Page 34 of Chaos

I need the damn money. Especially with the hospital bills coming my way. My daughter needs a roof over her head, and I have to do what I need to.

I just need a second to clear my head.

Seeing Brody and Jax together threw my mind into turmoil.

The man who I’ve dreamt about finding for two years. The eyes I stare into every morning when I pick up Maeve for a cuddle.

The man whose strong hands I can still feel on my body. That one night altered my life forever, not just with Maeve, but my heart.

When I walked into that room, it hurt. Seeing them together. Brody got to have a relationship with him. I didn’t, nor did his daughter.

But even then, he still consumed me. When our eyes locked, it was as if two years had never passed. There is no way I can let him back in. I don’t think I can take it. How do I tell him he’s a dad? That could ruin everything for him. He could be married or dating someone. He could have more kids.

I am no one to him. Just his ex-sister-in-law, who he happens to have fucked. A mistake.

Why the hell is he here with Brody? And why did he knock him out for me?

My eyes snap up in the mirror as I hear the lock click behind me. Chills run down my spine as Jax’s dark eyes meet mine and he stalks towards me, stopping just behind me.

I suck in a breath, the room now fizzling around me.

I don’t know what to say, so I keep my lips sealed shut. I glance down at the blood covering his knuckles, and it’s hard not to smile.

Seeing Brody get knocked out is a highlight of my life. The asshole deserves it.

Without a word, he brushes my hair away and exposes my shoulder. Without thinking, I tip my head to the side and he rests his chin there.

Eating me up with his eyes in the mirror.

“Don’t listen to a word that asshole said, sweetheart.”

I slowly nod, not trusting myself to speak. My body sparks alight as his index finger trails up my side, leaving tingles in its wake.

“You are, and always were, fucking gorgeous. Way too beautiful to be here.”

I swallow past the lump in my throat.

With his finger now stroking my neck, he tips my head back. Blood thumps in my ears as I wait for his next move.

“You need to leave, Jax.” It comes out in a whisper.

He shakes his head, running his tongue along his lip.

“We were meant to break rules together. We aren’t done, tigritsa.”

I blink a few times.

“We are. We were done two years ago. One night. A mistake, clearly.”

He tuts, his lips now brushing against my neck.

“Is that what you think? That I don’t replay that night on a loop in my brain?”

My mouth falls open. He’s lying. He has to be.

“I doubt that. I bet I haven’t even crossed your mind. How can you be friends with Brody otherwise?”

He chuckles, his chest rubbing against my back.