Chapter Eleven
“Found him!”
“Finally!”
Jax frowned as his bike was approached on both sides by men running on foot. He swerved and leapt off the bike, landing with his full weight on one of the men. He quickly sliced the man’s throat and turned to face the other, who was still running to catch up to him. The man paused, uncertain when he realized that his friend was dead on the ground.
Jax took the opportunity to attack and seized the man’s head in his hands, snapping his neck like an animal. He wasn’t going to tolerate any funny business. Especially not if these guys had been looking specifically for Jax. Nobody would report back to Shark Tooth about his location and endanger his family.
“Aw fuck,” a third voice whined.
Jax whipped around, throwing his knife at the man. He was familiar somehow. But before he could register who he was, the man had turned on his heel and ran away, leaving Jax’s knife stuck in a tree. Jax grabbed it and went after him, but it was too late. He’d lost him.
“Fuck!” Jax growled, getting back on his bike. He didn’t have time to worry about that. Not when Layne was missing.
Jax pedaled furiously, careful to avoid the areas he knew would be crawling with men from Hex. He wanted to get to the settlement where they were heading as quickly as possible. Maybe the girls would still be there. They wouldn’t be particularly pleased to see him, but that wouldn’t matter.
Jax sighed. He had another day left before he made it since he was taking the long way around. And if he didn’t find Layne at the brainy tribe, he would just comb through every inch of the place until he did find her and bring her home.
Suddenly, Jax remembered the man who had run away. They were part of the Jackals, a vicious tribe full of fierce, bloodthirsty men. They were a lot like Hex, only somehow even less reasonable. The man who had escaped had witnessed Jax kill every man who was after Layne on the first day they met. His name was Jinx, and now that he was on Jax’s trail, that meant more trouble from the Jackals. But he couldn’t let that stop him now. He had a mission. He would find Layne and Sam and bring his family home.
***
Layne tossed and turned. She and Sam had been served dinner and then taken to the far end of the camp, where there were tents set up for them to sleep in. She didn’t like being so far away from Sam. Their tents were far apart, leaving them both vulnerable to attack.
Sam had promised not to sleep during the night, which would probably leave negotiation in Layne’s hands the next morning. But still, she didn’t feel safe being anywhere near Aydin, and hated more than anything the cruel twist of fate that left her baby’s life in his hands.
Suddenly, the tent flap rustled. Layne expected to see Sam, but instead, Aydin was standing before her. His amber eyes scanned her body on the floor where her sleeping mat was laid out, and a forbidden longing seemed to captivate her as soon as he smiled. What the hell was wrong with her? She had let this man take her too far once. Why was she even considering doing something like that again?
It had to be her hormones. They were making it impossible to resist him, just has it had been impossible during the early days of the crisis. A capable, handsome doctor focused on bringing the world the relief it so desperately needed. He had been a vision from a dream to her then. A miracle worker disguised as an ordinary person.
Until he had asked the impossible of her.
“What are you doing here, Aydin?” Layne asked darkly, sitting up and looking into his eyes.
“I missed you,” he said simply.
Layne tried to read whatever double meaning he had laced in his words. She looked deeply into his eyes to find the sarcasm, the game. But there was nothing. Maybe he was being genuine.
“I didn’t miss you,” Layne said finally. But she wondered if that was true.
“I don’t blame you. I made a huge mistake back then,” Aydin said, sitting down beside her on the sleeping mat. She was suddenly engulfed by his spicy scent and his clear eyes looked into hers with an intensity she had forgotten could exist in a man. Jax was so much different. So soft and yet so fierce. Aydin had a magnetism that left everybody spellbound. It was no doubt the reason he had become the leader of the little group, even after the incident that had nearly cost them all their lives.
“You made more than a mistake,” Layne exclaimed. And for some reason, instead of feeling angry, she burst into tears. It was definitely the hormones. And yet, the pain she had felt back then, the confusion and betrayal she had experienced, had been very, very real. She had just managed to hold it back all this time.
Suddenly, Aydin’s strong arms were around her and his chocolatey voice was consoling her, telling her all the things she had thought over the years about him. That he had been childish, stupid, naive, and cruel. That she hadn’t deserved to be hurt the way she had been. That he had always loved her, then, all the way up to now.
His lips kissed her forehead and she gritted her teeth, consumed by memories of their last sweet embrace. It had been the morning before he had executed his plan. His strong hands had been all over her body, awakening deep longings for Aydin to somehow become part of her. Complete her somehow.
And he had. So many times and in so many ways. Layne’s vulnerable body, her heart, broken and shattered by the tragedy that had taken her away from her family and friends, had found an odd sort of peace with Aydin. And they’d shared such a strong sexual chemistry. It was different than what she had with Jax, who was always powerful, caring, considerate, and honest. With Aydin, she could never be sure what he was really thinking, and in a way, her insecurity had enhanced that aspect of their relationship. She cherished every tiny morsel of attention she’d received from him. And now, there he was again.
“I need you to leave, Aydin. I mean it,” Layne said, pulling away from his embrace.
“I thought you needed my help,” he said, smiling maddeningly at her.
“I need equipment,” she said, gritting her teeth. “That doesn’t mean I need it from you.”
Aydin smiled, a genuine smile, and he stood up with a courteous, old-fashioned bow. He was always doing this sort of thing. Grandiose, sarcastic, and yet, deep down, she suspected he was secretly just that kind of person. Larger than life. More like the evil villain in a book than a person in real life.
“Good night then,” he said, his eyes twinkling.
Layne cringed as she listened to his footsteps recede. She couldn’t trust herself with him. It was better to keep him out of her life as much as possible. Getting involved with him would just complicate everything, and for her baby’s sake, she couldn’t afford that.
Still, her mind was reeling for the rest of the night, her loins on fire at the thought of being able to indulge one last time in the sensual pleasures that she had once enjoyed with Aydin. He was certainly a master of his craft, and on more than one occasion, he’d left her begging for more and more, until the sun had risen and she still hadn’t had enough. It was to be expected from someone so young and in love, who had never enjoyed the touch of a man before. And as hot as it made her to remember, and as tempted as she was to revisit that erotic, secret part of her history, she wouldn’t let herself. Not even if it meant having to get her equipment elsewhere.
Aydin was a monster. That’s all there was to it. And she wouldn’t let him feel as if she owed him for anything. Not anymore. Not after he had knowingly poisoned them all, having Layne distribute the cups of his noxious solution as if it were nothing more dangerous than water. Not after a child had died under his watch and Layne’s love had been replaced by the sadistic Natalie – a woman who shared in Aydin’s demented vision and encouraged him to find a cure, by any means necessary.
She wouldn’t let Aydin know anything about her pregnancy or allow him to feel like he could pressure her into exchanging sex for research equipment. If he wanted the beer, then fine. They would trade the beer. And if not, they would be on their way, far from the confusing, hellish emotions that being near Aydin stirred up in Layne. She didn’t need that. She had a family to think about, and that was exactly what she was going to do.