Four years later…ASHLEY."Duncan, I do not give a fuck!" Arden's strident voice boomed across the room, threatening to bring the house to its feet. The resonance of his voice was thick and rough.I exhaled and turned off the gas cooker."Get it done!""I do not care how you are going to do it but find that fucker---you know what? Just get out!" He fired and I flinched.I wasn't near him but the effect of his brazen voice made my heart slam against my ribcage."Where's my wife, Alberta?" I heard him ask Alberta and I rolled my eyes, strutting over to the counter to pick up a napkin.His loud footsteps echoed behind the door and he pushed the door open in no time. My head shot up from the kitchen island. My eyes drifted to his tall figure standing a few feet away from the door.His eyes were pinned on me and the intensity in them made me feel so conscious of the little black dress I was wearing. My mouth ran dry as my eyes roved his shirt-clad body, unabashedly.Age has nothing on my h
JAXONI pushed the glass doors open, letting myself onto the rooftop. The chilling breeze that lingered in the air wrapped me up in its airy and soothing essence, running swiftly across every inch of my skin that was bare to its touch. It cocooned me and I couldn't help but release a soft sigh. A wave of tranquillity washed over me, luring me into its embrace, and I found my stiff muscles succumbing to the sensation.The chills that settled on my skin pierced their way through it, easing me off the weight that seemed to burden my shoulders before I stepped onto the rooftop.I tucked my hands into my pockets, striding toward the strong iron bars that made up the rails. My hands dropped on it, wrapping around it immediately while I soaked in the beguiling view of the city from where I stood.There was a distinct allure the evening possessed from up here. I literally felt like I was floating in the air, utterly captivated by the sheer beauty the night held. The moonlight cocooned the da
JAXONMy hands hung mid-air, a few inches away from the surface of the door. I swallowed the lump that gathered in my throat, wiping my hands on the trousers I hadn't changed out of in days.They did try to get me to change it.But I didn't want anything that would take me back to a place where she wasn't. So, I was stuck here looking utterly dishevelled.Heaving a sigh, I twisted the knob and stepped into the room, shutting the door behind me.I spun around and I didn't miss the look of surprise that flashed across his face. He wasn't one to display his emotions, but it was hard for him to conceal his shock. The hospital wear made him look very weird and the chuckle that tumbled out of my mouth was hard to submerge."Good morning, boss." His chapped lips quirked in a small smile that elicited a grin from me. There was no need to keep my guard up right now. It was useless anyway. After all, he was on that bed because he was trying to save me. To save her. If he hadn't shot Micah, the
JAXON"Jaxon,""Jaxon,""Jax—""I can hear you!" I snapped.I stopped pacing and spared Aunt Caroline a glance. Her eyes were soft with assurance but it didn't do anything to quell my restlessness. It only left me more perturbed than I was."Jaxon, have your seat for goodness sake," she implored me. My stone-cold gaze seemed to have given me away that I wasn't about to listen to her, so she took a step forward, grabbing my arm.My eyes stung with unshed tears, thickening the lump that settled in my throat. It was hard trying to keep my tears at bay, and at some point, I gave up on trying. I allowed it to stream down my face effortlessly."She's–" I breathed shakily. "She's in there because of me!" The quiver in my voice overpowered its octave."My wife is fighting for her life and it's all because of me!" I yelled at her, snatching my hands away from her grip."Do you think yelling and pacing down the halls of the hospital would change the situation?" Maria's harsh tone had me whiskin
JAXONThe car came to a halt at a safe distance, in the middle of nowhere. I furrowed my brows, looking through the windshield in confusion. I was propelled to believe that I had the wrong address but the GPS couldn't be wrong. "It's the right place…" Duncan's voice trailed off beside me and my frown deepened."Son of a bitch," I mumbled under my breath."He just had to choose a less obvious hideout. Fucking coward." I sneered and got out of the car, slamming the door shut. I looked over to where Duncan was standing."Get the guys on guard. I don't trust that bastard," I instructed. He nodded in response. "Yes, boss."The only sound akin to noise was the chirping of the birds in the distance, alongside the crunching sounds my boots made with the dry leaves as I weaved my way deeper into the woods. My vision and my hearing seemed more enhanced as I navigated my way forward. I wasn't even giving myself any chance to be caught off guard.Micah could be a fucking fool, but the bastard is
JAXON"Arden--Arden...""I think someone's following me.""Please, pick your call!"Her voice echoed in my head, incessantly. It was pointless trying to shut it out because it only emerged stronger than before. It haunted me. It destroyed me. It shattered me. It consumed me.The fear and distress that oozed off those words crushed my soul. It didn't help the guilt that overwhelmed me. If I hadn't been such an asshole. Such a stubborn prick, I would have been able to save her from him. From Micah. That bastard. He's going to wish he had never laid his hands on her when I find him. The fucking coward couldn't come directly for me. He just had to get to me through the woman I love.The thought of what she must be going through in his hands aggravated my punches. It got more aggressive and I wouldn't stop ramming it against the punching bag that was swinging backwards, due to the weight of my hard punches.It never got the chance to stay back in balance before I sent it flying backwards