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“We took the job,” Leather Jacket snaps. “Get the prick.”
They rush toward Jax like a wave of violent intent, swinging their fists, but Jax ducks aside and hammers a blow into Leather Jacket’s stomach. He keels over, sputtering, and then Jax weaves away from the other man and spins around with a punch that sounds like a hammer blow when it collides with the man’s face. He falls, leaving Axel looking at the two injured men with a lost look on his face.
“Apologize to Zoey,” Jax says, voice dark as he slowly approaches Axel.
Axel seems to want to fight, to maintain his tough-guy façade, but the closer Jax gets, the more he shrinks away.
“Tell. Her. You’re. Sorry.” Jax’s voice trembles like he’s about to lose control.“Now.”
Axel looks at me, eyes glassy. “I’m s-sorry,” he moans. “I just wanted a second chance.”
“No more second chances,” Jax snarls. “Leave. Now.”
Axel turns, head bowed, the other two men following him. They climb into the car and screech away.
Warmth blossoms in my chest, tugging at my heart. Nobody’s ever defended me like that before. Mom’s still staring, but cowardice rules me. I can’t look at her.
She wasn’t supposed to find out so suddenly.
“Explain,” Mom says as Jax approaches. “Why did you say any of that? About Zoey? What the hell are you talking about?”
Jax glances at me. His jaw is clenched with meaning in his eyes.
I’m sorry.
I shake my head. It’s the same thing he often says to me. He has nothing to be sorry about.
“We should talk inside, Mom.”
I finally look at her. She stares back with tears in her eyes.
CHAPTER24
Jaxson
The more we speak, the more agitated Mallory becomes.
She was sitting when we explained about our initial texts. When I explain how serious our relationship is—the furthest thing from a fling imaginable—she stands quickly and paces behind the couch.
I look at Zoey. She’s leaning forward in her chair, her hands clasped as though praying this will all work out.
“I don’t understand,” she says. “You want to get married one day? To have a family?”
“I know it’s a shock,” I say.
“Ashock. Yeah, you could say that. When you said you wanted to meet, Zoey, I thought it was about the other thing. The secret. Or college. I didn’t thi—”
“Wait, what do you mean college?”
Mallory glares at me, but there’s softness in her eyes, too. Or maybe I’m just projecting what I wish her reaction would be.
“You didn’t tell her.”
“I haven’t told her anything,” I say. “It’s been tough, but I made a promise.”
Mallory turns to Zoey. “Jax is the one who paid for your college. We’re not struggling for money, but college tuition is alot. So when he offered, I accepted.”
“Even though you hate him?” Zoey asks.
