I stopped fighting him. I gathered all the strength I still possessed and hurled myself toward the knife. It must have been the element of surprise, my lurching to the right when he hadn’t expected it, because I got there. I reached out, made contact and wrapped my hand around the handle. Fast, quicker than I thought I’d ever acted before in my life, with all my might I jammed it straight into his gut.
He yelled in rage, releasing my throat. Stepping back in shock, he looked down at the handle sticking out of his stomach. “Fuck you do, bitch? You stabbed me!”
Gasping, sputtering for air, I doubled over, my lungs burning as I sucked in oxygen, my sight blurring with effort.
“You’re gonna fuckin pay.” He lunged at me, but I saw him coming and twisted away. Bringing my elbow up as hard and sharp as I could, I caught him right under his chin, rocking his head back. On its own, that wouldn’t have been enough. If that was all I had, he would have regained his balance and kept coming at me.
But he slipped. He’d started bleeding, the knife wound in his stomach leaking blood down his pants and dripping onto the floor. He stepped in it and when my elbow caught him in the jaw he lost his balance, slipping and falling. The sound his head made when he cracked it against the edge of the countertop was so loud I almost felt like I was in a movie, the sound amplified for effect. He toppled to the ground, the weight of his body slamming against the floor with a quaking thud.
I stood for a few seconds too long, staring at him lying there. He looked unconscious, but I shouldn’t have wasted any time finding out. I was shocked, though, so shocked to see that knife sticking out of his gut. His eyes stayed closed as he lay there, breathing heavily, passed out on the floor.
Movement returned to my limbs in a rush, a surge of adrenaline jolting me into action. He’d dropped my phone after I stabbed him. I ran to it and snatched it up. Running into the bedroom, I threw open the closet, pulled down the blankets I kept on the uppermost shelf and grabbed my backpack behind them, the one with all the cash. Without even a glance behind me, I shoved the window open and jumped out onto the fire escape. Every step sounded so loud, the noise of my footsteps on the metal loud enough to wake the dead.
Was Mike dead? I didn’t think so. The fall had knocked him unconscious, but he’d be up again soon. Like a monster, he’d come after me, searching until he could destroy me.
I’d been planning for months, saving up, getting close to the day I would buy a one-way bus ticket to Phoenix. I’d rehearsed the plan in my head a million times. I’d do it on one of my days off, when I’d have hours without anyone looking for me. But now was not the time to go wait at a bus station. Mike would know to look there. He’d probably find me as I sat there, shaking.
But I knew where he’d go first. I had to get to Jax before Mike. At a red light, I took out my phone. He might be at the bar, or out with his girlfriend. I needed to warn Jax that he was in danger.
Sky: You home?
Seconds later, he replied.
Jax: I can be in a few minutes. Everything OK?
Sky: Be there in 5
I’d be there in five. He had to be there in five. It meant both, and no I was not OK but I didn’t take the time to say it. When the answer was no, it made more sense to just drive.
I knew where Jax lived. He’d given me his address months ago and of course it had instantly burned its way into my brain. My car closed the distance between our homes in about 20 minutes, but it felt like 20 hours. I was shaking so violently I had trouble driving, making erratic turns and stopping short at lights. The rush of adrenaline that had helped me fight back, then flee the scene was ebbing away, leaving in its wake acute pain. My shoulder ached fiercely from where Mike had wrenched my arm back. My wrist throbbed, and my throat felt like I’d drunk fire. Blinking away tears, shaking and disoriented, I somehow made it there.
Jax was standing in his garage, door open and waiting for me when I pulled up in front. I parked and stepped out warily. Every shadow seemed like it might be Mike waiting to leap out at me, as if he could somehow have beaten me there.
“Sky, what’s wrong?” Jax stepped forward, grasping my elbow to steady me.
“He’s coming,” I gripped his arm, looking up. “He’s going to come after you.”
“What? Sky, come inside. Let me get you something to drink.” He started ushering me in, holding me to his side, supporting some of my body weight and helping me walk. But now wasn’t the time to sit, have a drink and calm down. Now was the time to jump the hell up.
“Jax, I need you to listen to me.” I pulled away in the garage, speaking urgently, low and serious. “I just stabbed Mike. But I don’t think I killed him.”
That got his attention. Jax stopped, both hands on my waist as he looked into my eyes. “Are you all right?”
“I’m…” I shut my eyes for a moment, my hand to my throat. Everything hurt, my wrist, my shoulder, my lungs. “I’m all right. I don’t need a doctor.”
“Are you sure?” Tension laced through his voice. “Did he hurt you?”
I opened my eyes again, needing to make sure Jax understood the situation. “He did hurt me, but it’s nothing that has to be dealt with right now. He found out you and I were texting and he flipped out. He was going to kill me—” I couldn’t help it, I broke off in a shuddering sob. The icy, murderous look in Mike’s eyes, the depths to which I knew, without a doubt, he was capable. I’d brushed so close to death.
“Sky.” Jax held me, his arms wrapped around my shaking body. Even through my shock, my pain, I could feel his body heat, take comfort from his closeness. But I couldn’t relax and enjoy it.
Pushing a palm up to his chest, I put some space between us. I had to keep my head clear. “He was hurting me, but I was able to grab a knife.”
“Where did you stab him?”
“In his stomach.” I winced at the memory, how squishy and easy the knife had gone in. I’d never physically hurt anyone before. I hoped I never had to again.
“And what happened? Did he pass out from bleeding?”
“No, he was bleeding, but he still had plenty of strength.” With a shudder, I remembered how he’d lunged for me. “I elbowed him and he slipped and banged his head on the counter. He went down and I ran.”
“Come here. You did good.” He hugged me again. I shook uncontrollably in his arms. “It’s going to be all right.” His voice sounded so calm and convincing, I was able to take my first deep breath since the fight. He kissed my hair and pulled me away, enough so he could look into my eyes. “Sounds like we have some time, but maybe not much.”
“He’ll want to kill you.” My stomach flipped with nausea again, knowing the truth of my words. “Should we call the police?” I knew I probably should have called from the apartment, at least 911 to have them send an ambulance for Mike. But all I could think about was fleeing for safety, getting away from there and putting everything behind me.
“We need to get you somewhere safe.” Jax put his arm around my back, ushering me into the house. “Come on in for a minute. I’ll grab a couple things. Then we’ll get out of here.”
Shaking, I followed him in. “I know it’s probably not right.” My voice had an edge of tears to it. “I just left him there, bleeding—”
“Sky.” He brought his hands to my shoulders and tipped my chin up to look at him. “He almost choked you to death. I can see his fingerprints on your throat. Thank God you were able to defend yourself. You did the right thing.”
I nodded, knowing he was right. I’d be dead if Mike had gotten what he wanted.
“You got away,” he continued, “but we need to get you somewhere safe. Then we can think about the police.” He grabbed a glass in his kitchen and filled it with water. After walking me over to the couch, he handed it to me. “Drink this and sit for a minute. And know that I mean what I say to you.” His tone grew serious as he gave me a promise. “You will be safe, Sky. I’m going to make sure of it.”
I felt sick to my stomac
h, dizzy, my brain crowded with pain and fear and panic. But I also felt the power of his words. Jax told me he was going to make sure I was safe. I more than believed him. I knew it was true.
But I did feel awful, showing up at his home bruised and desperate, telling him his life was in danger. I’d brought trouble to his door. He didn’t deserve to be pulled into this mess.
When he walked back into the room, he had his jacket and a grey duffel bag over his shoulder. “I’m sorry.” I spoke quietly, but he heard me.
“You have nothing to be sorry about.” He reached down, grasped my hand and pulled me up to standing.
“I do,” I insisted, unable to meet his eyes. “Mike’s crazy. He’s so violent. He’ll stop at nothing.”
“I don’t stop either, Sky.” He worked his strong fingers through my hair, cradling the back of my head. “I stayed away from you because you told me that was what you wanted. But now? I’m not going to rest until I’m sure you’re safe. You’ve suffered enough alone.”
Tears filled my eyes. I had felt so alone for such a long time. I’d grown so isolated, feeling like I was doing prison time, solely focused on my escape. But now it looked like I’d have company on my jail break.
“I’ve dragged you into a real mess.” I looked up at him ruefully, wishing I could change things, rearrange history, delete some choices and alter others. But that wasn’t the way life worked. Everything was connected. If I hadn’t married Mike, I never would have even met Jax.
“Any mess I’m in, I walked into it, eyes wide open.” He held me again, murmuring into my ear, “I’m in.”
I nodded against his chest. “OK.”
“Good. Now let’s get the fuck out of here.” He grabbed my hand and led me back to the garage, loading his duffel into the back of the truck. “You need to drive your car and follow me until we can ditch it. Can you do that?”
“Yes,” I automatically agreed, tamping down the panic I felt at getting separated from him. It was ridiculous. I hadn’t even seen him for six months. Now I didn’t want to leave his side for a second.
“Not for long.” He looked all around as he walked me to my car.
“Where are we going?” I asked as I climbed into the driver’s seat.
“Somewhere safe. Stay right behind me.”
He didn’t peal out of the driveway, rubber shrieking to alarm the neighborhood. But he didn’t crawl out at a leisurely pace, either. I pulled out after his truck, sticking close at every light as we made our way to the freeway.
We were on the run, racing against time. Who knew where Mike was right then? In my heart, I knew he was up, alert, on the hunt. He might even be tailing us at that moment, following our every move, waiting for a vulnerable moment when he could strike.
My phone buzzed with a text.
Mike: GONNA KILL YOU BITCH
I threw my phone down to the floor, shaking violently. We had to get away, far away, somewhere we’d leave no trace. I had no idea where that place could be. But I prayed Jax might.
12
Jax
After about fifteen minutes, we pulled off the freeway. Next to a gas station, I drove around in back of an office building. She could leave her car there. With any luck, it wouldn’t attract any attention for a couple days. That would buy us some time.
I bet the car was under Griller’s name, and he’d get the call when it was reported as abandoned. I didn’t bring it up with Sky, though. She didn’t need any more reminders of the dangers surrounding her.
I got out and walked around, opening the passenger door to my truck for her to climb in. “You got anything in the trunk? Anything you might need?”
“I have some cash in here.” She patted a black backpack as she climbed into the passenger seat. “I’ve been saving for the past year. But I don’t have anything else. I just ran.”
“That’s OK.” Everything in me wanted to reassure her, make her feel protected and safe. I’d never let Griller hurt her again. “We’re going to have to get rid of your phone. Any numbers on there you’ll need in the next few days?”
“Yeah.” She spoke slowly, seeming like she was still in shock as she took her phone out of her bag.
“Take a second and write them down. We’re going to have to smash and throw it out.” Griller almost definitely had GPS tracking on that thing. I handed her a sheet of paper from the glove compartment. With a shaky hand, she wrote down a couple numbers while I waited, keeping an eye out, wondering if at any minute I’d hear the roar of a motorcycle engine.
She finally folded the paper and handed me the phone. But as she did, it buzzed with a text. She gasped, her hand up to her throat as she dropped the phone.
“Sorry,” she panted, looking terrified. “He’s been texting me.”
“Easy.” I put a hand on her knee, feeling her trembling. Eyes big, she took a deep breath. “I’m going to keep you safe.”
Over by a dumpster, I took pleasure in smashing the phone with a rock and throwing it away. Griller couldn’t get to her anymore. I fucking hated that he’d attacked her over having found our texts. It made me feel responsible.
Back into the truck, I got us out onto the freeway fast. It was better with her in there with me, but it was smart that we’d left separately, taking the step to hide her car. If she’d left it parked in front of my house, they would instantly have known we were together. Griller didn’t need any more help finding her than he already had.
I knew the power of an MC. I’d been surrounded by gangs and criminals my whole life. A motorcycle club was a brotherhood, with bonds thicker than blood. They made their own rules, beholden to no one but themselves. The guys would do anything for each other.
Even if one of them was a psychopath. All the Skulls knew Griller was crazy, but he was still a Skull. If he wanted revenge on his wife for cheating on him, it wouldn’t just be him trying to make that happen. He’d have an army of well-armed, ruthless killers flanking him, helping him achieve that goal. Sky was in a hell of a mess.
Which was why I’d called Zeke first thing. Leaving Sky on the couch in my house, I’d thrown a few things into a bag and given him a call. It had gone to his voicemail, but he’d get back to me soon. Until then, we’d head toward his house near Riverside, about two hours away.
The police wouldn’t be able to keep Sky safe. They couldn’t put her somewhere under 24/7 surveillance. Hell, I wasn’t even sure I could keep her safe. At least not right then, not until we could figure out a plan. But I knew who could. It meant going from the frying pan into the fire, but who knew a motorcycle club better than another motorcycle club? The Iron Reapers, sworn enemies of the Sacrificial Skulls, would be able to anticipate their every move, and, even better, counter them all. It was our best shot.
“How you feeling?” I turned to Sky. She’d been awfully silent since she’d climbed into the truck, lost in her thoughts. I was, too, as we traveled down the freeway at night. The drive shouldn’t take too long, but you never knew with traffic. Getting over near Riverside meant driving right through L.A. and the number of accidents, alone, could grind things to countless halts.
“I’m OK.” She sounded as if she were trying to convince herself as much as me. “I’ll be OK,” she added, as if she hadn’t done such a good job. She brought a shaking hand up to her hair, then dropped it again to her lap.
“It’s going to be all right.” I wanted to take her hand in mine, bring her onto my lap. Fear radiated off of her in a nearly palpable panic. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and drain it out, replace it with peace, comfort, security. But first of all I had to drive. Second, she hadn’t come to me because she wanted to be my girlfriend. She’d come because she needed help and wanted to warn me that I was in danger. I had to keep focused, stay fixed on the goal at hand.
My phone buzzed. I pulled over at the next exit to take Zeke’s call. I wanted a private minute to explain things, away from Sky. Parked by the side of the road, I climbed out and stood at the back of the truck a
s I called him back.
“What’s up?” He sounded tense. My news wasn’t going to change that.
“I’ve got a woman with me, beat up by a Skull.”
“Motherfuckers.”
“She got away, but the guy’s still after her.” I paused, knowing I was burying the lead. If I mentioned it was Griller, Zeke would be all over it. But I had to talk to Sky before I did that. That information would set all kinds of wheels in motion, and she was the one who should make that decision.
For now, I just told Zeke what he needed to know. “The Skull’s her husband. And he’s after me, too.”
He groaned. “This is not good.”
“It’s not good,” I agreed. “I need your help. But there may be something in it for you, too.”
“S’all right. Don’t worry about it.” He dismissed my suggestion of reward, as if he found it insulting. Of course he’d help me out without getting something in return. But I knew there might very well be something to this situation that would interest Zeke quite a bit.
“I’ll put you up for the night,” Zeke assured me.
“Thanks, man.”
“When’ll you get here?”
“Little over an hour.” I ended the call, grateful for his allegiance. Zeke was a criminal. I had no illusions about that. But he was a criminal in my court, and right now that was what we needed.
Back in the car, I pulled us back out onto the road. I couldn’t see anything suspicious in the mirrors, but I also knew the Skulls had eyes and ears all over. It wasn’t Griller following us we had to worry about. It was some other guy in the club already out near where we were getting word. They knew the truck I drove. If they spotted us, it would not be good.
All of You: Jax & Sky (All In Book 3) Page 13