Fighting Temptation (Men Of Honor) (25 page)

“Listen to her son, you don’t want to mess with me, remember who I am.”

Jaxson leans in close to Ray’s face looking deadly, “Wrong dickhead, you don’t want to fuck with me! I’m trained to kill with my bare hands. I also know what to do with your body so no one would find you, so don’t fucking tempt me. You and your crazy son better stay away from Julia or you will find out exactly what trash like me is capable of.”

Ray is trying to look smug but I can see the fear in his eyes, he knows Jaxson’s serious.

“Julia, should I call Cooper?” Grace asks timidly.

I’m thinking it’s best. But before I can tell her ‘yes’ Ray jumps in.

“That isn’t necessary sweetheart, I was just leaving.”

I put my hand gently on Jaxson’s arm, “Let him go Jaxson, he’s not worth it.”

“I mean it, you leave her the fuck alone,” Jaxson warns as he steps away.

Ray gives a smug smile as he fixes his suit and walks out the door.

“Jesus who the fuck was that asshole?” Sawyer asks.

“Ray Jennings, he’s on the town council. I had to put a restraining order on his son,” I say shakily.

“Town council? The way that arrogant prick talked I thought he was the President of the United States.”

All of us snicker and laugh, well except Jaxson. Leave it to Sawyer to lighten the mood.

Once we sit back down Jaxson turns to me, “You alright?” he asks softly, leaning his forehead on mine.

I give him a nod.

“You know what he said about your mom is bullshit right?”

I smile softly, “Ya I do.”

“Good,” he presses a hard kiss to my forehead.

I really love it when he does that.

“Alright, here is your food, sorry for the wait,” Grace says laying the plates out in front of everyone. “Can I get y’all another drink?”

I shake my head, “No I’m alright, thank you.”

“I will,” Sawyer says with a charming smile, one Grace misses because she doesn’t look at him. Again this seems to bother Sawyer, actually he’s looking kind of pissed off. It’s a weird look for him since I’ve always seen him laughing and joking around.

Afterwards the guys leave Grace a generous tip, one she tries refusing but eventually accepts due to Jaxson’s demand. I hug Grace before I walk out the door, saying I’ll see her Saturday. I’m hoping Kayla will still be up for it after tomorrow night. If not we can have a girls’ night watching movies and pig-out on junk food.

When we get back to my house Cade and Sawyer go to hop in their truck.

“Aren’t you guys going to stay here?”

I watch Sawyer grin at Jaxson’s glare, “That’s alright Julia, but thanks for the offer. Cade and I are gonna stay at the motel where Jaxson was. But I hope it’s alright we come by and visit a lot while we’re here?”

I glare over at Jaxson, knowing it’s because of him they aren’t staying. “Of course! Come over as much as you like. You’re always welcome and you can always change your minds too.”

Sawyer walks over to me, “Great! See ya tomorrow then Julia,” he says cheerfully kissing my cheek.

Jaxson shoves him, “Lips to yourself asshole.”

Sawyer hops in the truck laughing, then they are gone.

The next morning I get out of the shower and hear voices downstairs. Of course that fucker is already here this early. I’m sure he set his alarm just to piss me off.

Sure enough I walk downstairs after I change and see Julia, serving the asshole breakfast.

He turns to me with a fucking grin, “Well good morning sleepy-head.”

“It’s only 8 am, what the fuck are you doing here already?”

“Oh you’re grumpy. What’s wrong, didn’t sleep well? I hope Julia and I didn’t keep you up last night. I tried to keep her quiet…”

Julia gasps, “Sawyer!” she says giggling slapping his shoulder.

The prick is gonna get his ass kicked soon, “I’m not in the mood for your shit this morning Evans so lay off.” I know he’s only doing it to get a rise out of me but the thought of it really pisses me off.

“Ok you two, that’s enough. Jaxson what do you want? I have pancakes made but I can make you something else if you like?”

I look over at Julia, she looks fucking good even this early in the morning. Her yoga pants and tank fit her lithe body snugly. She has the best ass I’ve ever seen and I want to punch the shit out of Sawyer when I see him staring at it as she bends down to grab something from the fridge. I slap him in the head and he chuckles, not ashamed that I busted him looking. I walk over to her and grab a plate, “Pancakes are good, thanks. You didn’t have to feed these assholes. Especially him,” I say pointing over at Sawyer.

Sawyer grins, “She likes cooking me breakfast.”

I shake my head and try to ignore the mouthy shit. I load my plate with pancakes and go sit at the table.

“I don’t mind, I like cooking breakfast… for everyone,” Julia says giggling at Sawyer.

“Do you guys have a gym here?” Cade asks, changing the subject.

“Ya actually we do, I don’t know how good of shape it’s in. They used to have a sparring ring and all.” I look over to Julia now, “Does Big Mike still own it?”

“Yes he does, but I know he’s been thinking of selling. He told me he’s getting too old. His son moved to Florida and has no interest in taking it over, much to Mike’s disappointment.”

“Huh, we can go by there today later if you want?” I say to Cade then I look over at Sawyer, “I’d love to go a couple of rounds with you asshole.”

Sawyer grins, “I’m in for that. Wanna come Julia? You can see me put this pussy to shame.”

I can’t wait to take his ass down.

Julia shakes her head laughing, “No that’s ok.” She looks over at me now, “What are your plans tonight?”

I shrug, “Don’t know why?”

“No reason, um, I’m going out with Kayla tonight.”

“I thought your girls night is tomorrow night?”

“Girls night? Where? Is Grace gonna be there?” Sawyer jumps in.

“It is, but Kayla and I have plans tonight too. And yes Sawyer, Grace is going to be with us tomorrow night,” Julia says smiling.

“I’m in, I love girls’ night. Where is it?”

Julia laughs, “We’re going out dancing. It’s a girls’ night Sawyer, which means you can’t come if you have a penis.”

Sawyer scoffs, “If you’re going to a club dancing Julia, guys will be there.”

Just the thought pisses me off.

“That I can’t control,” she says shrugging.

No but I can… “Where are you and Kayla going tonight?”

She looks nervous now, “Um, we might just hang out here or at Kayla’s. Not sure yet.” She doesn’t meet my eyes as she says it.

Huh, What’s with that?

Later that afternoon Sawyer, Cade and I walk into Big Mike’s gym. It looks the same as it did when I was here last, but more run down. This place has a lot of potential if he put the money into it.

“Well I’ll be damned, if it isn’t Jaxson Reid!” Big Mike shouts walking up to me. “How are you doing kid?” he asks slapping me on the back.

Big Mike looks much the same but older, much older actually. The tired lines around his eyes make me understand why he’s looking at selling the place. He’s gotta be well into his sixties now. He’s a good guy, when I was younger and got busted for fighting a lot he brought me in here to train with him. He taught me a lot of self-control and helped me work my aggression out.

“Hi Big Mike, good to see ya.”

“You too kid. What are you doing here? You on leave?”

“I’ve been honorably discharged,” I say feeling uncomfortable. He has to know that after only being in the Navy 5 years that there’s a reason why I’ve been discharged. Luckily he doesn’t ask questions.

“You here to stay?”

I shrug, “Maybe.”

“Well I’ll bet Miss Julia is ecstatic about that.”

I nod then glare over at Sawyer when he starts chuckling.

“These are some friends who are visiting, we were hoping to come work out and do some sparring.”

“Of course, come on in, the ring is free.”

“Thanks.”

“You bet, good to have you back,” he claps me on the back one more time before he walks back to his office.

We all go change. It takes no time at all before Sawyer is bringing up the Admiral.

“So why aren’t you answering the Admiral’s calls?”

I shrug, “Because I don’t care what he has to say.”

Sawyer grunts, “Ya well, when you don’t answer he comes after me.” He goes quiet for a moment before he says, “He wants us to do another mission, he put together a team and he wants you to run it.”

“Oh ya, and how does he suppose that’s gonna work? Since we’re no longer with the Navy.”

Sawyer shrugs, “He said he’d take care of that part. Someone he knows specifically asked for the three of us.”

“Why?”

Sawyer lets out a tension filled breath, “Because it’s a sex-slave ring.”

I tense and sit down feeling sick. I look over at Cade to see his body tense and jaw clenched.

“What did you tell him?”

“I didn’t tell him anything, I said I had to talk to you guys first,” Sawyer takes a moment, “but we’re done right? I mean, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m still fucked up from what happened.”

I’m glad I’m not the only one. I look over to Cade now, “What are your thoughts?”

“I don’t care. I’ll go if you guys want to. I owe you at least that much.”

That pisses me off, “Fuck that! You don’t owe us shit man, how many times we have to tell you that. It was our choice to follow you.”

He doesn’t look over at me, “Have you seen or talked to Faith since the hospital?”

He tenses at my question and I know the answer before he even says it.

“No, and it’s for the best,” he gets up now, “you guys discuss it and let me know. I’m going to hit the weights,” he leaves without another word.

“Don’t bother,” Sawyer says breaking me from my thoughts, “I’ve tried to talk to him about her, but he’s an idiot like you. Doesn’t know what’s right under his nose.”

I glare at him, “You don’t get it Sawyer, it’s not about us not knowing what’s right under our noses. It’s about trying to do the right thing. We don’t come from the same family you do.”

“Oh fuck that! I’ve had my issues too man, life isn’t perfect for anyone. You guys need to pull your heads out of your asses because one day it might be too late. If I had someone like Julia who wanted me there would be no fucking doubt I would take that shit, with my issues and all.”

“Ya because you’re an arrogant son of a bitch who thinks he’s God’s gift to women.”

“Hey! I can’t help it that women find me irresistible.”

I grunt, “Whatever! Let’s go. I’ve been waiting since yesterday to pound the shit out of you,” I say grabbing some gloves.

Sawyer grins, showing me he’s up for the challenge, “So what do I tell the Admiral?”

I shake my head, “I don’t know, let me think about it.”

With that we head to the ring and beat the shit out of each other and it felt fucking great!

At 7pm sharp Kayla comes walking through my door looking like a fierce sexy spy all decked out in black. She has on dark leggings, thigh high leather boots and a black tank top. Her long blond hair is pulled into a low pony through the back of a black military style hat. She’s also sporting a pair of aviator sunglasses even though the sun has started to set.