Jax: Caleb’s here. What did u do?!
Natasha: Wasn’t me. I’d planned on visiting him at the bar later. Why is he there? He know about the baby?
Jax: Fuck off!
Natasha: Tell me what’s going on over there or I’m coming over for a little chat with Logan about your demanding cock!
I dropped the phone and moved in on Jax, smacking him in the back of the head.
“You son of a bitch!” I screamed, backing away before I went off again. Violence wasn’t the answer, but it sure felt good.
“You…you and…oh my God, Jax! You screwed Natasha? When? Was she still with Logan? Is that why she left him?” My own eardrums hurt at my incessant shrieking.
He sprung off the bed, his features hard. “No! Hell, I was still in high school when they dated.”
“Okay, then when? Or better yet, why?”
He blew out a deep breath and stood in front of me, looking genuinely ashamed.
“Last year, right before Logan moved here. Oliver kept asking about his mother, and one day a friend of mine sent me some pics of himself posing with girls he partied with on the beach down in Miami. One was Natasha. I recognized her right away, and went down there to try and convince her to come see Oliver or at least call him. Shit, he deserved that much.” His voice colored with disgrace. “Thought she could explain why she wasn’t around. I love that kid more than anything. I’d never hurt him."
I didn’t know what to say. “Jax…”
He sat on the bed, his shoulders hunched, and I sat beside him.
“I fucked up. I brought her a bunch of photos of Oliver and tried to tell her how funny and smart he was, but all she wanted to do was party.” His hands yanked through his hair. “It’s all a blur. I don’t even know half the shit I took while I was there, just that when I left she had no interest in coming back for Oliver—at least, none that I saw. I mean, she refused to even talk about him! At first I thought it was because she was ashamed she left, but I don’t know. I wish I could take it back. You have to believe me on that.” He tilted his head my way. His eyes were glazed over. “When she showed up on New Year’s, I was as shocked as everyone else.”
“Logan doesn’t know?” Sympathy tinged my words. He’d thought he was doing the right thing.
“No—not about me finding her, and definitely not that I fucked her. I was fresh out of high school, and she was all over me!”
I made a face of disgust. What was the appeal of Natasha other than on a superficial level? I guessed that was enough for some guys.
“I know it was wrong. I’m not trying to justify what I did, but Logan won’t care. He’ll throw my ass out. He’ll never speak to me or let me near Oliver again.” He grabbed my hands, panicked. “Please, Cassandra. You can’t say anything.”
“He’ll forgive you,” I reasoned.
Jax threw my hands aside and leapt up from the bed, hands balled into fists at his sides. “I’m the reason she’s back, which led to you almost dying in a car accident! Don’t you get that? You think he’s really gonna forgive me? I fucked the first woman he ever loved—and not just once! He’s gonna kill me!”
I stood, approaching him like I was cornering an animal, and placed my hands on his shoulders. “He loves you. He’s going to see your intentions were good. And as far as the sex, Natasha was the one who took advantage of you. You were still basically a kid. And don’t for one second put the blame of my accident on you or even Natasha. I shouldn’t have driven home that night. That’s on me and nobody else.”
He shoved away from me. “Doesn’t matter! I wanted to screw her! Not at first, but when I got there and she started strutting her half-naked ass all around me, I wanted nothing else than to fuck her, and I did. That’s on me, and I’ve been suffering ever since.”
How had he hidden all this from Logan? So much for him knowing everything.
“That’s why she’s blackmailing you.”
“Bingo!” He threw up his hands.
“Then why give her grief whenever she’s around? You treat her like trash.”
“She may think I’m her little bitch, but I refuse to kiss her ass. Besides, if I didn’t give her shit, Logan would know something was up. Win-win.”
Made sense—at least, as much as any of it could. “We need to explain all this to Logan.”
“Hell no!” His eyes grew impossibly wide.
“I won’t lie to him, Jax.”
“Fine, then at least give me a little time here—at least a week to try and shut her the hell out of our lives for good. She thought you were the weak link—the one to manipulate to gain better access to Logan—but obviously that went to shit. She’s desperate now, and it’s only a matter of time before she makes a wrong move.”
“Jax, we need to tell Logan. It will be worse if he finds out on his own.”
“You really think he can handle another bomb with everything he has going on? He’s under investigation for murder, Cassandra. Please, just give me a week, and if I can’t get rid of her then I’ll tell him myself.”
The thought of lying to Logan was crushing, but Jax was right: Now wasn’t the best time to add to Logan’s stress. He’d have to understand that later.
“One week. That’s it. And if Logan suspects anything, then I’m telling him. But don’t get it twisted—the only reason I’m agreeing to this is because you’re right about him not needing it right now.”
“Fuck,” he blew out, grabbing the bottle of tequila and pouring us each a shot—one I needed desperately. “I owe you big, woman.”
“Yeah, you do.”
Somewhere between finishing off the bottle and Jax revealing hidden tattoos he had on his chest, his arms, and even the back of his neck, my eyelids drooped and sleep set in.
“What the fuck!?”
I snapped my groggy eyes open, feeling a warm body resting under my head. I blinked to clear away the sleep, my vision focusing just enough for me to see Logan towering over me.
Which meant his wasn’t the hard, naked chest under me.
The pain in my head made my movements slow as a wave of nausea hit hard. I peeked to the side to find Jax lying under me, his eyes wide and staring back at me. I shot up and off the bed, my hands covering my mouth.
“Why the hell are you in bed with my girl!?” Logan bellowed, throwing clothes at Jax.
I doubled over, my dry heaves punishing and relentless.
“Logan—” was all I could manage before my stomach emptied at his feet.
“Get your ass dressed, and get the hell out of my house!” Logan growled.
Debilitating tremors made it nearly impossible to lift my head. I saw enough to know Logan was talking to Jax, who stood, wearing only boxers. When had that happened?
I fought through the haze, remembering him removing his shirt to show me his tattoos. But his pants?
Oh crap.
Another surge of nausea hit as I remembered the tiny kitten tattoo on his upper thigh that he’d supposedly been dared to give himself at a frat party. It was hilarious when he’d showed it to me the previous night, when I was too drunk to realize his pants needed to be removed for me to get a view. But now…now it was a nightmare.
I heard Jax leave as I righted myself, ready to explain. Thankfully, I was fully clothed.
“Logan, it’s not—”
“I’m going out for a drink. Get cleaned up.” He wouldn’t even look at me.
“Wait!” I stumbled after him, my head an unbearable anchor. I’d made it to the hallway when Julia stepped in front of me.
“I’d let him go if I were you.”
Was she serious? “No, nothing happened.” I held my head still in my hands. The room spun faster.
“I believe you, and he will too when he calms down. He’s just had a bad week, and you have to admit: You in bed with a practically naked Jax looks pretty bad.”
I took a few breaths, choking down the acidic burn. “Why is he home early? Did something happen?”
&nb
sp; “I don’t know. I just stopped by to do some laundry. Oliver’s still with my mom. Logan did mention that it was going to be a busy week, and he wanted to see you.”
My stomach sank further. He’d come home for me, and this is what he’d found. I needed to find him and make things right.
Julia walked away and I bolted to the stairs, ignoring my nausea.
“Logan!” I yelled from the top step.
He stopped halfway through the front doorway, about to leave. He didn’t even look back.
“Leave me the hell alone, Cassandra.” His voice was deadly calm. He walked out, slamming the door behind him.
Sadness wracked my body. I should’ve fallen down crying, but I didn’t. In fact, I felt the urge to do the exact opposite. I was tired of being pushed aside while he dealt with things alone. And after he’d thrown me out over the Hilary incident, this was the final straw.
He thought he was the angry one? I was livid.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Truth
For the first time in my life, I was thankful for the anger coursing through my veins, ripping through the alcohol-fueled haze. There was no more nausea or spinning rooms—just a pissed-off woman storming home through melting sludge.
I fell into bed the moment my coat hit the floor. My kicked-off shoes flew through the air while I held up my phone and sent a text, but not to Logan. This one was to yet someone else currently responsible for the drama in my life, and frankly, it was time for me to speak up.
I know you’re with Caleb! U coulda called so I’d stop worrying but then again u and your man are the same that way! Selfish!
The text to Hilary was followed by one to Jax.
Did u set me up?!
His reply came less than a minute later.
NO! Didn’t even know he was comin home. Swear it!
The message I’d read on his phone from Natasha the previous night had set off my internal alarms. Seduce her, if you have to, she’d told him—and according to Logan right about now, that was exactly how it looked.
If I check your phone will I see u texted her this morning with the play by play?
Don’t hate me. I need to keep her off my back till I can put a plan together. I had to tell her. She needs to think I’m still on her side.
I was fuming. Jax couldn’t be trusted, and after the previous night, that little revelation actually hurt. I wanted to like him; despite his actions involving Natasha, he was a good guy. But it didn’t change the fact that I felt used.
Screw u! You didn’t have to tell her, she’d have never known you didn’t.
What happened last night was innocent. Go talk to Logan. He’ll understand.
Oh, I’d be talking to Logan all right.
Consider your week up. Logan’s going to hear everything.
Wait!! I was never gonna follow thru w/ anything the bitch wanted. I consider u a friend. Last night wasn’t some plan to trick u. Please do me a solid and give me some time here.
If the amount of rage I felt could’ve been converted into physical strength, my phone would’ve crumbled in my grip. There were few people I downright hated, but Natasha was now at the top of that short list.
I replied with the only thing my brain had energy to process.
I need sleep.
His response was instant.
Do I still have that week?
IDK g’night
When I woke hours later, the afternoon was fading into evening and I didn’t feel any better. A quick shower and bite to eat only squelched the alcohol-fueled hangover—not the emotional one.
Finished biding my time in an effort to not have to deal with life again, I finally grabbed my phone and confirmed Logan hadn’t tried to reach out.
But someone else had: Hilary. One new text awaited me.
Sorry. You’re right I shoulda called. What’s going on? Caleb took my phone & only gave it back when he saw your message.
I replied, keeping it short.
Everything is falling apart. I miss u! Tell Caleb to bring u home soon.
Who knew when she’d get the message, or when she—my venting ear—would be back.
Pushing it all from my mind, I dropped the phone beside me on the sofa, exchanging it for the TV remote that proved everything was pissing me off today: the usually hilarious sitcoms, Ellen, and even the little old woman on QVC selling pearls.
With a discouraged groan and nothing interesting to capture my brooding mind, I got dressed, climbed in my car, and drove. With no destination planned, I ended up in my mother’s driveway.
She wasn’t home, but her boyfriend, George, was. He shot off the couch when I threw my coat over the back of it, previously oblivious to the fact that I was there.
Our gazes met—his complete with bulging eyes, and mine, for some ungodly reason, dropping to the tighty whities he wore. Those things looked good on very few men, and George was unfortunately not one of them.
As if just realizing he was showing way too much—and sporting what looked unmistakably and disturbingly like morning wood—he snatched the crocheted pillow my grandmother had knit to cover himself.
I spun around, embarrassed for us both. “Sorry. I didn’t know you were here.” In fact, I wasn’t even aware you were shacking up with my mom at all.
“No, my fault,” George said quickly. “Give me a minute to get dressed.”
I nodded, my back still facing him, listening as he shuffled out of the room.
Good God, that did not just happen. Could I not catch a break? There were some things I’d have liked to be kept in the loop on—like not being able to visit my childhood home without enduring awkward run-ins with half-naked men I hardly knew.
Just as I began thinking up a convincing excuse to leave, George proved to be as much a gentleman as my mother had portrayed him. He strolled back out fully dressed in slacks, a polo, and an easy smile.
“Cassandra, I can’t apologize enough.”
“It’s fine, really.” Can we just pretend it never happened? Is that too much to ask?
He stopped in front of me, relaxed and friendly. “I’m sorry. This is still your home, and I shouldn’t have fallen asleep out here, especially without—”
I threw my hands up, not needing a visual. “No problem. Really—we’re good.”
He nodded, smiling with a slight chuckle. “Well, how about we just—”
“Already forgotten, seriously,” I interrupted.
“I was going to say have a soda, but that’s good to hear too.”
Unsure how to respond and slightly off balance, I laughed. Surprisingly, it was a real, feel-good kind of laughter.
“Your mom’s shift ends soon. Why don’t you stick around? She’d love to see you.”
“Sure. She got anything to eat in the fridge?” My mom rarely had anything other than snack foods in her kitchen, but it was worth asking about anyway.
“Yeah, I keep it stocked for her,” he said with a small smile. “Why don’t you have a seat, and I’ll whip something up?”
I didn’t complain as I watched him disappear into the kitchen. He emerged a few minutes later with turkey sandwiches and sodas.
“You feeling okay?” he asked. “You look tired.”
I sipped my cola, rolling the chilly can in my palm. “Yeah, I’m good. Didn’t sleep well, that’s all. So you’re living here now?”
That could’ve come out a little less blunt, but George took it in stride, smiling as he gave the room a once-over.
“Nah, I just stay over from time to time. Your mom’s not a fan of my bachelor pad, so we spend most of our time here—that is, until we get it sold.”
Soda almost spattered from my mouth. I swallowed, wincing at the burn as it slid down my throat.
“Sold?”
His jaw dropped, eyes widening. “Oh, darling, I’m sorry. I thought your mom told you.”
“Told me what!? She’s selling the house!?” I nearly shrieked. Can this week get any worse? That house was as m
uch a sanctuary as my grandparents’. Why would she want to sell it?
“We talked about living here together, but thought it best to make a fresh start in our own place—build new memories together, in a place to grow old in.”
“Right,” was all I could say. A change of subject was needed as the cruel sting of bittersweet tears hit me. Before they could fall, I decided to go for the giant elephant in the room.
“Any word on Kurt’s case?”
The look on his stunned face served exactly the purpose I needed, settling my blossoming tears. The man worked at the prison where Kurt had died. He had to know something.
“Ah.” He swiped his cheek with his hand, his eyes looking everywhere but at me. “I can’t really talk about that.”
I sat up straighter in the chair. He did know something.
Flipping to the doe-eyed expression my grandfather could never turn away from, I batted my eyelashes. Sad eyes got a lot out of a man—especially one planning to marry your mother.
George’s lips quirked despite his grunt of disapproval at my tactic. “This is strictly off the record, and if you repeat any of it, I’ll deny ever telling you. Got it?”
My head bobbed, a grin firmly in place. “Got it. Lips sealed.”
He took a second before he spoke, worrying me that he was having second thoughts.
“The DA has nothing but the cellmate’s statement, which claims Kurt told him that if anything happened to him, Logan West was behind it. A few of his buddies inside corroborated that as well. But those ones won’t stick; it's just hearsay. The cellmate’s is the focus.”
My frown was instant. I already knew all that. But before I could tell him so, he continued.
“I’m sorry, but between that, Logan’s priors, and the rumors spreading that Kurt’s trip to the infirmary during his last stint was somehow related to Logan, it looks like the DA is moving forward.”
“Forward?” I gasped.
George nodded once, his eyes soft. “Not sure when, but they’re about to announce your boyfriend as an official suspect and bring him down to the station.”
I couldn’t breathe. “Priors?”
He nodded again, the movement disturbing me further. How could he sit there so calmly while I was a bundle of kindling, doused dangerously with lighter fluid?