Chapter Twenty-Two
MARLEY
I SMILE to myself as I look at the nutritional supplements on the shelf. I’ve never in my adult life been so forward with a man. If this is what it feels like to be normal, I’ll take it. For the first time, a man makes me feel normal.
And alive.
Jax makes my heart beat fast and hard, but I feel safe and protected.
When he kissed me this morning before breakfast, I almost asked him not to go.
But there was my family to consider. I would be so embarrassed if my brothers knew I was making out with someone in my room, they would probably make a fuss. To put it lightly.
Holding two plastic containers of supplements, I’m comparing the ingredients and uses when my neck starts to tingle, and the hairs stand up. The feed store shelves are just tall enough that I have to stand on my tiptoes to look across the store, but I don’t see anyone.
Glancing at the doorway to the little room full of herbicides and insecticides, I listen for any signs of life. There is only silence.
Focusing on the familiar smells of bug spray, feed, and fertilizer that are as much a part of my life as poop, hay, and sweat, I keep reading. I need to make sure I get the right supplement, but the feeling of being watched is not going away.
Something doesn’t feel right.
Turning my head, I look down the aisle to the front of the store, the big picture window behind the register has a view of the dock where Chuck is still helping someone load feed in their truck.
Since Chuck refuses to get air conditioning for the store, sweat is trickling down the back of my neck, under my braid, from the summer heat. I’m sure the weird vibe I’m getting right now is only making it worse.
If my attack taught me anything, it’s not to tempt fate by ignoring my gut. I tuck both containers under my arms and walk to the register. I’ll bring back the one I don’t need later.
The plastic containers thunk against the old wooden checkout table that’s been in the store since I was a kid, and I’m pretty sure it was old then. I lean on the counter to wait for Chuck to be done. Being where I can see him makes me feel better.
I’ve known him since I started tagging along with my dad to the feed store when I was a little girl.
He keeps a bag of suckers under his counter for the kids who come in with their parents.
Mason and I would sneak behind the counter when he would help dad load the truck and get an extra sucker each.
We always thought we were getting away with something, but I think he saw us, but didn’t say anything.
“Marley, I’ll be done loadin’ this truck in just a few minutes. Sorry it’s takin’ so long, hun,” Chuck yells from the shaded loading dock.
I try to smile through the big window, but I think it probably looks more like I’m going to throw up. “Thanks, Chuck.” I wave and he turns back to the truck.
Feet scuffling on the floor behind me sends my heart rate up, I thought I was in here alone. I casually turn around to a man I’ve never seen before strolling up to the wall with hog wormer pills to pull a box off a hook to read the back.
He’s well dressed, definitely not dressed to be taking care of hogs. His shoes look expensive, and he has a big, shiny watch on his wrist. He’s giving me the same creepy vibes I got from ‘D’ the day of the wedding.
Should I just leave and go find Jax? I turn around and look at Chuck still slinging bags of feed into a truck bed with another man who looks to be a few years older than me. Do I wait? Am I being ridiculous? My gut tells me I’m not.
The man is between me and the door to outside, but his back is to me. I want to tell myself that I’m just being paranoid, but when my gut is talking, I listen. But, no one would do anything with Chuck right outside. Right?
I shouldn’t have told Jax to go without me.
Damn it!
Taking a deep breath, I abandon my two canisters and begin my walk to the door.
My steps quicken as I walk behind him, and he turns and grabs my arm, pulling me into the insecticide room.
Panic grips me, the sound of my blood whooshing in my ears is loud, and I can feel my pulse points beating against my skin.
He’s as stocky guy, but strong. He shoves his arm against my upper chest to hold me to the wall and shoves his knee between my legs before he slaps his hand over my mouth. His face is just inches from mine, his eyes are mean and boring into mine.
Fisting his shirt at his sides, I try to push him away, but he’s too big.
“Is Hallie still at your house? I have a message from the boss.” His breath next to my cheek reeks of cigarettes and garlic, I close my eyes and turn my face away from him.
Curling his fingers over my shoulder, he pulls me away from the wall and slams me against it again, my head hitting the wall. “Fucking answer me.”
Without opening my eyes, I shake my head and turn my face as far away from him as I can. His hand over my mouth is sweaty and smells like an ashtray.
“I’ll give you to the count of three before I do some damage to that pretty face of yours.” He huffs against my cheek, the hot air moving across my skin. “Or maybe I’ll bide my time and grab that pretty little niece of yours.”
My eyes fly open, and I turn my face back to him. That’s when relief washes over me, and I know everything is going to be okay.
Jax is prowling up behind him like a jaguar. Well, it looks like Jax. But the eyes that are focused on the man holding me against the wall are not Jax. There is someone else behind those eyes, something detached and cold.
His pupils are large, making the icy blue of his irises a small ring, and the way he’s watching the man in front of me is animalistic, almost feral. There is no sound with each slow step he takes, he’s as quiet as an apparition, and as scary as a demon.
Trying to swallow down my fear, the guy’s arm is pressed against my neck just enough that it makes it hard to swallow.
Jax never looks at me until he gets right behind the guy, his gigantic frame eclipsing the man trapping me, but it’s still not Jax. His eyes flick in my direction, fiercely looking over my face like he’s checking for wounds, and then move to the guy’s neck. That’s when I see the knife in his hand.
It’s one of those fancy knives, like throwing knives that are designed to fit comfortably in the palm. It’s silver and short, and the blade is sharpened on each side. He’s holding the blade like it’s an extension of his hand and he lifts it to the guy’s neck.
The guy’s eyes go wide, and he freezes when he feels the metal tip against his skin. His hand lifts off my mouth and the movement causes the tip of the blade to break the skin, making him freeze. Trying to be as still as possible, he slowly lifts his arm off my neck, and I suck in a deep breath.
Jax is frozen like a statue and those dark, angry eyes slide to me before he flicks his head to the side, telling me to get behind him. The guy’s knee slowly comes out from between my legs, and he lifts his arm from my neck to hold his hands up in front of him.
Plastered against the wall, trying not to touch the asshole, I scoot sideways against the wall to get away. Opening my hand to let go of his shirt, I look down and see Jax’s other hand, also with a knife in it, is pointed at his ribs, just over where my hand was gripping his shirt.
A small line of blood is sliding down the side of the man’s sweaty neck and my stomach roils. Beads of sweat are rolling down his face like someone turned on a faucet and I look away as I move away from him.
“Behind me, Lepa.” Jax says, his voice deep and demanding, but he doesn’t take his eyes off the man.
Tilting his head, he looks at the man with curiosity and a hint of amusement. “You were saying?”
“I-I said nothing.” The guy grits out between clenched teeth.
“My record for keeping someone alive while their blood slowly drains from their body is over twenty-four hours.” Jax pauses and watches the blood slide down his skin. “But I wouldn’t mind another shot at that record.”
The guy quietly whisper hisses, “fuuuck,” under his breath.
“Let me refresh your memory. You said you were going to do some damage to her pretty face.” As he is saying it, he drags the very tip of the blade up the man’s neck to his face. I watch the skin split open over his jaw like it’s being cut by a surgical scalpel as he slides it across his cheek.
Even though a combination scream and growl are coming from between the man’s clenched teeth, he still doesn’t move. I clap my hands over my mouth as I try not to lose my breakfast or make a sound.
“I believe the other thing you said was that you would go after her ten-year-old niece. What did you mean by that?” The hand holding the knife over his ribs moves down and around his front, close to his privates.
“What’s going on in here?” The voice booms behind us from the door to the small room.
It’s Chuck, and he’s holding a rifle pointed at Jax. I step between them and hold my hand up. “The big guy grabbed me.”
Chuck quickly points the rifle at the floor, so it won’t point at me. “Turn around.” He orders, looking at Jax.
Jax turns around and his arm goes around my waist, the knives gone from his hands, and he pulls my back to his front as we take a step away from the sweaty, bleeding guy who turns around looking like he’s going to attack.
Chuck aims the rifle at him. “What happened?”
“He fucking cut me, that’s what happened.”
Fuzziness is closing in around the edges of my vision, regardless of the measured breaths I’m taking.
Jax’s arm tightens around my waist and his mouth lowers to my ear.
“Breath with me, Lepa. In and hold for three, out for three. You feel my arm around you, holding you to me? In and hold, out for three.” His voice lowers even more, so I’m the only one who can hear him.
“You are right where you belong, next to me.”
Chuck looks at me and takes a step toward me, the rifle pointed to the floor. “Marley, hun, are you okay?”
The guy makes a break for it and runs through the door with Chuck hot on his heels. “Stop, I’m calling the cops.”
Jax moves like a cat and is in front of me, cradling my face in his hands. His eyes are Jax’s eyes again and his brows are pulled together as he looks at me. “With me, Lepa, let’s count”
I grip his arms, and we breathe together for several counts until the lightheadedness recedes. Nodding that I’m okay, I look in his eyes, trying to find what I saw earlier, but it’s gone. He’s the same Jax that kissed me this morning.
“I’m sorry I scared you, and I’m so fucking sorry I left you. I never should have done it.” His eyes move over my face, taking in every tiny flinch or movement.
“It’s okay.” I say with another deep breath. “I told you to go, it’s not your fault.”
He shakes his head. “I knew better, it won’t happen again. But you need to know right now, I will kill any man who harms or threatens you.”
Is it twisted that a thrill runs through me? I’ve always had protective brothers. When I was younger, it was a nuisance that they blocked all forms of excitement. After the attack, I was grateful that no excitement could get through them, I was protected from all sides and that made me feel safe.
But now? Now a gorgeous six foot two, intense man stands in front of me, the only man that has ever made my body sing with just a kiss. I watched him threaten a man’s life. For me.
Shaking my head between his hands, I’m still looking for what I saw earlier. “You didn’t look like yourself, and you were so angry.”
He pulls in a deep breath as his eyebrows twitch together, and he nods. “I was angry, Lepa, I was furious. Someone was touching what is mine. But I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Another thrill marches through me as Jax’s flag of protection and affection is securely planted on the hill of all the trauma and shadows I’ve been carrying around all these years. A whisper-quiet understanding forms at that very moment as our eyes are locked together. Acceptance.
I am his, and he is mine.
Dropping my eyes to his lips for a moment, I remember the relief I felt when I saw him. “I’m not scared of you. I was relieved when I saw you behind him.” I whisper.
He dips his head until his lips are just a breath away from mine. “No matter what, I will never hurt you. Da li mi veruje??” [do you trust me?]
Pinching my eyebrows together, I shake my head. “Do I what?”
“Do you trust me?”
Keeping my eyes on his, I nod my head once.
His eyes volley between mine before he softly presses his lips to mine. Letting go of my face, he snakes his arms around me, the embrace and the kiss are gentle. His big, powerful hand on my lower back pulls me into him, and then he wraps me up in a protective hug.
It’s all a silent message to me and the world.
Mine.