Page 57 of Take
I cleared my throat as it tightened. I wanted to shove my fist down his throat then beat the shit out of him. It would be a crapshoot as to who would win, but if he touched her—
“Leave it, bro. He knows you’re watching and is trying to get you riled. Payback for throwing away his friendship for the last century.” Holden’s voice held a deep, resonated tone as he came up beside me. It was a warning that calmed the roar fucking with my control.
I sighed and dropped my gaze from Max. “I can’t fuckin’ breathe, Holden.”
“Yeah, it’s called giving a shit. Welcome to the living.” He patted me on the back. “She needs time, Jasper.” Max sat at the table and curled her legs up beneath her and then lifted the mug. I held my breath, waiting for it. She pursed her lips and then lightly blew on the steaming coffee. I saw the subtle tremble in her hands and knew it was me who caused that. Not Drake. I made her tremble and it wasn’t in a good way.
When she lowered the coffee, Max looked at me and our eyes met. Then my cock jerked and I shifted my position to ease the discomfort. Jesus, I wanted all of her and I didn’t like Guise sitting near her at the table. I didn’t like that he was quietly talking to her. I went to take a step toward them when Holden grabbed my arm.
“She’s already broken . . . don’t finish the job.”
I hesitated, unable to look away, captivated and bound by her. I knew words weren’t enough for Max. And there was only one way I had a chance at bringing her back to me.
“Keep her safe.” I turned to go back down the hall to grab my bag and then leave out the back door.
“Whoa. Jasper. You’re fucked up right now. Don’t be stupid. I know what you’re thinking, but it’s not the only way.”
“Words mean nothing to her. I’m doing what I should’ve done the second Adrian offered me the job.” Because I’d known then that I loved her or at least was falling in love with her. I started to walk down the hall, but Holden followed me.
“What? Get yourself killed. Fuck, Wasp. You’re not indestructible. You can’t go after an ancient Scar alone. How are you going to find him?”
I snorted. “Not an ancient Scar, he’s a hybrid ancient Scar, but one thing I’ve excelled at over the years . . . is maintain a reputation for being an asshole.”
“What are you thinking?”
“Drake will have heard of me. He knows what I do for a living and he knows I’ll turn for enough money.”
Holden shook his head. “I don’t believe you’d ever do that, Wasp.”
I shrugged. “Maybe not now. But he doesn’t know that.”
Holden grabbed my arm and yanked me to a stop. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and passed it to me. “I think this is a mistake.”
“You can think whatever you want.”
“At least . . . Jasper your Ink. You can get her to—”
“No!” I threw his arm off me. “Never. I’ll never have her touch my Ink.” I stopped myself from looking over at her one last time, knowing I might not leave if I did and then I walked away.