"Jax is going to Venue," Adam replied as Steve nodded.
"And how the hell do you know this?" Sloan headed toward them, an urgency to his tone.
"Because I read him." Adam looked a little sheepish when he answered, while Steve pointed at Adam, shaking his head.
"What's going on?" Sid walked in with everyone else following. "Adam and Steve took off like their asses were on fire."
"Oh, it's way better than that." Steve wiggled his eyebrows. "Tell them, Adam."
"Steve, go away." Adam nudged him.
"How in the hell could you have done that when he's not here?" Sloan demanded of Adam, but frowned at Steve, who was grinning like an idiot.
"Well, ah…," Adam started hesitantly.
"He can fucking read anybody, anytime… anywhere," Steve answered. "Ever since he's been turned he can do it. Holy shit, that feels good to let out. I suck at keeping secrets and that one was a fucking doozy."
"Is this true?" Sloan demanded. Caroline had no idea if he was happy with the fact or not.
"Yeah, pretty much," Adam replied with a shrug, looking really uncomfortable.
"What I want to know is when the fuck am I going to get some awesome powers? I mean, seriously, people. Jill can do the Carrie shit. Now Adam can lurk in our minds without us even knowing, which means I'll be thinking of naked men… a lot." When everyone looked at Steve oddly, he cleared his throat, rolling his eyes. "Not because I want to. Come on, I'm a ladies' man, but it will keep 'creeper boy' out of my head. Geez, can't say nothing around here without everyone taking it literally."
Sid took a few steps back with a frown, looking at Adam. "What am I thinking?"
"That Steve is a dumb ass," Adam's answer was spoken low.
Sid looked at Sloan with raised eyebrows. "I was blocking like a son of a bitch, boss. No way could he have read me, but he did without touching."
"That was your exact thought?" Sloan asked, sounding thoughtful.
"Steve is a dumb ass, yes." Sid nodded. "My exact thought."
"I think everyone gets the point." Steve huffed, rolling his eyes.
Caroline watched the Warriors and actually felt sorry for Steve. Then a thought came to her. "Then you can read Mika." She took a step forward and knew they were all looking at her red swollen eyes, but didn't care.
"That's what I thought and I tried." Adam frowned, looking away from her. "I think it only works on people I've had contact with in the past. At least, I think that's the case. I've never had contact with Jax's brother."
"Why in the fuck haven't you told me about this?" Sloan demanded, his tone harsh.
Adam looked around before focusing on Sloan. "Because I don't want everyone thinking I'm prying into their shit, as Steve pointed out," Adam answered, then looked a little embarrassed. "The only reason I did with Jax is because I just wanted to let Caroline know he would be back."
Caroline's stomach dipped at hearing that and tears welled up again, but she held them back.
"And he plans on being back, but he's heading to the club right now to look for Mika," Adam announced.
"Let's go. If you can do this, really do this, you're getting a raise." Sloan headed toward the door.
"Well, ain't that a kick in the balls," Steve hissed with a sour look on his face. "You can invade our privacy, even Sloan's, and he gives you a fucking raise."
"If he even thinks about reading me without my knowledge, he dies." Sloan was right behind Steve so he heard every word, but then he stopped, looking at Blaze. "Blaze, stay here with Caroline."
"No problem." Blaze gave a short nod.
"No, I'll be fine." Caroline followed them out the door. "You might need him."
Sloan stopped and turned toward her. "Blaze is staying until Jax gets back."
"He's not coming back," Caroline replied, trying her best not to embarrass herself again.
Sloan shook his head, staring down at her. "He'll be back."
"And what makes you so sure about that?" Caroline bit her lip, wishing she hadn't asked, hating that it made her sound desperate. She looked away, but Sloan caught her chin, turning her face back to his.
"Because it's what I would do," he replied, before walking out the door.
Caroline stared at his retreating back in shock. Reaching up, she touched her face where his hand had been while watching as the group climbed on their bikes and hopped into cars. Blaze went back to the roof as she stood on the porch watching everyone leave, feeling more confused than ever.
Chapter 8
Jax didn't even look Mika's way. He took a long swallow of his beer, finishing it off before gently placing the bottle on the bar. "What do you want, Mika?" Jax asked calmly, though inside he was primed and ready, wanting nothing more than to kill Mika on the spot. Too many innocent people were in the way, preventing him, so he couldn't make that move… yet.
"Oh, you know, the normal… mayhem, terror…. The list goes on and on," Mika said flippantly. "And what do you want, brother?"
Having no intention of playing Mika's game, Jax remained silent. His brother was conniving and very clever, but Jax knew him well, and that played in his favor.
"Hmmm, silence." Mika gave a nod and ordered a drink before turning on the stool toward Jax. "I bet I can answer my own question. Now, let's see, what does Jax want? I'd say number one on that list is vengeance, but then again, maybe not. It has been quite some time since the tragic death of our dear sister. Your priorities may have changed to, say, maybe a certain lovely creature who can talk to the dead and has a nice set of tits."
The only indication that Mika's words had any effect on him was the small tic in his jaw. Other than that, Jax remained outwardly calm, while on the inside, rage stormed through him, desperate for release on his brother.
"Ah, I see I've found that nerve." Mika chuckled before taking a sip of his drink. "Sweet Caroline. Yes, I know all about her and how she and her sister communicate with the dead. Pretty impressive. I would love to use her. I mean, talk to her about her special gift. I could put that to much use."
Just hearing her name spewed from the bastard's lips was enough to drive Jax insane, but he kept his composure. "Seems like you don't need her skill," Jax replied, keeping the fury out of his voice. "What did you threaten Alisha with?"
Mika's gasp was theatrical. "What are you insinuating…? Oh, okay, you caught me. I've already found my… what would you call it…? Dead people reader?" Mika actually looked thoughtful, then shook his head as a sinister grin spread across his face. "But you have to admit having our poor dead sister shift into a boy was genius. Hell, it took you all long enough. Did you know the dead could manipulate dreams?"
"Soon, you are going to die," Jax said without inflection, but this time, he looked straight into his brother's soulless eyes. "By my hands."
Mika wiped his mouth after draining his glass, then smashed it down on the bar. Shards of glass went everywhere, but Jax didn't move a muscle. "Is that a challenge?" Mika's voice turned from flippant asshole to hardcore evil. "I just love a challenge."
Jax was ready for the move and, as Mika went to sucker punch him in the side of the head, Jax shifted enough that the fist missed, sending Mika scrambling on the bar. With fluid ease, Jax grabbed Mika's hair, slamming his face on the hard surface before pulling him face-first down the length of the bar. People scattered out of the way, which was a good thing because Jax wasn't slowing down. He picked up Mika and pressed him against the wall. He gripped Mika around the throat and squeezed, lifting him up to where his feet didn't touch the ground.
"It's not a challenge, you sick bastard," Jax hissed, his face up close to Mika's. "It's a promise."
Mika futilely beat at Jax's arm. "I'm going to love…," Mika wheezed out, "fucking her while I squeeze… her throat."
Jax punched him in the mouth repeatedly. "You will never touch her," Jax roared, then threw Mika away from him.
Mika jumped up, wiping the blood from his mouth. "That's what you said about Alisha." M
ika spat blood before looking up at Jax. Hatred painted his face. "But you failed her as you will fail the little teacher."
In three strides, Jax was in Mika's face as punches were thrown by both. It was a vicious fight, both men taking out their hatred for each other. Instead of releasing the pent-up rage, it seemed to grow with each hit smashing into the other. Grabbing Mika, Jax turned and body slammed him to the ground, but he lost his hold as Mika rolled, landing straddled on top of him, raining down punches. Jax took each hit, letting it fuel him.
With every ounce of strength Jax had, he flung Mika off him and jumped to his feet. Spitting blood, he wiped his mouth with a slow smile. "Is that all you've got?" Jax spat again. "You still hit like a bitch."
Mika roared, lunging for him, but Jax was quick with a spin kick to Mika's head, which sent him tumbling into tables. Jax followed, knocking tables out of the way, and noticed for the first time that the Warriors surrounded them.
"He's mine!" he warned as he reached for Mika, pulling him up and dodging a punch.
The momentum of the punch pulled Mika out of his grasp, but Sid was there to push him back in. The shift happened immediately. When Mika touched Sid, he shifted. Then he touched Jared and shifted again, trying to confuse Jax. Unperturbed, Jax's eyes tracked him until Jared repeatedly punched Mika in the face and yet, it was as if Jared was punching himself.
"Stop!" Jax yelled, but it was too late. Mika pulled Jared, knocking him into Sid as all three of them went down into a fighting pile. "Fuck!"
Jax headed over, trying to keep an eye on Mika who kept shifting from Sid to Jared. Damon and Sloan separated them. When they stood, there were two Sid's and one Jared, but no Mika.
"This shit is fucked-up," one Sid growled, staring at the other. "That is not me." He pointed directly at the other Sid.
"Fuck you, asshole." The other Sid growled back, trying to throw a punch, but Sloan stopped him. "No way could you pull off being me. Jax knows exactly who is who."
The fact was, Jax wasn't sure. Mika was good, damn good, but there was one way to find out. With a fluid motion, he reached behind him and pulled out the knife he always carried in the waistband of his pants, and with precise aim, threw it.
"Motherfucker!" one Sid bellowed, staring at the knife handle sticking out of his shoulder. "What in the fuck is wrong with you?"
Jax's eyes went straight to the other Sid, who stared at him wide-eyed before breaking away, running toward the door. Before Jax could reach him, Mika was outside, already shifted back to himself. He had grabbed a woman from the crowd and was holding her in front of him.
"If you come one step closer, I will break her fucking neck." When Jax remained silent, Mika torqued the woman's neck, making her cry out. "You know I'll do it, brother."
"Then you will die." Jax's tone was matter-of-fact, knowing once again his brother had the upper hand. It pissed him the hell off.
"Please," the woman cried, her eyes begging Jax for help.
Jax sneered with a curse, unable to do a damn thing without endangering the woman. Neither his oath nor strength of character would allow him to do it.
"Watch your back," Jax hissed at his brother. "I'm coming after you." He pointed directly at him in warning.
"Big words, brother," Mika sneered.
"Why don't you let the woman go and face me like a man?" Jax knew Mika wouldn't let go of his shield, too afraid to lose, and lose he would, but it was worth a try; plus the more he got in the bastard's head, the better.
"Because I want you to suffer." Mika's face contorted with hatred as he backed his way through the crowd still holding the woman. "And I know you aren't afraid to die, but you do fear something happening to someone you care about. Alisha proved that." Mika finally pushed the woman free, then turned, rushing into the crowd, shifting from one person to the next as he fled, until he finally blended in with everyone else.
Jax's eyes tried to track Mika as he raced through the crowd, but it was useless. "Dammit," Jax cursed as he turned to head back toward the club, but found all the Warriors had been behind him the whole time. "Who's with Caroline?"
"Go search the crowd and make sure the woman is okay," Sloan ordered before answering Jax. "Blaze stayed behind."
"You son of a bitch." Sid stormed up to Jax, the knife still sticking out of his shoulder.
"You hit the wrong guy, dude." Steve was still standing there, his eyes going from Sid to Jax.
"I gave you an order." Sloan's growl sent Steve scurrying into the crowd.
"Do you think the chance of maybe hitting the wrong person, as you did in this case, was too big of a risk to take?" Sloan asked, his focus moving from the knife in Sid's shoulder to Jax.
"I'd say, fuck yes, it's too much of a risk to take," Sid growled. "It hurts like a bitch."
Slade had stayed behind also. He leaned close in concentration. "It's buried all the way to the handle." His eyes rose to Sid. "You want me to pull it out?"
"No, I'm going to wear it as a new piercing." Sid just gave him an "'are you serious"' look. "Fuck yes, I want it out."
"I need something to stop the blood." Slade looked around.
Jax figured since it was his fault, he should play nice. Taking off his jacket, he pulled off his shirt, tossing it to Slade. "Here."
Slade put one hand on Sid's shoulder, then gripped the knife handle with the other one. "I'm going to count to three."
"He's lying." Jill walked up at that exact moment. "It's two."
"Just pull the damn thing ou— FUCK YOU! That hurt." Sid grabbed the shirt out of Slade's hand and applied pressure. He walked up to Jax, getting in his face. "If you ever fucking throw a knife at me again, you are a dead man."
Jax casually pulled on his leather jacket. Not one to usually give explanations for his actions, he felt Sid deserved one. "Most shifters will lose their shift under the shock of extreme pain. I had a split second to decide."
"Well, you decided wrong," Sid grumbled, moving the shirt to look at his wound, which was already healing.
"No, I didn't," Jax replied, his voice gruff. "There was no wrong move. You just got screwed in the pick."
"Yeah, well fuck you and fuck your brother." Sid walked away, still pissed.
"Everyone needs to make sure to watch their backs." Jax ignored Sid's remark.
"Oh, is that what you were doing when you took off without a fucking plan?" Sloan's tone turned harsh. "We had a plan, which is now shot to hell."
"Caroline was not going to be part of that plan," Jax replied, not caring how pissed Sloan got. Caroline was not a Warrior and would not be a part of this any more than she already was, and he would make damn sure of that. "And Caroline is right. Mika has someone with the same gift as Lana and Caroline. He is manipulating Alisha to do his dirty work."
Sloan and Jax stood alone on the steps of the Venue. The crowd was dispersing as the human police had shown up. Damon and Duncan were filling them in on what had happened.
"What exactly does your brother want?" Sloan asked, his eyes searching.
"For me to suffer by taking out as many people close to me as possible, as well as Warriors he despises," Jax replied without hesitation. "And he won't stop until he succeeds or dies."
"Then he dies," Sloan responded with a single nod of his head. "You need to head back to Caroline's before I do."
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Jax's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing in on his leader.
"Exactly what it sounds like." Sloan didn't back down. "Walk away from her and I will step in."
Jax took two steps, coming nose to nose with Sloan. "I'm keeping her safe, and fuck you for taking advantage of that."
"Any man would be a fool not to take advantage of that with a woman like Caroline." Sloan's words were like a slap to his face. "I comforted her after you left today, as a friend to you. If I comfort her again because you're being a total bastard with no clue, it will be as a man who has no respect for you."
Adrenaline rushed thr
ough his body, wanting more than anything to plaster Sloan Murphy on his ass, but he held back, still having some respect for his superior. "Touch her and I will kill you." He was still face-to-face with Sloan, each the same height.
"Hurt her, and I will kill you." Sloan cocked his eyebrow, challenging Jax's own words.
"Then you might as well kill me now," Jax spat in disgust. "Because the closer I get to her, the more in danger she is. She'll get hurt, even worse, killed."
"You are so full of shit." Sloan grabbed Jax's shoulder when he tried to pass, but Jax shrugged him off. Sloan was far from finished so he grabbed Jax again, pushing him up against the building. "What are you really running from, Jax? I never figured you for a pussy. If Mika is coming after her, he will come no matter if you're with her or not. He obviously knows your feelings. Who better to protect her than you?"
Jax pushed away from Sloan and walked away. He knew the son of a bitch was right and it pissed him off. Heading toward his bike, he ignored everyone in his path, yet kept his eyes open for his brother, who he knew was long gone. His fists tightened at his sides as Sloan's words echoed through his mind. What exactly was he running from when it came to Caroline?
Chapter 9
Caroline headed up the unsteady ladder to the roof. Reaching the top, she looked up, spotting a hand hovering before her face. Taking it, she let Blaze help her the rest of the way up.
"Be careful and only walk on the new wood," he ordered, while searching for danger as she made her way to the peak of the roof and sat down.
Looking over her property, Caroline smiled, then closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "I love it here." She peeked at Blaze then laughed. "I think I've said that a thousand times. Everyone is probably sick of hearing me say it."
"There's nothing wrong with being proud." Blaze nodded, sitting down.
Caroline shrugged then put her chin on her knees, staring out at the sunset. Loneliness swept over her, despite Blaze's closeness. It wasn't Blaze she wanted sitting next to her. "Yeah, you're right, and I am proud, even though there's still a lot of work to be done."
Jax (The Protectors Series) Book #8 Page 6
