25. Eye of a Monster
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Eye of a Monster
Deja’s eyes glazed over as she stared down at her daughter while changing her diaper.
Her mind was overwhelmed trying to connect the dots between Sophie and Caleb’s stories.
Sophie had said that Jamie always fought with Jax despite how much Caleb tried to mediate.
Sophie had vaguely told Deja that Jamie was ‘excommunicated’ from the Society, only to learn from Caleb that meant they had killed him.
Deja’s throat thickened, remembering how Caleb broke down. Between his absentee father, his exploited mother, and his murdered brother, she wasn’t that surprised he found solace in killing.
Sophie had explained to Deja that Caleb loathed Jax for enabling his brother’s death, regardless of how apologetic Jax was. Though Jax tried to make amends, Caleb wanted nothing to do with Jax or the Donovan family.
Deja understood why Caleb harbored so much resentment. But it was what Sophie had told her about Jax back at the cafe that left her conflicted.
“Unlike Keith and Ian, Jax was never really into dating,” Sophie said, licking her spoon. “Can’t really say he had a type either. He was always so consumed with his work. Probably only entertained women to satisfy his more carnal needs.”
Deja furrowed her brow while bouncing Chloe on her lap. Sophie gently caressed Chloe’s cheek. “But there was one woman he genuinely seemed interested in. She, too, was part of the Society. I think Jax took a liking to her because she was noticeably smarter than the rest.”
Deja looked at Sophie, surprised. “Do you remember her name?”
“No,” Sophie shrugged. “I only remember the names of relevant people. But I do remember she had a pixie cut. So I’ll call her Pixie.
She was very pretty. Nice hips, beautiful tits, very smart .
So smart that most Reapers were eager to work with her.
She specialized in agricultural engineering.
That’s why she and Jax got along so well.
But they never did business together. Jax told Pixie he didn’t want to mix business with his personal life. ”
Deja snorted with a roll of her eyes, and Sophie giggled. “Jax may have been your business partner first, but he couldn’t help but fall in love with you. Pixie and Jax were fucking way before-”
“Sophie,” Deja groaned, covering Chloe’s ears.
“Oops! Sorry,” Sophie blushed. “Anyway, Jax seemed to really like Pixie. But women in the Society are just as conniving as the men. After a month or so together, Pixie tapped Caleb for ‘a business venture.’ At the time, Caleb and Jax barely talked. Caleb worked with her, but then, something happened. I think Caleb and Pixie got into an argument or something. And then the next thing you know, she’s dead. ”
Deja blinked, startled. “Wait-what? Caleb killed her?”
“Yup,” Sophie said, licking her spoon.
“But why?”
Sophie shrugged. “Don’t know. Don’t care.
Didn’t like her anyway. All I know is Big Brother Jax was distraught and figured Caleb killed her to spite him.
You know… for what happened to Jamie. So they fought and argued, and oh my Roselyn, what a crazy time that was!
So much family drama. That’s when Caleb left the Society. ”
Deja frowned. “Maybe she was trying to manipulate Jax? Hurt him or his business? Did Caleb try to explain-”
“Nope,” Sophie shrugged again. “Jax didn’t care. All he knew was that Caleb killed his girlfriend.”
“And that made him disown his cousin? I mean, I know that would be a big deal for anyone else, but Jax and his brothers murdered Keith’s girlfriends,” Deja said, confused.
“Yes, well, see, lovely Deja, Jax has issues when it comes to women…” Sophie’s voice lowered to a whisper.
“There’s um… There's a bit of trauma there with dear Big Brother Jax. It’s why he’s never had a serious relationship,” Her eyes flickered at Deja.
“Until you. It might actually be why he’s so obsessed with protecting you. ”
“You mean treating me like a prisoner under 24/7 surveillance,” Deja corrected.
Sophie smiled brightly. “At least he didn’t put you in a psych ward.”
“I’m going out.”
Deja looked up as Jax entered the bedroom wearing a long black coat. A bag hung over his shoulder with his hammer sticking out. “Where are you going now?” she asked.
Jax leaned down to kiss Chloe’s forehead. “To run an errand,” he said, heading for the door.
Deja quickly followed after him and blocked him from leaving until he looked down at her. “You’re always leaving, Jax. Always ‘ running an errand’ ,” she said, annoyed.
“I have things to do, Deja,” he said dismissively as he pushed her to the side.
“You also have a family, which you’ve said repeatedly is the most important thing to you. But clearly not important enough since you don’t care how I feel,” she said, following him.
“Everything I’m doing is for this family,” he said, grabbing the front door handle.
“He says as he walks out for the fifth time in three days- Would you stop ignoring me for five freaking seconds!” she snapped angrily. Jax paused before he turned around and looked at her.
Deja sharply exhaled. “I feel like… like I’m both hypervisible and invisible to you, Jax.
There is no communication between us; it’s just you barking orders like a freaking dictator.
I don’t know what you’re doing because you never tell me, and I don’t like feeling left out.
I don’t like being ignored. You say you love me, but you’re not showing it.
And I am trying so freaking hard t-to… to accept this nightmare as my new reality, but you are making it… so fucking difficult !”
She breathed heavily, trying to bite back her tears, but they were already streaming down her face.
Jax’s eyes softened as he looked at Deja tenderly.
With two steps, he was in front of her as his fingers gently caressed her face.
With his finger beneath her chin, he tilted her head up until she was looking into his eyes.
“I’m sorry…” he said quietly. “I didn't mean to make you feel… like that. I only want you happy, baby…”
Deja slowly inhaled and exhaled as he held her face between his hands. “I’ll make it up to you,” he insisted. “I’ll be back soon. And then, I’m taking you out for dinner. So wear something nice that complements that beautiful body of yours.”
Deja frowned. “But Chloe-”
“I’ll have the boys pick her up,” he said. “Tonight is all about you.”
Deja nodded apprehensively. Jax smiled and leaned down to kiss her lips softly. The moment Jax walked out, Deja felt the tension holding her shoulders up melt from her body.
“I am trying so freaking hard to accept this nightmare as my new reality, but you are making it… so fucking difficult!”
Deja’s words echoed in Jax’s mind as he pulled into a parking lot behind a building. The journey to his destination had taken longer than he had expected. That cabin was too far from civilization. He had no intention of letting this take longer than necessary.
Not when his woman was waiting for him to return.
He had texted Keith and Ian to pick up Chloe before he got back to the cabin.
He wanted Deja to be worry-free. To feel beautiful and loved as she deserved.
He booked a reservation at the most luxurious and expensive restaurant in the area.
It wasn’t to Jax’s standards, but it was the best he could do for the moment.
He looked down at the stuffed animal and diamond necklace he bought for Deja on his way to his destination. Deja didn’t understand that everything he was doing was for her. For their family. But she would learn soon enough.
Stepping out of the car, his long black coat flowed like a cape behind him as he approached the doors guarded by two large men. “Whoa there, chief,” one said, putting his hand up. “This club is exclusive. You have ID?”
“I’m afraid I don’t,” Jax said. “But I have an appointment with-”
“I don’t really give a fuck who you have an appointment with,” the second guard said, pulling out his blade.
“No ID, no ent-” The guard suddenly yelped in pain as his hand twisted until it snapped.
His bone split through his skin before his cries were silenced by Jax shoving a blade from beneath his jaw and into his mouth until blood poured from his lips.
The first guard looked at Jax, petrified as the second guard’s body crumbled to the ground. Jax fixed his jacket. “Do you still need my ID?”
Frantically shaking his head, the guard stepped to the side, and Jax briskly walked by him into the building.
Rave music boomed in the dark hallways that were filled with the smell of cigarette smoke, perfume, and alcohol. The multicolored lights flashed in Jax’s face as he moved through a crowd of people making out in the hallways.
“Well, look at you, handsome…”
Jax stopped and looked down at the hand on his chest to see a beautiful, freckled woman with strawberry-blonde hair and emerald green eyes smiling at him. Standing in an angelic-themed bikini, she playfully pulled at his jacket. “You looking for some entertainment?”
“Actually, I’m looking for someone,” he said, showing her a picture on his phone. “Cioffi. He’s an Italian business mogul specializing in hydraulic fracturing. I believe he frequents this place.”
She eyed the picture. “Lots of rich men come here, handsome. I didn’t understand shit you said, but his face does look familiar… Yeah… Alberto. We call him ‘the Italian Don’. He’s in the penthouse suite having a ‘business meeting.’”
Jax raised a brow. “...Italian Don…”
She chuckled with a shrug. “That’s what the girls call him. He just gives off that vibe, you know? Girls dream of rich, powerful men to swoop them off their feet so they don’t always have to do this for a living.”
Jax snorted. “...‘Rich, powerful men’ like your Italian Don prey on the disadvantaged to build their empires. They don’t deserve anything they have…”