Page 25 of Maddog

The smile she graced me with was nothing shy of glorious. Yeah. I was a goner.

Game.

Fucking.

Over.

Chapter Twelve

Holly

The next three months were the happiest of my life. Not only did Jax and Dad take care of Chris and Andrea, but I didn’t have to do anything. All anyone would tell me was that I didn’t have to worry about either of them anymore.

Some of the women stayed in the Black Reign compound because they had nowhere else to go. Seemed Chris had a whole thing going where he’d preyed on homeless women. Of the eight young women who’d stayed, all but one had been homeless for a few weeks when they’d met Chris. He’d given them a place to live and, after a while, convinced each of them that there was “just something about you I can’t live without.” Then he’d taken them all to Columbia. That’s where the whole thing kind of went off the rails. I didn’t know where Andrea fit in with it all, but El Diablo finally put his foot down.

“I’ve never denied you anything you wanted, Holly Sweetness.” He tried to look contrite, but I could tell he wasn’t a bit sorry to keep this from me. “But I will not budge on this. It’s over. Neither of them will ever hurt you again.” I tried to watch the news for any indication that Chris had gone back home, but Jax had kept me so busy having sex I decided it didn’t really matter. Nothing was going to interrupt my happiness.

Until I woke up this morning. I hadn’t felt bad, exactly. Just… off. Jax was already up. I remember him kissing me awake and letting me know he had some business to take care of outside the compound. I thought he said something about ExFil, which meant he wouldn’t be back until later in the evening.

I glanced at the clock. It was after eleven, but I was beat. I’d have blamed it on Jax keeping me up all night for sex, like he did most nights, but he hadn’t. I’d slept through the night.

“Fuuuuck.” I groaned and turned over onto my back. I shivered and groaned again. My whole body ached. And I was sweating.

A memory flashed through my mind. The day in Blade’s office when he’d told me my leukemia had returned, but we’d caught it early. I’d felt just like this. Only, we’d all thought I was just sick. A cold or something.

I sat bolt upright in the bed, instantly wide awake. My heart pounded and my breath came in sharp pants. “No,” I sobbed out. “Please no.”

With trembling hands, I reached for my phone. I didn’t even think about calling anyone but Jax. He answered on the first ring.

“Hey, Maddog. You sleep in today?” His voice was cheerful, like he was happy to hear from me and maybe a little amused that I’d slept late. He loved it when he wore me out enough to keep me in bed half the morning and normally I did too.

“Jax?” My voice was soft and shaky. It was easy to tell something was wrong.

“Honey, what’s wrong?” Gone was the easygoing lover I’d grown obsessed with and in his place was my fierce protector.

“I’m sick.” My voice broke on the last word.

“I’ll call Blade and Doc.”

“NO!” I took several deep breaths to calm myself. “I can do it. I just panicked.”

“Because of the last time.”

“It feels the same, Jax.” I started crying then. “I don’t want to do this again! Chemo sucks ass!”

“Call your mother, Holly. I’ll get Blade to come to you now. I’ll be with there in an hour. Less if I can catch Cain before he leaves. And, baby?”

I took in a shuddering breath. “Yes?”

“No matter what happens, I’m gonna be right by your side. Every step of the way. You hear me?”

Closing my eyes I took another deep breath and let it out. I pictured Jax’s face and let his warmth fill me. “Yes, Jax. I hear you.”

“That’s my girl. I’m coming. Hold it together until I get there. We’ll figure this out together.”

“OK. I can do that.”

“I know you can. Call me back when Blade gets there. If I don’t answer it means I’ll be there in less than twenty minutes. If I answer, I’m still close to an hour away.”

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