Page 93 of Will to Run

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.”