Page 12 of Traitorous Lies
Prying open her eyes, she winced when the light from the flashlights the people around her were holding stabbed through her eyes, making the pain so much worse.
There were six other people besides herself and Jaxon. One was standing behind her, holding her with an arm wrapped around her chest, probably the only thing keeping her standing.
Another two were standing beside Jaxon, who had been forced down to his knees, and were holding weapons on him. Pointed directly at his head.
She didn't think, she just tried to get to him, protect him, and help him.
“Don’t hurt him,” she cried out, fighting weakly against the man holding her.
Surprise flared in Jaxon’s dark eyes as his head snapped up and their gazes clashed. Monique was positive he was trying to tell her something with that look, but she had no idea what it was. Even if she didn't feel like she’d been run over by a truck, she didn't know this man well enough to be able to read in his expressions what he was saying.
“It’s okay, princess,” he said calmly, far too calmly for her liking.
“No, it’s not. Don’t hurt him, please. I’ll … I’ll do anything,” she begged, fully prepared to follow through with that offer.
It wouldn't be the first time she’d sold her body to survive hell.
“She won't,” Jaxon roared, moving to fling his body toward hers when the men standing beside him grabbed him and held him still. “She won't. Kill me if you have to, just don’t hurt her.”
“No!” Killing Jaxon was not an option. She wouldn't survive knowing his death was on her shoulders. “Anything you want, I’ll do. I don’t care, just don’t hurt him, please.”
“Monique, don’t. Take it back,” Jaxon hissed, anger in his tone.
“I won't. If it saves your life, I'm prepared to do anything.”
“I'm not worth it.”
Ignoring the pain in her head, she stuck her chin out, not allowing his words to pass by without very clearly refuting them. “You are. Everybody is. And if I can save your life, I will, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”
“Want to bet?” Jaxon got this crazy look in his eyes, like he was going to do something stupid, and for one terrifying second, Monique was sure he would get himself killed despite her offers to give these men her body in exchange for his life.
But then the man who had been speaking earlier stepped in. “Enough,” he growled. “Take them both and throw them in the back of the van, then clean up down here. I don’t want any evidence left behind that we were here.”
Apparently, this man was in charge because immediately the two men standing beside Jaxon yanked him to his feet, and the one holding her lifted her so she was thrown over his shoulder. Both of them were taken back up the hill the car had careened down, and the rest of her memories slid into place.
They’d been run off the road, and now these men were kidnapping them. She had no idea who they were or if they were going to take her up on her offer and spare Jaxon’s life, but at least for now they were both breathing.
Back up on the road there was a white van, and the man carrying her balanced her, yanked the door open, and tossed her inside. Landing with a bone-shuddering thud, Monique cried out as her already batteredbody protested, and she barely managed to keep from throwing up. The only thing helping to keep the bile down was the knowledge that if she didn't, they’d be locked up in there with that smell.
Jaxon’s body landed beside her, and there was no hesitation on her part. She immediately crawled to him, climbing onto his lap as the van doors slammed shut, sealing them in darkness which actually managed to slightly soothe the pain in her head.
“You shouldn’t have done that, princess,” Jaxon grumbled, but his arms locked around her, and she could have sworn his face pressed to the top of her head and he breathed in her scent.
“If I can save your life, Jaxon, I absolutely will,” she said defiantly.
“Jax.”
“What?”
“Everyone calls me Jax.”
“Jax,” she repeated, liking it. It suited him better than Jaxon. Resting her cheek on his chest, right above his heart, she snuggled closer, savoring the feel of being in his arms. “If I can stop them from killing you, I will. Don’t ask me not to. I can handle anything if it means we both live long enough for my father to pay the ransom. I survived once, and I can do it again.”
She hoped.
Because she wasn't letting Jax die because of her, which meant she’d already sold her body to the devil.
Chapter
