Chapter 4

/MAYA/

The moment it was dawn, I marched down to the abandoned betting parlor where Marcus and his crew ran their operations. I slammed the envelope onto the table, making my presence known. 

"Here's the fifty grand you wanted. You better not come anywhere near my doorstep, ever.”

Marcus’s men looked like they wanted to teach me a lesson but he stopped them. He looked at envelope, then at me before leaning back into his squeaking plastic chair, picking at his teeth with a pocketknife. A slow, mocking grin spread across his face. "You're a day late and a dollar short, sweetie. Or well, right on time with the cash, but wrong on the recipient."

My chest tightened. "What are you talking about? That's the exact amount you demanded."

"Things move fast in this neighborhood," Marcus said, tossing a cold glance at my money. "The boss sold your paper last night. Some high-rolling proxy cleaned out our entire ledger for the block. We don't own your father’s debt anymore, Maya. Someone else does. And honestly? I’d rather deal with our boss than whoever bought you out."

My mind was blank and hazy as I walked back to the garage. I held myself back from crying, my mind trying to piece everything together. Who bought the debt? What would a new creditor even want with a failing mechanic shop in the slums?

Every worst-case scenario flashed through my mind.

When I reached the shop, I instantly noticed the front door, the one Marcus had smashed the night before, was completely cleared of broken glass. The metal security shutter was rolled up just enough for someone to slip through.

My hand instinctively went to the wrench I kept in my belt. I slipped inside, my eyes scanning the dark garage as I stayed on high alert. It was always one problem to another around here.

"I told you on the track," a smooth, baritone voice echoed from the back office. "You're exactly what I've been looking for."

I rounded the tool racks and froze.

Sitting in my dad's rusted desk chair, his long legs crossed comfortably, was the racer from last night. He was wearing a white shirt, the top two buttons undone, and his pitch-black hair was perfectly styled. He had two bodyguards standing behind him. I could tell he didn't belong here and he had a wealthy background but I didn't expect it to be of this level.

“Who are you and how the hell did you find this place?” I demanded, tightening my grip on the wrench.

“As I said before, I'm Jax,” he seemed to be enjoying every bit of this.

“I don't think I have any business with a Nepo baby, so what the hell are you doing here?” I would smack him if I could but with those bodyguards, I doubt I'd be fast enough to reach him before they pin me down.

Jax offered a tiny smirk. "Relax. I don't bite." He waved a casual hand over his shoulder toward the guards. "Wait outside."

They nodded and filed out past me, leaving the room for us. Jax leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his grey eyes locking onto mine. "Let's introduce ourselves properly.”

“The fuck?”

“My name is Jax Worth. And as of three hours ago, I am your sole creditor. I bought your father's debt portfolio, his gambling markers, and the outstanding liens on this property."

I clenched my fists. Who did he think he was? "What kind of sick game are you playing? You don't need fifty grand! You ride a bike that costs more than this entire street! Why do you care about my dad’s debt?"

“Oh, that's were you're wrong. I couldn't care less about anyone's debt,” Jax shrugged. "I'm here on my father's behalf for the redevelopment project, so I'll keep this strictly business. Give the Worth family the deed to this shop and I'll make sure you walk away with a payout higher than whatever my father’s legal team offered you."

"Piss off," I snapped, stepping closer, my knuckles white around the wrench. "I told your little mascot yesterday, and I'm telling you now: this shop isn't for sale. I don't care who bought my father's debt as I have the fifty grand right here. Take it and get out of my garage."

Jax didn't look angry. He just let out a quiet sigh, rubbing the back of his neck like I was being an inconvenient child. "I was really hoping you'd be reasonable."

Before I could reply, the door to the back break room clicked open.

A third guard stepped out into the garage. His hand was firmly gripping my mother's arm. She was pale, trembling in her thin nightgown, her breathing shallow.

My heart beat sped up and the wrench slipped from my hand, clattering against the floor.

"Mom!" I screamed, lunging forward toward the guard.

In a split second, Jax was out of the chair. He intercepted me before I could take three steps, his large hands clamping around my wrists. I fought him, kicking and scratching, trying to tear myself away, but I wasn't dense enough not to have realized that he was unbelievably strong for someone who's supposed to be a pampered child. 

He twisted my arms behind my back, pinning me to a wall where I could have a good look at what was happening.

"Let her go! You psycho, let her go!" I sobbed, tears finally breaking through my defenses as I stared desperately at my mother.

"Listen to me," Jax hissed in my ear, his breath hot against my skin. "If you continue to resist, I will have him walk her out of here, and I will ensure that every black-market pharmacy within fifty miles stops selling her medication by noon. Or maybe just kill her on the spot. Which would you prefer?”

“You fucker!” I cussed at him.

“Use your head, Maya. I already told you that I don't want things to actually end up like that as I'm here on business,” he tapped my head with his knuckles. “I tried being civil but you weren't exactly receptive, Maya. Don't make me use the alternative.”

Looking him in the eye, I could tell that he was a heartless killer, far more dangerous than any gangster I'd come in contact with before now. It was clear that he would in fact kill my mother without a second thought.

The fight drained out of me all at once, my knees going weak. 

"Don't hurt her," I choked out, my voice breaking. "Please. Just don't hurt my mom."

Jax studied my face for a moment, then slowly released his grip on my wrists. He stepped back, straightening his shirt as if nothing had happened. He looked toward the guard at the door and gave a nod. The guard immediately let go of my mother and guided her gently back into the bedroom, closing the door behind them.

"I like rational people," Jax said, sitting back down in the rusted chair and crossing his legs again. "You made the right call."

I knelt in the center of the garage, wiping the tears from my face with the back of my dirty sleeve, my chest heaving. "What do you want from me?"

"I'm going to give you a much better offer," Jax said, pulling a tablet from his jacket and setting it on the desk. "I'll clear your father's debt entirely. I'll pay double the market value for this space, and get reputable doctors to take over your mother's treatment. She’ll get the real medication, a private suite, and actual doctors. I'll even provide you with a new accomodation.”

I stared at him, my suspicion flaring through the dread. "What do you want in exchange for all of that? If it's my body you want, you might as well kill me now."

Jax laughed for a good minute before wearing a serious expression. “And why would you think your body would even be worth that much? You watch too much dramas.”

I hated how I couldn't get a single read on this person. 

“Then, what do you want from me?”

“You,” he smirked. “Let's just say you're rather interesting and I have a hobby of having collectables.”

“Collectables?” I tried to wrap my head around what he was saying.

“Yes. Simply put, I've taken an interest in you and so you can think of it as me having a new toy,” he stated.

“This is ridiculous. You must be joking,” I shifted back. Was this a thing amongst the rich or had he lost a screw?

“Do I look like I make jokes?” He said with a deadpan expression that felt like he was threatening me right now. “You get enrolled in my college and I have fun watching you, until I get bored of course.”

“You're insane,” my voice was shaky now.

"Probably," Jax agreed, tapping the screen of the tablet and sliding a digital pen across the desk toward me. "But you have exactly ten seconds to choose between your pride and your mother's survival. Sign the contract, Maya."