“Screw this! I’m out of here.”
Despite my order, the piece of shit tosses his beer and makes a run for it, so I let her fucked-up excuse of a father fall to the ground. He begins gasping for a few of his final breaths as a free man before I take a swing at the other fucker and knock him out cold.
As soon as he hits the ground, I turn my attention back to Hank. I take my time, making sure I have a good grip before I swing out, hearing the bone in his arm snap when I make contact.
“Oh shit! Oh shit!” He grabs his arm and falls against the sink. “You son of a bitch. When will you learn that she’s not worth a damn? She’s damaged goods, Jax. You don’t need to do this.”
“You fucking piece of shit!” His words have me seeing red and the next thing I know, I’ve lost it. Anger and rage take over everything inside me and I snap. I can’t stop myself from each and every hit, even when he stops fighting me. Memories of each blow I felt of the same bat hitting my body consume me as I continue. I don’t stop until he’s almost lifeless and covered in blood.
He makes an attempt to crawl away on his hands and feet, so I stand above him, shoving my boot into his throat and the tip of the bat against his forehead. I want him to see how long it is. I want him to see how fucking filthy it is. I want this image to burn into his fucked-up brain.
“Who’s not worth a shit now?” I press my foot harder, crushing his throat until his face turns red. Killing him would be kind compared to what I have planned.
Removing my boot from his throat, I grab him by the hair and pull him up to his knees to get a good look at him. He looks up at me, his eyes swollen and barely open. His mouth moves as if he’s trying to speak, but I can’t comprehend a damn word through the blood he keeps choking on.
“Look how fucking pathetic you are. Your wife left you, because you couldn’t provide her with what she needed and you took it out on a innocent child that didn’t deserve your wrath. Your goddamn daughter! You broke her over and over again, and now I’m about to break you before I make sure you’re ripped in fucking half.”
Growling out, I slam my fist into his face two times before throwing him down to the ground.
Then I turn my attention back to the piece of dog shit that raped Alexandra. He’s just now coming to, so I bend down and grip him by the throat, swinging out with my fist repeatedly, my ring digging into his flesh. I don’t stop until the fucker is gasping for air.
By the time I’m through with him, his face is such a bloody mess it’s unrecognizable.
I stand up, my head spinning as I look down at the two of them mangled and covered in blood. Their punishment isn’t over yet. Not until they experience what Alexandra did. That’s where Big Brute and Frankie come in.
Grabbing my bat, I step outside and motion for the guys.
The two big motherfuckers appear within a few seconds, both eager to do their part in this.
I hand my bat to Frankie and grip his shoulder. “Rape them bloody with this.”
They both grin and step inside.
I light up a cigarette and lean back against the house, wanting to hear their screams echo through my ears. I take another look at her bedroom window, thinking about her crying for me every night. My body aches as I imagine all the nightmares she must’ve lived through.
Her father stood by and listened to her scream while his friend raped her and I won’t leave here satisfied until I’m certain they know what it feels like.
They’ll never walk right again after tonight. I made sure of that. I’ve decided a quick death would be too easy for what they’ve done. Brute and Frankie are fucked-up and don’t mind providing a torture that will burn into the minds of the most deserving victims. That’s why they’re here.
Seconds later, I hear the first gut-wrenching scream, followed by another one, and I know the guys are about to handle shit in a way that I never could. I don’t need to hear it all to know how it’s going to go, so I toss my cigarette on the ground and walk to my truck.
This might not erase what was done to Alexandra, but hopefully she can feel just a small bit of relief to know that those fuckers are finally getting what they deserve.
I’ll make sure the guys give both of them a daily reminder of what they’ve done until they take their last breath. And I’ll make sure the bat is there every fucking time.
DROPPING TO MY KNEES, I grip the toilet bowl and empty my stomach for the second time since walking through the salon door.
It’s been three days since I popped my last pill and the lack of drugs in my system has had me sweaty and nauseous all day, leaving me feeling like complete shit. My body aches, my hands are shaky, and it’s taking every ounce of strength I have not to find a supplier and escape this shitty feeling, since I know how easy it’d be to make it go away. I’ve been so good at hiding my fix-all and numbing myself for the last ten years that it’s my first instinct.
I wish I could scream right now.
I slept fine last night and even felt somewhat okay when Jax dropped me off this morning, but as the minutes ticked and the hours went by, the symptoms worsened from dull but noticeable to kick-ass mode.
It doesn’t help that Jax took off this morning set on going after the one person I hate the most in this world. I saw it in his eyes when he kissed me goodbye. There was nothing I could say or do that would stop him from his mission.
Except maybe this.
If only this would’ve hit me sooner . . . then I know he would’ve stayed. He wouldn’t have left my side, even though it would’ve been painful for him. I know this is something he feels he needs to do.
I’ve been doing my best to make it through the day without him, but it’s hard to think straight. It doesn’t help that he hasn’t responded to my texts all day and it’s nearly five now.
I hate not knowing whether or not he’s okay. He means more to me than anything in this world and I don’t know what I would do if anything were to ever happen to him. Especially if it was because of me.
My father is a drunk piece of shit and so is George, but put the two of them together and who knows what they’re capable of.
The thought has me clenching my stomach in pain.
“Are you okay, sweets?” Madison steps into the bathroom and places her hand on my back. “You don’t look so hot; all day really. I’m not sure how you got through your appointments and still did such a bang-ass job. I’d be in bed crying like a baby if I was sick, forcing Ava to take care of me.”
I release the toilet and stand up to wash my hands and face. “It’s been tough, but I’ve survived worse.” I force a smile and pull my sweaty hair out of my face. “I feel a bit better now. I’ll be out in a minute to help clean up.”
“No need to, sweets. Blaine is here for you. He said Jax asked him to pick you up.” She gives me a sad look in the mirror. “Go home and get some rest. Jax will take care of you when he gets home.”
The moment she steps out of the bathroom and leaves me alone, my stomach sinks at the thought of when that might be. I just hope Blaine knows more than I do and can fill me in, because I can’t take not knowing anymore.
I take a few more minutes to gather myself until I look somewhat presentable before I step out of the bathroom and thank Avalon for giving me the opportunity to work for her.
Other than feeling physically and mentally sick, I enjoyed being here today with the girls and I can’t imagine going back to working at a bar after seeing what it’s like to work here.
Blaine walks out from the back room, looking uptight, Madison following right behind him. “You good to go?”
I look down at my phone and swallow, before shoving it onto my jacket pocket. “Yeah.”
“Don’t worry about Jax. The last thing he’s concerned with right now is his phone. He can’t talk when he’s in savage mode.”
“Have you heard from him?” He shakes his head and looks down at me. “Not since he text me this morning at the ass crack of dawn to tell me I was giving you a r
ide to his house from the salon today.”
“Who’s watching the bar?” I question as he guides me outside to his bike. I hate that everyone has to make sacrifices because of me. I never want to be that person, but when Jax sets his mind to something there’s no stopping him. He’s always been that way.
“Mark.” He hands me his helmet and climbs on his Harley. “He’ll be good for a bit. Climb on.”
I feel weird, standing here about to get on the back of some other man’s bike, but the fact that Jax sent Blaine to pick me up has me climbing on the back and grabbing onto his leather jacket.
“Don’t be afraid to wrap your arms around me, babe. You don’t have to tell Jax my body feels better than his. He already knows and he’s learned to live with it.”
I roll my eyes and move my arms to wrap around his waist. “Just drive.”
I don’t have to see his face to know that he’s smirking as he drives off. At least he seems to be in a better mood now than he was a few seconds ago.
When we get to Jax’s house, Blaine unlocks the door and motions for me to go in, before following behind me.
“I need a drink,” Blaine immediately says the moment his eyes land on the bottle of Jack in the kitchen.
“Pour me one too. A tall one.” I need a drink just as much or even more than he does right now, because I’m moments away from losing my shit. “Quick.”
We both take a seat at the table and he pours two glasses, scooting one in front of me. His jaw tenses as he looks down at his glass before emptying it in one shot.
“Female problems?” I lift a brow and tilt my glass back, watching as he refills his.
“You can say that, amongst other shit.”
“Are you and Madison . . . a thing?”
He freezes mid-drink and turns his gaze on me. “She doesn’t talk about this Dean fucker at work? Guess that shit didn’t work out.”
I shake my head and take another drink. “She hasn’t mentioned him at all . . .” I pause, looking toward the door as if Jax will come in any second. “But she did mention how much of a pain in the ass you are. She seems to be really pissed at you for some reason. She even snapped a few combs in half today and said she wished the combs were your stupid neck.”
When I turn back to face him, he’s smirking down at his glass as if he’s happy she’s pissed at him. “She’s having Blaine withdrawals. All women want to kill me once we stop fucking.”
I let out a small laugh, despite the fact that I’m feeling like complete garbage. Blaine may be crazy from what I’ve heard, but he’s good for a laugh when needed.
It’s helping to distract me from what I really wish I had right now, but I made a promise to Jax and I don’t plan on breaking it.
We sit here in silence for a while, us both seeming to need the peace and quiet to think while waiting on Jax to arrive.
It’s close to six-thirty now, and the more I stare at the front door waiting for it to open, the more anxious I become.
“Did Jax go alone?” I finally ask, bringing the glass to my lips with shaky hands. “Is there someone else we can call to see if he’s okay?” I’m desperate at this point.
“He didn’t go alone, but no, we can’t call these two. They’ll be busy for a while.”
My heart speeds up at the sound of Jax’s truck pulling into the driveway. I jump to my feet, anxious to see him and know that everything is okay.
“About time,” Blaine mutters, standing up. “He must’ve been driving like a pussy on the way back.”
Moments later, the front door opens and Jax walks inside, his hands covered in dried blood. He doesn’t have a scratch on him, so I immediately know he’s okay. Relief hits me, making it easy to breathe for the first time today.
Trailing my eyes along every inch of him, they finally go back up to his face. “Shit, Jax. You had me worried like crazy.”
He releases a breath before coming at me, wrapping his hands in my hair as he looks down at me. “All you need to know is that they’re both suffering and alive . . . for now.”
A weight has been lifted from my chest and a slew of emotions hit me, making it hard to keep my composure. A few tears fall down my face and Jax wipes them away, before kissing me. “Don’t cry, Lex. They got what they deserved. I should’ve killed them both there on the spot for hurting you.”
I shake my head and wrap my arms around his neck. “I’m not crying for those assholes, Jax. I hate them both. They can rot in Hell for all I care. I’m just overwhelmed. I spent the entire day terrified that something happened to you. The thought of you getting hurt or arrested over me had my stomach in knots all day and my chest felt heavy. Hearing that you hurt them and seeing that you’re okay is a relief. I can breathe for the first time today. I don’t like you being that far away from me, Jax. Don’t ever fucking leave me again.”
He pulls me in closer and kisses me again, his kiss deeper and more powerful this time. “There’s nothing in this world that can make me leave you, Lex. I’d die first. That’s a promise and you know I keep them.”
“Shit. I gotta go. As much as I’d like to stay and watch this lovefest, Mark needs backup at the bar.”
Jax turns his attention to Blaine for the first time since walking through the door. “Thanks for staying with Lex. I owe you.”
“I needed to get away from the chaos of that place for a bit tonight anyway. It’s all good, brother. I’m just glad you’re good.”
Jax nods and brings his attention back to me as Blaine rushes to the door to take off.
“Do I need to kill Blaine?”
I shake my head and smile through my pain, loving the way he’s so protective over me when it comes to other men. “Not unless you want to kill him for saying he has a better body than you.”
“That fucker.” He smiles down at me, before stripping off his jacket, revealing his firm chest in the tightfitting shirt he has on. “I think we both know that shit isn’t true.”
“Or is it?”
He looks as if he’s about to smile, but his face falls when he takes a good look at me for the first time since walking through the door. “Shit. You’re covered in sweat, Lex.”
He doesn’t give me a chance to react before picking me up and carrying me to the bathroom.
“You need a cold shower to cool off.”
He sets me back on my feet and starts the shower, before slowly stripping my clothes off and guiding me into the brisk water.
I’m not sure I can handle the chill until Jax strips his clothes off and steps into the water with me. Every hard dip of muscle calls to me, making me want to jump him for a distraction. I don’t care how much pain I’m in right now, when he’s here it subsides. Jax is the only thing that can distract me and make me feel better.
Grabbing the bar of soap, he quickly cleans his hands off before grabbing my face and pulling me close to him, so that we’re both standing under the water. It’s almost unbearable, yet Jax doesn’t make a move to leave.
“You don’t have to do this with me, Jax.”
“I don’t have to, but I want to.” He rubs his thumb over my cheek, before leaning in to kiss me. “I’ll do this with you as many times as it takes.”
I wrap my arms around his neck and he picks me up, my legs instantly wrapping around his waist. The moment he enters me, I throw my head back and moan, getting lost for short time. Nothing else exists other than him.
Every step is going to be hell and a long, bumpy road to recovery, but having Jax here with me, right now, makes me believe I can get through it this time.
Jax is the only drug that I need, and knowing him, he won’t give up until my body believes it just as much as my heart does.
The last five days have been rough for Alexandra, and nothing kills me more than having to watch her suffer through withdrawal symptoms.
I promised her I’d stay by her side through it all and I have. Neither of us has left my house in days and I’ll stay here for weeks if that’s how long it tak
es. I’m not leaving her to go through this alone.
Thankfully, the guys have all been helpful and understanding that I took the week off to take care of Alexandra. They didn’t ask questions or even give me shit about having to take on so many shifts at the bar, but instead, offered to help in any way they could.
Mark helped me get my hands on some anti-nausea medication and sleep supplements, which have relaxed her a bit. She hasn’t eaten much, but I’ve been making her drink plenty of fluids to keep her hydrated.
Looking down at her in my bed, I run my hands through my hair and slowly exhale. She’s been sleeping most of the day, but I want to be at her side in case she were to wake up and need me.
Every time she stirs, my heartbeat speeds up, anxiety kicking in for her to wake up and tell me how she’s feeling. I need to hear that she’s okay.
“Jax,” she whispers, sitting up. “How long have you been sitting there?”
I look down at my phone to check the time. “Close to five hours.” I stand up and reach for the glass of water as she adjusts her position. “Drink this.”
She grabs it from me and takes a sip, before looking up at me. “You don’t have to sit there and watch me every second that I’m sleeping. I know you won’t leave me, Jax. You’ve proven that many times already.”
After she sets the glass down, I grab her face and kiss her, before crawling into bed beside her. “Are you ready to eat yet?”
She shakes her head and leans into my chest. “I think I need a little more time. I’m finally not feeling nauseous for the first time in days. I don’t want to push it since I just woke up.”
I wrap my arms around her and kiss the top of her head, before grabbing the remote and flipping the TV to her favorite channel. At least the one she used to favor when we were kids.
She smiles against my chest and lays a kiss in the center of it. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Jax.”
Beautiful Savage (Savage & Ink Book 2) Page 18