IT’S BEEN CLOSE TO TWO hours since we left James at the motel, barely breathing, and a text from Jasper hasn’t come through yet.
I’m anxious, because I’m ready to get back to the hospital to be with my woman. I’m close to losing my shit and taking it out on Blaine since he’s here with me and won’t stop talking about how Madison broke shit off. First, he pushed me to tell him what happened with James and those fuckers jumping me and now this shit.
That’s the last thing I care about right now. Everything he says keeps going in one ear and out the other.
I’m focused right now, all of my attention aimed at James’ phone, waiting for the message we desperately need to come through.
“ . . . she knew from the beginning that I’m fucked-up in the head. It’s not my fault she chose to jump on my dick and expected me to change. I can’t.”
“Would you shut the hell up?” I squeeze James’ phone in my hand, trying my best not to break it against the wall of Blaine’s living room. “I’m starting to think this asshole isn’t texting tonight.”
“He’ll text and we’ll get to him. Just hold your fucking dick and be patient. It’ll happen. Even if I have to drive around all night to find him.” Blaine stops by the window and looks outside for the hundredth time since we got here. “I don’t have shit else to do.”
The phone vibrates in my hand, causing my heart to skip a damn beat. It’s from a number with no name, so I open it and read it.
My stomach twists into knots as I read the location for a second time. It’s the same spot in the woods Alexandra and I used to go to when were kids. The spot with the tire swing that is now gone.
“Let’s go.” Blaine barely has a chance to grab his jacket before I’m out the door and jumping into James’ shitbox of a car, about to drive off.
“Damn. I couldn’t leave without my gun and jacket.” He slams the door shut and gives me a hard look. “I’m more intimidating in this badass leather.”
“Shut the hell up, Blaine.” I grip the steering wheel and flex my jaw, mentally preparing to come face to face with Jasper.
I’ve thought of all the slow, painful deaths, deciding which I’d like to deliver to him, but the more time I had to think, waiting to get to him tonight, the more I keep imagining a quick death, ready to rid the world of this scum.
This should have been done long ago. He’s taken up too much time of my life already. He took my childhood from me, forced me to provide for myself, because he kept my mother high and barely functioning. Then he had the balls to come after the woman I love, trying to take her from me too.
My insides burn with rage and by the time we make it down the long path and park in front of Jasper’s truck, I’m on the verge of exploding.
He’s sitting on the tailgate, chilling, as if he’s the king of the world. The fucker doesn’t even look up from his phone to see who has pulled up. All that does is piss me off more.
Jasper seems to be alone, so I shoot Blaine a look that tells him to stay put, before I step out of the car and close the door behind me.
I can barely catch my breath and my heartbeat skyrockets as I walk down the path to where his truck is parked. The unsuspecting bastard is still paying too much attention to his phone to look up and see that it’s me approaching and not James.
“This son of a bitch wants to fuck with me.” He growls, while punching a text into his phone. “Got the money?”
He finally looks up from his phone, shock visible on his face when his eyes lock with mine. He fumbles to reach behind him for what I’m assuming is a weapon, but I grab him by the throat and throw him down to the ground before he can reach it. “Nothing can save you now.” I growl down at him, before placing my knee on his chest and aiming my gun at his forehead.
“Jax, you don’t have to do this.” He swallows nervously, keeping his eyes on mine. “Come on, Man. I’ve known you since you were a kid. Put that away and we can talk this out like grown men.”
“Shut the fuck up!” I scream in his face and push the barrel of the gun harder into his forehead, digging it in. “Don’t fucking talk! Your words won’t save you.” I hit him across the face with the pistol, before cocking the hammer back and tilting my head.
His eyes widen and his breathing picks up when he hears Blaine’s car door shut. “Who’s with you? Who the fuck–”
I hit him across the face again to shut him up, before turning to Blaine once he’s standing beside me. “Check his truck for his stash.”
Jasper growls as if his merchandise is more important than his life. But he doesn’t dare say shit as Blaine walks over to start his search. He comes back moments later and holds up a brick of cocaine. With a grin, he pulls out his knife and slices the top of it open, chunks of the white powder spilling from the knife blade slicing through it.
“No! No! No!” Jasper shakes his head and starts struggling under my weight when Blaine comes at him with it. Blaine shoves the cocaine in Jasper’s face, smothering him with his own supply.
I watch, numb as fuck as he struggles to breathe, while Blaine shoves the cocaine into his eyes, nose and mouth.
Everything inside of me is screaming to take him out. To shoot him right now and end his life, so I put my hand up, letting Blaine know that I’m ready.
He nods and takes a step back.
“You’re not worth my fucking time. I’m done wasting it on you.” I place the gun back to his forehead and look him in the eyes. What I can see of them at least, since they’re covered with residue of white. Just as he gets ready to say something, I pull the trigger, blood splattering all over the white as I blow his brains out.
I sit here for a while, covered in his blood as I stare down at his lifeless body. A part of me doesn’t believe he’s gone, even though I’m the one that pulled the trigger.
“He’s gone, Man.” Blaine grips my shoulder. “Mark is on the way to handle shit. We need to get out of here in case someone called the cops.”
I swallow and slowly stand up, my hands shaking as Blaine takes the gun from me. There are so many things I should’ve said to that piece of shit before ending him, but once I came face to face with him, the only thing I could do was think how relieved I’d be to finally live in a world he wasn’t in. I wanted to be the one to take his life and ensure that he’ll never fuck with anyone I love again.
Blaine drives us back to his house and I barely remember getting cleaned up and changing into some of his clean clothes before we head to the hospital.
It’s past three in the morning, yet when we walk through the door to Alexandra’s hospital room, she’s wide-awake, as if she’s been waiting for us to come back.
The moment her gaze lands on mine, I nod, and she covers her mouth with her hand, understanding what went down.
I spare her the details, because honestly, I don’t want to relive them. The sight of blood flowing onto the ground beneath his head will stick with me for a while.
She doesn’t say anything, she just sits up and holds her hand out, letting me know that she wants me in bed with her. So I climb in beside her and pull her against my chest, holding onto her as if my life depends on. She holds me just as tight and it lets me know that we’re going to get through this fucked-up night together. I never want to let her out of my sight again. Not for a while at least.
“I’m going to sit here for a while. Hope you guys don’t mind.” Blaine takes a seat in one of the chairs and runs his hands over his face.
No one talks.
I don’t think any of us knows what to say right now. All I know is that I can breathe again for the first time in days, knowing that motherfucker will never be able to hurt Alexandra again. I’d do it over and over again if it meant she’s safe and happy.
She’s my world, and without her I can’t fucking breathe. I won’t risk anyone hurting her or taking her from me again . . .