Page 36

T here’s a light knock at the door before Ryan strides into the room, not even waiting for an answer.

I shriek, pulling the sheets up around me, the sheets that desperately need to be washed after what we just did.

Jax on the other hand doesn’t move, his body is reclined back, his entire nakedness—blood and all—on full display for Ryan to see.

If Ryan thinks there’s anything wrong with the sight in front of him, he doesn’t let on, and only raises an eyebrow in our direction.

“I hate to interrupt this”—he gestures to us on the bed—“but the video…” He pauses.

“Just say it.” My voice sounds detached, as if I’m trying to buffer myself for whatever he’s going to say next.

“The video has gone viral,” Ryan says.

I feel the blood drain from my face. “What?” I question in shock.

“It’s gone viral—it’s blowing up everywhere. It’s beyond blowing up. Companies have already issued statements. Rhett and Tanner have both been fired, their registrations as lawyers are under question, the universities they attended are condemning their actions. Any business or institution they’ve had contact with is denouncing their actions. Hell, even their families’ businesses are under fire. They haven’t issued a statement yet, but I’ve got word that they’ve been instructed to get home so their lawyers can do damage control.”

“And the other two?” Jax asks.

The ones that he just killed.

“Same thing, except of course, no one knows yet that they won’t be seen again.”

Jax nods, as a dark smile spreads across his face.

“So, this is our chance then. I’m a bit… preoccupied here,” he says as his hand rests on top of the sheet that covers my thigh.

“I couldn’t tell,” Ryan says as he rolls his eyes.

“Figure out what needs to be done to intercept them. Find out what time Rhett’s flight gets in. When Tanner makes a move, figure out how to get to him before he gets home and it becomes harder to make him disappear unseen.”

“Already on it,” Ryan says with a glimmer of something dark behind his eyes. “I’ll keep you posted. And I’ll make sure they’re brought to the usual place.”

I raise an eyebrow looking between Jax and him, wondering what this place is, even though I can guess what tends to happen there.

“Have fun.” Ryan winks at us before leaving the room, his phone already up to his ear as he no doubt makes the calls to start orchestrating this plan of theirs.

Jax turns to me once Ryan leaves, his hand pulling the sheets down once again so I’m on full display for him. I don’t bother to cover myself, loving how he looks at me when I’m naked before him.

“How are you feeling?” he asks, as his fingers idly trace my nipple.

I arch into his touch, feeling all sorts of good, my cramps long forgotten as the pleasure he gave me distracted me until the pain meds kicked in.

“I’m feeling… hopeful,” I say, and there’s a pang in my chest, as if to remind me of what happened the last time I started feeling hopeful. “I just hope it all works out the way we want it to… I hope nothing bad happens to you and we don’t get caught.”

Jax nods. “All valid, but I’ve been doing this for a long time, my family has been doing this for a very long time… It will work out the way we want it to. The way you want it to.”

I smile, as I move my hand across his naked body, my fingers toying with the edge of the bandage on his chest.

“So,” I say, changing the subject to something lighter before I force myself to deal with Rhett and Tanner, “are you planning on telling me how you got hurt this time or are you just wearing a bandage for fun?”

“I made a quick pit stop on my way home today, which is why I took a little longer than usual to take care of things…”

I raise an eyebrow, urging him to continue.

“I wanted to match you,” he says, and my eyes go wide as it dawns on me what he could have done.

“You didn’t,” I start.

“Peel it off.”

I do as he says, carefully pulling the bandage back, only to find it covering a layer of plastic wrap. I give him another questioning look.

He simply shrugs. “I wanted it to be a surprise, so I covered the wrap with a bandage.” He smiles. I wince as I pull the tape off that holds the plastic wrap in place, as his skin is pulled with the adhesive.

My heart stops when I see what’s underneath the bandage, and a smile takes over my entire face, as I look at a heart, tattooed into the only piece of bare skin left on his chest, the exact spot I threatened to give him a matching one to mine.

“You did this?” I ask incredulously. “For me?”

“There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you,” he says, his voice thick with emotion I rarely see from him.

I resist the urge to run my fingers over the fresh ink, sure that it has to be tender still, and the three letters that sit inside of it. I look at the first letter, E , and glance at Jax, a questioning look in my eyes, then the next letter, R .

“Did you… tattoo my initials? Or does ER stand for something besides Evangeline Rose…” I trail off, the wicked look he’s giving me confirmation enough.

“You got the last initial wrong though,” I say. “You know my last name doesn’t start with a T…”

“Did I, though? Cause I know a way we could change that for you,” he says casually, and my eyes dart back to his.

“Bold of you to tattoo my initials using your last name, Mr. Turner,” I say as I look back at the tattoo, not mad with how my initials look on his chest, but unwilling to admit just how moved I am, despite the surge of panic at making such a profound, permanent change so soon.

“Don’t worry, love, plenty of time for all of that… I won’t rush you into anything you don’t want,” he reassures me before reaching over to pull something out of the nightside table drawer. “Before you panic,” he says, closing the drawer, “it’s not a ring. So don’t go running for the hills just yet.” He smiles as he hands me a small box. Its black velvet exterior is soft in my hands. I glance at him before opening it slowly, and my breath catches as I look at the heart-shaped locket within, the gold shimmering in the light.

I touch it delicately, turning the locket over in my fingers, and my eyes well as I see the engraving etched on the back all in.

“I wanted you to have a heart from me that will last forever, since your wrist will heal and scars can fade,” he explains, and I swear I see a slight redness creep onto his cheeks.

“Are you blushing, Mr. Turner?” I ask softly, as my heart beats quickly in my chest. I’ve never had someone go to so much effort to do something so sentimental for me, not for my birthday or Christmas, let alone for no reason at all.

“I wanted you to remember that you’ll always have my heart, no matter what. And no matter where life brings us, no matter what you’re faced with, I’m all in, love. Always.”

I whisper the words back to him, and for some reason they feel like a vow on my lips, and I brush my finger over the engraving. All in.