Finding Trust (Finding Series, Book 2) (13 page)

With that, Gray left and Dane tried to focus on the book in his hand but gave up and put it back on the shelf. He’d been kidding himself to think he could get his life back to normal because the life he’d had before Jax hadn’t even been that. He’d been surviving and that was it. And it just wasn’t enough anymore.

Dane put the rest of the books he had tucked under his arm down and left the bookstore. He pulled out his phone and sent a quick text letting Rhys know he was in the park and then tucked the phone back in his jacket. His eyes scanned the area around the small pond and a niggle of fear went through him when he saw that the bench Mrs. Greene had been sitting on was empty.

A loud scream pierced the air and he tracked the sound to the far edge of the park. He began running as his brain tried to process what he was seeing. Mrs. Greene lay on the ground at the bottom of a small hill that led up to the street. Had she fallen? He scanned the surrounding ground around her for Emma.

“Stop her!” Mrs. Greene screamed. When she saw him running towards her she pointed up towards the top of the hill and said, “She took her! She took Emma!”

Dane’s lungs burned as he flew past Mrs. Greene and dashed up the hill. He heard Emma crying before he saw her and finally located his daughter in the arms of a woman who was running down the sidewalk.

“Stop!” he screamed. He was within feet of the woman when she suddenly turned and pointed a gun at him.

“Belinda?” he said in shock as he recognized Isaac’s mother.

“Stay back!” she shouted as she waved the gun at him. She looked nothing like the regal, put-together socialite he remembered. Her usually coiffed hair lay limply around her gaunt face and her frantic eyes darted all around her as she clutched Emma to her. She began backing away from him and towards a car parked at the curb. He slowly moved forward every time she took her eyes off him long enough to search out the car.

“I told you to stay back!” she screamed when she realized he was closer to her now than he had been a few moments earlier.

“Belinda, what are you doing?” he asked as panic welled inside of him. She was waving the gun so much that he feared it would discharge and hit his daughter.

Suddenly Belinda’s eyes tracked over his shoulder and the gun was directed at something behind him.

“Put it down,” he heard that strong, familiar voice say and a combination of fear and relief went through him.

He watched as Belinda’s gun slowly moved off him and he realized Jax was drawing her fire away by moving off to the side. “Belinda, please, you’re scaring Emma,” he said softly.

A horrified expression crossed Belinda’s features and she glanced down at Emma and began trying to soothe her. He used the temporary distraction to glance at Jax who had his gun pointed right at Belinda’s head. Dane knew Jax had the shot he needed to end this but instead of pulling the trigger, he gave Dane a subtle nod.

“She likes that song you used to sing Isaac when he was little,” Dane said quietly and Belinda snapped her eyes up, her gaze darting between him and Jax. Thankfully, her gun remained pointed at the ground.

“Isaac tried to teach it to me but I could never remember the words.”

Dane saw a flash of pain go through Belinda at the mention of her son but then her eyes dropped back to Emma and she began to softly sing. He was glad when Emma quieted and he saw Belinda smile as she sang the final words. A glance over his shoulder showed that several people had collected on the other side of the park and were watching the scene unfold. Gray was at the base of the hill comforting Mrs. Greene and Rhys and Sheriff Granger, both armed, were at the far corner of the street.

“Isaac was afraid of the dark so I’d sing to him until he fell asleep every night,” Belinda whispered.

“He was lucky to have you.”

Belinda glanced up at him with watery eyes. “I miss him.”

“Me too,” Dane admitted. “But he wouldn’t want this, Belinda. You know that.”

She nodded and then reached down to kiss Emma on the forehead. “I didn’t mean for it to go this far,” she said.

“You hired those men to go after Dane, didn’t you?” he heard Jax ask.

“They weren’t supposed to hurt him,” she said desperately. “They were just supposed to find him and take Emma when he was distracted.”

“Lady, you can’t be that naïve,” Jax snapped.

“Belinda,” Dane said gently, needing to get the focus back on Emma. “None of that matters. What matters is that Emma needs you in her life.”

Tears began to fall down Belinda’s face. “I’m sorry, Dane. I’m sorry I blamed you for what happened. I spoiled Isaac terribly after his father died and sometimes he made bad choices.”

“He was a good man, Belinda,” Dane said simply.

Belinda nodded and finally lowered the gun. She carefully placed it on the sidewalk and then walked up to him. She gave Emma one more kiss before handing his daughter to him and then she stepped back as Sherriff Granger moved in.

Dane stifled a cry of relief at the feel of Emma in his arms and he held her close as he watched Belinda being escorted to the police station. As the adrenaline began to wear off, his entire body started to shake and he wished in that moment that a pair of strong arms would wrap around him and tell him everything was okay. But he knew before he even turned to look that Jax was already gone.

“I’m sorry, Sir. I’m afraid I can’t give you that information,” the receptionist said politely. “But if you’d like, I can call Mr. Reid and let him know you’re trying to reach him,” she offered.

Dane glanced around the immaculate lobby and bit back his disappointment. He knew that getting Jax’s address from the company he worked for would be a long shot but he also knew that showing up unannounced was likely his only hope of getting Jax to listen to him.

“Hey Bridget,” a young man said as he entered the lobby and began walking towards the side door.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Bradshaw,” the receptionist said.

“Are you ever going to call me Logan, Bridget?”

“Of course, Mr. Bradshaw,” the woman said with a smile.

The man chuckled and began to open the door that Dane assumed led to the offices, but he stopped when his eyes spotted him and Emma.

“Everything okay here?” he asked.

“This is Dr. Winters. He was looking for Mr. Reid,” the receptionist said.

Dane picked up Emma’s car seat off the floor and said, “Thanks for your time,” to the receptionist.

“Are you Dane?”

Dane stopped with his hand on the door leading back out to the elevators. The dark haired man had walked back around to the front of the reception desk and was studying him curiously.

“Yes.”

“You’re Jax’s friend,” the guy said.

Dane managed a nod.

“Bridget, would you ask Dom to meet me at the diner?”

“Of course, Mr. Bradshaw,” she said.

“I’m Logan Bradshaw,” the man said as he extended his hand out to Dane.

“Dane Winters.”

“Do you have a car, Dane or should we take mine?” Logan asked as he bent down to get a closer look at Emma.

“I have a rental,” Dane said in confusion.

“Good. You mind if I drive? Seattle traffic at lunch time can be kind of a mess if you don’t know where you’re going.”

“Where are we going?”

Logan gave Emma a quick tickle before standing. “To see Jax, of course.”

***

“You okay?” Logan asked as he pulled the car out of the parking garage.

“Yeah,” Dane managed to say though Logan’s expression said the other man didn’t believe him for a second. “How did you know I was Jax’s friend?” Dane asked, the term friend sounding completely wrong on his tongue. “Did he tell you about me?” he asked hopefully.

“No, Jax isn’t much of a talker. Cade told me about you.”

Dane wanted to groan at that. Cade wasn’t exactly his biggest fan. He must not have managed to wipe the frown off his face quickly enough at the mention of Cade because Logan laughed and said, “Yeah, Cade has that effect on a lot of people.”

Dane sighed. “We didn’t exactly hit it off when we met,” he admitted.

“Cade can be a little rough around the edges but get him on your side and you’ve got a friend for life.”

Dane fell silent as Logan maneuvered through the crowded streets. As beautiful as the city was, the throngs of people and cars had Dane missing home. But he would give it up in a heartbeat if it meant he could have the life he wanted with Jax.

“Everything will work out, Dane. Have faith,” Logan said gently.

Tears stung Dane’s eyes. “I think I’m too late,” he admitted. “All he asked of me was not to break his heart and that’s exactly what I did. Maybe it’s not fair to ask for a second chance.”

Logan laughed softly. “Never be afraid to ask for a second chance. Dom had to give me a lot of chances before I finally got it right.” Logan pulled the car to a stop in front of a newer looking building with at least a dozen floors. “Parking’s kind of a pain around here so why don’t you head up while I look for a spot? It’s 7B.”

Dane swallowed back his fear and nodded. He got Emma out of her car seat and headed inside. The elevator to the seventh floor took only seconds and then he was standing in front of Jax’s door. He began to shake as he realized his entire life was about to change and he forced himself to knock on the door before he chickened out. But when he saw the man standing on the other side of the door as it opened, his stomach bottomed out and agony tore through him.

“Dane,” Cade said in surprise as he finished buttoning up his shirt.

He was too late. Dane felt his knees give out and he managed to lock them just before he crumpled to the floor.

“Jax is in the shower,” Cade said. “Come on in. He should be out in a second.”

“Uh, no, that’s okay. I made a mistake,” he managed to get out. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled as he turned to leave.

“Dane, wait,” he heard Cade call but he was already moving towards the elevator. How had he let this happen? Jax was his. Jax had chosen him.

Dane stopped in his tracks. Jax
was
his. Jax loved
him
. Jax wanted
him
. Dane swung back around and nearly slammed into Cade.

“Dane, listen,” Cade began but Dane brushed past him and stalked into Jax’s apartment. As soon as Cade entered behind him Dane went on the attack.

“He’s mine, Cade. I don’t give a shit what you think of me, but he’s mine until he tells me he isn’t. I don’t care how long you’ve known him – you had your chance.”

“Dane-” Cade interjected, his hands out in supplication.

“I may not be some hot, gun-toting, save the world badass like you but I’m a good man. I’m a good father and a loyal friend and I take care of the people I love. I deserve him and he deserves me. So go ahead, try to run me off again and see what happens. Because I love him and I am not leaving until he tells me to go.”

“Cade.”

Dane turned around to see Jax standing in a doorway behind him and heat flooded his system at the sight of the man who’d changed everything he’d ever known about himself. Seeing Jax with wet hair and wearing just a pair of jeans was a harsh reminder of what he’d walked in on but he shoved it away because it didn’t matter.

“Jax, he thinks-” Cade started to say but Jax just shook his head, his dark gaze never leaving Dane’s.

God, how had it taken him this long to realize how much he loved this man? Why had he let the voices from his past hold more sway over his decisions than his own heart?

“Hey guys,” he heard Logan say from somewhere behind him but he was too lost in Jax’s gaze to care at the moment. “Everything okay?” the man asked warily.

Dane’s heart lurched against his chest as Jax closed the distance between them. He finally took his eyes off of Dane long enough to focus on Emma and the second he held out his hands, Dane handed her over.

“Hi baby girl,” he said softly as he kissed her check and let her grab his face. He held her against his chest as he stepped past Dane.

“You mind watching her for a bit?” he asked Logan.

“Sure, no problem. We’ll be at the diner,” Logan said.

Dane turned around to see Jax handing Emma to Cade who shook his head. “Jesus, Jax, give her to Logan.”

“She knows you,” Jax said coolly and gave Cade no choice but to take her. The guy acted like he was being handed a bomb.

“You okay with this?” Logan asked Dane and Dane didn’t even hesitate to answer.

“Yes. Her diaper bag is in the back seat of the car.”

“Okay, we’ll see you guys in a bit,” Logan said as he herded Cade out the door.

Jax closed the door and then locked it and a surge of energy went through Dane. Jax was quiet – too quiet. But he also hadn’t told him to get the hell out yet.

“You’re okay with me sending your daughter off with virtual strangers?”

Jax’s cool tone had him on edge but he managed to respond. “You trust them. I trust you.”

“So now you trust me? Just like that?”

Dane couldn’t blame Jax for not believing him. “No, not ‘just like that.’ It took longer than it should have but I see it now. You would never hurt me like the others did. Like my parents did.”

Jax moved slowly towards him, his dark eyes studying him. “And what about what happened between me and Cade?”

Dane dropped his eyes. “I hate it,” he admitted. “But it doesn’t change anything.”

He felt Jax’s fingers under his chin and then his head was being tipped up so he was forced to look into Jax’s eyes. “And if I told you nothing happened?”

“I would believe you.”

Jax’s fingers caressed his skin and Dane shuddered at the need that shot through him.

“I asked you if you loved me and you said no,” Jax whispered in a pained voice. “You lied to me.”

God, this was torture. The torment he had put this man through...

“I’m so sorry, Jax,” he said, a sob catching in his throat. A tear managed to slip down his cheek and he felt Jax’s thumb swipe across his skin to wipe it away.

“Just don’t do it again,” Jax said softly right before he covered Dane’s mouth with his.

***

Jax felt the tension in his body melt away as Dane let out a little cry and then wrapped his arms around him and returned his kiss.

He’d just stepped out of the shower when he heard the knocking at the front door and then a couple minutes later he’d felt a rush of joy followed by a sharp jab of pain at the sound of Dane’s voice. He’d managed to get his pants on and was preparing to go into the living room and send Dane away when he’d heard Dane doing exactly what he’d wanted him to do so long ago – he was fighting for him. For them.

But his wounds ran deep and even Dane’s admission of love couldn’t take away the cold sense of betrayal that had continued to course through him. As much as he had wanted what Dane was offering, he hadn’t been sure he could put his faith in someone that would never be able to do the same. Until Dane had uttered those words that Jax had needed to hear. Dane trusted him. He’d seen the trust in Dane’s eyes and he’d known in that instant that he could have the life he wanted and the revelation had nearly brought him to his knees.

Jax forced himself to pull back from Dane and held his face as he said, “Nothing happened between me and Cade. He came over this morning to work out and he used the shower in my guest room to get cleaned up so we could go meet the guys for lunch.” He saw the relief go through Dane and he also saw that the man believed him exactly as he’d said he would.

“I love you, Jax. I want to make a life with you. Whether it’s here or in Montana or wherever you want to go, I don’t care.” He pulled Jax down for a brief kiss. “I can’t promise that I won’t have my little moments where I get scared or say the wrong thing-”

“I’ll bring you back, Dane,” Jax promised as he wrapped his arms around Dane. “Whenever the noise in your head gets too loud, I’ll bring you back.”

Jax kissed Dane as he began backing him towards his room. By the time they reached his bed, he’d gotten Dane’s shirt off and Dane was struggling to get the button on Jax’s jeans free. “Missed you so much,” Dane whispered against his lips. Dane’s tongue stroked into his mouth and dueled with his while Dane’s fingers finished loosening his jeans. Rough palms caressed the globes of his ass as Dane scorched a trail of kisses down his neck and along his collar bone. And then Dane was sliding to his knees as his hands pushed Jax’s jeans and underwear down.

Between Dane’s expert fingers and hot mouth, Jax was shaking with desire long before Dane sucked him into his mouth and he tangled his fingers into Dane’s dark hair and gently fucked into the lushness that was drowning him in liquid fire. Dane’s eyes lifted to meet his as he opened his jaw wider and angled his head so Jax could get further down his throat. The open love he saw staring back at him was too much and he reached down to pull Dane to his feet, meeting his mouth halfway and plunging his tongue inside.

He eased Dane down onto the bed and relished in the feel of the hard body that fit his so perfectly. Dane separated his legs so that Jax fit between them and their cocks brushed against each other. Jax reached into his nightstand and pulled out the lube. But when he went to grab a condom, Dane reached for his hand and said, “I want to feel you, Jax. All of you.”

Jax was too overwhelmed to speak so he nodded and reached for the lube. His eyes stayed on Dane as he searched out Dane’s opening and brushed the tip of his finger over it. Dane bit his lip as he did it over and over and then moaned when Jax’s finger breached him. He took his time working more lube into Dane’s tight body, reveling in the sounds his lover made as his body hummed with excitement. As he worked, he leaned down and ran his tongue up the length of Dane’s cock.

“Yes,” Dane hissed as Jax sucked the tip into his mouth and applied suction even as his tongue traced every ridge. He let another finger slide into Dane and Dane shoved his dick farther into Jax’s mouth. A hand closed over his head and held him in place as Dane began fucking into him as Jax sawed his fingers in and out of Dane’s rippling body.

“More, Jax, please!” Dane moaned as he sat up, forcing Jax to release his cock. Dane pulled Jax’s fingers from his body and grabbed him by the hips as he lifted his ass. A hot hand closed over his cock and guided him into position and then Dane was bearing down on him.