Chapter 2
1589 Words
Jax
The minute I saw Layla step under those auction lights, I knew my past had finally caught up to me.
Ten damn years I’d spent building walls — around myself, around this club, around every piece of my heart that used to beat for her. And then there she was, looking lost, beautiful, and scared out of her mind. The one person I swore I’d never drag into my world.
But fate’s a cruel son of a b***h.
I leaned on my bike outside the warehouse while my men rolled out behind me. The night was dead quiet except for the low rumble of engines and the hum in my head that never really stopped anymore.
“Boss,” Grizz said from beside me. “You sure about this? Bringing her here? The girl’s gonna freak when she figures out what this place is.”
“She’s already freaked,” I said, lighting a smoke. “Might as well keep her alive while she is.”
He grunted but didn’t argue. Grizz was my oldest friend — big, rough, loyal as hell. The man could gut anyone with a smile if I told him to. But even he knew Layla was different. She wasn’t part of this life, never was supposed to be.
The gate closed behind us with a loud clang. Layla stood near the steps, still shaking. Her hair was a mess, her green eyes wide like she was trying to take in everything at once — the bikes, the men, the noise, the danger.
I looked at her too long. Couldn’t help it. Ten years hadn’t changed what she did to me.
“Get her inside,” I said finally.
Grizz nodded and guided her toward the main house. She hesitated, shot me a look — half fear, half fire. Yeah. That was the Layla I remembered.
Inside, the air smelled like whiskey and leather. The clubhouse was buzzing with low voices and music, but when people saw me walk in, everything stopped. Every Reaper in the room froze, eyes jumping from me to the girl beside Grizz.
“Everyone out,” I said.
No one argued. Chairs scraped, doors slammed, and in less than a minute, it was just the three of us.
I turned to Layla. “You hungry?”
She blinked like she didn’t hear me right. “Hungry? You kidnapped me, Jax!”
I rubbed my jaw. “I didn’t kidnap you. I saved you.”
“Saved me? You bought me!” Her voice cracked. “You handed over money like I was some… thing!”
The words hit hard, but I didn’t let it show. “You think I was gonna let one of those freaks take you? You’d be dead by sunrise, Layla.”
Her eyes filled with tears, but she didn’t let them fall. “You still left me,” she whispered. “You walked out of my life like I never mattered.”
That one stung worse than any bullet I’d ever taken. I looked away. “I had my reasons.”
“Yeah? You gonna tell me now?”
“No.”
Her laugh was cold and small. “Then I got nothing to say to you either.”
She stormed off toward the stairs like she owned the place, but Grizz moved to block her. She spun on him, ready to bite. I lifted a hand. “Let her go. Just… make sure she doesn’t walk outside.”
Grizz nodded. “Got it, boss.”
I watched her stomp up the steps and disappear into the room at the end of the hall. The door slammed shut.
I stood there a long time, smoke curling from the cigarette still burning between my fingers. The sound of her voice stuck in my head, soft but angry. The same mix that used to drive me crazy.
“Boss,” Grizz said carefully, breaking the silence. “You gonna tell her about Viper?”
“Not yet.”
“You think she can handle it?”
I looked at the closed door again. “She’ll have to.”
By morning, the whole club knew who she was. They pretended not to care, but I saw the looks. Whispers behind my back. Questions in their eyes.
Tyler was the first to open his mouth.
“She doesn’t belong here,” he said, following me into the garage. “You’re gonna get her killed, boss.”
I threw him a sharp look. “Watch yourself.”
He crossed his arms, still talking. “You’re making dumb moves, Jax. Bringing in some girl? You know how this looks.”
“She’s not some girl,” I said. My voice came out colder than I planned.
Tyler’s jaw tightened. “She used to be mine, remember? You left her, I didn’t.”
That line pushed a nerve. I stepped closer. “Don’t ever say that again.”
He smirked, though I could see the fear in his eyes. “You think you scare me?”
“No,” I said softly. “I know I do.”
He backed off, muttering something under his breath as he left. I watched him go, my fists tight. Tyler had been a decent kid once, but jealousy was a poison. I could see it eating him alive.
Hours later, I found Layla sitting by the window in the guest room, knees pulled up to her chest. The sunlight cut across her face, making her look softer — but tired too, like she hadn’t slept at all.
“You okay?” I asked from the doorway.
She didn’t look up. “You got a funny way of asking that.”
I stepped closer, leaning against the wall. “You want to know why I was there last night?”
She shrugged, eyes still on the window. “I stopped wanting explanations from you ten years ago.”
“Well, you’re getting one anyway.”
That got her attention. She turned slowly, those green eyes locking on mine. “Then talk.”
“I got word about an auction from one of my guys. Said the buyers list had a name that shouldn’t be there. Yours.”
She frowned. “Why would my name be on anything like that?”
“Because your dad owed money to the wrong people. And one of them works for Viper.”
That name froze her. “Viper… the guy you mentioned last night?”
I nodded. “He’s been trying to hit me where it hurts. He knew about us, Layla. Knew what you used to mean to me. So he figured he’d take you, sell you, maybe send me a video later to break me down.”
She covered her mouth, whispering, “Oh my God.”
“Yeah,” I said quietly. “That’s why I bought you. Because if I didn’t, someone else would have.”
She stared at me for a long time. “You could’ve told me,” she said finally.
“Would you have believed me?”
She didn’t answer that. Instead, she looked back out the window. “You shouldn’t have come back.”
“Too late for that.”
Later that afternoon, Grizz came in with news. “Viper’s men were asking around the Strip this morning,” he said. “Word is, they know she’s with you.”
I swore under my breath. “He moves fast.”
“Wanna move faster?”
I nodded. “Get the boys ready. No colors, no noise. Just eyes.”
Grizz left, and I sat there, running a hand over my face. My mind went to Layla again. If Viper knew where she was, that meant everyone was in danger — her most of all.
I walked back to her room. She was still sitting there, lost in thought. When I stepped in, she jumped.
“Relax,” I said. “It’s just me.”
She glared. “You can’t just walk in here.”
“It’s my house.”
“Then get me out of it.”
I sighed. “Not happening.”
“Why?” she snapped. “You think I can’t take care of myself?”
“I know you can’t take on the kind of men who are coming after you.”
She stood, her voice rising. “You think I need you to save me again? You already did that once — and then you disappeared!”
I clenched my jaw. “You don’t know what I gave up to keep you safe.”
“Then tell me!” she yelled. “Stop acting like I’m too fragile to handle the truth!”
I stared at her, the anger in her face matching mine. For a second, I almost told her everything — how Frank Evans had blackmailed me, how he’d threatened to have her killed if I didn’t leave her years ago, how I’d spent every night since trying not to think about her.
But I couldn’t. Not yet.
“You’re staying here,” I said finally. “That’s not up for debate.”
She looked at me like she wanted to throw something. “You haven’t changed.”
“Neither have you,” I said softly. “Still stubborn as hell.”
She laughed once — short and bitter — then turned away. “Go to hell, Jax.”
“Already there, sweetheart,” I said, walking out before she could see how much that hurt.
- Writer
