5. Jax

Chapter five

Jax

Minutes Prior

I can't stand the motherfucker!

He comes in here, acting like he's some sort of savior and we should all bow down before him, kissing his feet. Fuck that shit. He's nothing but a fucking biker. I'll give it to him—he's not scum like some of the other clubs I've seen. But he ain't no angel, so he needs to get off his goddamn high horse. How in the world he ever sired a daughter as sweet as Ashlynn, I'll never know.

What rubs me wrong is that he's in her office with her—alone.

I stay in the kitchen, pretending to prep food, just so I can be nearby in case she needs me. If she thinks I won't go toe to toe with that fucker if he hurts her, she can think again. The dick had his chance and fucked it up. Now it's my turn and I refuse to let her slip through my fingers.

Standing at the counter, I pull the carrots from the strainer after I rinse them and place them on the chopping board. My eyes stay focused on her office door. Knowing he's in there, alone with the woman I love, is killing me.

I pick up the knife, the weight familiar in my hand, an extension of my soul. One by one, I begin chopping the carrots. A series of sharp, crisp thuds echo in the room. The orange treat releases a subtle, fresh crunch as the blade meets the board.

Once I'm done, I pick up a head of lettuce, my jaw clenching as anger continues to consume me. My knife slices through it, a steady, sharp sound of 'snick-snick', mingled with the gentle 'thud' of the blade and the fresh crunch of the vegetables as they break apart.

Mels' raised voice pierces my ears, and I stop, the knife still in mid-strike, as he opens the door. He steps out, slamming it behind him. A self-satisfied smirk plays at the corners of my mouth. I revel in the fact that she kicked him out, not falling for his false chivalry.

"What the fuck you lookin' at?" he barks at me, causing me to laugh.

"You, asshole. How big an idiot are you to push the best woman in the world right out of your fucking life? But hey, thanks for that. It makes it easier for me to move in on her."

Earl steps toward me, hands fisted, not even caring I got a fucking knife in my hand. Guess he really is a dumb fucker. It could be pierced through his heart in a matter of seconds.

"I think you've forgotten who I am. But I'm gonna let it slide this time. Just know I'm not goin' anywhere and Mel is going to be my ol' lady." With that, he turns and storms out of the kitchen.

I'll give it to the dick; it seems he's finally got his head on straight. The sound of something falling and hitting the floor in Mels' office pulls my attention. I place the knife on the chopping board and head in that direction.

My heart wants to run to her, but my feet remind me to play it cool. Mels, although the strongest woman I know, is still very much fragile and guarded, and pushing her too hard could end everything. It's a fine line of give and take with her, and so far I'm teetering on the edge. One false move could send her running back into that dick's arms and out of mine.

When I open the door, Mels' sitting on the floor, head in her hands as her shoulders rise and fall as her breaths come in heaving gasps. I rush across the room, dropping to the floor in front of her.

"Mels, are you okay? Did that fucker hurt you?"

I take hold of her shoulders, her body trembling beneath my touch. Her lips are barely moving, repeating the same faint word repeatedly, "No."

A deep masculine voice is calling her name, but it's faint, almost muffled. Looking around, I see her phone on the floor beside her. I let go of her to pick it up and hold it to my ear.

"Melissa, are you there?" the person asks, his voice rising as he speaks between gasps.

"Who is this?"

"Where's Melissa?" the smartass fucker asks again, avoiding my question as if he hadn't heard it.

"Indisposed by whatever the fuck you said to her." With that, I end the fucking call. I need to care for my woman. Something he said sent her into a near catatonic state, and I know it wasn't good.

I sit down beside her, slipping my arm around her waist and pulling her close to me.

"Shh, Mels baby. What's wrong? Talk to me," I whisper softly, trying to keep my voice soothing.

Nothing from her, but sobs.

What the fuck!

"Mels, come on, baby. Tell me what happened and who the fuck I'm going to kill. Was it Earl? That ass on the phone? Both of them? Just tell me."

She shifts her body, resting her head on my chest as she slips her arm around my waist. We sit like this for the next thirty minutes. Neither of us are talking, just me, being there for her.

Then, out of nowhere, she sits up, wipes the tears from her face and stands.

"Thank you, Jax." She steps over to the mirror, looking at her slightly disheveled reflection in the mirror. Mels lifts her hands, running her fingers through her platinum blonde locks, before wiping away the smudges from her eyeliner and mascara. All the while I watch, taking in each miniscule movement she makes, trying to piece together what happened.

"Mels—" I step closer to her.

"No, Jaxton. Please don't ask me questions that I'm not going to give you the answer to. Can you close the diner tonight? Janice is off. I'm not feeling well and I need to go home and rest."

"You know I can, Mels. But—" I place my hand on her shoulder but she pulls away, cracking my heart.

"There's no but. Can you leave me so I can finish up what I need to do?"

She walks behind her desk and sits down. I squat down, pick up her phone and set it down in front of her.

"I'm going to go, but this isn't over. I'll give you your space for tonight, but tomorrow you're going to answer my questions." I turn, moving the short distance to the door, and open it. I cast one last look over my shoulder at her, but she has her head down, busily writing something.

Against my better judgment, I go back to work, but I keep my eyes on her door. About ten minutes later she steps out, her purse held tightly to her chest, not even once glancing my way.

For the rest of the evening, the image of Mels sitting on the floor with all the color drained from her face as she mumbled replayed in my mind. My rage continued to grow with each passing moment. The closer it got to shutting down, the more confident I became with my decision.

I'm going to have a talk with Earl. Tonight.

There are only two people I can blame for how I found her, the unknown person on the phone, and Earl. I have no idea how to find one of them since I have no clue who he is, but the other one I do and I know exactly where to find him. There's only so many places he can be. My hand aches to wrap around that fucker's neck and squeeze the life out of him.

"See you tomorrow." AJ throws her hand up as she walks out with Jake. Those two think they're fooling everyone, saying they're just friends, but that's a crock of shit. He's got his eyes firmly on her and his mind on making her his ol' lady, as they like to call it.

"Later, pipsqueak. Stay out of trouble." I smirk.

"I always do." She winks back at me, and Jake shakes his head.

It takes about twenty minutes to make sure all the food is put away and the kitchen is clean. No matter how badly I want to stomp a hole in Earl's ass, I can't leave a messy kitchen.

I look around to make sure everything is in order. Happy with the way it looks, I turn out the lights and head to the front door, setting the alarm before leaving and locking up.

I get into my truck, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel. I'm not wanting to drive from place to place, but I need to know where Earl is. I move my wrist, checking the time on my watch. It's eight thirty. I'd bet he's at the clubhouse or Ashlynn's, enjoying time with his daughter. One will be easier to get in than the other.

I decide to try the easier one first. Confronting him in front of his daughter and her band of merry men isn't something I really want to do, but I'd rather do it there than around his hoard of biker flunkies.

The entire way to Ashlynn's house, the events replay in my mind. Earl showing up. The two of them in her office. Him leaving. Something falling. Mels in shock on the floor. A man on the phone.

Nothing makes sense. What the fuck upset her so much and who was on the phone?

Pulling up to her house, I give myself a mental high five. There, sitting in the driveway, is his Harley. I park behind him, blocking him in, but making sure I can get away if I need to. Let's not forget the quad group, who will stand by their leader no matter what.

I take a deep breath, get out of my truck and head up the driveway to the front door. It's a beautiful house and I imagine having one just like it one day for me and Mels.

And hopefully kids. I'm not sure if she's able to have any, but adoption is always a possibility. There's so many children who need a good, stable home. Something that she and I could give them.

Before I back out, I lift my hand and knock on the door. I don't do the normal three knocks and wait. No. I'm a persistent bastard, wanting someone on the other side to open.

The sound of soft feet slapping against the floor echoes from the other side. It must be Ashlynn. A second later, she opens the door with a smile on her face.

"Hey, Jax." She tilts her head to the side, furrowing her brows, like she's trying to piece together why I'm here.

"Hey, Ashlynn."

"Is Melissa okay? Is there a problem at the diner?"

"No, the diner is fine. I was driving by and saw your dad's bike out front. Is he here? I need to talk to him for a minute."

"Yeah, he's inside with Jacey. Come on in." She steps back so I can enter, but I shake my head. I know better than to go into the lion's den. I'm going to be where I can control the situation and make a getaway if need be.

"That's okay. Can you ask him to step outside? I need to talk to him in private for a minute."

"I can." She raises her eyebrow at me before turning and heading deeper inside the house. Sounds of laughter drift out through the doorway; it's the joy of family and I want it.

Looking over my shoulder, I carefully walk backward down the steps until I'm standing in the yard. I glance up at the sky, the twinkling of the stars shining brightly in the vast, darkness as the crisp night air seeps into my bones. It makes me wonder for a moment, forgetting everything I was raised to believe in church, if we're really alone in the world. That there's not another planet like ours out there in the universe with people living the same lives as us, but as green one eyed aliens with tentacles for arms.

"What the fuck are you doin' at my daughter's house lookin' for me?" Earl's deep voice growls, void of the tenderness that I hear when he speaks to Ashlynn or Mels.