Page 23 of Jax
“That’s not the point,” he said, sharper now. “Youwatchedher break the rules. You let her try.”
“I was tracking her.”
“Bullshit. You watched it get interesting.”
“I waited until I had proof.”
He stepped closer, eyes narrowing. “You waited because you wanted to see what she’d do. You wanted to chase her.”
That one landed hard enough to make me shift my weight, jaw clenched so tight it ached.
“And you liked it,” he said, softer now, like the quiet would make it hurt less.
I turned away, the weapons room door within reach. The hallway felt too fucking claustrophobic, like the walls had shrunk by inches. Like the air itself was watching.
“You smiled when you brought her back in.”
“That wasn’t a smile,” I muttered, hand finding the knob like it might shut this whole thing out.
“Then why the fuck did I clock it when I checked the security camera?”
I pushed into the room, hoping space might kill the heat crawling up my spine. But Niko followed, silent and surgical. He didn’t need volume. Just his force of presence. That was his weapon of choice.
“You enjoyed it. The fight. The look in her eyes when she thought she might get away. When she realized she wouldn’t.”
I grabbed the bag, rope visible now, trailing slightly from the side pocket like it wanted to be noticed. Niko’s gaze tracked it instantly, and something in his posture changed; less sharp, more wary.
“Really?” he asked, quieter now. “That’swhere you’re headed?”
“I need space,” I said, not looking at him.
“You don’t tie to forget,” he countered. “That’s not how you play.”
“Maybe I’m not playing tonight.”
The words came out flat. Hollow. Like they’d been sitting in my mouth too long.
Niko moved to block the door, still not touching me, but there. That was enough. “She’s not a toy.”
“I know that.”
“Do you?”
His voice dipped low. Serious now. “Jax, it looks like you’re about to take this out on the wrong girl because this one rattled your cage.”
I didn’t answer. Couldn’t. Because he wasn’t wrong, and we both knew it.
“She’s not yours,” he said.
I looked at him. Finally. “You sure about that? You and Carrick both laid claim pretty fast, Nikolai. Why shouldn’t I?”
“That’s not the point.”
Silence spread between us like oil. Heavy. Slick. Waiting for a spark.
And then I gave him one.
“Do you think I’m the threat to this operation, Niko?”
