Page 39 of Triple the Danger

“Looks like I have to head to the gate to check on someone’s car,” Jax grumbled. Esme was eyeing him curiously, but didn’t voice her obvious question. Instead, she just nodded and turned back to her computer.

Jax headed into the garage and saw Rogue cleaning up his station, scowling. “Problem at the gate,” Jax told him briskly. Rogue paused and looked at him in question. “There’s some asshole at the gate demanding that we look at his car. Won’t take the answer that we’re full.”

“You think it’s one of the fuckers after your woman?” Rogue asked, moving to his tool box and pulling out his gun, checking it.

“Can’t think of anyone else it would be,” Jax replied grimly, grabbing his own gun and sliding it into the back pocket of his coveralls. He also grabbed a couple of smaller hand tools and a few rags. If by chance this was someone who really was just having car trouble, then he would do what he could to get them going. They didn’t need someone pulling their attention away. “Tom sent a picture, and it doesn’t look like her ex or the bookie’s guy, but since we don’t know the identity of the third guy, we can’t be too careful.”

Rogue nodded. “You send that picture to Code?”

Jax stopped and quickly sent it. “I have now.”

Rogue sent a text of his own as well. As they headed down the long driveway, he remarked, “I’ve let Ice and Steel know to keep an eye out. They’re both on rounds right now. Just in case this is a diversion so one of those bastards can try and sneak onto the grounds. Where is your woman right now?”

“In the clubhouse. She said she was getting some food.”

Neither of them spoke during the rest of the walk down to the gate, but the tension between them was easily felt. He checked his phone before they got there, but saw nothing from Code. He hoped his brother had seen the message, but it was too late to worry now.

He noticed first that the car was a black SUV, with tinted windows and mud on the tires. When they came out the gate, a man climbed out of the driver’s side and strode towards them looking like he thought he was important, but his hands were fidgeting, like he didn’t know what to do with them. Jax took him in quickly.

He stood at six feet, wearing a simple pair of jeans, a navy polo shirt, and dark sunglasses. On his feet were a pair of fancy black shoes that were scuffed and coated with mud. His hair was black, and slicked back, giving him a prissy, rich boy vibe. Jax instantly didn’t like him or trust him, but he merely stepped forward and said, “I hear you need a mechanic. I’m afraid we’re full for the day, but I can have a look at it and see if we can get you moving, at least into town where someone else can help you.”

The guy’s face gave nothing away. “Yeah, your guy at the gate said that,” he replied, an air to his tone that spoke to an upper-class upbringing. “I didn’t realize that mechanic shops shut the gates during business hours.”

“This one does,” Rogue said gruffly, drawing the man’s gaze. “So, what’s the problem?”

The man’s lips twisted slightly at the obvious brush-off. “I doubt you’re going to be able to tell out here,” the man replied, pushing. “Something’s rattling underneath.”

“You’d be surprised what we can diagnose out here,” Jax replied easily, taking a step toward the vehicle. The man didn’t move an inch. “Are you going to let me check, or just stand there?” he asked him, arching a brow.

Everything happened so fast that afterwards, Jax wasn’t sure how he managed to keep from getting caught in the crossfire.

Bullets flew from the passenger window. Jax cursed, even as the guy in front of him reached around to pull his own gun. “Where the fuck is she?” the man demanded, drawing down on him, but then he screamed as a bullet whizzed past him and he backpedaled fast to get behind the SUV.

“Go, go go!” Jax heard a voice in the car shout, and the SUV roared to life. Jax wanted to say that he was able to shoot out the tires and exterminate the assholes, but a bullet grazed the side of his head and he went down, pain searing across his scalp and his ears ringing.

He rolled to his side, trying to keep himself low but also help Tom and Rogue, who were shooting after the SUV as it peeled away. Then he felt it. Rumbling. He managed to turn his head despite the pain and watched as a group of motorcycles gave chase. How did his brothers get out the gate so fast? He closed his eyes, trying to stop the ringing and the pain in his head.

“Jax! Fucking hell, Jax, answer me,” he heard some shouting at him, the sound muffled and far away. He forced himself to open his eyes and saw Rogue kneeling over him, looking pissed as hell. His ears stopped ringing in time for him to hear Rogue add, “If you fucking die on me and leave me to deal with your woman, I’m going to kill you myself. I don’t need another pain in my ass right now.”

“But I’m your favorite pain in the ass,” Jax joked hoarsely. He let Rogue help him to his feet, swaying as he tried to right himself. Shit, how close had that bullet been? He could feel blood dripping down the side of his face, but he was alive, so he was fine. Besides, Doc would get him stitched up.

“You are, but I have uses for you, so if you die, I’m going to be pissed,” Rogue replied, eyeing him for a moment before he looked at Tom. “You get the plate number?”

“Yeah, sent it to Code already,” Tom said grimly. Jax looked over at him, and despite being in a shootout, as brief as it was, the prospect didn’t appear to be shaken up. He was calm as a cucumber, gun still in hand.

Rogue’s phone rang, and he pulled it out. “Speak,” he barked. After a moment he said, “Got it. Text Savage and tell him we’ll need Church in an hour to talk this shit out. Jax got grazed, so we’re going to need Doc to stitch him up and stuff a few extra brain cells back in.” Jax flipped him off, but Rogue ignored him. “Who’s in the clubhouse with the women?” He listened for a moment. “Alright, tell Sam to keep an eye on them. And let Ice and Steel know we’ll need them in an hour.” Then he hung up. “Code said the plate was stolen, so that’s a dead end. He’s still running the picture.” He looked at Tom. “You good?”

Tom nodded. “Fine.”

Rogue gave a curt nod. “Good. Jax, you good to walk back up?”

Jax nodded, but cursed at the fresh wave of pain in his head. “Yeah, should be. Fuck, this hurts.”

“Surprised your head’s still attached, since it’s full of hot air most of the time,” Rogue replied drily.

“Love you too, asshole,” Jax replied sweetly. Then he turned and saw the closed gate. “Wait, if the gate’s closed, who the hell went after those assholes?” The compound had a second exit that no one else knew about, but there was no way in hell that they got to the bikes that fast. There was a reason it was rarely, if ever, used.

Rogue scowled. “Looks like the Predators have come to visit,” he replied darkly.

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