Page 45 of The Finding Series: Vol. 1

“Rhys busted a kid for possession and got him to flip on the guy he was running drugs for. The kid had seen the dealer murder a rival dealer so Rhys helped the kid get a deal with the Feds. They put him up in a safe house until the trial. Rhys and the kid’s protective detail were the only ones who knew the location.”

Dane could guess where Jax was leading. “Rhys’ partner?”

Jax nodded. “Sold Rhys and the kid out. The kid, his mom and the two agents guarding them were murdered before the trial. Rhys had no proof it was Rawlings.”

“But you found the proof?” When Jax didn’t respond, Dane knew there was something the other man wasn’t saying. “How?”

Jax seemed to mull his next words over before finally saying, “Let’s just say that old adage, ‘What goes around comes around,’ was made for guys like Rawlings.”

“How’d you get the proof, Jax?” Dane asked again, both needing and dreading the answer.

Jax cast him a dark look, then hardened his jaw and said, “I knew he was under surveillance so it was just a matter of getting him to talk. Couple of drinks and a mouth wrapped around his dick was all it took. Feds heard it all and I made sure the dealer Rawlings was ratting out heard it too.”

A cold feeling settled in his gut at Jax’s admission. “Why?” he heard himself asking in a strangled voice. “For Rhys?”

“Rhys was just a lucky side effect. I did it for my brother.” The ice in Jax’s voice was unsettling. “Ben was one of the agents protecting that kid.”

* * *

Jax cursed himself for the millionth time as he pulled his car along the curb at the end of the block from the garage. He had no idea what had possessed him to tell Dane the truth about how he’d secured justice for his brother, but the man’s condemnation had been clear. Not only had Dane fallen completely silent at his admission, he’d physically recoiled and had actually leaned against the car door in an attempt to get as far away from Jax as he could. They’d parted at the Sheriff’s station with Dane saying he and Emma would walk to the mechanic’s garage and then mumbling a quick thank you, all the while refusing to make eye contact.

Served Jax right for thinking the guy might be different. So it made no sense to Jax why he wasn’t already speeding down the highway that would take him home to Seattle. The kid, he supposed. There was something about that little girl that just drew him in. And it was her he was sticking around for to make sure the vet got his car back because Jax wasn’t wasting his time on some holier than thou asshole who’d been judging him from the second Jax shoved him to the ground when bullets began flying.

Jax got out of the car and leaned against it as he began checking the dozen or so texts and emails that had been piling up since the events of yesterday had unfolded.

Where the hell are you?

It was the first of several messages that became more colorful as he scrolled further and further down. Since the last one was a threat to hack his phone to get his location, Jax hit the dial button and waited.

“About time, fucker,” came the grumpy voice on the other end.

“Stay out of my phone,” Jax said as a smile tugged at his mouth. It felt good to have someone worry about him.

“Where are you?”

“Montana.”

“Still?”

Jax sighed. “Yeah, things kind of went to shit when I got here. I’ll tell you about it when I get back.” Jax raised his eyes to scan his surroundings, then felt his gut tighten at the sight of Dane coming out of the garage…on foot. “It’s complicated,” he said into the phone.

“Usually is,” the voice on the other end said.

Irritation went through Jax as he saw Dane catch sight of him and then grudgingly walked down the block towards him. He should just get in the car and drive past the fucker and get the hell out of this piece of shit town.

“How was Chicago?”

“It’s done,” was all he said.

“I assumed that. How are you handling it?”

Jax ignored the question and said, “I’ll let you know when I’m on the road. Should be in the next hour or so.” He disconnected the call and watched Dane head towards him, the other man’s gaze still refusing to settle on his. A movement behind Dane caught Jax’s attention.

A man dressed in black jeans and a dark T-shirt was just a few dozen steps behind Dane. Jax went instantly on alert as the guy’s beady eyes scanned the area around them as if looking for someone. Something was off and Jax was moving, his hand automatically reaching behind his back in search of the comforting grip of his gun. The man behind Dane suddenly stopped as his eyes settled on Jax and then he was darting across the road towards a non-descript, idling black sedan. The car pulled quickly away from the curb and drove off and Jax cursed the sunlight that was just a bit too bright to make out the license plate of the car as it turned the corner and disappeared.

Dane reached him and shifted Emma’s car seat in his hand. The plastic base was tucked under his armpit and the diaper bag was slung across his shoulder. The nice thing to do would have been to offer to take something from the man to ease his burden but Jax wasn’t feeling particularly charitable at the moment. His mind was also still hung up on the possibility that someone had been following Dane and as much as it annoyed him, the worry for the other man’s safety was churning in his gut.

“They had to special order the tires for my car. I guess they’re a custom size that the mechanic doesn’t keep in stock.”

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