Page 15 of Jaxon

"Then why the hell did you walk away from me?" I pulled her into my arms and pressed my mouth down over hers. She didn't resist. Far from it. Her body melted into mine, and for a few minutes, it was just the two of us. The club, the music, the annoying patrons all disappeared and it was just me and this woman who had in one short afternoon wrapped herself around my heart.

I lifted my mouth from hers, and she gazed up at me with glassy eyes. "Oh, Jax, what a fucking mess this is."

"Gidge?" A female voice floated down the narrow passage. The woman's eyes rounded as she looked at me, then she dashed away.

"Shit, that's Angie. We're here celebrating her boyfriend's birthday." Bridget stiffened in my arms. "She's going to tell Alex. Angie thrives on fucking drama. You should go. I've already caused you enough trouble."

I had no intention of letting her go. "Not afraid of that dick. Come home with me. Now that I've got you back in my arms, I don't want to lose you."

"What the fuck!" Alex's yell silenced every voice in the vicinity and all eyes turned our direction. "You. It's fucking you again."

Bridget ducked beneath my arms and hurried toward him. "We were just talking," she said briskly. "Let's go." She reached for Alex. Instead, he snatched her wrist—roughly.

"You tell Angie to walk you to the car," he said. Two men appeared behind Alex. They'd been the ones standing in their friend circle. Apparently, Alex decided to bring some friends along to complete his humiliation.

Alex had released his hold on Bridget, but she didn't follow his order. She reached for his arm. He swung it out of reach, and his fist came up and caught her on the chin. Bridget stumbled back. It seemed accidental, but that did nothing to slow the rush of adrenaline. My own fists had rounded into tight balls. I knew I could destroy the asshole, so I'd have to hold back, but it wasn't going to be easy.

I stomped down the passage. "Did you just hit her?"

"It was an accident," Bridget said. "I'm fine."

Alex stepped back. Some of the color washed from his face. His two buddies stepped forward as he moved back. One of them looked as if he spent some time at the gym, but as far as I was concerned, they were all Biffs, the kind of guys who'd rather not leave the club with bloody noses and black eyes. What I hadn't noticed was the massive guy who'd just joined them. The way he was dressed, in all black and not in fluffy designer duds like his pals, assured me he was someone's personal bodyguard. He and his beady-eyed glare were easy enough to ignore.

I stood just inches from Alex. "Hey, fuckface, no wonder she jumped ship just to get away from you."

Alex sneered at me. "You piece of shit. Guess I'll press charges after all. Kidnapping should keep you locked up for years."

"Do whatever the fuck you think is right, but I'm leaving here with Bridget," I said.

His laugh was as obnoxious as his pale blue dress shirt. "That's what you fucking think." He stepped back and motioned to the security guard. "Hank, get this guy out of here."

"Did you bring your babysitter?" I asked.

Hank pushed between the Biffs and reached for my arm. I yanked it out of reach. "Seriously, Hank, how does it feel to sell your soul to the fucking devil? You work for these weasels? You should just let me teach them a lesson."

Hank wasn't taking my suggestion. He reached for my arm again, and I threw a fist into his giant blockhead. It hurt my knuckles plenty, but his head merely bobbed back and forth a few times. I stared at my hand. "Shit, Hank, is your head filled with rocks?"

I'd pushed it one quip too far, something I'd been known to do. The tables and booths nearby had started to take notice of the altercation happening near the restroom entrance. I just needed one thing, then I was happy to get the fuck out of there. I ignored Hank's glare and found Bridget. I reached out my hand. "Come with me. We belong together."

Alex laughed. "You are seriously punching above your weight, trash. Hank, I'm done here."

I looked at Alex and shook my head. "Hold on, Biff, while I call over my security detail and then they can hash it out."

I saw movement from the side of my eye. Bridget yelled out, "Jax, watch out!"

Hank managed to land a solid blow as he brought his fist down hard on my shoulder. I creased over in pain, and it took me a second to catch my breath. Voices and laughing slowed to a whisper, and someone had stopped the music. I was still catching my breath as I straightened. Work was going to suck tomorrow.

"Fuck, Hank, didn't think you'd be the type to play dirty."

He drew back his giant fist, but I ducked it and plowed a fist into his belly. It was less hard than his head. Hank doubled over and stumbled back a few steps like a great wild beast who'd just taken an arrow to the gut. I spotted Griffin's annoyed scowl in the blur of faces surrounding us. His friend Bear was with him.

Hank recuperated fast and stomped toward me. He threw his body into mine, and we both flew back. I hit the corner of a table before crashing through it. Glasses and booze flew everywhere. Hank landed on top of me and knocked the wind out of my lungs. Griffin's face appeared again. This time he was really pissed. He came over and kicked Hank in the side so he'd roll off of me.

"Get off him, you fucking moose." Griffin delivered another blow to Hank's side. Hank yelled out in pain and grabbed for Griffin's foot as he rolled away. Griffin kicked him hard on the chin before he could trap his foot.

Then, out of the blue, Alex grew a pair and sucker punched Griffin in the head. Griffin spun around; his face filled with rage.

"Wait—" I pushed to my feet. "He's mine."

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