Page 23 of Emerge

"Track? And why an admiral? Don't you move up through the ranks?" I shut my book because learning about tritons was much more interesting than economics.

"Being an admiral is a bloodline thing. The ones with the strongest genetics are grandfathered in." He shrugged. "He can apply to be sea only or hybrid, like his dad."

I scrunched my nose. "I can't picture Jax being like his father."

The elevator doors opened and Blake walked off, wrapping a towel around his waist. Water still ran down his chest and legs as he sat down on the couch on the other side of me.

His silence was unnerving, and my heart instantly constricted in my chest. "Where's Jax?"

Blake ran a hand down his face and wiped it on the towel before biting his lip with tears in his eyes. "He's with his dad. The facility is destroyed, and his sister..." He stopped talking as he choked on his words. "She's gone."

I sat there in stunned silence as Morgan sat on the other side of Blake, and they embraced. Jax's sister was dead because of me.

* * *

I wokesometime in the middle of the night, feeling eyes on me. Jax was sitting in my desk chair, watching me with the eyes of a fierce hunter ready to attack. My stomach clenched as he stood, dropping the towel that was wrapped around his waist.

"Jax..." I sat up, rubbing my eyes. "How long have you been in here?"

"Come here." He was still standing by the chair, his face unreadable in the faint light that was coming from under the bedroom door.

I left the warm comfort of my bed and stood in front of him, reaching forward and touching his cheek. "I'm so sorry, Jax."

His eyes shut and he leaned into my touch. When he opened his eyes, they were a stormy blue. "Get on your knees." My lips parted, and he shook his head to stop me from talking.

I drew my bottom lip between my teeth and lowered to the floor. I knew he wouldn't hurt me, but a small trickle of fear spread throughout my body. There was really only one reason he would want me on my knees.

He stepped forward but then went to the bed to grab a pillow. He threw it down in front of me and I kneeled on it.

I shut my eyes as he circled me like a shark circling its prey before it takes a bite. He stopped behind me, not saying a word. I squeezed my thighs together, wondering what he was going to do. Whatever it was, I wasn't opposed, I just wish he would let me comfort him.

Or maybe this was the type of comfort he needed.

His fingers tangled in my hair, massaging my scalp. It felt so good and I was so tired that I felt like I was going to fall asleep right where I was.

"He took her." He wrapped a handful of my hair in his fist and walked to the front of me. "He left us a message; he wants you."

I didn't need to ask who he was talking about or who he took. Tears filled my eyes and he adjusted his hold on my hair. It was a relief to hear that Olivia hadn't died, but I wasn't sure being taken by Dylan was any better. Especially since she was taken because of me.

I couldn't get a good read on how Jax felt about it, but I felt like I was facing an execution of sorts and tried to stand up.

"No. Stay where you are." He let go of my hair and sat back down in the desk chair. "Tell me why I shouldn't hand you over to him."

I sat back on my heels and looked at the floor. "I can't tell you that."

"Why, Riley?" He leaned forward, clasping his hands in front of him as he rested his forearms on his bare legs. "Tell me not to give you to him."

"You should give me to him." Tears dripped down my face as he put his head in his hands and fisted them against his short hair. If he would have had longer hair, he would have been yanking on it. "He's going to do something bigger next time. I can't let people risk their lives. What if he-"

Jax stood suddenly and fisted my hair again. "I'm not giving you to him, Riley." He directed my head so I was looking up at him. "Do you understand me?"

I bit the inside of my cheek and nodded. I knew I was going to have to go to Dylan if I wanted to stop the attacks. What if he attacked the high school next? What if he found out my mom was back and went after her?

He was getting more and more desperate since he couldn't control me. The last thing I wanted was for anyone else to be hurt. But would letting Dylan free the sirens hurt people too?

"Let me hear you say it." His hand traveled down his stomach and gripped the base of his cock. "Tell me you're mine and that you won't leave me."

My eyes followed his movements to his dick before looking back up at him. "I'm yours and I won't leave you."

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