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“He did,” Savage says. “And whoever helped him was good enough to stay off our radar, and that’s really damn good.”
“That’s not comforting, but then, York has money. He’ll pay for the best.”
“Jax paid for the best,” he assures me. “Us.” He shifts his attention back to Jax. “There’s a black SUV waiting for you out front.” He looks at me. “Don’t leave your offices without our ride or our support.” He hands me a card. “Put my number in your phone.”
I accept the card. “Thank you, Savage.”
He narrows his eyes on me. “No pushback? I’m used to pushback from pretty ladies.”
“Not from me,” I say.
“Interesting,” he says. “Then you believe there’s real trouble.”
“Yes. Yes, I do.”
“What kind of trouble?” he challenges, and I don’t like the way his tone seems to spell guilt of some type. I’m not guilty of anything, but being in the middle and being stupid enough to stay with York as long as I did.
“The kind that has York Waters walking into my apartment and Jax hiring you to protect us both.” I turn and look at Jax. “I need to get to work.”
His eyes soften with understanding, not accusation, and when Jax waves Savage off, I allow him to pull me back under his arm and set us into motion once again. But Savage follows. I can feel his big bear of a presence behind us, pressing on my shoulders. He’s protecting us. He’s looking for answers, but he doesn’t trust me. It’s the kind of negativity I don’t need right now. We exit thehotel and just before I climb into the SUV, Savage is standing right there with us again.
“Sometimes even the people I protect have secrets,” he says.
That sets me off. “I do have secrets,” I snap. “But not ones that serve your cause. They aren’t yours to know. I’ve told Jax everything I know.”
“Understood,” he says and offers me his jaw. “Punch me. I can take it. It’ll mix things up and get us working well together. And as a plus, you get to let off some steam.”
“You tempted the wrong person,” I warn, stepping to him. “I’ll do it.”
“Bring it.”
Jax catches my arms from behind and pulls me against his chest. I look up at him and he casts me in an amused stare. “Beat him up later. You have a meeting and we have travel plans to make.” He kisses me, and it’s such a relationship-like kiss that it curls my toes right there in front of Savage.
“I suppose I should save my frustrations for Marion.” I look at Savage. “You got off the hook. Stop being an asshole.”
“No promise there,” Savage says, tracing his goatee. “But I’m a work in progress. I might get there. The driver’s name is Smith. He’s the quiet type.” He gives me a mock salute and eyes Jax, giving him a nod.
I turn out of Jax’s arms and climb inside the SUV with him following. He shuts us inside and the SUV starts moving. My cellphone rings and I settle my purse on the seat, pull the phone from my purse to find York’s assistant calling me, which must mean it’s really York calling me. Jax shuts us inside and greets the driver as I decline the call. My phone starts ringing again. I grimace. “You know who it is,” I say.
“York,” Jax supplies. “I thought you blocked his number?”
“He called from his assistant’s phone, which is a head game, and a message, the kind he enjoys.”
“He’s telling you he can still get to you.”
We’re back in uncomfortable territory which is why I don’t agree or disagree. I glance over at him. “I don’t think his timing is a coincidence. He has to know that I’m meeting with Marion.”
“Maybe you should talk to him.”
“No,” I say. “That is not a beast I want to feed.”
“Marion setup this meeting for a reason, Emma,” he warns. “She’s afraid of you. So, either your brother already knows about the affair and they’re going to team up on you, or you’re in for a surprise.”
“My brother wouldn’t sideswipe me,” I say, without an inkling of hesitation. “I know there’s a surprise coming though and it won’t be a good one.”
“Do you want to talk about what that might be and strategize before you go to the meeting?”
This offer surprises me when perhaps it shouldn’t. This is Jax and Jax is never anything I expect, and that’s a good thing. “Thank you, but the ride is short and we’re almost there. I just want this over.”
