Chapter 69
999 Words
“What’s that mean?”
Aidan sighed. “Sig didn’t kill some bastard because said bastard hurt his family… Sig killed people for the hell of it. So while you did your time, and came out no major threat to society, he came out worse than ever. You got yourself work, and you held it down until you got f*****g lucky with the lottery. And man, you used that luck to change your life, for good and for the better.”
Aidan paused, gathering his thoughts.
“You did something horrible, but it was a one-shot thing. A perfect storm of sorts, something that never would have happened if your Mom had lived. You’re not a killer, Jax, even though you’ve killed someone, even though you’re no pacifist. But Sig? He was a killer, and I think he was born that way. A sick little f**k, even as a kid. He died the way he lived – in violence.”
Jax clenched his hands. “What are you getting at?”
“That you’re not that kind of man, not in your core. You don’t have to do this.”
“Do what?” Jax repeated.
“Beat Dave Townsend near to death – maybe even to death.”
Jax froze. “How did you –”
“Because I’m not a f*****g moron, man. I stand here behind this bar hour after hour, and I see every single thing that happens in this place. And when you and Matthew Kingston head into your office for a private chat, and he comes out with that look on his face, I know he’s got a job, one of the kind that has nothing at all to do with bike engines.” He shrugged. “Only one job you two would be discussing, huh?”
“Aidan,” Jax said. “You can’t say anything to anyone.”
“Who the hell am I going to tell?”
Jax exhaled.
“But don’t do this,” Aidan said.
“I have to… can’t you see that?”
“No. I don’t.” Aidan leaned forward. “You’ve worked like crazy to build up a whole new life out of the hell you came from. You have a choice here, Jax, and you’re choosing wrong.”
“I’m choosing to make that asshole pay for what he did to Sarah.”
“And I get that. I do. But there are other ways.”
“No, there aren’t. That family has money and power and contacts, and they’re using every resource they have to protect him. They’ve got his abusive ass stashed away in some mansion or cabana somewhere, while my girl’s lying in a hospital bed, barely alive. You think I’m hopeful that he’ll give himself up, or that Daddy will call the cops and volunteer his whereabouts? And if by some goddamn miracle, he’s spotted and reported and dragged on back here, you think he’ll serve one minute in jail?”
Aidan was silent.
“Well. Do you?”
“This isn’t about him. It’s not even about Sarah.”
Jax paused. “So who’s it about?”
“You, man. It’s about you.”
“What about me?”
“You’re a good man, Jax.” Aidan spoke over Jax’s astonished protests. “You are. Sarah knows it, which is why she was with you, and frankly, we all know it. You do your damnedest to be a self-absorbed prick, and you pull it off pretty well most of the time. But in the end, you’re not a cold-blooded killer, and premeditation ain’t your style. You’re no Sig, I promise you.”
Jax was stunned. “Hey…”
“Call it off.” Aidan was quiet, gentle. “There’s still time. Call it off.”
“No.” Jax shook his head. “No, I’ll do this for her. For – for Sarah. And I’ll accept whatever happens after.”
“Jail?”
“If she dies, or she stays in a coma for years, or she wakes up and is paralyzed, you think I’m going to give a s**t where I am? If I’m not with her, and she’s not OK, I don’t care where I am. You hear me?”
“Yeah.” Aidan was resigned. “You’re saying if she’s trapped, you’re in the cage with her – so how’s jail any different?”
“Now you get me.”
Aidan sighed. Then he said, “You’ll have my letter of resignation on your desk tomorrow morning, first thing. For now, consider this my verbal one-week notice.”
“Aidan…”
“No.” Aidan’s harsh tone cut him off. “No way. I’m not standing here, and watching all this go down. You’re better than this, and if you go ahead with what’s the equivalent of first-degree murder, then I don’t want to be around when it all hits the fan.”
“Hey, man…”
“No.” Aidan hit the bar with his open palm. “I can work for a man who lost control and killed his Mom’s murderer in the heat of passion, no problem. My conscience is crystal clear about that. But this thing that you and King have going on? Sarah would never get on board with this, and you f*****g know it.” His eyes were blazing gold. “You say this is for her, but that’s bullshit… this is for you. And once you do this – plan a man’s murder, and I don’t care that the man is an asshole, to be honest – then I don’t want to be anywhere around you.”
“Fine.” Jax shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. “Your notice is accepted. Give it to me in writing ASAP.”
“No problem.”
“Good.”
“Good.”
Both men glared at each other, then Jax turned around and walked back to his office.
- Writer
