Page 28 of Babe

He nodded, tilting his head back to look up at the canopy of trees above us. I followed his gaze. The sun wasn’t out today, and bits of the gray sky could be seen through the branches. Finally, he looked back at me. “You might hate me for this, but I overheard yours and Gunner’s talk the other night. The night I told you your last foster father had been dealt with. I had Rico run a background check on you.” Anger burned in my gut, boiling hot so fast, it made me a little dizzy. “He’s dispatching men to take care of everyone who put their hands on you as a kid.”

I was going to punch him in his fucking face, even if it sent me into a panic attack.

“You what?” I seethed. “Not only did you fucking betray my trust by digging into my past, but you asked Rico to do it?!” I shouted. Rico always wanted something in return, even from Jax, who was one of his only friends, from what I understood. Rico wasn’t someone to be fucked with. He was like a ghost—only seen when he wanted to be. And he was one of the wealthiest, most dangerous men on the west coast.

Something scurried away from us in the underbrush. “What are you going to owe him for this, Jax?” I demanded. I clenched my fists at my sides, my chest heaving. “What the fuck are you going to owe him?!”

Jax sighed. “Ace, I won’t owe him anything.”

“Bullshit,” I snarled. I spun on my heel, heading back for the cabin.

“Ace—”

“We’re going back to the cabin,” I bit out. “And when we get there, you’re calling Rico, and I want to hear from his own fucking mouth that you won’t owe him shit for this.”

Since I was angry, it took me and Jax half the time it took to walk where we’d gotten to get back to the house. I flung open the front door and shoved my boots off before spinning around to face Jax, my arms crossed over my chest as I glared at him.

“Well?” I demanded. “Fucking call him, douchebag.”

Jax rolled his eyes as he pulled his burner phone from his pocket. “You’re being a child, Ace.”

“Fuck you,” I seethed. “You were the one who went behind my back and dug into my past, then had the audacity to ask Rico fucking Martinez to kill people for you. Call him!” I shouted.

I was so angry. So hurt. I felt betrayed. Once again, Jax had gone behind my back and broken my trust. He’d always been the one person in the world who never abandoned me, never walked away from me, but this was the second time he’d gone behind my back like this.

Gunner’s hands settled over my shoulders, and he drew me back against him, wrapping his arms around my chest, binding me to him. A tear ran down my cheek, and I quickly reached up to wipe it away as Jax dialed Rico’s number. When I sniffled, he looked up at me, his face expressionless as the ringing of his phone filled the tense silence.

“Jax,” Rico drawled, his Mexican accent more noticeable than usual. Usually, it was almost non-existent. “What can I do for you?”

“Not Jax,” I snapped. “What does he owe you?” I demanded.

“For?” Rico asked, not sounding as laid back anymore. His tone was stiffer, a chilling warning riding his words.

I glared at the phone, my muscles bunched so tightly, I was trembling against Gunner. “Don’t play stupid with me, Rico.”

Rico only chuckled. “Kid, I’m afraid you’ll need to be more specific. I’ve heard more from Jax in the past three days than I have the entire time he’s been out of lock-up.”

I glared at Jax. He only shrugged at me. “What the fuck has he contacted you for?” I demanded, more tears burning in my eyes. Was Jax going behind our brothers’ backs? Was he doing work for Rico? What the fuck was going on?

“Jax called me a few days ago, asking for help to track you down. He doesn’t owe me anything for that. I like you, kid, and I didn’t want anything to happen to you.” I winced. Too bad no one had gotten there in time to prevent that. Gunner’s muscles bunched around me, and he buried his face in my hair, inhaling deeply. I knew it bothered him that he hadn’t gotten to me in time, and I wished I could take that guilt away from him. I gripped his forearms, digging my nails in, hoping it soothed him.

“The night you were rescued, he called me again, asking me to run a background check on you.” Gunner released me, and I looked up to find him glaring at Jax. I grabbed his hand, hoping it kept him calm. I was angry at Jax, but I didn’t want Gunner to hurt him. “He asked me to eliminate everyone who touched you.” He sighed. “He doesn’t owe me anything for that either, Ace. I have a specific kind of hatred for mother fuckers who touch kids.”

I stared at Jax, tears blurring my vision. “I hate you,” I croaked. “And I hate that I still love you despite you constantly doing shit behind my back.”

Jax ended the call without even bothering to say bye to Rico. He shrugged at me as he shoved his phone in his pocket. “I told you, kid—I’ll always do what I think is in your best interest. And knowing there were other people out there who hurt you and were getting to live their best lives—who, might I add, were hurting other kids—” I swallowed thickly, vomit churning in my gut, “didn’t sit right with me. So, I made the call. Hate me all you want, Ace. Again—I’ll always do what I think is best for you, even if that hurts you for a little while or makes you hate me.”

My chin wobbled. Tears streaked down my cheeks. Gunner reached to pull me back into his arms, but I shook my head and stepped up close to Jax, tilting my head back to look up at him. I took a deep breath, preparing myself to touch him. “You’re such a dick,” I croaked, jabbing my finger into his chest.

Jax arched a brow at me. “That’s old news, kid.”

Sniffling, I cautiously wrapped my arms around him. He tensed for a second before he hugged me back, squeezing his arms around me and resting his chin on the top of my head.

“I know I’m not exactly as human as the rest of you,” Jax said quietly, “but just like Blakely, kid, I’d take a bullet for you without hesitation. And I will always do what’s needed so you’re safe, and for the rest of my life, I’ll always end the lives of anyone who hurts you.”

I nodded, my tears wetting his shirt. He slowly released me and gently gripped my shoulders, turning me to face Gunner. Gunner tugged me into his arms and squeezed me so tight, I could barely breathe. But it was just what I needed.

“We’ll be on the back porch,” Gunner quietly announced as he leaned down to grip me beneath my ass, lifting me up. I wrapped my arms and legs around him, burying my face in the curve of his neck. “Let us know when dinner is done.”

---