Blaze pushed himself off the wall and then stepped between Jax and Sid. When he couldn't get them to part, he laid his hands on both their wrists until finally, they shot apart.
"Holy shit, Blaze." Sid grabbed his wrist. "That fucking hurts."
"Yeah, it does," Blaze agreed with a grin. "Now, can we talk about what we came here to talk about without you two going at each other or Caroline beating me to death with her paint roller?"
Caroline went back to painting, but kept a close eye on Sid and Jax. Finally, they seemed to calm down and were working on whatever it was Warriors worked on.
"While Sid and Blaze are here, I'm going to have them help me move some more furniture in from the barn and then we'll work on the roof. Is there anything special you want brought inside?" Jax had walked up behind her, startling her.
"You scared me." She laughed when she jumped. "If you can get my dresser and the two smaller nightstands that go beside the bed, that would be great."
"No problem." He winked at her, turned and walked out with Sid and Blaze following.
She went back to work with a smile, remembering only a few short weeks ago she had bought this house thinking she would be here alone. It was amazing how things worked out. With a frown, she looked toward the front door, thinking she heard footsteps. When no one knocked, she put the roller down and headed that way. She could have sworn she'd heard footsteps. Opening the door, she was shocked beyond speech.
"Why haven't you answered my calls, Caroline?" Rod stood on her front porch looking pissed and as intimidating as ever. "I've called and called and called. Thankfully, one of your schoolteacher friends told me where you moved to. Obviously, you've been busy. I really wish you had waited for me to make a decision as big as buying our home. But with a lot of work we can turn this dump into a nice place for our family."
"Why are you here, Rod?" Caroline was still in a state of shock, his words not fully registering. She tried to close the door a little, but he stopped it with his foot.
"Why, to take you back." Rod smiled at her. "To give you a second chance."
Chapter 14
Finally, Rod's words registered and she saw red. "To take me back?" Instead of trying to slam the door shut, she forced it wide open. "To give me a second chance? Are you out of your mind?" She stomped toward him, pushing up her sleeves.
"Now, Caroline," Rod said, taking a step back. "I know we left things on a bad note, but I've given you time to see your mistake. We can make this work."
"My mistake? Make it work?" Caroline growled, unable to stop repeating his absurdity. Her eyes spotted movement behind Rod. "And you brought your brother with you? Why, so he can hold me down while you beat me?"
"Hi, Caroline." Fred waved to her from the front yard.
"You're out of your mind coming here." Caroline ignored Fred. "Get the hell off my property! You're lucky I didn't press charges of abuse the first time. Don't think I won't do it this time."
A change came over Rod and before she realized what was happening, she was pushed up against the house with Rod's hand squeezing her throat. "I tried to do this the nice way." Rod's breath hit her in the face, he was that close. He slammed her head against the house once. "Now, let's go inside our house and talk so we can get this mess straightened out." He pulled her away, turned her and pushed her toward the door.
"You will not step foot inside my house, you piece of shit." Caroline stumbled to a stop and turned to face him, refusing to let him inside.
"Oh, and you think you can stop me." Rod laughed, then stopped suddenly, backhanding her across the face.
Caroline cried out, stumbled, but righted herself, straightening to face him again. "Yes," she vowed, and waited for the blow as he reared back his hand again, but the blow didn't come. She opened her eyes to see a familiar hand catch Rod's in mid strike before he was thrown over the railing and off the porch.
Jax stood in front of her, tilted her face up. His eyes went solid black; his fangs grew past his lips as a deep rumble came from his throat. He tilted her chin up higher to look at her neck. He used his thumb to wipe the blood from her nose and stared at the blood on his thumb. His head snapped around as an inhuman roar echoed around her. Then he was over the railing stalking after Rod, who was backpedaling away as his brother tried to help him up.
"Get away from me," Rod demanded, but it fell on deaf ears. Jax reached down, picking him up with one hand. His other hand wrapped around his throat and squeezed.
"Doesn't feel good, does it, motherfucker?" Jax hissed as Rod kicked and gasped, trying to breathe. "Guess you didn't learn your lesson the first time."
Fred took off to help his brother, but Blaze was ready and blocked him with his body like a linebacker. Fred flipped off his feet and lay flat on his back, moaning.
Caroline looked back to Rod, who was turning a pale shade of gray. She ran down the steps toward Jax. She felt a little dizzy, but she made it. "Jax, let him go," Caroline ordered, pulling on his arm. "I don't want you to get in trouble."
"Go inside, Caroline." Jax reared back and tossed Rod halfway across the yard. "Me and Rod are just going to have a little discussion."
Sid walked up, turning her toward the house, and Jax made his way toward Rod, who was trying to crawl away. "Go on, Caroline," Sid said, giving her a little push with a grin of anticipation. "I'll make sure he doesn't do anything he shouldn't."
Caroline was too busy walking toward the house watching Jax with a worried frown to see the grin of anticipation cross Sid's face.
******
Jax threw and kicked Rod all the way to the barn without saying a word, totally deaf to the pleading and crying Rod was doing. Once inside, Jax picked him up, slamming him on a stack of boxes.
Turning, Jax walked a few steps away to clear and calm his mind. Regaining control after seeing Caroline bloody and bruised was near impossible.
"Did I miss anything?" Sid walked in, his narrowed eyes zeroing in on Rod. "Guess not. He's still breathing and has his scalp."
"Oh, God." Rod started to move off the boxes, but Jax turned around and with only his glare, he stopped Rod cold.
"If you even attempt to escape, I will kill you before you realize it," Jax hissed, his fangs gleaming pure white.
"I swear I will never come near her again." Rod's body and voice shook with fear.
"Obviously you're a liar, because that is the same thing I heard the last time we had a visit." Jax's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"No, I'm not." Rod shook his head. "She called me. Wanted to talk and see what we could work out."
Jax didn't even react to that. He just stared at Rod. "Women in my tribe were held at the highest honor," Jax responded, his tone level. "I think I explained to you exactly what happens to abusers of women."
"Oh, you did, in great detail." Sid nodded, glancing at Rod with fake sympathy. "You sure as hell did."
"Do you remember?" Jax asked Rod, and when Rod didn't answer right away, Jax was in Rod's face, pulling his head back by the hair and holding a knife to Rod's throat. "I asked you a fucking question."
Rod swallowed hard, the knife at his throat scraping against his Adam's apple. "Ye…yes, I remember."
Jax pricked Rod's throat with the knife. "And still you laid a hand on her."
"I'd say since he has big enough balls to ignore your warning, you should cut them off and then scalp his dumb ass." Sid's eyes had also grown dark with anger.
"I didn't mean to, but she wouldn't let me in our house." Rod gulped, realizing what he'd just said. "Her house. She wouldn't let me in her house."
Jax pulled the knife away from his neck before punching him in the face, but not hard enough to knock him out. He wanted Rod awake for what was to come.
Knowing he had certain rules he had to follow, Jax figured he'd give Rod a fighting chance. Then he'd scalp the bastard and feed his carcass to the animals. Just like the old days, the old ways.
"Stand up." Jax sneered, but when Rod was too slow, Sid picked him up, shoving him
to his feet. "Take your best shot."
"Oh, shit." Sid grinned. "This is going to be good."
"What?" Rod stared from Jax to Sid, back to Jax again. "No, I'm not doing it."
"I'm giving you a fighting chance to live, you piece of shit, so I suggest you seize the moment before I change my mind." Jax looked him up and down. "Let's see just how hard you can hit, or am I not the right gender? Do you only hit women?"
Rod swung out, clipping Jax on the jaw, knocking his head to the side. Jax slowly turned his head toward Rod with a sinister smile, one that could turn the blood cold. "That's it? That's all you got?"
"You moved," Rod accused, his eyes shifting around nervously.
"No, no, he didn't." Sid shook his head. "You're just a pussy and hit like a little bitch."
Jax felt the heat of anger consume him. Rod's hit didn't faze him, but if he had hit Caroline that hard, which he surely had, Jax was beyond livid. His blood boiled at the thought. Pulling his knife back out of its sheath, he headed toward Rod. "Time to die, you son of a bitch."
Grabbing his hair in a punishing grip, Jax pulled Rod's head back, the knife at his scalp.
"Jax, no!" Caroline cried. "Please don't do this."
"Get in the house, Caroline," Jax ordered, his eyes still on Rod.
"Please, Caroline, please stop him." Rod cried and begged, his eyes pleading with Caroline.
Caroline walked up, getting into Rod's face. "This has nothing to do with you, asshole. You are going to definitely pay for what you did, but not at the expense of Jax," she spat, but then glanced up at Jax. "Please."
Blaze had followed, dragging Rod's brother with him. He shoved him next to Rod before glancing at Jax. "Sloan and the rest of them are on their way."
Jax glared at Blaze before his eyes met Caroline's. He cursed, pulling Rod away from them. He grabbed him around the throat again.
"Once again, you will live another day, but I am going to warn you now that no matter what happens with the human police or even the VC Council, we are not done." Jax hissed the words so only Rod could hear him. "She is mine and no one harms what's mine. I will find you when you least expect it and you will pay for what you did here today, do you understand me?"
Rod nodded, not looking relieved at all. In fact, he looked more scared, which was what Jax wanted.
"The only reason you continue to breathe at this moment is because of her, but she will not be around the next time, and there will be a next time." Jax let that warning hang in the air.
"Let him go, Jax." Sloan's voice echoed through the barn.
Jax didn't just let him go. He slung him toward Sloan.
"Jill, take Caroline inside," Sloan ordered, his eyes on Rod, who lay at his feet.
"Yes, sir." Jill grabbed Caroline's elbow, pulling her away, but Sloan stopped them.
Jax watched as Sloan inspected Caroline's swollen and bruised face and felt his rage. Sloan nodded, letting Caroline go with Jill. Once the women left, Sloan bent down, lifting Rod to his feet.
"I want you to take a good look around at each face." Sloan shoved Rod back. "Do it!"
Rod jumped at Sloan's bellow and did as he was told. Jax was the last he looked at before turning back to Sloan, but Sloan ignored him. "If you claim Caroline, I have the right to arrest and sentence this piece of shit under Council law," Sloan informed Jax.
"I claim her as mine." Jax didn't hesitate and received a nod of approval from every Warrior present.
"Then he will be arrested under Council law, but I will warn you"—Sloan grabbed Rod by the shirt front, pulling him close—"if you're released into human custody for any reason, do not think it's over. We are VC Warriors and we protect what's ours. You have harmed one of ours. Every face you have looked upon will hunt you down and bring you to our justice, as it was thousands of years ago, if the law fails. And we will be watching."
Every Warrior smashed their fist against their chest and chanted, their eyes promising Rod something worse than death itself and, even though he didn't understand them, the look in his eyes showed his full terror.
"Take him," Sloan told Damon and Duncan. "I'll be right behind you."
"What about him?" Jared pulled Fred up by his hair.
"Did you do anything to stop him?" Sloan asked the younger man, who shook his head, too afraid to speak. "Then you are just as guilty. Take him also."
Once everyone walked out of the barn, Jax and Sloan were the only ones left. "How did you not kill the son of a bitch?"
Jax took his eyes away from the group to look at Sloan. "Because she asked me not to."
"These women are going to make us pussies, my friend." Sloan actually clapped Jax on the back. "Now, go take care of Caroline, and I promise if I feel like the son of a bitch needs taking out, you'll have the honor."
"Agreed and much appreciated." Jax and Sloan walked out of the barn. Sid waited, leaning against the outside, looking as if he were pouting.
"Couldn't you have waited two more minutes before riding in to save the day?" Sid grumbled at Sloan. "He was this close to scalping the son of a bitch."
"Jesus." Sloan shook his head, walking away. "Sid, you need to calm the hell down. Can't Lana do anything to keep you on a tighter rope?"
"Oh, she can do plenty." Sid wiggled his eyebrows. "But I'm the one who's good with the ropes."
Jax ignored Sid as he made his way to the house. Once he saw Caroline's face and neck, he was going to want to kill the bastard all over again. Fuck, and did he really just claim her in front of the Warriors? A surprisingly satisfied grin took over his face at that thought. Yeah, he had claimed her without any hesitation whatsoever. Caroline Fitzpatrick was his and he didn't give a shit who knew it.
Chapter 15
"Don't worry." Jill stood inside with Caroline, who was pacing back and forth. "Nothing is going to happen with Sloan there."
"I just don't want Jax to get in trouble over me." Caroline sighed, then touched her swollen cheek. "Does it look bad?"
"It looks sore." Jill grimaced. "He must have hit you pretty hard. Has he done this before?"
"Once. When I was in a trance, I heard how he was treating my sister. No one thought I knew what was going on, but I did. I just couldn't say anything to let them know. Before this I'd been blind to who he really was. I broke it off with him and kicked him out. When I was cleaning out the apartment, he showed up acting all crazy and hit me." Caroline jumped when the front door opened.
Slade walked in, looking at her face. "Are you having a lot of pain?" He reached out to tilt her face so he could see it better. The Warrior Slade was gone and in his place was Dr. Buchanan.
"It doesn't feel pleasant, but I'm okay." Caroline kept looking toward the door.
"It's over, Caroline." Slade smiled down at her. "He's talking to Sloan now and will be in shortly. Why don't you let me look closer to make sure nothing's cracked?"
"Okay. Where do you want me?" Caroline glanced one more time at the door, wishing Jax would return.
"Jump up on the counter there so I can see you under the light." Slade pointed toward the counter that not even two hours ago, Jax was…. Okay, on to safer thoughts.
Hoping her bruising hid her blush, she headed over and climbed up with Slade's help. Jill followed, ready if Slade needed any help. Before Slade could examine her, Jax walked in and headed straight toward her.
"Is she okay?" He frowned, staring at the side of her face.
"I don't know yet." Slade started his examination. The whole time, Caroline stared at Jax. Slade felt her face gently and then her throat. "I don't feel anything that could be broken, but without an X-ray, I wouldn't know if she had any fractures. How hard did he hit you?"
Okay, she didn't want to answer that with Jax standing there. If he knew, he would probably go back out there and kill Rod. Not that he didn't deserve it, but Jax had too much going for him to kill someone over this.
"Answer him, Caroline," Jax demanded with a frown.
"I don't know," Car
oline replied. "I mean, that's kind of a hard question to answer."
"No, really it's not." Slade frowned. "Did he hit you with his fist or…?"
"No, he backhanded me," she replied, keeping her eyes off Jax and on Slade. Now that it was over, her tears threatened to break free. She didn't want to be a big baby in front of all these tough, strong fighters. She wanted to belong, and weak crybabies didn't belong.
"Did it snap your head back? Did you see flashes of light, pinpoints of lights like stars, or did you get nauseous?" Slade asked, his frown growing as he watched her expression.
"Yes," she replied, her lip trembling.
"To which one?" Slade asked, then cursed when she just looked at them. "Does your neck hurt when I move it?"
She relaxed, letting Slade move her neck around. "No, not really." Her eyes did meet Jax's hardened gaze as he watched.
"It's a yes or no question, Caroline," Slade replied, his doctor voice in full control.
"No," she answered immediately, and then figured she'd better come clean. "But I do have a headache and I keep getting dizzy."
"You probably have a concussion." Slade looked over at Jill. "Can you get my penlight? It looks just like a flashlight, but much smaller."
Jill nodded, taking off out the door. She was back in seconds, digging in his bag for a little penlight.
"That was fast." Caroline smiled, but immediately grimaced when it hurt her cheek.
"She's one hell of an assistant." Slade winked at Jill, who grinned proudly.
"I'm a better Warrior though." Her beaming grin turned into a frown when Slade rolled his eyes. "You just want me to quit and be your full-time assistant. That so is not happening, Buchanan."
Slade smiled at Caroline before checking her eyes. "Looks like you have a concussion." Slade turned the penlight off, then turned to Jax. "She really should be seen and have her cheek as well as eye socket X-rayed. I can meet you at the hospital."
"No, I'll be fine." Caroline slowly slid off the counter, but her equilibrium was off and she stumbled as a wave of dizziness overwhelmed her. Jax grabbed her, holding her close.
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