CHAOS (Beneath The Secrets Book 1)

Song- Give, Sleep Token

‘Jax,’ I hiss, yanking his arm and notice the tension in his muscles.

Brody’s smirk sends a warning signal, and I can practically hear Jax’s boiling rage about to explode. I know Brody well enough to see he’s doing this on purpose. He wants me to think Jax is a monster. I need to get Jax away from this.

With a firm grip on his forearm, I use all my strength to pull him back towards me.

“Look at me, Jax. He isn’t worth it. Take me home.”

His nostrils flare as the gym door crashes open behind us. Out barre the Russians, Lara sandwiched between the two men. Alexei’s hair is a wild mess as he stalks over to Brody, his eyes filled with a manic intensity.

And, of course, Brody and his friends run toward their bikes.

“Fucking pussies!” Alexei shouts after them, wrapping an arm over Lara.

“Get in the car, Jax. Now.” I keep my tone firm, and point to his Lamborghini behind us. I don’t want to sound like a mom, but he needs a kick in the ass.

Ignoring the anger clouding in his eyes, I go up on my tiptoes and press my lips against his, disregarding the blood and whatever else stains him.

It’s enough for him to relax against me.

‘I’m going, I’m going.’ He smirks. His voice is filled with playfulness as he opens up the driver’s side door for me and then smoothly settles into the passenger seat.

“If I crash this, it’s on you,” I say, pressing the ignition and it roars to life.

“Cars can be replaced, baby. Just be careful with her. There’s a lot of power.”

Great, that gives me confidence as I tap the accelerator and it shoots forward.

After a few minutes, I get the hang of it as Jax is wiping his chest with a t-shirt.

I don’t know what to say to him. He killed a man with his bare hands in the ring. Hell, he would probably have done the same to Brody if I wasn’t there.

But, as I glance over and see that he’s watching my every move, it changes nothing about how I feel about him. I just want to know how his mind works. What made him snap?

I saw it happen. After the guy pointed at me, Jax flipped.

“Why’d you kill that guy?” I ask, keeping my eyes on the road.

“He threatened you,” he replies, clicking his tongue bar.

“So, let me get this straight. A guy simply says some things about me and you cave his skull in?” I blink, shaking my head, trying to wrap my head around his thought process here.

“Yep, and I’d do it again. I told you I’d protect you, that you’re safe with me, that means from anyone. I think I made that clear.”

I chew on the inside of my mouth. “Yeah, I think they got the message, Jax.” I pause. Still reeling from his words in the ring.

“What did you mean you had a brother that died? Brody never mentioned another brother?”

I sense him stiffen beside me. I glance over and his jaw is tight.

“Kai. He was my best friend. My only real brother in this life. He died just before I met you in New York.”

It’s almost as if he stopped before his voice broke and everything starts to click into place. His grief is still eating at him.

“I’m sorry, Jax. That must be hard.”

With a sharp nod, I sigh as he places his bloodied hand on my thigh.

“Are you mad at me?”

“I’m not, Jax. I guess it might take me a while to get used to this. As long as you always tell me the truth, we will be fine. Okay?”

“Always, sweetheart. No secrets. I’m sorry if I scared you.”

Cutting the engine, I pull into our driveway and turn to face him before responding.

“I’m not scared of you. Don’t get me wrong, that whole thing was terrifying. I know you’d never let anything happen to me.”

As he strokes my cheek, I feel a wave of relaxation wash over me.

“Never.”

He takes us inside our home, and without hesitation, I head straight to the freezer to find ice. I can feel his eyes on me as he stands by the counter, his gaze never leaving my movements.

“Let me see your hand.”

With a wide grin on his face, he proudly displays his bruised and battered knuckles. I pick up the left, pressing the ice over the swelling already starting to show.

He lets out a hiss, which makes me struggle to suppress a giggle.

“This hurt?” I touch another open cut with the cool cloth.

“I’ll heal,” he grits.

I nod, picking up the other hand, which is even worse than the first. “Both of them, seriously?”

“Why? You worried I can’t get you off with them for a few days?”

My cheeks instantly burn. “Don’t try to distract me, Jax Carter. I’m looking after you.”

As he leans closer, his mouth glides along the curve of my throat, igniting a tingling sensation.

“It’s my turn to look after you, sweetheart. My tongue and dick work just fine.”

“Remember what you promised me earlier if you won?” I bat my lashes at him and bite down on my lip.

I squeal as his chair goes flying, and he throws me over his shoulder, making me bounce with every step he takes. “I’ve got a fuck load of adrenaline running through me. Are you ready for me, tigritsa?”

I playfully smack his butt and slide my hand under his boxers as he jogs up the stairs and takes us into the bathroom.

Before he sets me down, I slide my finger between his ass, making him jump.

“Oh, you’re going to get it for that.”

My back presses against the tiles as he switches the shower on, which pours over us from every angle in the ceiling.

“Bring it.” I tip my chin up, watching as the blood that covered him fuses in the water and washes away.

A darkness flashes across his eyes before he slams his lips over mine and his fingers curl around my throat. “I’ve been so bad, Sofia. Want me to be bad for you, too?”

I nod, my chest heaving as he unbuttons my leather jeans, sliding his hand under my panties.

“Good girl.”