CHAPTER 23 #2
I pressed back against the door, trying to make myself small.
My shoulders trembled from the aftershocks of adrenaline.
My whole body felt like it was vibrating, my breath coming in shallow, uneven bursts I couldn't quite control.
I tried to look stronger than I felt, but I knew he could see right through me.
Jaxon shoved Jared against the doorframe one last time before turning toward me.
His movements were slow, deliberate, like he was afraid I might bolt if he moved too quickly.
When he reached me, his hands cupped my face gently, tilting it up until my eyes met his.
The contrast between how violently he'd handled his brother and the tenderness of his touch now made my eyes sting with unshed tears.
"You okay, baby?" His voice was low, rough, and laced with concern. His thumbs brushed softly along my cheekbones.
I gave a small nod, not trusting my voice.
My lips pressed into a thin line as I rubbed my wrist where Jared had grabbed me, the skin already darkening with the promise of bruises.
Though I tried to hold myself together, the slight tremble running through me betrayed how shaken I truly was.
I focused all my strength on remaining standing.
Jaxon's jaw tightened as his eyes dropped to my wrist, taking in the marks his brother had left. A dangerous flicker crossed his face before he turned back to Jared, his anger rekindling like wildfire. He grabbed Jared's shirt again, the fabric bunching in his fists.
"Maybe if you'd given me money when I asked, I wouldn't have shown up here," Jared spat, his words dripping with resentment.
Jaxon's brow furrowed, his lip curling in disgust. "You really think I'd give you money so you could get high?" He gave Jared a rough shake that made me flinch. "Just look at yourself. You've already done enough damage on your own."
"The fucking money isn't for me!" Jared shouted, his voice cracking. "It's for the dealers I still owe from before I went to prison!"
With a sudden burst of strength, he shoved Jaxon back a step, and my heart leapt into my throat.
But Jaxon recovered quickly, his anger shifting into shock as he processed Jared's words. Realization dawned on his face; this was worse than addiction. This was dangerous people. Debts. Threats.
His gaze flicked toward me, sharp and calculating. "Go close the kitchen door," he said, his voice calmer now but edged with urgency. "Tell them we need a minute, please."
I nodded quickly, grateful for something to do, some way to be useful instead of just standing there trembling.
My footsteps were light but purposeful as I hurried to the kitchen slider.
Through the glass, I could see Harper and the others around the fire pit, laughing, oblivious to the chaos inside.
I focused on keeping it together, forcing a smile to close the door.
I slid the glass shut and caught Harper's questioning look. I forced a small smile and held up one finger—just a minute—before turning back. I heard her call out something, but the glass muffled her words.
When I returned to the den, Jaxon had shoved Jared into the hard-backed chair in the corner.
The uncomfortable one nobody ever sat in.
I stopped near the doorway, arms crossed over my chest, keeping a safe distance but close enough to hear everything.
My eyes darted warily between the two brothers, my heart still racing.
Jaxon stood over Jared, his broad shoulders squared and his arms folded tight across his chest. "Talk. Now."
His voice was low but lethal.
Jared leaned back in the chair, trying to look casual, but I could see the unease in the twitch at the corners of his mouth. His gaze flickered briefly toward me, and my stomach twisted. Then he looked down at the floor instead.
"Look…" Jared started, his voice barely above a mumble. One hand lifted to rub anxiously at the stubble on his jaw. "I got into some trouble before I went to prison. Debts to pay, you know? When I got out, those people… they came looking for what I owed."
A humorless chuckle escaped him, and the sound made my skin crawl.
"I saw you two in town one day, and I thought maybe you could help me out this one time. Get them off my back. So, I came here."
He had been watching us, following us. The realization sent a chill down my spine. That first day in town with Jaxon, he'd been there. Watching.
Jaxon's expression hardened into a mask of disbelief. "You think I'd bail you out after you showed up at Connor's, threatened Anna, and came back here drunk?" The contempt in his voice was palpable. "You've got a hell of a lot of nerve, Jared."
Jared's shoulders slumped, his cocky facade crumbling. "I didn't have a choice," he muttered defensively. "They'll come after me if I don't pay up. You don't know these guys, Jax. They're ruthless."
In two long strides, Jaxon closed the distance between them, his height and solid frame radiating menace.
"You made your choices, Jared," he growled, leaning down.
"Now you're dealing with the consequences.
You threaten anyone here again, especially Anna, and I won't hesitate to deal with you myself. "
His voice was as cold and unyielding as ice, and I believed every word. So did Jared, judging by the way he paled slightly. The emphasis on especially Anna made something warm bloom in my chest despite the fear.
Jared glared up at Jaxon, shaking his head with a dismissive sneer. "Whatever. I knew it was a mistake coming here and asking for your help." A bitter laugh escaped him. "You never gave a shit before, so why start now?"
I could see Jaxon fighting to keep his expression impassive, his jaw tightening as he ground his teeth. "I don't give a shit because you brought this on yourself," he shot back, his tone level but laced with disgust. "You're not my responsibility. You made your bed, now lie in it."
He paused. "How the hell did you even get here, anyway?"
"Took a cab," Jared replied with a hint of smugness. "It's probably still waiting outside for me. I told the driver you'd cover the fare, so they're gonna sit tight until we're done here."
Of course he did that.
Jaxon's jaw clenched, and then he grabbed Jared by the arm, hauling him to his feet.
I pressed myself against the wall as they passed, watching as Jaxon frog-marched his brother toward the front door.
Through the window, I could see a cab idling at the edge of the property, the driver looking impatient behind the wheel.
Jaxon pulled his wallet from his back pocket and took out all the cash he had, every bill, before shoving it into Jared's hands. His movements were controlled, but his eyes burned with restrained fury.
"This is the only money you'll get from me," he said, his voice low and steely as he propelled Jared down the front steps. "Don't come back here. If you've got problems with those people, take it up with the cops. I'm not a piggy bank, and paying them won't fix this for you."
I moved closer to the door, watching through the screen as Jared stumbled toward the cab. He paused with one hand on the car's roof, turning back to face Jaxon. Whatever smugness he'd worn before had melted away, replaced by something darker.
"They're going to kill me if I don't pay up," Jared said, his voice hollow, and my blood ran cold. "And then they'll still want their money. When they don't get it from me…"
His gaze shifted toward me, visible through the screen door, then back to Jaxon.
"They'll come to take it from you."
My breath caught in my throat. Was that a threat? A warning? It felt like both.
Jaxon's anger rose visibly. I saw it in the tension of his arms, the clench of his jaw, his fists curled so tightly his knuckles turned white. "Is that a threat?" he snapped, his voice a lethal growl. "If they come after me, it's because you opened your lying mouth."
Jared let out a hollow chuckle that made my skin crawl. "Keep denying it all you want, big brother. But deep down, we both know you're lying to yourself."
"Leave. Now." Jaxon ground the words out through gritted teeth, his arms folding across his chest.
I watched as Jared shoved the crumpled bills through the driver's window before collapsing into the back seat. As the cab pulled away, taillights disappearing into the darkness, Jaxon spun on his heel and stormed back inside.
The front door slammed with such force that I jumped, the walls shuddering from the impact. His boots pounded across the hardwood as he stalked toward the den, shoulders tight, fists still balled with barely restrained fury.
I followed at a distance, my own heartbeat still racing, my wrist throbbing. When he reached the den, he collapsed onto the sofa with a grunt, leaning back to stare blankly at the ceiling.
The anger radiated off him in waves, and I stood in the doorway, uncertain. Part of me wanted to go to him, to offer comfort. Jaxon looked like a man battered by the weight of the world, anger and exhaustion etched into the hard lines of his face. I could tell he was barely holding it together.
Cautiously, I crossed to the couch and perched on the edge of the coffee table in front of him, leaning forward to rest my hands lightly on his denim-clad knees. The fabric was warm beneath my palms, the tension in his muscles thrumming beneath my touch.
At the gentle contact, Jaxon's eyes slipped open, finding mine. The guarded look softened as he met my gaze, the hard edges blurring. His eyes drifted down to my wrist, and a furrow creased his brow, his jaw tightening as he studied the faint red imprint of Jared's fingers.
I gave his knee a gentle squeeze, drawing his focus back up. "I'm okay," I murmured softly.
Jaxon nodded, but the turmoil in his eyes told me the battle still raged inside. I could see the shadows of doubt and fury flickering through those blue depths, chasing away the calm that had briefly existed before his brother's arrival.