Chapter 20

Jax lunged forward as Rachel bolted, agony ripping through his battered body. “Rachel, wait!”

But she was already gone.

Jax collapsed back against the chair with a grunt, cursing under his breath. He should have seen this coming. He knew about her past, her trauma—he should have realized this would be too much for her.

Guilt and concern twisted in his gut as he thought of her out there, distressed and alone. He had to go after her. Now.

Summoning his strength, Jax pushed to his feet. The room tilted and spun, his injuries screaming in protest, but he gritted his teeth and stumbled toward the door.

Rachel needed him. He would crawl to her on his hands and knees if he had to.

Jax lurched outside, scanning the parking lot for any sign of her. Panic clawed at his throat when he couldn’t spot her right away.

Then he saw a flash of movement near the tree line. Rachel was leaning against a large oak, shoulders hunched as she hugged herself tightly.

Jax limped toward her as fast as he could, wincing with every step. By the time he reached her, he was breathless and trembling.

Rachel’s eyes were squeezed shut, her chest rising and falling rapidly. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

“Shh, don’t apologize.” Jax cupped her face in his hands, tilting her chin up so she had no choice but to meet his gaze. “Just breathe for me, okay?”

She nodded jerkily and drew in a shaking breath. Jax stroked her cheek with his thumb, his touch gentle and grounding. “That’s it,” he murmured. “Nice and slow. I’m right here.”

Gradually, Rachel’s breathing evened out. She sagged against him, the panic fading from her eyes, and Jax wrapped his arms around her in a fierce embrace.

Jax held Rachel until her trembling subsided and her breathing returned to normal. Only then did he speak again.

“You’ve been through hell.”

Her eyes welled with tears at his words. “You’re too good to me,” she whispered. “Far better than I deserve.”

“That’s not true.” Jaxon cupped her face again and leaned down so their foreheads touched. “You deserve the world, Rachel Lewis, and I’m going to make damn sure you get it.”

She let out a shaky laugh. “You’re impossible.”

“So, I’ve been told.” He smiled and brushed his lips over hers in a feather-light kiss. “Now, do you want me to take you home?”

Rachel was silent for a long moment. Then she took a deep, steadying breath and lifted her chin, meeting his gaze with quiet determination.

“No,” she said firmly. “I want to finish what I started.”

Jax’s heart swelled with pride at her words, and she walked back into the hospital.

Coming up beside him, Marcus let out a low whistle. “She’s something else, alright.”

Jax, eyes tracking Rachel’s retreating figure until she disappeared from view. Only then did he turn back to the task at hand, shaking off the emotions swirling inside him. There would be time for that later, in the privacy of his own thoughts.

For now, he had a job to do. They all did.