44. Jaxon
JAXON
I’m sitting with Everest in my office, and we’re going over work things. Well, trying to. I have not been able to have a cohesive thought with everything that happened outside.
Admittedly, I’m being a little bitch regarding Cayson, and Everest is having to shoulder more by going back and forth between us. But I figure it’s that or killing each other. Everest knows it, too, because in no other world would he agree to do something so childish and annoying.
We’re in the middle of a conversation when his phone dings. After he looks down for a millisecond, he immediately jumps up with wide eyes.
“Holy fuck, I have to go.”
“Who’s that? What’s wrong?” I jump up with him, knowing I’ll go wherever he needs.
“Tripp showed up at Della’s apartment on Millstone. He’s banging on the glass, they called the cops,” he says, speeding down the lodge hall with me trailing.
“Tripp?” I repeat and stop for a second to process that. White-hot rage boils in me, and I run to catch my brother. He’s only got three inches on me, but the man moves quicker than anyone his size should be able to.
“I’m coming with you,” I say.
“You’re not. It’ll be more drama, and I have to leave right now.”
He peels out of the parking lot in his truck, and I’m left standing here.
Maybe my brother is right, I’m sure she doesn’t want to see me. Plus, if I see Tripp right now, I might kill him. I wouldn’t lose sleep over it either.
All I want to do is to be there for her, but instead, I’m stuck rooted to this spot, incapable of thought.
“What’s that about?” Cayson asks as he’s coming down the steps. He must have heard the commotion of Everest leaving quickly.
The few conversations have been terse, and this is the first time in weeks he’s asked me a question that’s not directly related to work.
“Tripp showed up at Del’s place and is banging on the glass. Police are heading there, as is Everest.”
“What are you doing?” he asks me.
I turn to him with a confused face. It’s the first time I’ve actually looked at him since everything. “What do you mean?”
“Get in the fucking car, Jaxon,” he points to his car. “You’re going.”
“What if I make it worse?” I say.
“What if your girl needs help?” he shoots back.
“She’s not my girl,” I snap. “Thanks to you, she’s not mine anymore.”
“Jaxon, someone you care about is in danger right now. Enough danger, the police have been called. Why the fuck are you standing here?”
I can’t get into the reasons this is a bad idea, but he’s right. I stare at my brother while having a full conversation with myself. I’ve never been one to stand back. And even if she hates me, I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to her.
“Let’s go,” I agree, moving towards his car. My truck is at my house, so this is my option.
In complete silence, we make it to Millstone in a fraction of the time it normally takes. Everest’s truck and the police cars are parked, but no one is in them.
“What should I do?” I ask Cayson. “Things are under control; there are cops up there and Everest, too.”
Before Cayson can answer me, the police exit the building with Tripp fucking Worthington in cuffs. My blood pressure soars. That means he did something that necessitated an arrest? I move to get out, but my brother puts his hand on me to stop me. “They have him.”
“What was all the talk about protecting my girl?” I snap.
“You were protecting her from him. Let them drive off, and then if you want to go up, go up. Don’t make them arrest you, too. You know Alan would throw your ass in jail in a heartbeat.”
I watch him as he’s thrown into a police car, all the while yelling something up to the point they slam the door.
Alan leans back and says something to his partner, but there’s no trace of humor or smile.
Not that someone getting arrested is funny, but there’s no levity between them.
It makes me even more concerned for what happened in her apartment.
They drive away, and before I can jump out, Everest and Lanie come down.
I knew something was happening between them under all the fighting.
Her face is fiery, and he picks her up to put her in his car.
First, he leans over to examine her, then I watch my brother wrap her up in his arms, and she melts into him.
It was telling enough that he jumped up like his ass was on fire, but now this? My how those tables have turned.
“What do you have to say about that one, Case?” I say. It comes out jerkier than I intend. “Think she’s out here to steal our ranch, too?”
“I admitted my fuck-up. I respect that you’re angry with me, and I’ll own it for as long as I need to. It doesn’t mean much, I get it, but I have started talking to someone to work through some things that might need working through.”
It feels like the air is sucked from the car, and I turn to my brother who is staring out the front window avoiding my eyes. For someone who has never once admitted he’s even struggling a little or shown any sign of overwhelm, that’s a fucking leap into foreign territory for him.
“Seriously?”
“Yeah,” he shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “After that day in your house, and during this whole thing between you and Della, you’ve said some hard truths. They were things I didn’t want to hear, but I’m trying to make some changes. Or at least start down a path where I can make some changes.”
“I… I’m not sure what to say, Cayson. I’m happy you’re taking some time to find some help.
Your shit is heavy. What Abby did and is doing to you is the fucking worst, and I hate her for life.
You know I wouldn’t change having Mazie and Lukey for the world either.
It was unfair of me to bring your kids into the argument we had.
It’s been weighing on me, and I apologize for that. ”
He just nods.
“I miss you,” I follow up with, and he turns to me.
“And not because of the last month. Well, not just that. But I miss our bullshit, shenanigans, and ball-busting. I know things are different for you as a dad, and you’re a great fucking dad, but there are pieces of you that have disappeared that have nothing to do with your dad status. ”
He continues to nod.
“Today isn’t about me,” he responds. “But I do miss how things that, too. I’m trying to take steps to get that piece of me back. You know, I tried talking to her too… twice. She told me she’d stab me in the chest with a pitchfork.”
We both chuckle because yeah, she did.
“I’m so fucking sorry for doubting you, Jax.
On the steps, you asked me why I didn’t trust you and why I didn't give you the benefit of the doubt. That I didn’t give my best friend the benefit of the doubt.
Fuck, that hurt me so deeply because you’re right.
I can’t imagine how you feel. I will do whatever I can to help make things right. I’m a work in progress.”
I nod my head back at him. His apology is genuine, and even though I told him hours ago I wasn’t sure when I wouldn’t be angry anymore, this admission and plan turn that dial down a little bit. Not all of it. But I don’t want to pick a fight. I’ve been missing my brother for a while.
“That dad bod of yours is a work in progress,” I joke. Maybe picking a little fight will bring some levity to a moment I know is hard for him.
“I can bench and squat more than you, jackass,” he deadpans.
That makes us both laugh. It’s the first full laugh we’ve had together in a long time.
“You’ve heard my plan, what’s yours?” he says, turning the conversation serious again.
“For what? For now? Everest was right when he left the ranch. She doesn’t like me, and she could use some space. The threat is gone.”
“We don’t know that. I mean, he’s gone for now, but we don’t know when he’ll be released.”
I look at my watch. It’s five o’clock. I’m not exactly sure how the process works, but I hope she goes to my sister’s or Molly’s.
Although Hazel is mad at both Cayson and me, she is angriest with me for saying the things that I did, so I have my brother text her to see what the plan is.
Cayson
I heard about what happened. We have cabins available if Della needs a place to stay.
Hazel
She’d rather sleep on a bench on Millstone nude with a newspaper blanket.
Cayson
Just wanted to let you know the option is out there.
Hazel
Doesn’t matter. She’s refusing to leave anyway.
My brother is reading me the texts as they come through
Hazel
She said that she’ll be damned if Tripp scares her out of her home.
Cayson looks at me. “She called it home instead of her apartment, so I’m taking that as a good sign.”
“Is she seriously not leaving tonight?” I ask him. “What the hell, Del?” I say to the universe. “He’s going to be even angrier after this arrest, and he’ll be coming for blood.”
Hazel
Molly is staying here tonight. Miss Marksman Champion pulled a gun on our friend Tripp. His tune changed real fast.
“Ask if he hurt her,” I say. The words sound like glass coming out of my mouth. Alan isn’t the biggest fan of me, but I wonder if I could pay him off for a few minutes in the cell with Tripp.
Cayson
Pulled a gun? That’s serious shit. Did he do something?
Hazel
Kind of. He grabbed her wrist hard enough that it’s going to bruise and said he was going to teach her a lesson. He raised his fist and that’s when she pulled out good ole’ Iron Heart.
Volcanic anger explodes in my body, and I resolve that if I ever see him again, I’m going to kill him. Full stop. I can’t believe the fucker grabbed her. My brother reads my fury and puts his hand on my knee.
“If we ever see him again, he’s done for. Or maybe we just call Molly. Man, she’s a badass. Good luck to whoever can tame her,” he chuckles. “But I bet Tripp shit his pants.”
“True story… on all accounts,” I respond, still thinking of ways I can get access to Tripp.
“Now that the acuity of the crisis is over, I’m going to take you to get your truck,” Cayson says. “What you do then is up to you.”
“Okay,” I say, accepting the ride back home. As we make our way back to the ranch, it’s not like our bad blood has disappeared, but it feels a little lighter. When he parks in front of my house, I jump out and look my brother in the eye before shutting the door.
“Thank you, Cayson. I appreciate this. And I think what you’re doing for yourself is a good thing.”
He nods again before I shut the door, head into my house, and pack a stakeout bag. Molly will sleep there, and I trust she’ll do what she has to, but I’ll be in my truck keeping watch too.