Page 60 of Count On Me

Me

I know. They won’t be again x

Jaxson

I love you. Get some sleep and tell Angie thank you for looking after you x

Me

Tell Lockheart the same. I love you Jaxson x

Switching my phone to ‘do not disturb,’ I place it on Angie’s night stand. I’m so conflicted right now. I’m mad he kept it from me but I understand why he did. He has so much guilt about ‘dragging’ me into this conflict with Jordan when he shouldn’t feel anything but annoyance with me for dragging myself into it.

I miss him and wish I’d gone to Lockheart’s now. He sounds sad in his texts. I don’t know how I know that, but I do. Maybe because I’ve known him forever, maybe because we’re connected on some other level, but I know he’s beating himself up over all of this.

Angie comes back in and places the water on the nightstand and throws my PJs at me. I grin and shove all thoughts of shoulda’s and woulda’s to the back of my mind as it’s too late to go to Jaxson now.

Instead, I get ready for bed and make a plan to see him tomorrow and reassure him that I’m fine and we’re fine.

37

JAXSON

I pace the spacious living room in Lockheart’s mansion and mumble to myself. I can’t sit still, my brain wholly focused on trying to formulate a plan or figure out where the piece of shit who upended my life could be hiding.

Each time I walk in front of the fireplace and back again, my eyes catch on Gramps’s watch. Thankfully I left it here the last time I stayed, otherwise Jordan would’ve smashed it to pieces. The first thing I did when I got here was grab it from the bedroom I stayed in and put it on Lockheart’s mantle. And I’m grateful Lockheart didn’t even bat an eye or ask any questions. Yet.

“You’re gonna wear a hole in my rug. Talk to me.” Lockheart’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. And there it is, the statement I knew was coming eventually.

And I can’t even keep my shit together anymore.

“Why the fuck do you keep going on about talking and communicating? You barely talk to anyone about your shit, yet you want everyone to open up to you like you're the team’s counsellor or something.” He locks eyes with me and I know I’vejust lashed out at him for no reason. But I’m pissed off and angry and he’s here.

“I’m gonna let that slide because I know you’re hurting right now, but watch your mouth and tell me what's going on in your head. I’m not giving you the option, I’m telling you.”

I moan loudly and yank on my hair as I pace in front of him again. “I fucked up again. I didn’t tell Edie about the threats and the texts. I didn’t tell her I loved her when I should have. I dragged her into all of this, and to top it all off, when the police asked me if anything had been taken, I said no because I didn’t want to panic her.”

He looks at me when I stop, not quite ready to admit just how bad this all is. I kept hoping I was wrong, but I can’t deny it anymore.

“He took my picture of Edie. The one I had next to my bed. It wasn’t there. Smashed or not. After we dropped Edie off at home I went back to the flat. I wanted to grab some more of my shit. It wasn’t there. I hoped it was knocked off my bedside table and was under the bed or something, I didn’t want to admit he took it, but when I couldn’t find it the second time I knew he had.

I called the detectives and told them, but I didn’t tell her. I was going to, but she told me she was already scared and I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t make her even more scared because of me. I’m supposed to protect her, make her feel safe, and instead I’ve invited danger to her doorstep. Fuck, Lockheart, I need to find him. I need to make sure he doesn’t go after her.”

“You need to calm the fuck down and let me think, because that was a whole lot of information you shared and I need a minute to figure it all out.”

He steeples his fingers under his chin and pouts. I can tell he’s thinking, and I try to patiently wait for him to say something, but I’m losing my mind over here, worried aboutwhat’s going to happen next. I huff and puff to try to hurry him along and he grins at my obnoxious behaviour.

“Right. First let’s just establish that you need to tell Edie he took the picture. She needs to be safe, Jaxson. Your pride is second to that. We get a security detail on her. I know someone who’s trustworthy, I’ll call him.” I nod my thanks to him and he carries on. “We need to get the guys involved. They might know one of his haunts or he may have said something to them that triggers a memory, something that could give us a clue where he’s hiding. Text Marcello now, he can fill in Bennett.”

I grab my phone and type out a text to Antony. He responds ‘on it’ immediately, and I know he’ll be here with Charlie within a few minutes, even though it’s the middle of the night. While I’m texting, Lockheart’s on the phone arranging a security detail to be outside Edie’s house within the hour.

He ends the call and turns and points his finger at me. ”Text Edie now. It doesn’t matter if it’s the middle of the night. She needs to know someone’s going to be trailing her until he’s caught.”

I nod my head in gratitude and grab the back of my neck as emotions clog my throat. “Lockheart…” My voice comes out thick and scratchy, and he just nods at me. He knows. Words aren't necessary.

“It’s alright kid, we’ll sort it. We won’t let her get hurt. We look after our own, right?”

I nod and he grabs me in a quick hug before heading into the kitchen to give me some space, leaving me to do what I need to but wish I didn’t have to.

---