Page 223 of Conquered
I’ve had to stop Loki on more than one occasion from buying up the entirety of the Frugi newborn store, an English company online that he found, which specialises in rainbow designs. He holds me close pretty much every night, hardly letting the others get a look in, telling me all the things that he plans to do for our child, the ways in which he’ll care for us.
It’s enough to make me cry, which I seem to be doing at random points now. Apparently, that’s normal.
Ash is the only one that seems a bit reserved, a bit separate from us. I hate it, but I know that he’s coming to terms with the situation, with his worry about what lies ahead, and what will happen when Julian decides to get his revenge.
We don’t have to wait much longer for the first hit.
We’re lounging on the grass outside, in the formal gardens of the Academy, Willow with us, when Jax’s phone buzzes. He answers it, his face going deathly pale as his eyes lock onto mine, like a drowning man.
“What?” he growls, chills running down my spine at the danger in his voice. “When?”
I sit up from lying back on Loki, the others and Willow all looking at Jax with alarm. He ends the call, his hand still like the calm before the storm, as he looks at the now dark screen.
“What’s going on, Jax?” Ash asks, casting a quick look at Willow, who flushes.
“I’ve, um, got some homework to catch up on,” she says, getting up and giving me a quick peck on my cheek.
“Thanks, lovely,” I whisper in her ear, and she just nods with an understanding smile. This girl really is the shizzle.
Jax watches as she walks off, waiting until she’s disappeared into the doors of the Academy before he speaks, his voice low and pained.
“Mom’s in the hospital,” he tells us, and my heart stills, knowing it’s not for something routine. “She was beaten half to death last night, supposedly by intruders, who left her for dead while they stole all the valuables.”
“No,” I whisper, my hand coming to cover my mouth as tears spring into my eyes, making Jax bob and weave in my watery vision.
“It was Dad, I fucking know it was!” he snarls, suddenly standing up and launching his phone at a nearby planter with a roar, shattering the device, and sending little pieces of plastic and glass flying. He turns to us, his eyes wild, and my soul breaks for him. “He’s been beating on her for fucking years, always holding back under Julian’s orders.”
“What?” I ask, horror coming over me and filling me with its icy touch.
“It would look bad for the company if one of the board was found to be a wife beater,” Kai spits out, disgust clear in his tone. A fine tremor begins in my muscles, and I wrap my arms around myself, in a bit to warm up my cold limbs.
Just then, my own phone vibrates in the pocket of my dungarees with an incoming message.
I take it out and gaze at the screen, my breath stilling as I read the words on the screen.
Unknown: Do not test me again, daughter darling.
“Oh god,” I whisper, dropping my phone like it’s just burnt me. I look up into Jax’s anguished face, my body temperature rising as nausea swims in my stomach. “I’m so sorry, Jax.”
My head drops into my hands as sobs wrack my body. It’s all my fault. I was so fucking stupid thinking that I could basically send Julian a middle finger with no repercussions.Stupid, so fucking stupid.
“Hey, hey, Baby Girl, look at me,” Jax says softly, his big hands cupping my jaw and lifting my head up so that I’m looking into his beautiful blue eyes. “This is not your fault, baby,” he assures me, but I’m shaking my head before he’s even finished.
“Read the message, Jax! It’s all my fault for being a stupid fucking idiot! Your mum is in hospital because of me,” I tell him, blinded by my anger and heartache. His eyes harden.
“Don’t let him do this to you and fuck with your mind. You’re smarter than that.”
I want to believe him, so badly, but my stomach churns with guilt at what my reckless actions have caused.
“I’m so sorry, Jax,” I whisper, my voice a sad, broken thing, more tears spilling down my cheeks.
“It’s not you that owes me an apology, baby,” he replies, placing a gentle kiss on my trembling lips. “You didn’t order this. You didn’t strike the blows.”
I might as well have.
I don’t say it out loud, but if the sigh that escapes from his lips is anything to go by, and the fact that he knows me better than I know myself sometimes, he sees it in my eyes. My self blame.
“We should go and visit,” Ash says from behind us, already up and brushing off his suit. “I take it she’s in Mount Vernon?”
