Page 109 of Roots of the Wicked

“Jax!” I called out, scanning the front of the house. The front door was rarely locked due to staff being on duty around the clock, and the community was gated, and guarded by security twenty-four-seven.

I slung the front door open and rushed in with TK on my heels. Running from room to room, I yelled Jax’s name.

“Jax baby! Where are you? Are you okay?”

TK followed, lobbing questions and curse words at my back. The sight of him with a big shiny gun in his hands slowed my stride.

“What are you doing with that?”

The shiny piece wasn’t aimed at me, but the menacing gleam in TK’s eyes was just as threatening.

“You are going to tell me where the fuck we are, right fucking now!” He shouted his demand, his voice roaring like thunder through the room. His gun remained aimed at the floor, but he appeared ready to use it if I didn’t give him an answer.

“This is my house. My family home. I grew up here,” I stated, causing his confusion to glaze over his anger. I didn’t have time to rationalize an explanation. I needed to find Jax.

Where the hell was my father and the staff? What was going on? I hadn’t seen Blake’s car either. I took off toward the kitchen and dining area, my hard steps echoing against the shiny floor.

“Jax! Jax! Are you here?”

“Chase,” her muffled tone floated low and hollow into my ear. The desperate plea in her voice sent me flying in the direction of the sound. TK raised his gun and gripped my arm to stop me from going blindly into a situation of uncertainty.

“Let me lead.” It wasn’t a suggestion. He shoved me out of the way and took the lead. He was acting like the arrogant asshole I had met at the expo. However, his gun was displayed in confidence, revealing his familiarity with one. Who was this guy? As a matter of fact, there wasn’t much I knew about TK, other than him being Jax’s friend who wanted more than friendship.

We crept down the basement stairs toward Jax’s call. Once we cleared the stairs, we froze at the sight displayed before us. Behind Jax was someone I knew.

“Amanda?”

Amanda stood behind Jax with a gun pressed into her side under her right arm. The sight of Jax being held at gunpoint sent fear ripping into my tendons and vital organs. What the hell was going on? How had Amanda gotten a hold of Jax and gained access into my family home? Why would she be here? Was Blake behind this?

Amanda shoved the gun deeper into Jax’s side each time my gaze landed on her. I think Amanda saw my concern for Jax as a sign of disrespect towards her.

“You don’t have to do this. We can work something out. Where is everyone? How did you get into this house?”

TK had his weapon aimed at Amanda, which caused her to tighten her hold on Jax and clench the gun tighter. My eyes met Jax’s watery gaze. “You’re going to be okay baby.” I unclenched my hands and reached for her as I cast a pleading gaze at Amanda.

“I’m the one with the fucking gun!” Amanda yelled. “She’s not going to be okay. You think it was okay for you to treat me like your throw away? Take me out and you can’t even remember my fucking name. Then, you leave me waiting, looking like a desperate idiot, while you’re fucking this bitch in the bathroom?”

I held my hands up in surrender. “I’m sorry Amanda. It was our first date, and I shouldn’t have treated you that way.”

“It wasn’t our first date you arrogant, inconsiderate, entitled, son-of-a-bitch!” she snapped, her hands trembling, causing the gun to shake against Jax’s side. Jax had wedged her hand between the gun and her stomach.

Amanda must have been mistaken. I would remember if I had gone out with her before.

“We can work this all out. It was all just a big misunderstanding,” TK added, keeping his aim steady.

“Shut the fuck up!” Amanda yelled at TK. Her shout had caused the gun to jerk in her hand, and her finger to stiffen on the trigger.

Amanda aimed her deadly stare at TK. “You’re just as rude and arrogant as Chase.” She seemed unphased by the fact that TK kept his gun aimed at her.

“How can we fix this?” My eyes were back on Jax, who stood stiff and still, anticipating the gun blast.

“There is no fixes. I want the both of you to suffer, starting with me blowing this bitch’s brains out.”

She lifted the gun to the back of Jax’s head, and TK immediately took up a more aggressive stance.

“Please, let her go. I’m the one you want. Take me,” I pleaded with my hands stretched out in front of me. The mercy I sought with my heart and mind for Jax and our unborn child was squeezed out, and I’m sure was projected on my anguished face. Seeing her in this situation was my worst living nightmare.

“You don’t want to do this Amanda.” TK’s pistol remained aimed in Jax and Amanda’s direction. Tears slid from her bloodshot eyes as she cradled her small baby bump.

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