“Jax no,” I whimper. “Please, its not what I want. I don’t want anything more from you.”
“For now!” He roars. “In five years time it will not be the same. Don’t you try and tell me you never want kids or to be married, or to live in a beautiful house.”
“Jax…”
“No, she was fucking right. We are setting ourselves up for hurt.”
“I…thought you cared. I though I meant something to you.”
“You mean everything to me!!” He screams. “Everything!!”
“Then…don’t do this…”
“I don’t want the hurt as much as you don’t, I will want to keep you, and you will want what I cant give. It will never work.”
“Jax, don’t…”
“You should stay here, I will go alone.”
“NO!” I wail. “Jax no.”
His green eyes meet mine, and they are full of pain. He puts his beer down, takes his keys and walks out. I fall to my knees and sob. What has she done? She has put doubt into his mind and into his heart.
CHAPTER 12
I don’t answer the door or phone for anybody; I just sit on the floor, unable to function. About four hours later, I finally get up from my position on the floor and shower. I make myself a cup of tea and sit outside on the balcony, my mind in a haze. It is all too much. I do not even know if Jax will come back, chances are I will walk out later, and the entire crew will be gone. I decide to risk it and send Jax a text from my new phone. I have to tell him.
Don’t doubt me Jax. I love you, and that is not something I give easily. I know who you are and what you are. I know you don’t want to give me the life you think I want. I am not right into children or marriage, I just want freedom. The same freedom you want. I want what we have, and if all else fails, I want our friendship. Don’t kick me off Jax, without you and the crew, I have nothing. You are my family, above all else. Please, don’t send me away.
I wait and wait for a reply. Half an hour later I get one.
I am not kicking you off. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. I need time and space. Stay in the hotel tonight, I wont be home. Tomorrow, I will get you and we will leave. The crew love you and I wouldn’t leave you with nothing.
I feel like I have been kicked in the gut. With shaky hands, I reply.
Where will you stay? Are we over Jax? I would appreciate if you would tell me before moving on to another girl…I don’t want lies.
I haven't moved on or fucked anyone else and I am not going to. I don’t know if we are over, I just said I need time.
Ok.
Don
’t go out
, there are too many people looking for you.
I am not staying in all night Jax. I will go see Sam.
Don’t.Go.Out.
Stop it, you cant do that to me.
I mean it Jade, don’t.
Whatever, goodnight Jax.
Jade, tell me you wont go out?
I don’t reply; he can just stew. I am not his to order around, damn man does not even know if he wants me so why should I listen? I dress and walk down to Sam and Margys room. I knock gently and after a moment, Sam answers.
“Jade…”
“He has called, hasn’t he?”
She smiles sheepishly. “He has. I am sorry darling; we can come to your room if you like?”
“God damn him, he cant do this to me all the time. I am going out, call him if you want…tell him I didn’t listen.”
I turn and storm off. Asshole. I walk out of the hotel and catch a cab, asking him to take me to a nearby museum. He wont think to look there. Mid way there, my phone rings. Jax. I hit the ignore button and put the phone on silent. Screw him. I feel the constant vibration through my pocket, when it stops I pull it out to check the horrible messages I know will be there.
Where the fuck are you? I said don’t go out.
Jade!
Fucking answer the god damned fucking phone.
I snort and shove it back into my pocket. Up your ass Jax Watts. I pay the taxi man twenty dollars, then enter the museum he has dropped me off at. I walk in and pay a small fee, then wander through. It is quiet and peaceful in here; it helps. I want to see Jack and my father again, needing to sort one issue out before leaving tomorrow. I text Jack and tell him where I am, promising serious abuse if he tells Jax. Half an hour later, they show up.
“Hi.” Jack smiles, hugging me.
“Hi, thanks for coming.”
Mack smiles at me, but it is weary. “Hi Jade.”
“Hi Mack, do you want to sit down? We need to talk.”
We go to a nearby cafe and sit. When our coffee’s arrive; I begin speaking.
“I want to ask you a few questions Mack, and I hope you will answer them honestly.”
“Of course.”
“First, how did you meet my mother and how did she fall pregnant with me?”
Mack goes on to tell me how he met my mother one day when she had tripped over on the street, she had mud all over her dress. He had taken her to a nearby cafe to warm up and so the affair had started. When she found out she was pregnant, she had run back to Steffan. He had decided to keep
me as his own and Mack was outcast. He tried to see me, but they refused to allow him, eventually he made them promise to take care of me, and he would leave them be.
Mack explained his power and how he had become powerful from a curse. He has spent his life looking for a treasure, the treasure that cursed him. If he finds it, he can undo his curse, grow old and die like a normal man. He said the healing gift was put on me at birth; it is a gift he holds and can only pass onto his children. He thought it was the only thing he could give me; that would ensure my safety. Jack holds a similar gift, only so many people in the world were born with it. Jack had met Mack a long while ago, and they had discovered they shared the same power. They had remained close since.
“Wow,” I say, taking it all in. “Ok, first question. How old are you?”
Mack shifts nervously. “I am over…three hundred years old.”
I spit my coffee over the table. “What?”
“When I touched the treasure, I froze at the age I was and have never aged. I cant be killed or hurt. I am immortal basically, without all the perks.”
“Like drinking blood or howling at a moon.” I snort.
Mack laughs. “Something like that.”
“And this healing gift, it comes from what?”
“It is just a gift love, there is a handful of people that have it. Many have passed it onto their children, and so it goes.”
“And Jack, how do you have it?”
“My father had it.”
“And you also touched this immortal treasure thing?”
“Yeah.”
Explains why Jack never ages. “How old are you Jack?”
“I am over a hundred.”
“Fuck.”
Mack snorts out
his coffee and promptly wipes his face. “I cant half tell you have been around pirates.”
“Sorry Mack.”
“Anything else?”
“So you knew Jack, when you first met me?”
“I knew you were gifted, and I would have assumed you were one of the few that had a passed down gift, but when I saw your face…it wasn’t hard to know whose gift you had. I didn’t tell you because it was not my right.”
“I understand.”
“I am sorry angel.”
“I know Jack.” I smile squeezing his hand.
We talk for the next few hours about the gift and the treasure they are looking for. It is all extremely interesting. Who knew that stuff actually existed? Old ancient treasures with massive powers. I check my phone as we are standing to leave and sigh. Thirty missed calls. I pick up the phone and ring Jax before he has a mental breakdown.
“Where the fuck are you?” He snarls.
“I am with Mack, and Jack.”
“Fucking hell Jade, I have been beside myself.”
“Well, I needed answers.”
“Where are you?”
“They are taking me home now, keep your shirt on.”
“Ring me when you are back safe, I am so fucking mad at you.”
“Well ditto!” I snap, hanging up the phone. God that man knew how to push my buttons.
When we arrive back at the hotel, the two men head back to Jacks room for a shower. They are going to come back later. I slide into my own shower, sinking into its warmth. I hear the door to the room open, and assume Jax has come back so I walk out with a flimsy towel wrapped around me. Its not Jax, but one of the crew members. I forget his name. He rarely speaks.
“Hello.” He grins a sick little grin. Uh oh. “I was looking for Jax but…”
“He isnt here.” I say, then curse myself. I should have said he was in the shower or something. Now he knows I am alone.
“Well, isnt that too bad.”
He takes a step forward, what is he doing?
“What, go away please.”
“You are a sexy girl, I can see why he groans so loudly when he fucks you. We have all heard it.”
“What? Get out.”
He steps quickly and grasps my hand, yanking me towards him. I kick out, but he is far too strong. He rips the towel off, and his hand falls over my breast. Oh god.
“LET ME GO!” I scream.
“Gorgeous, I wont be long. You tell him, and I will kill you.”
“Let me go.”
He squeezes my breast, and I scream. He slams a hand so harshly over my mouth; my lip splits.
“Shut it, or I will kill you now. He wont ever know. Shut the fuck up.”
The door swings open, and Rusty comes tearing in. He sees the pirate and the position we are in, then raises his gun.
“Put her down!”
“I was not doing anything, she was coming onto me.”
“Bull fucking shit, put her fucking down.”
Wow, I have never heard Rusty scream so loudly. The pirate drops me and I scramble for my towel. Margy, Sam, Jack and Mack have all come into the room now. Sam rushes over and pulls me into her arms.
“Oh honey, did he…”
“No, Rusty made it in time.” I whisper.
“Call Jax, now.” Rusty orders Jack.
I watch Jack pull out his phone. “Jax, Jade is in trouble. Get here now.” Then he hangs up.
Rusty takes the pirate into his grips and puts him in a head lock. Jack holds a gun to his head.
“Please, its just been so long since I had a woman. She came out all wet and hot…”
“So you thought it would be ok to try and fucking rape her.” Rusty snarls.
“I…I was just touching.”
“Bullshit.”
I sink further into Sams arms. I am trembling.
“I swear.” The pirate wails.
“Shut your fucking mouth Walter.”
Walter, that is his name. Walter.
“I didn’t..I wouldn't…”
“What the fuck?”
Jax steps through the door, looks down at me then back at Walter.
“Cap…I heard her screaming. I came in, and he…well…he had his hand on her breast, and he was tackling her down.”
Jax’s eyes flame red. Oh crap. He looks over at me; blood red is all I can see in his gaze.
“Tell me what happened?” His voice is all demonic. Shit.
“I…came out because I heard the door open. I thought it was you. He was in here, and he ripped my towel off and..said he would kill me if I told you.”
Jax paces over to Walter and wraps his hands around his throat, Walter chokes and squirms.
“You mother fucker, I am going to fucking kill you.”
“Cap please, I didn’t mean to…”
“You fucking touch my girl, and tell me you didn’t mean to.”
Jax reaches around to his back pocket and pulls out his gun, then presses it to Walters head. I scream.
“Jax, no. Not here mate. Not here. Don’t do that in front of her, look at her.”
Jax swallows; trying hard to control his rage. He turns and glances down at me. He is panting, wild.
“Rusty, get him out, we are going for a ride.”
Rusty and Jack take a squirming Walter. Jax turns and hits him so hard in the face; he is instantly knocked out. Then he turns and walks to me. He kneels down and takes my face in his hands.
“I will be back ok? You stay here.”
“I…I…”
“Shhh, its ok baby. I will be back. Don’t you scare me like that again.”
He kisses my head and hugs me close.
“Jax, what if you get hurt.”
“I wont. It wont take long.”
“What are you going to do?” I whimper.
His eyes meet mine. “I am going to kill him.”
I make a choking sound as Jax stands and follows Rusty and Jack out. His eyes meet mine once more before he turns and walks out the door. I crumble into Sams arms, and she helps me to the bed, I curl up there and don’t move. Sam and Mack come backwards and forwards to check on me. Jax returns about four hours later, when I see him, I leap from the bed and run into his arms. He pulls me close and holds me tight.