Page 9 of Maddog

“I thought he was up to something. That he’d hurt Andrea. I came to have her back.”

“Uh-huh. So she didn’t encourage you to join us?”

“Well, yeah. She did. When I asked her not to go, she said I should come with her. That way I could see she was fine, and I’d get to help some really disadvantaged people. She knows I like to participate in projects that help people in poor communities. She said these people were about as poor as it got.”

“She introduced most of us to Chris.” The other woman picked up the explanation. “I thought it was odd there were so many people going when I’d thought it was going to be me and Chris alone. It wasn’t until after we landed in Rodadero I started putting it together that my relationship with Chris wasn’t everything I thought it was.”

“I can’t prove it and I have no idea how to explain it,” the first woman interjected, “but I’d almost bet she and Chris set up that ambush. At least, they both knew it was coming before it happened.”

“Razor, get that motherfucker out here before you really do have to explain to Cain how this bastard decided to jump out of the plane.” Jax sounded angrier than I’d ever heard him.

“Shit,” I muttered. I turned and headed toward Jax and the other guys. I thought I should probably stay with the women to offer as much support as I could. After all, we’d all gone through something horrific and come out traumatized, but physically unharmed. At least, most of us had. Besides, I knew that, wherever this conversation was headed, I needed to divert it for a little while. Like for at least a week. I needed time to heal both mentally and physically. Though I hadn’t been hurt too badly, I was still going to be pretty Goddamned sore.

“Jax? What is it?” I went to his side. He put out an arm to keep me from getting near the door, but tucked me in behind him, holding me to him with one arm, urging me to press myself against his back.

“Motherfucker’s locked himself in and refuses to open the door. Do you know what’s goin’ on?”

“Not sure. At least some of the girls think he might have been responsible for the attack on us.”

He started, looking over his shoulder at me before turning around. “That’s a pretty serious accusation.”

“I know. And it might be all an attempt to get even with him, but something isn’t right. Andrea was only pretending to cry a while ago. And the women who are talking for the group say Andrea introduced most of them to Chris. She actively pushed for them all to go on this trip. She pushed me too. Just passively.”

“OK,” Jax said, nodding his head. “Assuming they’re right and he had something to do with the attack. What does he gain?”

I shrugged. “Bust in the fucking door and ask the bastard.”

Razor grinned. “I always liked you, Holly. This is just one of many reasons why.”

Jax bared his teeth at Razor and pulled me into his arms. “Mine. Don’t even look at her.”

Razor chuckled. “Lock her down if you want to keep her, man. She has enough of a vicious streak to make the perfect old lady.”

“She knows I’m keepin’ her. Had her property cut made when I made prospect.”

“Uh, hello? I’m right here.” I shoved away from Jax, but he refused to let me go. I wasn’t as torn up about it as I should have been. “Don’t talk about me like you think I can’t hear you.”

“Wouldn’t think of it, Maddog.” Razor winked at me, and it was hard to keep the grin off my face, but I managed. Barely.

“I know you have no reason to suspect Chris had anything to do with the attack. Aside from being a shitty human being, I can’t figure out how hurting everyone he brought on a private jet, including a congressional security detail, benefits him in any way. All I’m saying is, maybe Shotgun or someone should look into the trip. See if they can find any breadcrumbs leading off in a tangent.”

“Do you want to call Shotgun? Tell him what you suspect and give him some details?” Jax spoke softly. Neither man continued to pound on the door to the room where Chris was hiding. It wasn’t like he could go anywhere. He’d probably try to call someone if some kind of deal had gone south, or to have his daddy’s lawyers meet us at the airport. But, unluckily for him, we weren’t going to the airport.

“Yeah. I need to let my mom and dad know I’m OK, too.”

“Wrath’s been in constant contact with us since we left, so he knows.” Jax stroked my cheek and smiled down at me. “But I know it’ll be much better to hear your voice.”

“I’d offer you the use of the conference room, but it seems to have been requisitioned by Senator Alistair’s office.” Razor’s dry humor was almost welcome. I fought another grin.

“Well, I voted for the other guy,” I quipped. “So unless the senator actuallydidhire ExFil to come get his son, tell that rat bastard he needs to sit out here with the women he played. If you give the green light, there’s at least one of them who’d gladly change him from a rooster to a hen.”

“Noted.” Razor nodded to Jax. “You want to do the honors, or do you want me to?”

“I got this.” Jax took one step forward and kicked the door to the small room so hard, the whole thing splintered off its hinges. The room wasn’t supposed to be secure or anything, so the doors were pretty flimsy. I had no doubt the effect was what Jax was going for. If so, it sounded like Chris was suitably impressed if his screams were any indication.

“Now,” Razor boomed, stepping in the doorway, his massive shoulders so wide he had to turn sideways. “Time to buckle in for landing.” Razor snagged him by the arm, jerking Chris’s cell phone out of his hand as he did. He glanced at the screen before putting the phone to his ear. He listened for a brief moment before speaking. “Sorry. Your son’s a little busy right now. I’ll have him call you back after we land.” Razor ended the call and tossed the phone to Jax. “Might need this later.”

“Hey! Gimme back my fucking phone!”

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