Chapter 26 - Joyce

Nearing the bench where we agreed to meet, I felt anxious. Jax was family but was always up to no good. I wasn’t sure if I could trust him. Looking around, I noticed he wasn’t there yet, so I sat down. I was sipping on the coffee I bought at the corner vendor and wondered if he would show.

I waited, checking my watch every minute. I still felt nervous, even knowing the Dubow family was in the area. Five minutes passed, and there was still no sign of Jax. Maybe he spotted one of them and decided to leave, I thought, but then I saw him approach me.

Standing, I waved at him. Jax nodded as he came closer. “Hi, there,” he said, giving me a quick light hug. He kept glancing around as he continued. “I was surprised to get your call. I thought you were avoiding me.”

Sitting down, I laughed nervously. “No, I was thinking about everything you said. I was buying time so we could meet without anyone knowing,” I replied softly.

“So, what info do you have for me? I assume you have decided to share with me because you asked to meet?” Jax sounded excited, almost giddy.

“Yes, I have,” I replied shortly. “But may I ask who you intend to share the information with? You said you needed it to keep Anton back, so I assume you are working for someone then?”

“That’s not important,” he huffed. “Just tell me what you have, and we can see how we can use it, okay?”

The area of the park where we were was very quiet. The closest people were almost on the other side of the park. This meant that Anton and his siblings were further away than he wanted.

“They have a big shipment coming in next week for a new client,” I told him between sips of coffee. “All of the family members will be at the docks to ensure the shipment comes in without detection. Is that something that can help, um, who did you say you worked with?”

Jax stood abruptly as he spoke. “What are you trying to do, Joyce? Why do you keep asking who I work with?”

“Jax,” I spat, standing to face him. “I’m just concerned.”

He stepped closer, grabbed my hand, and spun me around. As his arm wrapped around my waist, I felt the gun at my back. “Now stop playing with me, Joyce.”

Feeling my heart jumping to my throat, I swallowed hard. “Jax, I’m not, please, there’s no reason for this.” I held my coffee cup tightly as that was the signal. Once I dropped it, the Dubow family would come running. I didn’t want any misunderstandings.

“Joyce,” he breathed out over my shoulder. “I won’t hesitate, I’ve done many things in life, and taking one isn’t new to me.”

I couldn’t believe what was happening. How could he push a gun to my back? I realized this wasn’t his first time. He had done this before. My mind spun as I thought of him killing innocent people like me. That meant he wouldn’t think twice about taking me out.

“Jax, I’m trying to help; I’m not the enemy,” I whispered between breaths as I felt my lungs struggling for air. “I thought we could help each other.”

“You don’t need to worry about me. I have multiple friends I can turn to if trouble comes knocking,” he added as he pushed me forward. “Move, we have to get out of here.”

What did he mean by multiple friends? Was he working for more than one Bratva group? “Please, hear me out,” I begged as I tried to shake his grip on my arm loose.

Looking at the blank expression on his face, I knew something was wrong. He glanced around and then settled his gaze on the spot where Anton said he would be. Fear gripped my heart as I realized he knew I wasn’t alone.

Had we walked into a trap, I wondered. I heard Tasha speaking to me, but my mind was tumbling through a world of its own. “Get out, Joyce. Can you hear me? Get out!” Tasha’s voice echoed through my mind.

I pulled harder at my arm, trying to get out of his grip, knowing that my life was in danger. Jax tightened his grip. His hold was so tight I could feel my arm and hand going cold as the blood stopped circulating. I heaved as my chest closed, and breathing became impossible. “Are you really trying to leave? Don’t test my patience,” Jax huffed over my shoulder as he pushed from behind me.

Shaking my head, I opened my mouth and sucked in. I had to fill my lungs with air before I fell over. I didn’t want to set him off more than I already had. Speaking in a soft, squeaking voice, I tried to reason with him. “No, but my arm is hurting; please relax your grip.”

He glanced down at my arm and loosened his grip. Smiling over my shoulder at him, I felt his grip closing again as fire shot up in his eyes. I looked around frantically as I heard the echo of a gunshot.

Anton was running towards us. He was about halfway when I saw the men heading for him from all sides. They grabbed him and held a knife to his throat as Jax spoke in my ear. “This can all go away if you give me what I asked.”

My mind was still trying to grasp the severity of the situation when more men came out of nowhere. “Anton,” I screamed at the top of my lungs. But as the other group got closer, I grasped they were on our side as Alexandr was with them.

As a fight ensued between the two groups, I felt Jax dragging me backward. He swung me around with so much force my legs gave way, and I slid on the footpath. I didn’t go far as I collided with someone’s legs. Glancing up, I had never been so happy to see Abram.

He raised his arm and threw his fist at Jax. Jax blocked the hit but let go of my arm to do so. I scrammed forward, moving in behind Abram. Looking up at Jax, I could see the betrayal he felt towards me.

He spun around on his heels and ran to the side. Abram lightly touched my shoulder as he spoke. “Are you okay?”

Breathing out in quick repetitions, I nodded to indicate I was. I scanned the area, looking for Anton. I saw him running after Jax down a side street. A deeply unsettling sensation rose in me.

Abram assisted me to my feet as Tasha came towards us. “You can go with Alexandr,” she said to Abram as she took my arm. He nodded and headed to where his brother and the other men had captured most of the attackers.