Chapter Five
Jaxon tried to ignore Ginny’s soft hands clinging to his waist. He tried to ignore the sweet scent that drifted over his nose every time he turned his head to the right just a tiny bit. Most of all, he tried to ignore the way his heart sped up in his chest, not because they were chasing the witch, but because she’d always made his heart speed up whenever she was near.
The first time he’d laid eyes on her, he’d known she was the only female for him. Now she had become his Achilles’ heel.
“Take a left,” she said near his ear and held out her phone to show him the direction the arrow was facing on her tracker system.
He slowed his Harley so he could take the curve. She tightened her arms around his waist and leaned into him. Her pert breasts pressed into his back and he groaned, hating how much he was still attracted to the woman who had not hesitated to rip out his heart.
He increased his speed down the desolate country road. The quicker he found the witch, the quicker Ginny would get her car back and drive out of his life forever.
His gut twisted.
The bruises. How had Ginny gotten involved with someone who hurt her? How had the girl he’d once known, or thought he’d known, ended up with a male like that?
Fuck. He needed to stop overthinking shit. Ginny had made her choice. And she didn’t chose him.
Still, he knew that he couldn’t just let her ride out of Arkansas and back into Louisiana until he had the whole story about what was going on, even though he knew he couldn’t make her leave a dangerous domestic situation. Hell, he’d hung around Braxton enough to hear how that shit turned out.
Braxton, a fellow Arkansas Guardian, had tried to get his mother to leave his abusive father for years. When the old man had been found dead, Braxton had been blamed. After the real killer was found and taken back to stand trial, his mother still hadn’t left Louisiana. She still mourned the male who’d beaten the hell out of her every day of her life.
He’d seen the hurt in Braxton’s eyes when talked of how his mother had cut herself off from him. Braxton had offered to move her to Arkansas to live with him and his mate, Kate. His mom refused. So he quit trying to be part of her life. He still sent her money every month, but she never responded.
Was that how Ginny was going to end up?
Nausea rolled around in his gut. He knew he couldn’t just let her leave until he gave her a way out. A female shouldn’t have to live her life in fear.
“Fuck me.” He scrubbed his hand down his face. If he didn’t watch it, he was going to get sucked back into being vulnerable with her. That was something he couldn’t afford to do.
* * *
Ginny didn’t suppress her grin. She’d never been on a Harley in her life. But something about the speed and the wind rushing across her skin made her feel alive, something she’d not experienced in a very long time.
The heat from the exhaust scorched her ankle, and she tried to hold it away. Jaxon turned and threw a scowl over his shoulder. He must have felt the shift in the balance of the bike, but she wasn’t worried. He was clearly an expert rider. He knew how to handle a bike. He knew how to handle her.
He slowed down as they approached a gas station. He turned in and pulled up beside a pump.
Planting her hands on his shoulders, she got off the bike. Her heel caught on a pebble and she stumbled. Jaxon dismounted and caught her before she fell.
“I’m fine.” She stepped out of his embrace and stared up at him.
He said nothing.
“We need to hurry if we’re going to catch the car.” She glanced around the gas station. It was a habit of hers, looking around and surveying her surroundings. These last few years, her life had consisted of surviving, and she made a point to not let her guard down. Letting her guard down could cost her.
“We’re not going anywhere until we get you some different clothes to wear.” His gaze drifted down her body to rest at her feet. “Last time I checked, heels were not exactly considered riding gear.”
“If you have a bandana or rag, I can tie it around my ankle. No need to get new clothes.” She might look like she had a million dollars, but she didn’t have a cent to her name. The times she did spend money on something, it was through a credit card. She wasn’t allowed to carry cash. She knew why. It was just one more way John could control her.
“Well, you’re ruining my image, sweetheart. I can’t have a female on the back of my bike looking like some fancy lawyer.”
“So you’d rather have a biker chick.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“There was a time you might have liked being a biker chick.” He leaned in and smiled.
Her stomach warmed and turned to Jell-O. It had been years since they’d seen each other. He shouldn’t still have this effect on her.
“I don’t have any money. I can’t buy any clothes.” She couldn’t use the credit card. He could track her down within an hour, and there’d be hell to pay. She was in enough trouble as it was. She didn’t need to make it worse.
“Are you kidding, sweetheart? No money? That ring alone looks like it could be worth at least twenty thousand.” His gaze narrowed on her wedding ring.
“Thirty,” she corrected him and twisted the ring on her finger. Remembering her insignia ring, she shoved her right hand into her pocket before he could get a good look. Jaxon would hate her if he found out who she really was.
If she could be a big enough bitch, then he would be more than willing to let her go after they found her car. He’d probably count himself lucky that he hadn’t ended up mating with her.
Her throat tightened. She felt her heart break a little more.
She lifted her chin and reminded herself that she was doing this for Jaxon. That she had to keep this up. If she wanted Jaxon to live she could sacrifice herself.
Something flashed behind Jaxon’s eyes, yet he said nothing. She knew that hurting him now would save her trouble down the road.
“Go inside and see what kind of clothes they have.” His voice was low and void of emotion. He pulled out his wallet, tugged out a couple of hundred-dollar bills, and shoved them at her. He didn’t wait for her to argue or watch to see if she complied. Instead he turned his back and reached for the gas pump to fuel up his Harley.
She turned on her heel and sauntered inside the gas station. The cashier glanced up from reading his paper. He gave her a nod of acknowledgement before his gaze drifted back down to his newspaper. To the left was an area that served freshly made sub sandwiches. To the left were the snacks and coolers for drinks. She glanced toward the back of the gas station and noticed a door going into a different area of the store.
She passed the snacks and stepped into the next room. There were a few racks of secondhand clothes and some shoes, along with some secondhand furniture. An older lady looked up from the counter and smiled.
“Can I help you, dear?”
“I… ah… I was looking for some clothes.” She nodded toward the racks.
“Oh.” The smile on the older woman faded as her gaze drifted down Ginny’s blouse and dress pants. “I don’t think we have anything that you would like, honey. They’re mainly jeans, T-shirts and boots.”
“Actually, that’s perfect.” She nodded and walked over to the rack of jeans.
After poking around and checking the tags, she found jeans in her size and pulled them off the rack. They had sequined pockets and were a popular brand found in malls. She slung the jeans over her arm and turned toward the T-shirt rack. She settled on a sleeveless racerback T-shirt in black.
She needed boots that would at least protect her ankles from the heat of the bike. She spotted a pair of Harley Davidson boots that came up a few inches over her ankles. They had a lot of wear on them, but she wasn’t concerned about the looks. She picked them up and took her findings to the counter.
After changing clothes in the bathroom, she studied her reflection in the mirror. Her gaze drifted down to her insignia ring. She tugged off the jewelry and stuffed it in her pocket.
A few minutes later, she was walking out of the gas station in her new biker clothes with her old clothes folded in her arms.
Jaxon lifted his gaze from his phone and did a double take.
Longing filled his eyes, and she knew that he was remembering how they used to be, the times they’d had together. Back then, they were invincible. That was before she’d learned about life and death and reality.
“All of it was under a hundred dollars.” She held out his money. “Here’s the rest of your money.”
He took it and stuffed it back in his jeans pocket, his gaze never once leaving her.
“Are we ready?” Anxiety pounded in her chest, and she glanced around the gas station. She didn’t like staying in one place too long. She knew they needed to get back on the road.
“You certainly look different,” he finally said. His gaze landed on her boots. “Nice boots.” A slight smile played on his lips.
“I didn’t have much choice. I needed something to protect my ankles.” She handed him her clothes, and he stowed them in his saddlebags.
He secured the bags and stood. “It doesn’t look like you are trying to protect everything.” He reached out and turned her arm over, making the bruises visible. His thumb traced the slight purple marks across her forearm.
She jerked her arm away.
“Ginny, have you ever thought of leaving him?” He cocked his head.
“And finding you?” She smirked. “Don’t give yourself so much credit.” She had to hurt him, to make him stay away. It was the only way she could keep him safe.
“No. Not to find me.” He let out a sigh. “Have you ever thought of leaving so you could feel safe?”
She said nothing. She couldn’t. If she did, she would give herself away.
“You must love him very much to tolerate what he does.” He glanced at the ground and then back at her.
“You know nothing of love, Jaxon.” She swallowed and narrowed her gaze. “Don’t try to pretend like you do.”
He fisted his hands at his sides, and for a fleeting second she was afraid. No so much afraid that he was going to hit her. She didn’t think Jaxon would ever lay a hand on her. But she was afraid of herself. Of what she might say if she caved in. She was afraid of revealing the truth.
Once Jaxon saw the truth, there would be no way to stop him.
And it would end with his death.