14. Devon

Chapter fourteen

Devon

W ith Jaxcen’s phone on my desk, I open it knowing Dom has already disabled the pin code, and I start getting to know my guest better by opening her messages first.

There’s one from Darmal (work) asking why her fiancé keeps calling their boss, looking for her.

There’s another from Andrea (work- boss) , asking why she hasn’t shown up at work, and then there’s a whole bunch more from Eddie.

Thirty three to be exact.

His messages pretty much repeat the same questions.

Where are you?

Why won’t you answer my call?

But then there are some that just stick out, making me murderous.

Eddie

I was expecting your call this morning. I don’t appreciate being kept waiting.

Eddie I expect you have a good reason to be ignoring my calls, Jaxcen. Do we need to go over your expected duties as my wife again?

Eddie I’m outside your building, Jaxcen. Let me in or I’ll have to call your father.

Fucking hell, this arsehole is a piece of work.

Sure, I’ve been a prick to Jaxcen, but I’m just messing with her to keep her off the scent that I’m actually trying to help. This motherfucker is a legit cockhead.

Opening the call app, I see nineteen missed calls from a few different numbers, and eight voicemails.

Well, now I need to hear this fucker’s voice.

Message Received from: Eddie “Good morning, Jaxcen. I’m a little surprised that I’m having to make this call. It’s quite an inconvenience, as I’m sure you already know, so I don’t know why you’re behaving like this. The rules haven’t changed. You call me every morning at nine, yet it’s just ticked over to eleven. I’m looking forward to hearing what has you so busy that you can’t call your fiancé.”

Message Received from: Eddie “Jaxcen, I’m not sure why you are doing this. Have you been watching those disgusting videos online again? You know how corrupting they are, Jaxcen. I hope you haven’t relapsed. I don’t think Father Peters will be happy to hear that. In fact, perhaps we should discuss your behaviour with your father. I don’t want to resort to that, but I will if you don’t call me back soon.”

Message Received from: Eddie “Do you not understand the concept of what soon is Jaxcen? I’m so disgusted with how you are treating me. This isn’t the behaviour of a dutiful wife. This is immature childish behaviour that requires strict punishment. I’m coming over.”

Message Received from: Eddie “Stop ignoring me, Jaxcen. I know you can hear the buzzer, and since you aren’t at work you must be there. That’s it. I’m calling your father.”

Message Received from: Dad “Jaxcen, it’s your father. Edward called, and I must say, I am shocked with your behaviour. I raised you to be better than this. If you don’t call him or me in the next thirty minutes, I will have to involve Dr Xavier.”

Message Received from: Mum “Jaxcen darling, it’s your mother. Your father told me what’s happening. Please stop misbehaving. This isn’t acceptable. You’re about to be married, sweetheart. You can’t treat your future husband like this. And those explicit websites… Oh Jaxcen. Why would you look at them? Edward sent your father the links. Why would you watch such depraved behaviour? Are you taking drugs? That has to be it. Oh dear. We’ll have to call Dr Xavier.”

Message Received from: Presley “Jax, what the fuck? The olds are freaking the fuck out and are on the phone to that psycho doctor they sent you to when you were little. You know I don’t care what you do, hell, I fucking love porn, but don’t let them get their clutches into you again. I can’t bear to see them kill your spark. Not again. Not ever. “I will try to stall them on my end, but pack a bag and go somewhere. Anywhere they can’t find you. Don’t use your bank card. If they involve the cops they can track that. “Shit, Jax. I love you, sis. Please stay safe.”

Message Received from: Unknown Number “Hello, Jaxcen, this is Doctor Alfred Xavier. I treated you at the Holly River Estate when you were younger. Do you remember? “I was shocked to receive a call from your father. He is extremely distressed. I know I don’t have to remind you how hard it will be to return to the facility, especially as an adult. Our adult program is much more intense, but perhaps something you will benefit from. We have merged with a church, and together we do God’s work to help our patients. I think this will be of great benefit to you before your wedding. Please call me back. Otherwise, I’ll likely show up tomorrow with a community treatment order. ”

What the actual fuck.

Not only is Eddie a cockhead, but her parents are fucking freaks. They are treating her like a leper. Like she’s the one doing something wrong, when her fiancé doesn’t even know what’s going on.

She’s been kidnapped, you fuckhead! Instead of blaming her, you should be looking for her. You should be concerned for her safety, not making it all about you.

What the fuck does he think she’s doing? Sitting in her apartment masturbating all day.

Fuck, she probably should if she’s going to marry that sap.

I’m fucking furious, not just at what I’m discovering but that Jaxcen actually thinks I’m the type of monster that would force women to marry me and be my sex slaves.

And yeah, I fucking know I haven’t given her a better reason to think of me as anything but the monster she’s imagining, but fuck, what happened to innocent until proven guilty?

Huh. That thought has me staring at all the voicemails on her phone again.

There’s a story here. One that involves Jaxcen and her family not trusting her. Even now, they are judging a situation they don’t have any facts on. Jumping to conclusions that she must be misbehaving. Why wouldn’t their first thought be for her safety? That perhaps something bad has happened to her?

Now I don’t want her to leave here, ever.

“What’s the frown for?” Finn asks, stepping into my office and closing the door.

“Where do I start?” I mutter, reclining back in my oversized office chair.

“How about what has you so twisted up about your guest?” Finn smirks, and I shake my head, grinning back because he knows me so fucking well.

“Drink?” I ask, sitting forward and opening the bottom drawer in my desk to bring out my bottle of Glenfiddich Grand whiskey and two glasses .

“Sure.” Finn takes a seat in the chair on the other side of my desk, accepting the glass of amber liquid before I pour myself one too. “So, spill, man. What the fuck is going on?”

“It’s Christmas. I wanted a treat.” I lie and Finn rolls his eyes as he takes a sip.

“Try again. If she was a treat, you would have had her every fucking which way in your city apartment by now, not bailed up here where you actually live. You never bring your fucks here.”

Fuck it. I can never lie to my best mate.

“I can’t put my finger on it.” I admit, feeling more fucking out of sorts than ever before. “I just needed to bring her here and keep her with me. I can’t explain it.”

“How many times have you fucked her?” Finn asks, and I’d love nothing more than to dodge that question, but he must see my expression because his brows shoot up. “How many times, man?”

“None.”

For a moment, I’m not sure he’s even breathing. His eyes are open, his gaze on me, but he doesn’t blink. Doesn’t move.

“Say again.” He finally responds.

“Don’t make a big deal about it.”

“Like fuck.” Finn beams, putting his glass down on my desk. “Normally you would have banged a chick at least ten times by now. You mean to tell me you haven’t got your dick wet once, and I shouldn’t make a big deal about it?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“You fucking like her. Like, really like her. Don’t you?”

“That’s none of your business!” I snap, and Finn throws his head back laughing.

“So when are you going to tell her?” He grins.

“Tell her what?”

“That you want to keep her.” The fucker wags his brows.

“I have bigger fucking issues right now.” I grumble into my glass before I take a sip.

“Yeah like the fact she thinks you kidnapped her.” Again he chuckles like this is a big fucking joke. And I suppose to him, it is.

Why do best mates enjoy their friends’ discomfort so much?

“No, my issues are the fact her fiancé is a controlling narcissist. Hell her parents aren’t far off either. Did you read the messages?” I gesture to the phone sitting on my desk, and Finn nods.

“Yep. That prick sounds like he could use a good asswhooping.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” I mutter. “Did you listen to the voicemails, too?”

“Yep.”

“What do you think?”

“I think she’s safer here with us than her family that’s for fucking sure.”

“Yeah. I agree. She’s so religious but I think it’s been forced on her. She has desires her fiancé is making her feel bad for needing. She thinks he’s a virgin and she’s worried about him finding out she isn’t on their wedding night, yet she’s so sexually green, I don’t know if I believe she isn’t a virgin.”

Finn frowns at my words. “You think she was assaulted?”

It had crossed my mind, which made me want to kill every fucker in sight just for the hell of it. She was adamant that she’s had sex before, yet she was so vague.

“Maybe. She doesn’t seem like one to cheat, and she claims to have been with that fucker since they were fourteen, so either she lost her virginity before that, or she did afterwards without him knowing.”

“I mean, she’s kinda cheating on him now, with you.”

I scoff. “Hardly. I’m not giving her much of a choice.”

“Given what I heard coming from this office earlier, she didn’t sound distressed so I have to assume you are giving her a choice. If she asked you to stop, like if she truly wanted you to, you would. So even though she’s probably trying to fight the way she feels, given her outburst with the knife, she still wants you.”

“Well, yeah. Her body does. And there’s a point of no return that she can’t seem to fight.”

Finn’s lips kick up. “A bit of dubious consent is always fun.”

It is, but there’s a fucking fine line, and I know it’s a fucking blurry one, so I hope I haven’t overstepped.

Fuck, have I?

“She’d fit right in here.” Finn continues, “It might not be such a bad thing to tell her what’s really going on.”

“With Mr V or what’s going on in this town?” I ask, swirling the amber fluid in my glass before downing the rest.

“Both. All of it. You’re holding her here against her will anyway. If you tell her and she still wants to leave, then the only infraction will be forcing her to stay. How she deals with everything else is on her.”

“I can’t use the threat of killing her then.” I point out.

“True, but at least she wouldn’t be so terrified of the monster she keeps claiming you to be. It might even give her a chance to get to know you. What would be so wrong with that?”

“Everything.”

He throws his head back laughing, his palm slapping against the table. “God fucking forbid you let down that ten foot fucking wall and opened up to a chick for once. How fucking absurd that someone might actually like you.”

Fucker.

I hate it when he’s right.

“Shut the fuck up. Are Dom and the team ready?”

“Yep. Let’s go.”

Standing from our chairs, I slip Jaxcen’s phone back into the safe, locking it before we leave and head up the path towards the chapel.

I don’t know why I haven’t knocked it down. For some reason I haven’t been able to bring myself to do it. Even now as I unlock it and my men follow me in, I find myself admiring the old structure instead of loathing it.

My gaze shoots straight to the old school confessional at the far end, and not for the first time do I wonder how many secrets have been divulged in its confinements.

It’s not like the one built into the wall of St Catherine’s in the city. This one resembles more of a change room in a dress shop, with dark velvet maroon drapes covering each entrance, and a thin wall in between.

I guess change rooms don’t have a small screen between them to speak through like this does.

My men fill the pews as I stand before them like I’m the fucking preacher, and I suppose in a way I am. I’m the leader in this town, and they look to me for direction. I just preach a little differently than most.

“Okay, as you know, my visit in the city didn’t quite go as planned, and some fucker sent unskilled men to kill me.” I start, my eyes travelling over my men, all their eyes trained on me. “The man who wants me dead calls himself Mr V, and because I saved Miss Summers, he’s decided to make her his new target, since apparently I killed someone dear to him.”

Dragging my gaze from my men, I start pacing slowly, my hands behind my back as I frown in thought. “He blackmailed those two men to take me out, using their families’ safety to force their hands.” I glance back up at my team. “Do we have an update on their families?”

“Yes.” Miles clears his throat as he stands warily. “I sent Lenny’s team to check on the families.”

The way his eyes drop to the floor as he speaks tells me everything I need to know, but we all need to hear the words. We all need the seriousness of this situation to sink in.

“They were all dead. Looks like they had been for a while.”

Gritting my teeth, I take a deep inhale to remain fucking calm before I speak. “Then Mr V had no intention of letting my two attackers live anyway.”

This knowledge changes everything. It means he’s unlikely to negotiate. It means that his threat against Jaxcen is real and if he had found her when he went to her apartment, he would have killed her.

“How many were killed?” I snap, and Miles rushes out.

“Two women and five children in total.”

My men shift on the pews as their anger becomes unhidable.

“We need to slaughter this fucker.” Finn growls as Miles slumps back down on the pew next to him, and my other men grunt in agreement.

“It’s clear the danger to Miss Summers is real. We have her phone and laptop, but since we have no idea who Mr V is, I’m worried he’ll dig up information on Jaxcen’s family.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, knowing I have to tell her. I can’t keep it from her anymore.

“Want me to liaise with Riggs? Maybe his team can help get covert protection on her family.” Lenny suggests and I nod. “Yeah, do that. I’ll deal with my cousins.”

They’ll want to know everything, and I guess I should stop being a prick and tell them since an attack on me is basically an attack on the whole Marx dynasty.

“Do we have anything on Mr V?” I ask, and Dom stands, nodding.

“The partial number plate is still processing, but we were able to hack into CCTV to retrace the path the Honda took, but we lost it when it travelled west, out of the city.”

“Towards Ballarat?” I ask and Dom nods.

“That general direction.”

“Could this be Bikie related?” Finn asks, and I frown, considering that.

“Not that I’m aware of, but just in case, reach out to Ringo and see if the Southern Sadists know anything.”

Finn nods. “Will do.”

“Do we have anything else on this fucker?” I snap, and when no one responds, I dismiss them.

“Let’s double perimeter security until this is over.” I order and turn my sights to Dom, “You and Finn stay behind and talk to me about Miss Summers. ”

My men leave, not fucking about as Dom opens up a laptop and passes it to me.

“There’s nothing amiss with Miss Summers, other than the way her family and fiancé treat her. This seems to be her personal laptop, so there’s no real work on here. I did find some stories she’d written and a few other files saved in a setup folder not normally found in the system folder.”

My brows hitch as I look at the screen to understand what Dom is referring to.

“The system folder is generally left alone by users, as it contains all the background files, so by her saving things there, she didn’t want them to be found by someone casually looking through her personal files,” Dom explains, and I click on the folder to see a few word documents, some PDFs and half a dozen pictures.

Fuck. As each picture transforms into its personalised thumbnail, I can clearly see these pictures are of my little mouse, wearing next to nothing, in provocative positions.

“Did you look at these?” I snap, my glare slamming into Don’s wide eyes.

“No, sir. You know I’d never.” He shakes his head frantically. “I opened the word docs just to see what they were, and the PDFs too, but I kept my eyes off the pictures when the first thumbnail appeared and I could see they were personal pictures.”

“What are the PDFs?” I hiss through clenched teeth, knowing my anger is irrational, yet the idea of his staring at Jaxcen’s beautiful naked body without her or my permission has me rather fucking murderous.

“Membership contracts for Cloud 9. Two years worth.”

Fuck, she’s been going longer than I realised. There’s a high fucking chance I’ve crossed paths with her before. Hell, she’s probably watched me fuck.

My lips kick up at the thought, and I will my cock to not inflate any further than it has.

Sporting a semi during a meeting with my men isn’t fucking ideal .

“Any idea how we can get her family off her back?” I ask, snapping the laptop shut.

“I mean, you could just tell her what’s going on and let her call them. Let her deal with a story to get them to back off.” Finn suggests and I narrow my eyes at him.

“She’s just as likely to tell them she’s been kidnapped and the next fucking thing we know the cops are on our doorstep.”

“Would Father Peters help cover for us?” Dom asks, and I look to Finn for his reaction, but as he frowns, I realise that perhaps his little chat with Father Peters didn’t go too well.

“I’m gonna say no.” Finn shrugs. “He wasn’t happy about the threat I made.”

Fuck.

It’s never good when we have to assert our authority to the ones who have been looking out for us for so long.

“What happened?” I snap.

“He refused to tell us anything about Jaxcen and her fiancé, so I had to insist.” Finn shrugs, like it’s no big deal, but we all know it is.

Father Peters is one of our biggest allies.

“Please tell me it worked? I don’t want to make threats against him for nothing.”

“It worked, but he’s not happy.” Finn shrugs.

“What did he say?” I gesture to the pews and Dom and Finn sit again.

“After quite a bit of insisting, he divulged that Miss Summers and her fiancé aren’t original members of St Catherine’s. They both came to the city to study and have remained, working full time jobs. Their families are up near the state border, which is where they were both raised. They were members of the local Catholic church until a few years ago, when a new church opened in their area and Eddie’s family converted.”

My eyes snap to Finn, and his lips thin as he nods knowingly. “Father Peters doesn’t know the name of the church since Eddie refused to tell him, simply saying once they are married, Jaxcen will convert to his church and they will move to be closer to their holy community.”

“Fuck.” I hiss and Finn nods.

“Yeah fuck. You think it’s one of those cult churches that keeps popping up?”

“Sounds like it.” I grit my teeth, glancing at Dom. “Work with Lenny’s connections to get intel on this Eddie fucker. I want to know everything about him. What he eats. Where he eats. Who he fucking shits with if needed. Every fucking thing.”

“On it.” Dom stands and hurries out, leaving me with my best mate.

“Do me a favour?” I ask, and Finn chuckles.

“Sounds more like an order than a favour.”

I roll my eyes, “Fine, it’s a fucking order.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, willing patience to engulf me. “Go to my suite, collect my guest and bring her here.”

“Really? You’re gonna fuck her in a church?”

“No, I’m going to issue her penance in church.” I smirk.

“So, in other words, you’re going to fuck her.”

“Just get her and stop pissing me off.” I snap, and Finn chuckles as he walks out.

“Like it’s hard to piss you off.”

I want to tell him the only thing that’s hard is my cock, but since it’s not hard for him, I keep that to myself and glance over my shoulder at the old confessional.

My little mouse has been a bad girl, and she needs to repent.