Page 156 of Sinning for Santa

“I can’t feel a trigger.”

My brother nods on the screen. “Should be okay to take it off her. Nice and slow, though. And then, put it somewhere far fucking away from Damon. We can do another call to make sure it’s fully disarmed.”

“Okay. Thanks.” I go to end the call, but Warrick speaks again, his tone firm.

“I wanna see my son.”

I stiffen, raking my hand over my face in frustration. “Fine. But you can be the one to let Marilda know,” I snap, and Warrick shakes his head.

“Nah, man. That won’t work. She still won’t speak to me.”

I don’t blame her. Not only did he lie to her and knock her up, but because of Amanda’s attempts to try and kill her, and the fact Amanda tried to kidnap Damon from the hospital when he was first born, Marilda had to uproot her whole life and go into hiding here. Hell, she could have just run and disappeared, but she didn’t. She wanted Damon to have a family, so I’ve been that for him.

“Fine,” I concede, “I’ll talk to her, but I can’t promise anything.”

“Okay. Good. Thanks,” Warrick mutters, before we say our unloving goodbyes and I end the call.

Slipping Finn’s phone in my back pocket, I stare at my little mouse, still prisoner to the device strapped to her chest.

“Let’s get that thing off you.”

She nods quickly at my words, but remains quiet, as though her fear has presented itself again.

“I’m going to cut it free and then cut you free from the chair, okay?”

She nods again, so I don’t hesitate a moment longer.

Moving to the front of the cellar, I take the box cutter laying on the bench, and return to Jaxcen, slowly slicing through the straps on the explosive until it loosens enough that I can slip it over her head.

She’s so still as I do it, like she’s stopped breathing and turned to stone, but the moment it’s off her, a whoosh of breath expels from her lips, and I see her shoulders drop as she relaxes.

Placing the explosive in the far corner, I hurry back to cut through the tape securing her to the chair, and the moment she’s free, she leaps into my arms.

Fuck.

Now I’m the one trembling. My muscles coiled so tight that I feel like I’m potentially crushing her to death. But I can’t let her go. I just fucking can’t.

“Jax.” I breathe into her hair, right by her ear, and her nails dig into my shoulders like she can’t get close enough.

I know the fucking feeling.

“I thought…”

“I know.” I rush out as her words falter. “You’re alright. I’ve got you,” I rasp, wishing the fucking explosive wasn’t so close so I could strip her and show her how fucking close we can be.

The crack of another gunshot has us both stiffening, reminding me that this is not fucking over yet.

Releasing Jaxcen, I feel around for my long forgotten earpiece and shove it back in to hear multiple voices coming at me.

“He’s shooting at someone else.”

“It looks like a woman. Who is that?”

“He’s heading back towards the town centre.”

Fuck. What the hell is going on out there?

I want to keep Jaxcen safe, and sending her to my suite would be the best bet if there wasn’t a fucking bomb down here under my Palace.

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