Page 36 of Protect

Jaxon turns first. He wraps himself around me, ignoring how I stiffen, then rubs my back tenderly. I find my fingers winding into his shirt again. I tremor and try to silence my sniffles against the inside of his shoulder.

I won’t cry.

I won’t cry.

My tears would give my dad too much power. I won’t give him any more than he’s taken from me.

Thirteen

JAXON

Dimitri is staying outside, watching Coach. I refused the first shift. I meant what I said to Hope. He’s not touching her again and if I had my way, he’d be bleeding out and Dimitriwould be digging a shallow grave for him. Three feet is perfect for coverage and for plants to grow. It’ll hide him better.

Hope refused to go back into the bedroom, which is understandable, so she’s curled up in a ball on the couch under a blanket, her face against the back of the couch. I keep one hand on her ankle so she knows I’m here. If she doesn’t want to be alone, I won’t let her be. She won’t be able to question it.

Knox rubs the back of his neck, then looks at his knuckles. He massages them around the open wounds and bruises coming in. He kept saying it wasn’t the time to talk earlier and I don’t know if Hope is asleep, but I can’t wait anymore.

“I need answers, Knox,” I say quietly.

Hope squirms slightly and I rub her ankle. Knox stares at her for a long moment and leans back against the wall he’s been sitting against. “I tied him to a tree after beating the shit out of him. I should have kicked him in the dick more, made it fucking useless, seen if I could actually bust a ball.”

It doesn’t answer the question of why he’s still alive, which pisses me off. That requires an answer considering all he’s done to Hope. He hurt her. He abused her. He raped her. He took her from us. He destroyed her life a second time.

“He can’t be trusted while alive,” I say.

Knox eyes drop to the floor. “You made yourself clear.”

“The only way he’s not a threat to her is if he’s dead,” I argue. “You really want to go the legal route with this?”

“I don’t want any of this,” he snaps.

“Yeah, neither does she. We’re supposed to protect her and—”

“I know!” He raises his voice.

Hope tightens herself into a smaller ball. I rest back and sigh. “Are we too loud for you?”

No answer. I start to move away from her, so I can have a real conversation with Knox, but she reaches out to me. Her voice is a weak croak. I’m sure it hurts for her to talk. With how badlybruised she is, I can’t imagine breathing is any easier. “Don’t leave me alone.”

Knox’s nostrils flair and he looks away. After a moment of hesitation, he reaches into his bag, pulls something out, and slides it over to me. I don’t recognize it, but after I open it, I realize it’s her diary. I skim a few pages and immediately throw it back at him.

“More of a reason for him to be dead,” I hiss.

He shakes his head. “That’s the point, Jaxon. I read all of that. All of it and more. I know you—”

“I saw plenty,” I hiss.

Hope doesn’t stir at that. I hope she’s finding sleep. I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. I don’t need to think about the videos I saw. It’s just going to piss me off, lead to me going outside and taking care of Coach. I try to calm my breathing.

Not for Coach. He doesn’t deserve mercy. Hope does.

It’s too much for her.

In too short a time.

Too much has happened and a person can only be pushed so far. Knox is proof of that.

I need to keep my cool and stay in control for Hope.

---