Page 72 of Chaos
“I noticed at the rally the other night those guards looked high. I didn’t think Reapers dealt that shit?” I always thought they were just running guns and gambling. They’re always lurking around the fights, both in the ring and behind the ropes, taking bets.
Alexei pauses on the porch, letting the sweltering heat roll into my entryway. “You know, the bags all had a ‘V’ on it, but it isn’t like Mikhail’s mark.”
Nikolai nods. “I have an idea, but will need to run it by my brother.”
I follow them outside. “Mikhail might know? Who else runs with a ‘V’?”
Nikolai’s jaw clenches as he looks at me. “My father.”
THIRTY-SEVEN
SOFIA
Jax has been here more than he hasn’t for the last few days and seems to be getting a little more comfortable with the new dynamic.
Being a daddy looks good on him.
Maeve seems to adore him already. She shrieks and giggles when he walks in the door, her chubby fingers clasping the air, begging him to pick her up.
But I haven’t seen him since yesterday.
It shouldn’t make me doubt anything, but it’s hard not to. So soon in all of this, my own worries seem to pop up so easily.
Maybe I should start doing things differently. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life flitting from one crappy job to the next.
What if this thing with Jax doesn’t work out? He’s a famous boxer. I know he has women throwing themselves at him.
How long before he gets bored?
He makes me feel so amazing.
But so did Brody, for a while.
A tendril of fear winds through me. I need to prepare myself. So, I spend the morning researching schools and financial options to see what I can qualify for to go back to and finish my degree.
With a bachelor’s, it will open the door to get a job in a clinical office while I work on my master’s.
There’s even a grant application on one site.
What the hell? Might as well fill it out.
It looks like if I take only a class or two per semester, I’d be done before Maeve is old enough to go to kindergarten.
I could give her a better life, even without Jax.
A heavy knock startles me before the door swings open.
His smiling face locks on mine before searching for Maeve, playing on her mat on the floor.
“Hi, my beautiful girls.” Jax reaches down and scoops his laughing daughter into his arms.
He’s every bit the perfect-looking dad.
It hurts to think this could be temporary. But when he leans over and kisses me, the fire that spreads through my body covers any doubts.
“I have a surprise for you. Well, two. I was wondering first if I could take my girls out on a date?”
His brown eyes light up as he watches me.