Текст книги "Falling Away"

Автор книги: Penelope Douglas

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Текущая страница: 23 (всего у книги 24 страниц)

CHAPTER 28

JAXON

“No!” Juliet squealed, running after me into the hallway as I halted in front of my office door, blocking it.

I tipped my chin up, challenging her.

“I want in!” She planted her hands on her hips, a smile tugging at her stern lips.

I shook my head, biting back a laugh.

“I want to see, Jax,” she ordered. “Move!”

“There’s no porn in there, I promise!” My chest shook as I secured my hands above my head on both sides of the doorframe. “But we can make porn if you want.”

Her eyes narrowed, and I let mine scale down her cute little body in my dark gray V-neck T-shirt. It was after midnight, but we hadn’t been to sleep yet.

She stood there for a few seconds, eyeing me, and then sighed. “Well, I’ll get in there eventually.” She brought a hand up to her mouth and faked a yawn. “I’m tired. Coming to bed?”

I smirked, stepping away from the door to follow her, but then I let out a laugh when she spun back around, darted to my side, and tried to get past me again.

“Oh, no, you don’t.” I caught her, my chest rumbling with laughter as she squirmed in my arms.

“I will get in there!” she shouted, hunching over as she tried to squirm away.

“Of course you will,” I whispered in her ear. “I’d like to relive that desk chair. And the window,” I added. “Tonight.”

She twisted her head around to look at me, and I felt her body relax as she smiled gently at me.

And then her stomach growled.

“Ugh,” she sighed, dropping her head back. “Of course.”

I let out a quiet laugh. “You need to eat more,” I said as I unwrapped my arms and stood up straight.

She glared at me. “I would if you’d stop trying to keep me on a Jax-only diet.” She waved her hand. “Go shower. I’ll make sandwiches. And popcorn,” she added. She must’ve seen all the different seasonings and bags of popcorn in my pantry.

“Okay.” I held up my palms in a hands-off show and backed away to the bathroom, making sure she went down the stairs instead of trying to trick me again. I actually didn’t mind her in the office. I just liked playing with her.

And she certainly wouldn’t find any porn, so there were no worries there.

I closed the bathroom door and switched on the light, leaning over to grab a towel off the shelf.

A scream pierced the air, and I dropped the towel, my heart stopping.

“Jax!” Juliet shrieked, and I wasted no time.

Yanking the door open, I bolted into the hallway and thundered down the stairs, fear filling my chest as I leaped and landed in the foyer.

Racing for the kitchen, I stumbled, feeling something hit my head, and then I fell to the floor.

I growled, yanking and thrashing at the handcuffs and feeling the sting of broken skin as I pulled against the metal.

“You’re dead!” I raged, planting my feet against the bottom step as I sat on the floor and used the leverage to push myself against the strain of the cuffs wrapped around the banister. “You better fucking kill me, because you’re dead!”

I gritted my teeth and pulled with every muscle in my body. I curled my wrists and felt sweat glide down my temple as I held my breath and pulled until my body was burning.

Juliet. He had her. My father fucking had her!

My heart thundered in my ears, and all of a sudden I was in the basement again. Powerless. A hostage. Forced.

When I ran downstairs, someone had hit me over the head. I wasn’t knocked out, but I was knocked off my feet, and by the time I’d been able to stable myself, I was handcuffed to the banister.

Blood trailed down my arms from where the cuffs cut my wrists, and I kicked the stairs, growling my frustration as I thrashed.

“I’ll kill you!”

“You know,” my father started as if he hadn’t heard me, “between your brother’s girl and yours, I can’t tell who’s got the better piece of ass.” He narrowed his dark blond eyebrows, thinking.

“The blonde is more athletic. Nice thighs,” he continued, his jeans-clad legs sauntering over to Juliet sitting in a kitchen chair in the middle of the foyer. Another man—a friend of my father’s, I assumed—had his hands on her shoulders, keeping her in place.

“But your little brunette here?” He ran a finger up her bare arm, and I clenched my fists, my stomach blazing like a bonfire.

“She’s petite but a handful in all the right places.” He smiled and turned to me. “My sons sure know how to pick ’em.”

I locked eyes with Juliet, seeing the fear on her face that was almost completely covered by her hair. Her cheeks were dry, but I could tell by the way she fingered her scar that she wasn’t okay.

My father’s blond hair had grayed over the years, but his blue eyes still pierced the darkness. Even though the wrinkles showed a hard life spent abusing his body, he still stood strong and muscular, and it made me sick.

I should’ve let Ciaran kill him in prison.

I breathed in and out, lowering my voice. “Touching her will be the last mistake you ever make. Don’t be stupid,” I said to his friend, a heavy-set man about the same age as my father, tall with greasy black hair.

Juliet started crying, and I shot my worried eyes to her.

“Please don’t hurt us,” she sobbed. “Please, Mr. Trent! Just—just let me leave Jax’s house! Please!”

I blinked. Let me leave?

And that was when I noticed it. The Gear I’d given her.

She hadn’t been holding her wrist and fingering her scar. She’d been holding her wrist, pretending to cower, as she used the fucking phone.

Holy shit. I hadn’t seen her dial, and I hadn’t heard it ringing—which I would since it was a speakerphone. Thank God she’d been smart enough to mute the sound.

I swallowed down my pride in her, afraid it would give us away.

“Please don’t hurt me!” Her shoulders shook as she clasped her hands in front of her chest. “Please! Just let me leave. I won’t tell anyone. Please let me leave Jax’s house!”

Her head hung low, the long strands of her chocolate hair falling around her and covering the fact that she was talking into her watch.

My father raised a knife, and I … my knife. I swallowed, realization hitting me. He had my knife. From my pocket.

He slipped it inside the V of my shirt that she was wearing and traced her skin with the blade.

I jerked, fighting the fucking cuffs. “Stop!” I bellowed. “Just let her go, and you can deal with me!”

He turned his head, regarding me. “What do you think I’m doing?”

The knife dipped down under the hem of the shirt sitting at her thighs, and I felt the bile rise in my throat.

No.

He was touching her, and I felt the fire on my face as I growled against the restraints, damn near ripping my goddamn shoulders out of their sockets.

“Fuck!” I kicked and pounded.

Tears blurred my eyes, and I gasped, desperate, because I couldn’t get free. Please not your hands. Don’t touch her with your hands. Please.

I let my head fall back as I threatened, “You shouldn’t have come here. It was a mistake.”

“No, no.” He yanked Juliet up under her arm and dragged her over to me. “Your mistake was in ignoring me.” He stared down. “There was a time when you needed me, and I helped. Now I want what’s owed to me.”

“I owe you nothing!” I shouted.

And then he held the knife up to her throat, and I sucked in a breath.

“Your arrogance is going to get her hurt,” he warned, and I saw a tear fall down her frozen face.

“Now we’re going upstairs to your little computer room.” He dug out a small piece of paper from his pocket and showed me. “And you’ll have exactly five minutes to access this account and transfer everything in it into this account.” He pointed with his finger. “At minute six, he starts having a lot of fun with her.” And he jerked his chin to his friend behind them.

My father was a lot of things, but he definitely didn’t make threats he didn’t intend to keep. Something Jared and I inherited.

I shifted my eyes to Juliet, seeing that her smart watch was still on and wondering how much time I had. My father wouldn’t hurt me—not fatally as long as he could use me—but he’d hurt her. In a moment he’d hurt her without any hesitation from his sick, twisted mind.

And this was what I’d wanted her to be a part of? What if I gave her kids and we ended up getting terrorized by him again? Or what if he took her with him today?

He couldn’t be allowed to leave.

Juliet yelped, and I snapped my eyes up, seeing a thin line of blood surface as the knife trailed down her neck.

“Stop!” I yanked at the cuffs, kicking the banister, knowing it wouldn’t break. “Fuck! Leave her alone!”

“Are you ready, then? Huh?” He pulled the knife away and bellowed, “Now do you fucking get it, you worthless little bastard?”

At hearing one of the names he was always fond of calling me, I felt my throat ache with tears and then I exhaled. “Fine,” I gritted out. “Just stop touching her.”

I saw him relax and smile. “There.” He nudged Juliet. “He does love you. Now go sit your ass down, and be a good—”

She slammed him across the face, cutting him off.

Oh, no.

With both fists locked together, she knocked him to the side again, making him stumble, and I watched with fear and awe as she snatched my knife out of his hand and ran for the kitchen.

Fuck.

I started yanking at the cuffs again, but the other guy was on her before she got far. He lunged, pushing her down to the floor as they both fell, and she kicked her legs as he tried to catch hold.

“Help!” she screamed, trying to scurry away. “Help! Someone, help!”

“Come back here,” the other man growled, ripping her shirt as she thrashed.

“Don’t touch her!” I yelled, struggling against my raw wrists, stinging the torn skin even more.

“Stop her!” my father yelled, and grabbed a gun I hadn’t seen out of the back of his pants.

But then I heard the other man cry out, and I snapped my eyes over to see him holding his face, a deep red slash marring his face.

Juliet scampered backward as he stumbled away from her, and I watched her come to her feet, holding my knife out and looking at my father.

And her eyes went wide when she saw the gun to my head.

“You’re killing him,” my father threatened, pressing the nozzle to my temple.

I blinked long and hard, a dozen different scenarios of what to do running through my mind. The cuffs cut into my skin and held me too tight. I hated this. I fucking hated this!

“How can you do this?” Juliet shook her head. “He’s your son.”

“That’s right,” my father shot back. “He is. He’s my son.” And then he looked down to me, baring his smoke-stained teeth with every word. “Your mother didn’t want you, so who took care of you? Huh? Who cleaned up your mess in the basement? I built you. I’m all you’ve got, Jax.”

No. I had a family. Jared, Katherine, Madoc. Juliet. I had a family.

“Get away from him.” I heard Juliet’s voice as I held my father’s eyes.

“You know it’s true,” he pressed, looking at me calmer now. “She’ll leave. All bitches do. You won’t be good enough. You won’t make enough money. She’ll find something wrong with you or another guy.”

No. She loves me.

“And Jared resents you,” my father continued, “because you’re smarter. You’re stronger. He’ll always put himself first when you need him most.”

I dropped my eyes, feeling the vein pulse in my neck.

“Jax, look at me!” Juliet urged.

“And Katherine?” he jumped in, laughter coating his tone. “That cunt barely stayed sober enough for her own son. You don’t mean a thing to any of these people,” he said, sneering. “They have no connection to you. You’ll be the first thing they all dump when life gets too hard. You’re the only one that doesn’t belong!”

“Shut up!” Juliet screamed. “Jax! Look at me!”

I shook my head, wanting him gone. Wanting them all gone.

I was good enough. And no matter who left, who forgot about me, or who looked down on me, I wasn’t the little shit kid, lonely and crying in my room, anymore.

But then I blinked, coming out of my thoughts. We all straightened, hearing the screech of hot tires skidding to a halt outside.

A flood of headlights shone through the porch windows, washing over us, and I looked over at Juliet and jerked my head to the back door, telling her to get out of here.

But she squared her shoulders, defiant.

My father was fucking desperate, and everyone knew what was outside.

And what was coming. I looked at her, pleading.

I heard more tires, recognizing Tate’s and Madoc’s engines as if they were my own.

My father shifted, and I quickly glanced at the other man, hunched over next to the couch, still holding his face.

Footsteps pounded on the porch, and my father pressed the gun into my temple as Jared kicked through the door, taking in the sight of me on the floor.

“Get away from him!” he thundered at our father.

And he and Madoc charged in, rushing him and not giving anyone time to think or assess.

My father raised the gun. Shit!

“Stay back!” he yelled, but Jared reared back and threw a fist across his face, making him drop the gun.

Tate’s dad ran in—closely followed by Tate, who must’ve gone to get him next door—and he rushed over, guarding the other guy on the floor. My brother backed our father up to the wall, he and Madoc grappling for his arms.

Everyone poured in: Tate and Fallon ran for Juliet, Tate bringing her hand up to the gash on Juliet’s neck. Katherine and her husband, Jason, followed, Katherine rushing over to me, tears already streaming down her face.

And Fallon’s father, who’d come to the barbecue, stepped in, looking calm as he took in the scene as if it was nothing he hadn’t seen before.

“Oh, my God,” Katherine cried, looking to Jason. “Get these off him,” she pleaded, pulling frantically at the cuffs.

“Jared!” Tate yelled, and I jerked my head to see my brother slamming another fist into our father’s gut as Madoc held him.

“Are you okay?” Katherine asked, holding my chin to inspect my face.

I nodded, breathing hard. “Just get the key. Please.” I rolled my wrists, desperate to get out of the restraints.

Katherine shot her eyes up. “Jared!” she barked at her son, standing up. “Enough!” And she rushed over to my father, her ex-husband, and dug everything out of his pockets until she found the key.

She unlocked me, and Jason helped me up as Jared grabbed the gun off the floor and pointed it at our father, keeping him against the wall.

I threw the cuffs to the floor and immediately locked eyes with Juliet. Her bloodshot eyes and the worry written all over her face told me everything I needed to know.

She rushed over, letting out a cry as she threw her arms around my neck. I scooped her up, holding on to her as if I needed her to breathe.

Because she filled my heart, and this was it. All I needed or wanted.

My father laughed, breaking the silence. “You know it’s true, Jax,” he taunted as I closed my eyes, inhaling her scent. “No one wants you but me. I’m your family.” He raised his voice. “You’re my son!”

“He’s my son.” I heard Katherine’s deep, tear-filled voice, and I pulled my head back, staring at her.

She met my eyes, and I saw her tears for me. Her fear and her worry, and in that moment, for the first time in my life, I felt as though it was true. I had a mother.

“And he’s my son, too.”

I snapped my eyes over, seeing Jason step forward, next to her.

“Hell, mine, too.” Ciaran nodded.

I narrowed my eyes, stunned, as I looked at these people.

And then Tate’s father stepped forward, nodding once, and my chest swelled.

What the hell?

Jared dropped the gun on the table near the stairs and stepped back, looking at our father. “And he has me.”

“And me.” Madoc got in my father’s face.

“Me, too,” Tate called out, and I saw Fallon step forward as well, folding her arms across her chest and scowling at Thomas Trent.

I blinked away the stinging in my eyes, but I couldn’t swallow over the lump in my fucking throat.

I couldn’t believe it.

I’d never really thought that they didn’t love me, or at least like me, but I guess I didn’t really believe it until now.

This was my family.

“Jax.” Ciaran stepped forward. “Just say the word.”

I looked down at Juliet’s glittering green eyes, rubbing her chilled arms, and I knew exactly what I wanted. Exactly what I needed to do.

I dug out my phone, making a call as I walked over to stand right in front of my father and look him straight in the eye.

“Hi,” I answered when the call picked up. “This is Jaxon Trent. Twelve forty-two Fall Away Lane. We need the police. Two men have broken into my house. No ambulance needed.”

I hung up and handed the phone to Jared. “I’m going to bed,” I said, and then walked away. “Tell the cops I’ll be down in the morning to file my report.”

I circled Juliet’s waist, scooped her up under her knees, and carried her up the stairs, cradling her in front of me.

Stepping into the bathroom, I kicked the door shut behind us and set her on the counter. I skipped the lights and instead lit the candle sitting on the sink counter.

Her forehead immediately fell against my chest, and I felt her shoulders shaking. “I love you,” she whispered.

Clasping the back of her neck, I kissed her hair. “Are you okay?” I asked.

She nodded into my chest, and I pulled her back, tipping her chin up to look at the cut my father had made.

The thin crimson line had stopped bleeding, but guilt weighed me down. “We should go to the hospital,” I said, concerned.

She closed her eyes, shaking her head. “I’m fine,” she assured me. “I don’t want to leave. Just you and me. No one else.”

Yeah. I felt it, too.

“Come here.” I pulled her off the edge and lifted the shirt over her head, letting the thin, gray fabric pool on the floor.

Hurrying over, I turned on the shower and stripped out of my clothes and then came back to her. She slipped her underwear down her legs, and I hoisted her up, wrapping her legs around my waist.

I carried us into the tub, feeling both of our bodies erupt in chills with the soothing touch of the hot water pouring down over us. Sitting, I kept her straddling me as I lay back and brought her body down against mine, holding her tight. Her cheek rested against my shoulder, and I closed my eyes, indulging in this dark, warm, and cozy cave we’d created.

Yeah, we were escaping. Behind a locked door and under the guise of getting a shower, but we deserved it.

I rubbed her back in circles, remembering how she’d fought tonight. How she’d fought for me.

Other than Jared, no one had ever done that.

I had set out to turn Juliet’s world upside down—draw her out—but in the end, it was me who had his world flipped on its side. I’d fought for her, but she’d fought for me, too, and even though I’d been scared to let her in, it was all worth it.

Nothing mattered without her. She nuzzled her lips into my neck, and I tightened my arms around her waist.

“I want to stay here forever,” she said, sounding calmer.

I smiled, liking the sound of that.

I kissed her temple. “Forever.”

CHAPTER 29

JULIET

We didn’t stay in the shower forever. Three days later, we had our bags packed and plane tickets in hand.

“You’re not wearing any makeup,” Tate observed as I threw my new hiking backpack into Jared’s trunk.

I stuffed the bag down, trying to fit it next to Jax’s. “I know.”

“And you’re wearing a baseball hat.” She pointed this stuff out as if waiting for an explanation.

I slammed the trunk closed and smiled at her knowingly. “It’s not the end of the world, Tate. I still have red toenails.”

She crossed her arms, looking uncertain. She was worried about me.

Or she was going to miss me. Either way, it felt good.

After the police had taken Thomas and his friend to jail, Jax and I didn’t leave the house for two days. It was the best two days of my life.

We slept, I cooked, we talked, I found out he was ticklish on the inside of his elbows, and there was hardly a time when I could leave the room without him following me.

We were in love.

And Jax decided he wanted time away without distractions.

So he’d gotten online the other night while I was asleep and scheduled a trip. To New Zealand.

I freaked out, and not in a good way.

When I’d woken up, he’d already hit a Bass Pro Shop and gotten us gear. The living room looked like a campsite that had exploded. Backpacks, water bottles with the built-in purifiers, sleeping bags, first aid kit, clothes, and shoes. He’d even picked out my clothes and shoes!

“Chicks take too long to shop, and we don’t have time. I like this stuff. You’ll wear this.”

The only problem was I had a job I was supposed to be starting!

“I called them. You can start in the fall. Everyone loves me, so don’t worry.”

Huh?

And two round-trip tickets to New Zealand, not to mention the money spent while there? I couldn’t let him pay for that!

“Nonrefundable tickets, babe. If we don’t use them, they go to waste. And that will piss me off. Don’t piss me off.”

And after he’d unrolled a sleeping bag and spent the next hour helping me test it out, I finally gave in.

Oh, God, did I give in! I fanned myself with my hand, walking around the car to Tate. Jared was driving us to the airport

“So, when do you get in?” she asked.

“We have a lengthy layover in Hong Kong,” I said. “I’ll call you from there.”

We’d be gone for three weeks, and by the time we got back, the fall semester would be about ready to start. Jax got me into school with him at Clarke, but I’d insisted on taking out loans. And I wasn’t sure yet where I was living, but I had a feeling I wouldn’t have to worry about it.

When I’d gone to check on my mom—who was at least back to showering and eating—and collect my passport, I’d packed up some more clothes and brought them to Jax’s house.

Tate reached out and hugged me. I wrapped my arms around her, enjoying her tight squeeze.

“New Zealand,” she mused. “You always wanted to go there. I remember your National Geographics.”

I laughed a little, pulled back. “I wanted to hike, actually,” I pointed out. “I told him a road trip to Yosemite would be awesome, too, but he …”

“Yeah, he’s Jax.” She nodded. “He has a mind of his own. Good luck with that.” But then she shook her head, amazed. “I’m so happy for you.”

“I’m scared.” I let out a nervous breath. “But I’m crazy about him.”

“I know.” Her face fell a little, looking thoughtful.

I narrowed my eyes, picking up on the sadness in her voice.

“Tate?” I leaned in. “Are you okay?” I asked quietly. “I mean, you and Jared. The barbecue the other day. Is anything wrong?”

She blinked, looking uncomfortable, but then plastered a grin on her face. “Still worrying about me, huh?” she joked. “Relax. It’s not high school. Jared and I are fine.”

I was about to press her more, but then I jumped, seeing arms come over my head, snapping a belt right in front of my face.

“Jax!” I laughed, my heart leaping into my throat as he walked for the other side of the car with a self-satisfied smirk on his face.

He’s bringing the belt. Shit.

“Okay, yeah, don’t tell me everything about your trip, okay?” Tate teased. We both hugged again, and she followed me as Jax held the back door open.

“So, you’re both registered for your classes, right?” she asked. “Because you’re cutting it close when you return.”

“All set,” Jax answered, but then my smile fell.

Behind Tate, I could see my mom crossing over from the sidewalk.

She looked right as rain in her light pink cotton skirt and sleeveless white blouse. Her hair hung down, though, in loose waves, sprayed to perfection.

My stomach twisted for the first time in days, and I met her in the middle of the quiet street. She’d been agreeable when I was over to the house, but looking at her pressed clothes and perfect face, I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t want her embarrassing me or being cruel to Jax.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, guarded.

Her eyes fell, and her breathing turned ragged. “Yes, everything is fine. I just …” She reached into the shopping bag she held by the handles and pulled out an envelope.

“The funds from your college account.” She handed the envelope to me, her hand shaking. “It’s a cashier’s check, so keep it safe.”

My college money? I swallowed, taking the envelope and for some reason feeling that I wanted to either cry or throw it back in her face.

She narrowed her eyes, still looking down as her lips trembled. “And, um …” She licked her lips. “I was at the salon yesterday,” she said, reaching nervously into the bag. “I got you this shampoo for sun-damaged hair and sunscreen and some lip balm, and I didn’t know if you’d be going out for the evening on your trip, but if you wanted … maybe some hair products or, um … makeup, I can … I can send you—”

“Mother.” I touched her arm, leaning in. “This is fine. Thank you,” I said, seeing her shoulders relax.

“I’ll see you in a few weeks.” I took the bag.

She glanced up, straightening her shoulders and face. “Jaxon.” She nodded somewhat kindly.

I looked to my side, seeing Jax there.

“Mrs. Carter.” His deep voice sounded like a warning as he put his arm around me. I twisted my lips to hide my smile. I doubted Jax would ever call my mom anything other than “Mrs. Carter.”

Her timid eyes fell back to mine, and she gave a half smile before turning and walking away. I still didn’t know what to think. Maybe she was up to something. Maybe I should stay home and get her to a doctor.

Or maybe I was finally happy, and I just had to go with it.

Jax pulled me in. “Are you ready?” he taunted. “Hostels and roughing it?”

“Are you?” I challenged, smiling up at him. “Do they have Wi-Fi on these multiday hikes and rafting trip you’ve signed us up for?”

He turned me around, pulling me into his chest. “No showers. No beds.”

“And no bikini,” I singsonged.

His eyes widened, and I nodded smugly. “Yep. I didn’t pack it.”

“What if you decide you want it?”

I wiggled my eyebrows. “That’s part of the excitement.”

He picked me up, staring up into my eyes as he carried us to Jared’s car. “You’re a wild little thing—you know that?”

I pressed my lips to his forehead, whispering, “Don’t worry. You can keep up.”