Page 10 of Jaxon

As Jaxon stepped into the bookstore, the tension was palpable.Clay’s eyes flicked up, and the smirk that formed on his lips made Jaxon’s blood boil.He could feel Bear’s presence at his side, ready for whatever came next.

“Clay,” Jaxon growled, his voice low and dangerous.He didn’t bother with pleasantries.“What the hell are you doing here?”

Clay’s lips curled into a sneer, his fingers tapping the counter.“Thought I’d check out the local scene.Nice place you’ve got here.”His gaze flicked to Harper, then back to Jaxon.“Didn’t know you were into books.”

“Leave them out of this,” Jaxon said, stepping forward.His stance was tense, ready for a fight if it came to that.“You’ve got no business here.”

Clay’s eyes gleamed with a twisted amusement.“Seems I’ve got plenty of business here.You’re acting real protective.She special to you, Jaxon?”His tone was mocking, meant to provoke.

Jaxon’s fists clenched at his sides.He could feel Bear shifting beside him, equally on edge.He didn’t want a fight, not here, not with Harper watching.The last thing he wanted was to destroy her place, to bring this violence into her world.But if Clay pushed him too far, he wouldn’t have a choice.

“You and your pal are on Iron Sentinels’ territory.You both need to leave,” Jaxon said, his voice cold.“Now.”

Clay leaned back, his smirk never wavering.“Or what?You gonna put another scar on me?I’ve been waiting for another round.”

The tension in the room was thick, every muscle in Jaxon’s body coiled like a spring.He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm.“Not here.You want a fight, we’ll take it somewhere else.”

Clay’s companion shifted uneasily, clearly not eager for a confrontation.Clay noticed and scowled, but he didn’t move.Instead, he looked around the store, his gaze settling on Harper again.“You’ve changed, Jaxon.Getting soft.”

Jaxon stepped forward, his voice a deadly whisper.“Last warning, Clay.Wouldn’t want to send you and your friend back to your MC in pieces.”

For a moment, it seemed Clay might push it further, but then he chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender.“Fine.We’ll leave.For now,” Clay said.

He turned to his friend, nodding toward the door.As they walked out, Clay paused, looking over his shoulder.“See you around, Jaxon.And next time, I won’t be so polite,” Clay added.

Jaxon’s first instinct was to go after Clay, to punch his lights out right there in the bookstore.He could already feel the satisfaction of landing a solid hit, the rush of adrenaline that would come with putting the rat bastard in his place.

But he knew better than to let his anger dictate his actions.If he and Bear really did follow through on their threat—if they sent Clay and his friend back to their MC in pieces—there would be consequences.And not just any consequences.It would spark an all-out war between their MC and the Blood Vipers, one that neither side could afford.

As much as the idea of getting his hands on Clay appealed to him, Jaxon knew he had to think strategically.The club came first.He couldn’t let a personal vendetta cloud his judgment, even if every fiber of his being wanted to do just that.

Still, Clay’s words lingered in his mind, echoing over and over again.Getting soft?Him?Jaxon’s jaw tightened at the thought.No way in hell.He wasn’t soft.

He was still the same guy who had fought tooth and nail to protect the things he cared about.The same guy who had been through the worst and come out the other side.But Clay had hit a nerve, and now those words kept rattling around in his head, digging under his skin.

Jaxon had dealt with the situation the best way he saw fit.That was all.He’d protected Harper, kept the peace—at least for now—and avoided a full-blown fight in front of her.That was the logical choice.The responsible choice.

Jaxon waited until the two bikers were out of sight, his fists slowly unclenching as the adrenaline coursing through his veins began to settle.The tension in his muscles loosened, but it didn’t erase the lingering anger or the uncertainty of what could’ve happened.

He turned back to Harper, his eyes searching her face.She was standing behind the counter, her expression pale, yet there was a quiet determination in her eyes, as if she was trying to hold it all together.

“You okay?”he asked and took a step closer.

Harper nodded, though her eyes were still wide, flickering with that same unshakable wariness that had been there since the moment Clay and his friend had stepped inside.

“I think so,” she said, her voice shaky.“Who were they?”

Jaxon tightened his jaw, the remnants of his frustration bubbling to the surface.“Trouble,” he said simply.“But they’re gone now.”

Harper’s employee, still looking shaken, glanced nervously between them before offering a quick, uncertain smile.

“I’ll, uh, go check on the back,” she murmured before disappearing through the door.

Jaxon watched her go, then turned his full attention back to Harper.He could feel the adrenaline still buzzing beneath his skin, the instinct to protect her a fierce, relentless need, making his heart race.But this wasn’t the time for that.He needed to center himself, to make sure she was okay.

He ran a hand through his hair, letting out a long breath as he stepped closer, the sound of his boots echoing softly in the stillness.His eyes locked with hers, and he saw the fear, the uncertainty, the ghosts of a past she’d tried to keep buried.

Jaxon hated that his world had intruded on hers like this.She didn’t deserve this kind of stress, this danger.She’d built something for herself, a life she was proud of, and he’d just barged in, dragging everything with him.

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