25. Jax
25
JAX
J ax’s fingers nervously tapped on the end of his desk, his mind brimming with anger and anxiety.
What a fucking idiot! Doesn’t he know it looks more suspicious if he burns down over half of the city, but leaves my building completely untouched?
As his office door opened, though, it was as if Jax’s worries were washed away in an instant.
Fears of disgrace and poverty were suddenly made to fade into the background.
The only thing he could focus on was the beautiful woman standing before him. “Emma, thank Lunaira!”
He jumped from his chair and rushed over to her, grabbing her shoulders. “Are you okay?”
“Goodness, Jax. I’m fine! I didn’t see very much. There was a lot of smoke where I was. Luckily I woke up when I did or else I wouldn’t have been so lucky.” Emma laughed nervously, looking away from Jax. “What’s the matter? Worried you’ll lose your best talent scout?”
“Among other things.” His eyes glazed over as his mind wondered beyond where he could reach it.
“How is your family? Did they make it out okay? Especially little Diamond. She must have been so scared.” Emma frowned at the thought.
Jax snapped back into reality after a few blinks. That was what he adored about her; she was always so selfless, caring, and brave. “They are fine, thank you for asking.”
Of course they are. Diesel is a destructive monster, but he wouldn’t let the fires reach his little niece, not that I can tell that to Emma. But maybe he could start trusting her with more…
Jax thought about it for a moment, but he’d already made up his mind. “I actually need your help with something if you’re willing. I should warn you, though—you can’t back out once you say yes. Are you up for it?”
Emma’s eyes shifted away nervously for a second, but she swallowed the lump in her throat before she answered, “I’m already in deeper than I ever meant to be, and I want to help you out however I can.”
“Excellent, I just need to know that I can trust you.” Jax raised his hand and caressed Emma’s cheek.
She shuddered beneath his fingers, and Jax’s body did the same as his skin ran hot with desire for her.
She seemed to be caught between running and staying, but her voice was calm as she said, “Whatever you need, I’ll do it.”
Jax moved in closer, finding it extremely hard to hold himself back from making her his right here and now. “I need you to make a pact with me that you will never cross me.”
Emma looked horrified at the idea. She stepped away, and all of the color drained from her face. “I’m sorry, I can’t do that… But I will do whatever else you want me to. Let me prove my loyalty to you in another way.”
Jax’s face twisted. “And why exactly don’t you want to form a pact with me?”
She dropped her head and went silent. When she looked back up at him, her eyes were filled to the brim with tears. “I made a pact a long time ago with a horrible man disallowing me from ever making one with anyone else again. He tried to own me, but I escaped. I hope you can understand that I would give you that part of me if I could.”
A tear dripped from her eye, and Jax felt a sudden pang of guilt for even questioning her.
“Don’t worry about it. I appreciate your dedication.” Jax took a deep breath, his mind made up. He needed her help to fix the potions and undo the damage that had been done, otherwise Diesel was going to level the entire city with his next tantrum. “Come with me. I need to show you something.”
Jax guided Emma out of his office.
The tension between them was palpable.
“You understand that what is being done in Facility B is not exactly legal, right?” Jax began, watching her every movement for a hint of dishonesty.
“I figured… But I wasn’t going to do anything with that information. What you do with your company is none of my business.” Emma rolled her hands together, keeping close to Jax’s side, which he found endearing.
Jax let out a little laugh and took her hand to guide her into the closet where the Facility B entrance was. “Don’t worry, Emma. I believe you. If you wanted to turn me in, you would have done it already.”
Emma pressed her hand over her chest and sighed as relief washed over her. “I’m glad to hear it. So what’s this issue you need my help with.”
“The issue is my uncle, Diesel. He was responsible for the attack on the city last night. Things haven’t been going according to plan for him as of late. It would appear that there is something wrong with his potions going out. They are having some—well— unfortunate side effects,” Jax explained as he passed through the door, pulling Emma through as well.
“Whatever it is, I’ll be sure to get to the bottom of it for you.” Emma’s response was hopeful.