I can sense his gaze on me. My back is turned to the bedroom door, and I’m pretending to be asleep. I regulate my breathing, trying not to reveal that I’m awake.
But I doubt I’m fooling him. He knows me too well.
Honestly, my body gives me away every time he’s near. It’s been like this since we first met. The pull I feel toward him has only grown stronger over time.
It’s agonizing not to give in to his intense gaze, not to turn around and offer him a reassuring smile. But I just…can’t.
I need to be strong. I need to prove to him—and to everyone—that I deserve to be by his side. If I don’t stand my ground now, he’ll never respect me.
And I won’t respect myself if I give in to him now. I can feel the tension radiating from him, but I refuse to budge. Finally, with a deep sigh, I hear him undress and slide into bed, careful not to touch me.
“I know you’re awake, baby. You forget that I know everything about you. I know you told me not to come back until I have an answer. But I just need to be near you right now. So much happened tonight after I left you in the bath. I’m dying to tell you, but it can wait. I’ll wait to tell you everything when I come back with the news you want to hear. I’ll make them listen, baby. For you, I’ll even beg. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you get your wish. I love you.”
Whatever happened tonight after he left must have been significant. But still, I resist the urge to touch him. The time that’s passed since I last saw him has left me yearning for his touch.
Jax finally accepts that I’m not going to give in and talk to him. He kisses my neck softly, right where my pulse is racing—a clear sign that I’m awake. The heat from his lips sends a direct pulse to my traitorous pussy.
I almost let out a soft moan, but I manage to hold it in, biting my lip so hard I taste my own blood. He rolls back onto his side with a deep sigh.
I can barely sleep. The adrenaline from the night’s events, Jax’s cryptic news, everything is churning inside me. Frustrated, I throw back the covers and stomp to the bedroom door.
I see Jax’s hopeful face in my peripheral vision, but I ignore him. He doesn’t exist to me until I get an answer. I’m determined to prove my point, even if it means losing him.
I stomp downstairs, heading for the gym. I don’t care that I’m only wearing shorts and a crop top—not exactly gym attire, but it’ll do. I hear loud music coming from the gym and feel a pang of apprehension.
I hope it’s not Phoenix, Adira, or worse, Maddox. I’m not in the mood for another confrontation, especially not at this hour. I open the gym door and freeze.
It’s Emma, beating the hell out of a punching bag.
From the look on her face, I can tell that whatever Jax has to tell me involves her. As I get closer, she looks at me but doesn’t seem to register my presence. I see bruises on her neck, and her face is devoid of emotion.
She looks like a demon. She continues to punch and kick the bag, ignoring me. Under the circumstances, I prefer it this way.
I have my own demons to fight.
I put on my boxing gloves and move to another punching bag. There are four in total in this massive gym. With all the people around us, everyone is bound to get angry.
Add in the constant need to train, and it’s no wonder they built a gym the size of my club. I put in my earphones and turn on my music, drowning out Emma’s music and the thoughts in my head.
I push the thought of what could have happened if Jax hadn’t found me to the back of my mind. It’s too dark a place to dwell on right now.
I lose myself in punching and kicking the bag. I don’t notice when Emma leaves. I’m trapped in my own world, focusing on my plan to kill Giovanni.
The scene plays over and over in my head. The violence I want to unleash on him would scare most people. I’m not usually a violent person, but Giovanni has pushed me too far this time.
I finally take a break and see Maddox training in another corner of the gym. He must have come in while I was lost in my thoughts. He doesn’t acknowledge me, which is fine by me.
I grab a towel and wipe my face, careful to avoid the sore spots. As I head for the door, I see Maddox watching me with a concerned look. I ignore him and head upstairs to our bedroom.
Jax isn’t in bed anymore. He must have showered and started his day. When I glance at the clock, I see it’s already past seven.
Time to start my day, too.
