never stopped until he was taking Wren from Tom’s arms with a snarl. Tom swallowed hard, but he didn’t cower, not even when Rogue shot him a look that would have a normal man shitting himself. Then Rogue turned on his heel, and she heard Savage order, “Get her to Doc, Rogue. He’s already seeing to Scarlett and Win.”
Rogue took off without looking back, and she saw Ice run after him. She wondered if that was to make sure he didn’t lose his shit. But then she found herself in Jax’s arms, and that thought was gone just as quickly.
“Are you alright?” Jax demanded, pulling her back so he could check her over. “Where are you hurt?” Then his gaze landed on her bleeding arm, and his eyes widened in panic.
“It’s just a graze,” she rushed to assure him as he gently gripped her bicep to inspect it. “I’m fine. Jax, Karissa and Glitch?—”
“Their men have them,” Jax interrupted, dropping her arm and hauling her back into him, squeezing her tight, his heart pounding under her ear. “They’re fine. Fuck, we heard the shots, and I thought for sure you were dead. Never been so fucking scared in my life.”
Him and her both. “I’m fine,” she breathed, closing her eyes and sinking into him.
“Get this piece of shit down to the Box,” Savage barked. “We’ll deal with him shortly. Jax, get Saylor back to the clubhouse. Tom, get your ass back to Church. We need to debrief you.”
People moved to comply, and Saylor forced herself to open her eyes and look around. She saw the Dragons members but didn’t see any of the Predators. She frowned, wondering where they were, but then Jax scooped her up, derailing her train of thought. She tried to tell herself she should be pushing him away and telling him she could walk. She was still wired, and she knew it wouldn’t be long before she passed out. But instead she remained quiet.
When they finally made it back to the clubhouse, she realized the Predators were all there, looking grim as they milled around both Karissa and Glitch, who were sitting on the couches. Karissa’s temple already stitched, and Glitch held an ice pack to her head, a pained look on her face.
Saylor sighed with relief, seeing that they were alright. “Put me down,” she ordered Jax. He looked like he wanted to argue, but he gave in and set her on her feet. She moved quickly toward the other women. “Thank God you’re alright,” she breathed when she reached them.
“Glad to see you’re the same,” Karissa said with a pained smile.
There was a commotion behind her, and they turned to see Fury and Steel dragging the bloodied and bruised man, who was struggling wildly. “Let go of me!” he screamed. “Don’t you know who I am?”
“Oh goody,” Taz said dramatically as he rubbed his hands together. “A new toy.” A few people chuckled while most rolled their eyes. Fury and Steel completely ignored him and dragged the still screaming man down the basement steps. Huh, looked like the Box was down in the basement somewhere.
Suddenly, stomping footsteps sounded, Rogue still looked like a thundercloud as he left the infirmary, and he was cradling a dozing Scarlett in his arms. He carried her up the steps, ignoring everyone else. Saylor wasn’t sure what had happened to her, but clearly, the bastard got to her too before he went after the girls. Guilt engulfed her. She watched as a grim-faced Ice followed in Rogue‘s wake. Evidently he wasn’t about to leave him alone for too long.
“It’s not your fault,” Jax murmured in her ear, his hand stroking soothingly down her back. She didn’t reply, because he was wrong. It was her fault. If she weren’t here, this would never have happened.
“Church in two hours,” Savage announced. “Saylor, you’ll be included, because we need to get some shit figured out. Karissa, Glitch, if you’re up to it, that includes you as well.” Then he turned and headed for Doc’s infirmary, his entire body strung tight.
Karissa and Glitch exchanged a silent look. Saylor knew they were wondering if he was inviting them because of what happened or because he respected they were members of the Predators. Their men hovered around them, their faces masks of turmoil and concern.
“Come on, baby, let’s get you cleaned up,” Jax told her gently, taking her hand.
“I want to check on the girls first,” she told him firmly. She wouldn’t be able to settle until she was sure they were okay. Jax looked like he wanted to argue, but finally nodded and he led her to Doc’s infirmary. Inside, she saw two beds set up, but they were pushed together so the girls could be close to each other. Win’s head was bandaged with her eyes closed, the blood cleaned away. Her face was white, as she limply held her twin’s hand. Wren was out cold, her head also bandaged. Her top was askew as Doc worked on closing the long graze on her side.
He glanced over at them when they walked in. “Wash up before you come any closer,” he ordered. “And you, Saylor, as soon as I’m done here, I’m looking at your arm.”
“I’m fine,” she told him as they moved to the sink to wash their hands. “Focus on them. They need it. Is Scarlett alright?”
“She’ll be fine. She’s going to have a hell of a headache from where the bastard hit her on the back of the head, and has a good sized bump,” Doc answered briskly. He put in his final stitch, and then quickly bandaged the wound and pulled Wren’s shirt down. “As soon as these two are conscious, they’re going to have to work like hell to calm Rogue down because he’s a breath away from losing his shit. Ice barely prevented him from destroying this place, and he only managed it by saying that if he did, I wouldn’t be able to help the twins.” He looked at Jax, and Jax gave a grim nod.
“Will they wake up soon?” Saylor asked, approaching the bed. She gently reached out and gently stroked Win’s forehead.
“Probably in a few hours,” Doc replied as he rolled his chair away from Wren. “The two of them are damn stubborn, so I can’t see that they’re going to be kept down long. Now, let’s see to your arm.” Saylor forced herself to stay still, letting him clean her up. He determined that the graze was too shallow for stitches, meaning she got off damn lucky.
Jax never left her side, his quiet strength just what she needed to keep from falling apart. When she was done, he took her hand. “Let’s get you upstairs.”
“I don’t want to leave them,” Saylor argued.
“I’ll be with them,” Doc assured her. “You can’t do anything, Saylor. And the fewer people in here when Rogue returns, the better.”
She hesitated, but she also knew he was right, so she allowed Jax to pull her from the room and upstairs to his. She heard voices behind her, but she only stopped when Rogue came storming out of a room, Ice right behind him as he softly closed the door. Rogue didn’t even look at them, his whole focus on getting back downstairs.
Jax pulled her into his room, shut the door, and then led her into his bathroom. He started the shower and then turned back to her, but he didn’t start helping her undress. Instead, he let his eyes roam her face for a moment, then reached out and hauled her into him, burying his face in her hair. “When Win came stumbling in, and we heard those shots, I’ve never been so fucking scared in my life,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. The lump in her throat grew, and she tried to swallow back the tears that were threatening to spill. Then he pulled his head back and peered down at her. “I need you to stay here, Saylor. Even though this shit is going to be all done after tonight, I don’t want you to leave. I want you to stay here and see what we can build. Never wanted anything like it in my life until you.”
She stared up at him, unable to speak. “Jax,” she whispered.
“No, don’t deny it yet,” Jax told her quickly. “Let’s get you cleaned up, do Church, and then we’ll talk about it later. Okay? Just…just think about it.”
She nodded slowly. What else could she do?
Jax helped her out of her clothes, and then quickly shucked his own, before they climbed into the shower. She lifted her face to the water, letting it wash over her for a long moment, needing to ground herself. Her adrenaline was finally crashing, and the shakes took over. She tried to stop it, but Jax wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back into him. “You’re safe, baby,” he murmured in her ear, squeezing her tight. “It’s over. No more running.”
The dam broke. She turned, buried her face in his chest, and let the tears fall. She was not a crier. Ever. She didn’t even cry when Leon beat her. Not once. Maybe she was at her breaking point, but all the pain, the fear, the loneliness, it all came pouring out. Jax held her tight, soothing her as the water rained down over them. He murmured gentle words, rubbed her back, and kissed away her tears when she lifted her head to look up at him. She closed her eyes and relaxed into him. God, she never realized how much she wanted this.
The feeling that someone was there for her in every sense. Sure, she had Mater, and he would have held her if she cried, but he wouldn’t know what to do with her. He’d be awkward as shit. Not Jax. No, he seemed to know what she needed instinctively, and he soothed something inside her she didn’t know needed soothing. And she didn’t want him to stop, and it scared the shit out of her.
Finally, the tears stopped, and she let the water wash away the rest. “Sorry,” she said huskily.
“Don’t be sorry,” he scolded her gently. “Saylor, you needed that. It’s okay to not be a badass once in a while, especially with me. I’ll always be here to hold you up when you need it.”
She believed him. Instead of answering him, she draped her arms around his neck, then pressed her lips to his, needing the connection. Wanted him to feel how much she appreciated him being here for her. He kissed her back, keeping it gentle and unhurried, but she needed more than that. She needed him. Needed him to make a terrible day better. To give her a better memory to hold on to.
He pulled back and murmured, “Saylor.”
“Jax, I need you,” she whispered, pressing another kiss to his chin, then his jaw. “I need you to make me forget, just for a little bit. Please.”
Jax held her gaze, but then he seemed to come to a decision, and he took her mouth with his. The steam of the shower didn’t dim the fire between them. And while it wasn’t as passionate as their previous trysts, the desperation she felt for this man was like nothing she’d ever felt before.
He lifted her, bracing her back against the shower wall as she wrapped her legs around him. He lined himself up and worked himself inside her, making her pull her mouth from his to moan. The pressure, the pleasure, the angle, it was all too much, but not enough. She gasped out his name as he moved inside her, her body clamping down on his.
Her orgasm was slower to build this time, but when it finally swamped her, his name echoed off the tile, and it was all she could do to cling to him. He groaned her name as he followed her into oblivion, and as she went limp, it hit her.
After only two days, she was falling for this man. She didn’t know whether to be elated, or scared out of her mind.