*****
Jax watched Caroline laugh along with the women. He could imagine how it had looked for an observer, but honestly, it was a scary fucking situation. Women were vicious. He'd rather fight two of the biggest bastards than two tiny women.
"I'm going to tell you this one time and one time only." Sloan's tone was low, but the impact was direct. "You will never, and I mean ever, do anything like this again."
"I was just—"
"No." Sloan shook his head, his eyes narrowing dangerously down at Jill. "I don't want to hear anything other than 'yes, sir.'"
Jill crossed her arms, her one foot tapping against the floor. "Can't I just—"
"Dammit to hell, Jill!" Sloan's bellow rattled the walls. "You're suspended indefinitely until you can learn to follow orders."
"Whoa, wait a minute." Nicole stepped up. "I put the ad in the paper. This isn't all her fault."
"It was her idea." Sloan wasn't having any of it.
"Actually, it was all our idea." Tessa and Pam also stepped up beside Jill. Angelina, Lana, and Caroline stepped forward in full support.
"She was only trying to help you," Lana added. "It's not her fault every woman for miles wants a Warrior of their own."
"And I think I've found the perfect person to be your secretary," Caroline added.
"You did?" Jill asked excitedly.
"Which one?" Nicole asked.
"No!" Sloan yelled over them. "Absolutely no!"
"Don't yell at me, Sloan Murphy." Caroline stood up to him. "I'm not one of your Warriors, or a mate."
Sloan glanced at Jax, who just shrugged, cocking an eyebrow as if saying "'you're on your own, bro."'
"All the other Council leaders have secretaries." Nicole put a hand on her hip.
"At least interview the woman I think would be perfect." Caroline handed him Becky's resume. "I really don't think you want another catfight. You all didn't fare too well with the last one."
"Can I leave, please?" Steve groaned. "I'm having issues and I sure as hell don't want to get kicked in the balls again. Women fight dirty."
"Damn right we do," Tessa agreed as the rest of the women nodded.
"She really needs work and I know her." Caroline walked up to Sloan. "And Jill doesn't deserve to be suspended. That was a bullshit call, even for you."
Jax grinned, hearing Caroline's words to Sloan. She was right. It was a bullshit call, but he could also see Sloan's point.
"You're bleeding." Caroline walked up to Jax. She reached up, touching a scratch down his cheek. "I'll get a paper towel to clean it."
"Did I see you laughing as you watched out the window?" Jax asked. He tried not to grin at her attempting to cover the fact that she had indeed been laughing at them trying to calm a horde of pissed-off women.
Caroline pulled away from him with false wide-eyed shock. "No, I most certainly wasn't." She sucked at lying. "I was terribly worried for you."
Jax chuckled as he watched her walk away.
"So tell me straight." Jared walked up to Jax. "Did that scare the shit out of you or what?"
"Honestly?" Jax glanced at him. "Yeah, I have to say it did."
"I'd rather—"
"Oh, my God. Caroline!" Lana screamed.
Jax was moving before he even knew what was going on. He was in time to watch Caroline collapse to the floor, her body going stiff as her back curved off the ground. Her eyes were wide open, staring at the ceiling. "Fuck!" Jax slid to the floor on his knees beside her. "Caroline!"
******
Caroline heard someone shouting her name. It was Jax. Her eyes opened, but all she saw was blackness. Oh, God! This can't be happening again. Panic set in as she tried to fight her way back to Jax. The blackness was so thick it felt claustrophobic. Suddenly, a hand came out of the darkness.
"Take my hand." Alisha's voice spoke quietly in the blackness.
Caroline started to reach for the hand, but pulled it back. She had been tricked before and it had been terrifying. "How do I know it's really you?"
"Hurry, Caroline." Alisha sounded afraid. "They're coming."
"Who's coming?" Caroline's body began to shake. Even though it felt like a dream, her fear was real. It was real and not a nightmare.
The hand jerked, grabbing her. Caroline screamed in pure terror as she was pulled through the darkness while hands tried to pull her back.
Chapter 21
"Caroline!" Jax attempted to pick her up, but her body was so stiff he was afraid of hurting her.
"Watch out." Slade knelt beside Caroline, checking her pulse. "Her vitals are stable," he said after checking her over.
Jax looked up at Lana, who cried silently, staring at her sister. "What's happening, Lana?" Jax asked, but when all Lana did was shake her head and cry, his rage broke free. "Goddammit, what in the fuck is wrong with her!?"
A scream of horror escaped from Caroline's mouth as her body was abruptly released from the trance. Her eyes blindly searched for an enemy that wasn't there. Slade and Jax tried to control her flailing arms, but that only made her fight harder and scream louder. She remained in the midst of whatever nightmare she had been in.
"Caroline." Jax tried to get her to look at him, but she fought and fought hard. He was afraid of hurting her.
"Let her go." Slade backed up, letting Caroline fight whatever demon was chasing her. "We're making it worse."
Jax watched helplessly as Caroline battled something he couldn't see, and it about tore him apart, but Slade was right. They were making it worse, trying to subdue her. He watched in anguish as she clambered to her hands and knees. Finally stopping screaming, her breathing was raspy and fast. Clumsily, she pulled herself to the corner of the room with Jax right beside her, but not touching.
"Caroline." He kept his voice low and calm, only inches from her. She huddled in the corner, pulling herself into a ball. "Caroline, it's Jax. Come on, baby, fight it."
Finally, she lifted her head. Her eyes slowly met his. "Jax?" she whispered, her face pale and even though her eyes were clearer, they held a glimmer of terror.
"Yeah, baby." Jax wanted nothing more than to reach out, pull her into the safety of his arms, but reluctantly he held back. He didn't want her to relapse into whatever the fuck that was. Fear for her threatened to consume him. The terror he had felt actually clawed at his throat. He needed her to be okay. He needed the dread shading her eyes to disappear. "It's me." Her hesitation to believe him was like a knife to the gut.
As her eyes became clearer, searching around the room without moving any part of her body, they came back to him. "Jax," she repeated. Her body started to tremble as she reached toward him.
Finally pulling her into his arms, he shielded her body with his as he cocooned his body around hers. "I got you," he whispered against her hair, absorbing her fear as if it were his own.
Jax had no idea how long he sat in the same position holding Caroline, and he didn't care. He would sit there forever if he had to. Her quiet voice broke through the silence, but he couldn't hear the words. "What?" He leaned down closer.
"Where's Lana?" She slowly raised her head to look around.
"Lana," Jax called, still holding Caroline tightly to him.
"Are you okay?" Lana walked over and knelt down.
Jax loosened his grip reluctantly as Caroline sat up. "Alisha."
Lana nodded. "She's here. She pulled you out."
"Pulled her out of what?" Jax asked, not liking the fact he didn't know what the hell was going on.
"Mika has someone like me and Caroline who can see and talk to the dead." Lana frowned. "He's using this woman against us. The dead can take control of people like us when we're vulnerable, and hold us captive in a dream state."
"Like possession?" Jax's eyes widened.
"Not exactly," Lana replied. "I mean, yes, that's possible, but not easy to do and most dead don't do that. But it's easier for them to mess with our subconscious, as I said, and hold us hostage in a dream or trance s
tate."
"How do you fight against that?" Jax growled, his hands fisted at his sides, wanting to pound the threat, but the threat was unseen and it about killed him.
"We can't," Lana answered, glancing down at Caroline. "And you're more vulnerable because it's happened to you before, and not too long ago."
"Are you in danger?" Sid growled to Lana.
"No, I don't think so. He's wanting to control Caroline, which means he can control Jax. Jax is who he really wants," Lana replied, her eyes looking from Sid to Jax.
"The fucker needs to die," Sid hissed, wrapping his arms around Lana.
Jax looked up, meeting Sid's hard gaze before looking back at Lana. "Where's Alisha now?" Jax's eyes narrowed.
"Standing behind you." Lana looked over his head. "Mika promised to let you live if she gave him information, so she started shifting into a little boy to throw Caroline off. She now knows that Mika was lying. She's afraid, Jax, and very confused."
"I don't trust her." Jax was not really sure what he thought about any of this. Never had he believed he would be faced with battling something he couldn't see, yet that was exactly what had happened. He'd been helpless to help Caroline when she needed him most and that was something he couldn't live with.
"She pulled me out, Jax." Caroline broke her silence. "If not for her, I would still be trapped, and honestly, I can't survive going through that again."
"You won't have to." Jax carefully moved her and stood. He faced where Lana had said Alisha stood. "Where's Mika, Alisha? You really want to help me? Tell me where Mika is."
******
"Your sister is very strong." The old woman sat in a large chair, staring into nothing.
"My sister is a pain in my ass," Mika spat. "What happened, you old hag?"
"She broke the girl free." The woman's eyes finally met Mika's. "And you best watch how you talk to me."
"Fuck!" Mika stood and paced the room. "I swear I'll kill the little bitch again. Try again. I want Caroline in my control."
"She will just break her free again." The woman snapped her fingers and a cat jumped on her lap. "You need to find another way. I've done what you asked and what you paid me for. I can do no more."
Familiar rage boiled inside Mika and he knew the beast he lived with was just at the surface. "You have no idea who you're dealing with." Mika turned, his black eyes rimmed with red, staring at the woman.
"Oh, but I do," she replied, petting the solid black cat who hissed at Mika. "The dead have plenty to say about you. And don't forget who you are dealing with. I may be old but I have much power."
In two strides, Mika was bent over the old woman. Grabbing her by the hair, he pulled her head back. "You will do as I say and you will do it now." Mika snatched her cat, holding it by the throat. A sinister smile bared his sharp fangs. "Do it now or I'll kill your filthy animal before your eyes. I'll then rip your throat wide open. I want Caroline in my control."
******
Caroline stood on shaky legs with Jax's help. She glanced around at everyone, who openly stared at her. "I'm fine." She let go of Jax.
"Are you sure?" Jax watched her closely, making her nervous.
She nodded, then turned toward Lana. "Where is she?"
"After Jax asked where Mika was she disappeared." Lana frowned. "Why don't you go home and get some rest."
"Yeah, I might do that," Caroline replied. Confusion clouded her mind. She looked up at Jax and he looked as if he was fading. Putting her hand to her eyes, she rubbed them and then looked again. It was getting worse. "It's happening again." She grabbed Jax's arms in a tight grip.
"What?" Jax looked at her, surprised. "Don't leave me, Caroline. Fight! Don't you fucking give in!"
While Caroline heard him, it sounded like they were in a tunnel. It was as if she were being pried from him. And she did fight, fought like she had never fought before.
"I can't do this!" Caroline felt her mind slipping into darkness and clawed her way out. She kept her eyes open as long as she could, seeing nothing but Jax yelling for her to fight.
"Fight, Caroline." Alisha's voice overwhelmed her. "You can do this. Fight. You're stronger than you think. Know what's happening and fight it. Go toward Jax."
Caroline came out of it quickly to Jax shaking her. "Jax." She finally opened her eyes. "I'm okay," she lied; she was far from okay.
"Son of a bitch!" Jax pulled her to him, hugging her tight.
Pure anger rushed through her. Pushing away from Jax, she stared into his eyes. "Find your brother and kill that bastard." A moment later, as always happened when she got angry, she cried. She totally lost it as Jax promised to find and kill Mika.
******
Mika stepped over the old woman's body. She had failed him, so she'd had to die. That was okay. He'd find another. This wasn't over by a long shot. A hissing noise came from behind him. Turning, he saw the old woman's cat that had escaped from his grip while he had murdered its owner. "Come here, kitty." Mika snapped his fingers, but the cat hissed again before disappearing.
A noise coming from the back of the house had Mika turning quickly. Going to investigate, he heard what sounded like running water. Stopping in the hallway, he looked down to see steam coming from under a door.
With no fear, he kicked it open. The shower had been turned on. The steam-filled room made it hard to see, but as soon as it escaped out of the open door, Mika looked at the mirror.
Be prepared to die soon, brother.
Alisha
The words were bold, taunting. The rolling condensation down the mirror made the letters look eerily like clear blood drops. "You little bitch!" Mika bellowed. "You think you can threaten me? Jax is going to suffer and his little bitch is going to die. There isn't a fucking thing you can do about it. I should have made you suffer before I killed you!"
Mika stared at his image in the mirror before punching it, shattering his reflection as well as Alisha's warning.
Chapter 22
Caroline stood staring in front of her closet. It had been a frustrating four days since she was almost lost to the world again. Her stomach rolled at the thought. Jax had been by her side throughout it all, yet he wasn't present. When she had her in-service days at school, he had driven her, sat outside along with Blaze or whoever else he could find to go with them. He hardly spoke and when he did, it was mumbled responses. He hadn't touched her, barely looked her way. He spent a lot of time on the phone and then he would disappear for small amounts of time, again leaving Blaze or someone else with her.
The only good news came from Lana. Rod had been transferred to the human courts and received five years in prison. It seemed that he had outstanding warrants, which they also tried him for. Jax still hadn't been happy with the results, saying he would be paying Rod a visit the day he was released.
Tomorrow was the first day of school and she needed to find something to wear. Preparation for a new school year was usually an exciting time for her; however, in light of the chaos of recent events, it just seemed dull. Until Mika was taken care of, a life with Jax was doomed. The way Jax was acting toward her the last few days proved that.
"Caroline." Alisha's voice came from behind her.
"Where have you been?" Caroline turned to see Alisha standing next to her bed. Alisha had disappeared the day at the warehouse and never reappeared, at least to her.
"I've been trying to find out what Mika's up to next, but he's disappeared again." Alisha sounded worried. "I don't know what he's planning, but I'm afraid. He killed that lady."
"What lady?" Caroline frowned, keeping her voice down so Jax didn't hear her talking.
"The one like you." Alisha looked toward the door and then disappeared.
"Who are you talking to?" Jax stood in the doorway.
"Well, I was talking to Alisha, but she left," Caroline replied, drinking in the sight of him.
"Did she say anything about Mika?" His eyes shifted, came back to her then shifted again as if not wanting to look a
t her too long. Her throat tightened as a sense of doom swept through her body. He had been acting odd and now she knew why.
"No, not really. She said he's vanished, but that's about it." She frowned. If she were a selfish person, she could keep quiet about information, ensuring Jax wouldn't leave, but she wasn't selfish… dammit.
Jax nodded, then turned to leave without saying anything else.
"She also said…," she began and he stopped, turning toward her.
"What?" He crossed his arms, waiting.
"She also said that Mika killed the woman who was like me and Lana. So it seems I'm safe in that aspect." Yeah, there it was. Relief crossed his face as he grabbed his phone, walking away from the door.
"Hey, can you come to Caroline's," she heard him say. "Yeah, I got stuff I need to take care of."
"Is that the only reason you've been sticking around?" Caroline needed to make damn sure she was right about this, but deep in her heart, she knew she was and it was absolutely killing her.
"What?" Jax looked up from his phone, a blank expression on his face.
"For the past four days since that happened to me at the warehouse, you've not touched me, barely talked to me, not to mention look me in the eye for a mere second, and as soon as I tell you the woman who was working with Mika is dead, you're ready to bolt out of here." Caroline laid it all out in the open. She pulled no punches and by damn, she wanted the truth.
His silence said it all. He stared at her, his mouth a firm, straight line across his face.
Anger hit her hard. She walked past him out into the hallway and stomped down the steps. Snatching his jacket and bag, she met him at the bottom of the steps as he came down behind her.
Caroline slammed the bag and jacket against his stomach. "Get the hell out of my house." Thank God her voice held. Inside, she shook so hard, but on the outside she stood firm. He was not going to do this to her again; she couldn't let him do this to her again. Hell, she refused to let him do this to her again.
"What's wrong with you?" Jax frowned, grabbing his stuff.
"You are what's wrong with me." Caroline then stomped to the front door and swung it wide open. "I want you out of my house and there better not be any more Warriors showing up here. I can't do this anymore, Jax. If you can't see what you're doing to me, to us, then you need to leave… now."
Jax (The Protectors Series) Book #8 Page 14