“So you know who I am? Good.” I reached down into the pocket of my pants and pulled out a pair of black gloves. “Because I’m the last face you’re gonna see before you die tonight.”
Jax let out a dark chuckle. “Oh, I know exactly who you are,” he said, leaning back in the chair as much as his restraints allowed. His lip curled into something that almost resembled a smirk. “Nathan Edge. Big-shot music exec. Elise’s former boss.” His voice dripped with mockery. He tilted his head. “Now lover?”
My jaw clenched, but I said nothing.
Jax hummed as if considering something, his eyes flicking over me with knowing amusement. “Yeah… I figured as much.” He taunted. “Tell me, does she still make that sexy little sound when she's about to c—”
My fist collided with his jaw, cutting off whatever filth was about to leave his mouth. His head snapped to the side, and for a second, he stilled. Then, with a slow, painful turn, he looked back at me with blood on his lip and laughed.
“Touched a nerve?” he rasped, tongue swiping at the crimson smear at the corner of his mouth. “I thought for sure you could hit harder than that,lover boy.”
I tilted my head, studying him as he blinked through the pain. “You know,” I mused, rolling my shoulders as I reached for the steel bat that my men left behind for me. “I was going to take it easy on you.”
Jax coughed, spitting blood onto the concrete floor. “Oh yeah?” he rasped, his words shaky now. “Couldn’t tell.”
I smiled, but there was nothing warm about it. “Yeah. I was going to be merciful. Make it quick. Only because of Elise. She still thinks I’m someone who believes in restraint.” I leaned in just a bit. “But you just reminded me I’m not.” I crouched in front of him, tapping the bat lightly against his knee. “Now? Now you’re gonna fucking beg for death.”
I could see his muscles tense, his eyes darting toward the door as if contemplating a last-ditch escape. But there was no escaping. His wrists strained against the zip ties, but they wouldn’t give. He wasn’t going anywhere.
I gripped the steel bat tighter in my hands, the weight of it familiar. Comforting. The metallic scent of it reminded me that it was time.
Images of Elise bruised, battered, and crying came to mind and my blood burned hotter. Her cries still echoed in my head, a sound that had haunted me since the day this asshole left that message on her wall. Without warning, I brought the bat down on his leg with a sickening crack, the sound echoing through the room, followed by a pained scream from Jax. He thrashed, but the zip ties held.
I leaned down, lowering my voice to a deadly whisper. “This is for Elise. For every bruise you put on her. For every tear you made her cry.”
I swung again, the bat landing squarely on his other leg. This time, his scream was raw and desperate. But it didn’t faze me. He’d taken pleasure in hurting her, and now it was my turn to make him regret it.
By the time I finished with Jax, I’d broken his legs, broken his nose, and dislocated his jaw. And it still wasn’t enough. I wanted every ounce of his blood poured onto the ground for every time he put his hands on Elise. But seeing him seconds away from breathing his last would have to be enough.
I circled around his limp body, watching as Jax struggled to keep his eyes open and listened to his jagged breathing.
“Oh, and about that sound you were asking about earlier?” I said, almost conversational as I stopped behind him. “She makes it every fucking night.”
Then I swung, the metal connecting with his skull with one final crack and now it was over.
I straightened my shoulders and moved away from the body, careful not to step in any of the blood, before I walked over to the door, knocked twice and watched as my men opened the door and let themselves in.
“Get rid of the body, and make sure none of this shit is traced back to me. Call me when it’s done.” I ordered before I walked out.
Jax’s death wouldn’t erase Elise’s nightmares or take away her memories, but maybe it would help her feel safer. And from this moment on, I’d make damn sure no one ever hurt her again.
***
I FOUND ELISEgetting comfortable in bed when I walked inside her hospital room. Her shoulders stiffened but relaxed the second she realized it was me.
“Did I scare you?” I asked softly.
“Yes, but it’s not your fault. I’m just jumpy after everything.”
If Jax wasn’t already dead, I’d kill him.
“You’re safe now. I don’t want you to worry about Jax ever again.” I stopped at her bed.
“I want to believe you, but he’s still out there.”
I captured her face with my hands, needing her to look me in my eyes when I said what I said.
“I took care of him. Jax will not hurt you or any women ever again. You’re safe.”
