Dax Project X Novels & Stories

“You heard the man. Get the fuck out. He has a woman at home.” I turned to see Dax waking in. What the fuck is he doing here? The woman scurried off, muttering something under her breath, her perfume trailing behind her like smoke. Although Dax is a car dealer and has other legal businesses in the city, he can be very mean and dangerous when he needs to be and he's well known for that. Dax dropped into the empty space beside me, waving a hand in front of his nose. “What the fuck is that smell? Christ," he murmured, making me almost crack a smile.

His parting words echoed hauntingly, "Remember this day, Dax, for it shall be embedded in your memory until we meet again." Dax stood there, a mix of frustration and bewilderment swirling within him. He clutched his chest, feeling the adrenaline coursing through his veins, his heart pounding with a mixture of anger and confusion. He knew that the encounter with Damien marked the beginning of a dark chapter, one that would test his strength and resilience like never before.

The line connected almost instantly. “Elias,” Julian’s voice was the first sound. It was level, devoid of surprise, carrying the quiet, distant tone of a man who had found his own peace in solitude. “Julian,” Elias replied, her voice strictly professional, filtering out all traces of the past. “The Dawn Project is under attack. The Sovereign State of Xylos has launched a counter-weapon—the Chronos Echo. It’s designed to corrupt the integrity of all global data.”

"Do you expect us to believe you?" "Frank," Dax said, holding up a hand to quiet him. "Are you really doubting this boy’s words?" He continued, closing the distance between himself and Danica. "She radiates Xavier’s energy and..." he beamed. "She has his eyes." I watched as Dax reached out and wrapped his arms around Danica, pulling her in for a hug while Frank and my younger self stared on in disbelief. Something about the scene made my heart hurt as I stood on the sidelines taking it all in.

Damian "But you're right, it's a big project. The project is a big deal and I'm not just going to pick random competence-lacking garages in the making," he said and the smile on my face wore off immediately. "Of course, I'm not referring to Nexus Consolidated," he added and the corner of his lips raised into a faint smirk. "Hmm." I simply nodded. "I'm here because I wanted to take a look at past projects that Nexus Consolidated has handled," Xander said and I intertwined my fingers on the desk.

"Let's not argue about this yet. We should at least hear Sage out. She's thought this through, and I think it could be beneficial." Dax grunted, his eyes darting between the two of us. "Fine. But if it's anything too flowery or sentimental, I'm out." Xander rolled his eyes, but I could tell the idea was growing on him. "We'll make it brief and to the point. No mushy stuff, I promise." With a nod, Dax turned on his heel and strode back toward the compound. Xander gave me a small smile and a shrug before following his brother. I blew out a breath and continued on my way, hoping that Vivi would be receptive to the idea.

Dax said with disgust. “Maybe they are and maybe they aren’t, but they are sisssies with nice and pretty girlfriends,” she said as she entered his bedroom. Dax had a nightstands on each side of his bed. Blue lamps with white shades sat on each nightstand. There was a shelf mounted on the wall that displayed two junior varsity football trophies. On the wall, there were two blue ribbons secured in picture frames. Dax had been in Boy Scouts of America before he had dropped out to start playing football. Also on the walls were a few pictures of him wearing his football jersey, two Green Bay Packers posters, and two pictures of Dax and Tom posing together. They looked like small children in both.

“Xavier, I think your brain must be filled with water, which hasn’t quite dried up yet. No, actually, I believe that even if it is dried up, you’ll have nothing else in your brain.” “You can be as stubborn as you want for the next few days, big bro. Don’t worry. I’m not about to get angry.” Xavier opened the office door as soon as he had finished his piece and made a great show of marching out the door. He seemed overly arrogant when he walked out the door as if victory were already in his hands. Damon immediately summoned Parker to his office. “What the hell is going on?” Parker looked upset as well. “Sir, something’s happened to the overseas project we’ve invested in.”

Dax remained beside me, the cigarette between his fingers slowly burning out, his eyes fixed on the wet road as if he could see something beyond the storm. "You know, princess…" he murmured, his tone lower than usual. "I’m curious to see how much longer you’re going to hold out before you finally lose it." I turned my head toward him, raising an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?" Dax smirked, exhaling one last puff of smoke before putting out his cigarette against the metal railing. "You. Maddox. Max. This mess between the four of us." His tongue flicked over his lower lip, as if carefully choosing his next words. "I watch you… and I realize we’re all just waiting to see who snaps first.

In the car afterward Xander was quiet in the particular way that meant he was sitting with something. "That wasn't entirely strategic," he said eventually. "No," I agreed. "The conversation about your father..." he trailed. "Was real," I said. "I know." Dax navigated uptown through light traffic. "I don't want to perform with you anymore," Xander said quietly. "In private, I want the actual conversation. Whatever that looks like." I looked at him in the dim back seat, at the admission it had clearly cost him. "That's a significant thing to say," I said.