Chapter 18

The guys began to arrive around ten in the morning. I stuck close to Jax as they all piled into my living room. Jax’s parents strolled in, smiling at us before his mother went into the kitchen, followed closely by Jinx’s parents. I can’t say I was surprised to see them; Jax was part of the family. Jinx and Jayden came to my side and Jinx wrapped an arm around Jax — who looked very surprised by the number of people filing into the room.

One man, a blond, strode in and I swore he looked like a cherub. His warm, brown eyes surveyed us. Mac introduced him and I coughed in surprise and quickly tried to cover it. His eyes landed on me and I actually fidgeted. My mouth wasn’t the only one that had dropped open in surprise. He held up a hand.

“I know I look heavenly — trust me, I’m not. Many people have made that mistake. Cambridge lost any help he may have gotten when I came on board. Any family connected to him will advise me if they hear from him. Trust me, none of them want to be on my bad side.” He walked around the room and stopped in front of Jax. “We have a surprise for you.”

“You d-do?” Jax stammered.

Another man walked into the room and Jax’s eyes widened. “Deo?”

“Yep.” He grinned.

I was waiting for crying and hugging. What I saw instead was a very angry Jax.

“How could you make me think you were dead?!” he shouted.

“I had no choice!” Deo screamed back. “Now, stop being a drama queen and give us a hug.” He put his arms out.

Jax walked into his arms and swatted his bicep. “Asshole.”

“Princess.”

“Detective Calvalari was placed in witness protection as a security measure while the police worked to find out to whom Cambridge was dealing arms. He took them from surrounding stations’ evidence lockers. They’ve nabbed a few other bad cops, but they want the big fish.” Mac stepped forward. “He’s going down for dealing arms and murder. On the day of Det. Calvalari’s accident, Cambridge was chasing a car with a cadaver in it.”

“What?” Jax pulled back. “How is that possible?”

“Remote-controlled car. I knew he was following me and watched me get into the car. We switched me out in the tunnel.” Deo grinned down at Jax. “I missed you.”

“Fuck you,” Jax snapped.

Deo glanced at me. “I think that guy would take issue with that.” He held out a huge hand. “Deo.”

“Rebel.” I shook it.

“My Jax got him a heavy metal guy.” He clucked his tongue. “Knew it would be someone musical.”

“Anyway.” Mac motioned around the room. “Can we get down to business?”

“My new show is going live this weekend. I think we should bring the reporters up here to talk not only about Jax’s accident, but the show as well. Highlight Jax and Rebel as a couple. Cambridge’s obsession with Jax will draw him out,” Sal suggested.

“I agree.” Deo nodded. “He hated me. Thought I was fucking Jax.”

“Were you?” I arched my brows.

“Oooh, someone’s got it bad.” Deo winked. I leveled a glare at him and he grinned. “No, I never had sex with Jax. Not that he didn’t beg me for it.”

“Ugh!” Jax threw his hands in the air. “Conceited as always!”

“Can we please concentrate?” Mac motioned to them. Jax came back to me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

“My family will assist you with anything you need,” the blond spoke. “My guys are itching to take a shot at Cambridge.”

“So am I,” I blurted out.

His eyes zeroed in on me and a smile graced his lips. “Bloodthirsty. I like it.”

“Well, let’s get the news crews out here and get the ball rolling.”

“Yes. I need this to be over,” Jax said softly.

The blond crossed the room to Jax and lifted his chin so that their eyes met. “Trust me, this guy isn’t going to like what’s waiting for him, Jax.” He glanced over at Mac. “We’ll be around.”

Why did that frighten me and put me at ease? I pulled Jax closer as he left, shutting the door behind him. Mac eyed the room and let his gaze land on Jax.

“This guy isn’t going to get what he wants, Jax. He’ll be getting what we want.”

“I don’t want to know.” Jax slipped out of my embrace and walked out back.

I followed him out to the backyard and took his hand. He seemed…scared.

“Talk to me,” I said softly.

“I don’t want Neil dead, I just want him…gone. I don’t want to look over my shoulder anymore; I don’t want my loved ones hurt.”

“Hey,” I took him by his shoulders. “Whatever happens, this is not on you. Do you understand?” He nodded. “No, say you understand.”

“I understand.”

I held him tightly — well, as tightly as I could without hurting him. I had to remember that Jax had been through hell for my family. I wasn’t going to let anyone hurt him ever again. I took him inside and joined his parents at the table. I walked back into the living room to find the guys eyeing me.

“What?” I asked.

“Is he going to be okay? We didn’t want to tell him the nasty shit.”

“Look, he doesn’t want the guy dead —”

”Fuck that.” Deo snorted. “I do.”

“So do I,” I admitted.

They all turned to look at me and I shrugged. “Never thought I’d say that either, but as long as he breathes, he’s a threat.”

“I say we have him thrown into Rikers until it closes.” Deo rubbed his hands together. “Putting a cop in there is like throwing chum to sharks.”

“And then?” Mac lifted a brow.

“We turn him over to the families. That’s worse than prison.”

“Speaking of which.” Mac eyed Deo. “I hear you’re connected.”

“Uncle is in; I’m not. I stay out of their business. It’s all legit now since the bigwigs came in anyway.”

“Bigwig meaning the blond who just left?” I asked.

“Yes. The blond is scary as fuck when he’s pissed.”

“Well, let’s get to work on the plan, gentlemen.” Mac rose from his chair and motioned the men outside.

Deo took his time, stopping in front of me with a grin.

“He’s always had a thing for you, by the way. Treat him right.”

“You have my word,” I assured him. He began to walk and I placed my hand on his bicep. “He didn’t tell me about you when he tried to explain Neil.”

“I’m sure he didn’t.” Deo nodded. “Jax isn’t the type to ask for help so when he came to me, I knew it was serious.”

“How did you two meet?”

“The first day of my freshman year. I see this kid walking down the hall, nose buried in a book. I knew I was bi back then, so my gaydar pinged. I actually stepped into his path and when he ran into me, his eyes got so big I thought they’d pop out.” Deo chuckled. “I just knew he was meant to be part of my life. We were fast friends from that moment on. Jax was the quiet type and I was the football player. Loud and obnoxious to his quiet and soft-stuttering self.”

“I love it when he stutters,” I admitted.

“Jax is the kind of person who thinks of everyone else before himself. It’s the reason I got on board and helped him change his name. When Cambridge came asking about him, I played it off, but I knew he was on to me. That’s when I went to the family and told them what was going on. I wanted to tell Jax, but I knew Cambridge was watching everything.”

“He’s been through a lot.” I glanced toward the kitchen and watched Jax with his dad.

“You love him. Don’t you?” Deo arched his brows.

“Yeah. I do.”

Good.” Deo slapped my back, which sent me forward a few steps. He laughed and continued into the kitchen. I watched Jax with a stupid grin on my face.

“You got a good guy there, Rebel,” Paul observed from my side.

“I really do.”