Page 105 of Chaos

“Dropping off the bodies after confiscating their drugs has pushed them to new levels of aggression.” Mikhail continues calmly. “Expect more aggressive resistance. When we’ve thinned out their ranks, we can organize a coordinated attack on their base of operations.” His hand clasps into a fist and the sound of it thumping his desk resonates in the room. “Whatever you do, do not take them on alone. We lost two men this week in separate attacks. I don’t want anyone else getting hurt.”

I see heads bobbing in agreement.

“I can take care of myself.” Alexei’s voice raises over the murmurings.

“I don’t give a shit what you do.” Mikhail doesn’t even look at him when he replies. “Everyone else, be safe. Dismissed.”

Nikolai veers directly towards me as we start herding through the exit.

“Jax, don’t forget Elena’s birthday party. It would be nice for another child to visit her.” His grip finds my shoulder as we walk down the hall towards the elevators.

“I’ll be there. Sofia hasn’t let me forget.” I step against the back wall while Nikolai hits the button.

Just as the doors are closing, Alexei’s hand snakes through the gap, forcing them to open for him.

“Sounds like that girl is the best part of you.” The fluorescent lights glimmer off of his toothy grin.

“She really is,” I say seriously. “You need someone like that. Are you bringing someone to the party?”

His hair falls away from his eyes as he tips his head back in a full-bellied laugh. “There’s no woman crazy enough to tie me down.”

“You don’t know what you’re missing. Being tied down can be fun.” I leave him cackling as I head to my bike.

I just can’t imagine Alexei with anyone. The kind of psycho that would match him surely doesn’t exist.

But he is right about one thing. That woman completes me in ways I didn’t even realize was possible.

I can’t wait to see the smile on her face when I get in. The entire living room should have enough roses to look like a damn garden. That’s why I was late to the meeting. Sofia called me on my way here to tell me she got the job. So I dove into the first florist I came across and gave them enough cash to deal with my ‘extreme’ request.

Nothing is too much for my girl.

FIFTY-ONE

SOFIA

Song- love me, Ex Habit.

“You’re busy again? When can you next fit me and Maeve in?” I snap back at Anna through my car speaker, looking up in the rearview mirror, seeing Nikolai’s Hellcat tailing me. It was certainly strange having to take ‘protection’ to my new job with me. But none of my colleagues had a clue they were outside.

I hear her tap her nails on the table.

“Well, I have a date tonight and then I’m going to see Stacy about a bar job with her. You know, I have to keep this shitty roof over my head somehow, Sofia.”

I roll my eyes. Jax transferred her more than three months' rent to cover my part of the contract. In an attempt to find some calm, I twirl my necklace around my fingers, feeling the smooth metal against my skin. I'm starting to feel like our friendship is slowly disappearing, and it's starting to sting a little. She’s been in my life for as long as I can remember. I need to at least try to salvage it.

“What about this Sunday? It would be good for you to get to know Jax, too.”

Just as I say that, a text pops up on the huge screen and my mood switches. I told him I was getting out of work early and was seeing if he was going to be home before we pick up Maeve from Nikolai’s sitter.

J: An afternoon for mommy and daddy to get naughty? Count me in. I’m already home, waiting for you.

I hit the gas harder.

“Oh, he’s decided to stick around then. Didn’t see that coming. Why is he making you work, anyway?” The coldness in her tone throws me off guard.

“I want to work, Anna. I’m finally getting to finish my degree. I’ll be qualified soon. Jax supports whatever I want to do.”

That riles me back up. How dare she talk about Jax like that? She doesn’t have a clue about all the amazing things he does for me and Maeve.

---