Harley (West Coast Rock Star #1) (16 page)

Chapter Twenty-Six

It was possibly the dumbest thing he had ever done.

Cade was a smart woman. She would find out soon what had happened. He still couldn’t believe he had let his guard down. The press had been all over him and Cade for the past week and he could use a break. All he’d wanted was to get to Red Ink Studio and get a damned tattoo.

Sometime that week, Jax successfully contacted Red, his favourite tattoo artist and positively the most talented woman in the field, for an appointment. She had done ninety percent of the images on his body, which acted as her own canvas. Red had agreed on a time and off he went to see her.

Jax wanted to give Zee a break for the day; the man had been overworked since the paparazzi circus had begun. What could go wrong with a secret rendezvous with his tattoo artist? No one else knew about it, except for him, Red, and Zee. But Zee insisted he would feel more secure if he could at least drive Jax around the city. When he arrived at the studio, it had been just him and Red.

Red had also been under a lot of stress. He could tell by the way she bit on one corner of her bottom lip. Normally, only her brows would draw closer while she was working and there was serenity on her entire face, but their conversation about the man she had been seeing had caused her tension. At the end, she had still done a great job with what he’d asked from her.

Two names: Cadence and Harley, written forever on his arm. He couldn’t wait to show it to both of them, hoping it would symbolize his utmost devotion.

Before he left the studio, he spoke to Red, hoping to get her to relax and give her a different viewpoint than the one she’d been receiving. “Do not be afraid to love,” he began. “Dig deep and you will learn the truth yourself. And don’t worry, if you fall, I know he will be there to catch you.”

He had met the man who’d turned Red restless, Wolfe Wainwright, one powerful man. So powerful that when Wolfe had called Jax to change Jax’s appointment with Red a while ago, Jax couldn’t do anything but agree. Wolfe was the type of person people didn’t say no to. He was the kind who could make or break his career, among other things if he wasn’t careful. But Jax had heard a lot of rumours regarding Wolfe. Jax tended not to put his nose in other people’s business, but from his own experience, sometimes giving love a chance was what needed to be done.

As soon as he was out of the studio, having left through the backdoor in Red’s office, the sun blinded him. When he moved to block the light with his sunglasses, his arm ached. He should have been used to this kind of soreness. Zee, who had been waiting inside the car, stepped out and handed him his cellphone.

Jax didn’t like Zee’s expression. Something didn’t feel right. He hoped it wasn’t anything to do with Harley or Cade. He reached to grab his phone.

“Fiona’s been calling every five minutes or so. I answered a couple of times and she screamed at me,” Zee informed him while they both got back into the car.

“Did she say what she wants?” Jax stared at the buzzing phone on his hand.

“Nope. Just a lot of senseless screeching.”

Before he answered the call, Jax took in a deep breath. “Fiona.”

“Jax! Jax!”

“Yes, Fi, I can hear you.” Jax pinched the bridge of his nose. He could almost feel a headache starting. “What do you want?” He didn’t waste any pleasantness on his ex. It never mattered.

“Can we talk?” Fiona’s voice faltered, and although it should have calmed Jax, the opposite happened. She was up to something.

“Talk now.”

“No, not over the phone. Please. I’m in my apartment. Can you come?”

Jax stiffened in his seat. Fiona wasn’t supposed to be in New York City. Was it a coincidence that she was in the city at the same time his concerts were on? His mind ran rampant. What could she have possibly found out? Would it be the time Harley had left LA on her own to find Cade in New Jersey? Would this be about his relationship with Cade again? Fiona had been too vocal about her dislike regarding his involvement with Cade. Perhaps, if he sat and reasoned with her, she would stop telling the press her opinions. Yeah, and pigs fly. Fiona would never stop harassing them until she got what she wanted.

Jax drew in a sharp breath. “Fine. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” He ignored the curiosity on Zee’s face. He turned to Zee. “I guess we’re talking. She’s at her apartment.”

“You sure that’s wise?”

“When it comes to Fiona, you can never be sure, but what choice do I have? You know what she’s like,” he reasoned. Zee had been working with Jax for many years. He had been witness to Fiona’s antics far too many times. Jax trusted the man implicitly. Zee had the patience of a saint when it came to dealing with Fiona. Jax wasn’t a praying man, but he looked to the skies and silently hoped he would receive such patience while he talked to Fiona.

Something was off. Jax could sense it in the air. It prickled on the back of his neck, but he shrugged it off, convinced that he was being paranoid. As much as Fiona was a pain in his ass, she wasn’t dangerous to others, only to herself. And if he didn’t get back to the car in ten minutes, Zee would check on him, as they’d agreed.

Even before he could raise a hand to knock on the door, it swung open.

“Thanks for coming,” she said, letting him through.

Fiona saying thanks was either a miracle or a bad omen. Jax looked past Fiona to see if there were other people present, a hidden cameraman, maybe? It wouldn’t be the first time. Jax didn’t step forward. He shoved his hands in his pockets and peered at Fiona through his sunglasses. Fiona had hers on too. She’d lost an incredible amount of weight since getting hitched. If she admitted to using again, it wouldn’t be a surprise to Jax. Underneath those glasses was the truth.

“Don’t you want to come in?” Her voice was sweet. Too sweet. It didn’t suit her. She was definitely up to something.

Jax shook his head. “This is fine. We can talk here. What do you want?”

Fiona bit down on her bottom lip, then turned to sit on the cream sofa, leaving the door open. “We can sit, you know. I’m a little tired from my flight.”

“You have two seconds to tell me what’s up or I’m out,” Jax warned, keeping his spot outside the threshold. When she didn’t say anything, Jax pulled the doorknob. “I’m outta here!”

“No, Jax, please!” Fiona leaned over the back of the sofa, and almost tripped as she ran back toward Jax. “I’m sorry.”

The words halted Jax from going forward. He looked over to where Fiona stood, hanging onto the doorframe. “Sorry?”

Fiona switched to sullen, but Jax wasn’t buying it. She’d had acting lessons since she was a kid. Although she’d never had any huge parts in movies or TV, Fiona was a real drama queen. She stretched out a hand to him and that was when Jax saw the large contusion on her forearm. Fiona tried to pull her arm back but Jax held onto it.

“What the hell is this?” Concern filled Jax. Many years ago, he had cared for Fiona, and as much as she became a pain in his ass, she didn’t deserve to get hurt. Jax removed his glasses, moved closer, and studied her face. She had more foundation caked on her skin. Jax pulled off the sunglasses and saw the purple mark around Fiona’s left eye. “Did Antonio do this?”

Fiona tried to smile, but it didn’t work. She sputtered, “He didn’t mean it. It was an accident.”

“Was this the first time?” When Fiona evaded his gaze, he received his answer. “How long has this been going on?”

Fiona burst into tears, sobbing into her palms. “I made such a huge mistake, Jax.” She held onto his arms, her face pressing against his chest. Jax led her into the living room and sat her on the sofa. “I thought it was just a little play, you know. A little kink, but…it escalated. He never hit me on the face before.”

“When did it start?”

Many would think that Jax shouldn’t have been concerned, but Fiona was still Harley’s mother. Somehow, he needed to know the truth and try to protect Harley. This could be devastating to his little girl. Through role reversal, Harley had been the one to take care of Fiona, even when she was much younger. Furthermore, if Fiona’s husband was vile enough to beat his wife, how would he treat Harley if she was ever around the man?

“About a week after we got married,” Fiona replied, wiping tears off her cheeks.

“You have to report this, Fi.” He held onto her hand and tried to get her to look into his eyes. She had to realize the horrible effect this could have on all of them, especially Harley, if it didn’t stop.

Fiona shook her head. “No. I’m divorcing him. It’s just been so bad, Jax.”

“When did that happen?” He pointed at her eye.

As though she had already forgotten the existence of the bruise, Fiona raised her hand and touched the tender area. “He’s been complaining with all that’s been going on with the press. He doesn’t like that I’m talking to the reporters. Antonio thinks I still want to be with you and that’s why I’m telling them my side. But you know how it is, Jax.” She shrugged.

Yes, he knew how it was, and he knew how she could be. If there was a chance she could be a star again, to get another piece of those fifteen minutes of fame, she’d grab it.

“Oh my god,” Fiona blurted out, then yanked Jax’s arm. “You had her name tattooed on your arm?” Her voice echoed through the room. “What’s the deal with this, Jax?”

Jax pulled back. There was no need to sugar coat this. “I’m in love with her, Fi. I want to be with her.”

Her jaw dropped. She was speechless for a minute, but Jax could almost hear the gears grinding in her head. “I thought you were just having fun.”

“No, Fi.” Jax sighed. “I’m going to marry her. I want a real family.”

“We can be a family!”

Jax couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh. “That’s ridiculous, and you know it. You’re not the mothering type and I simply don’t want to be with you.”

Fiona slapped a hand over her chest. “That hurts!”

“Come on, Fi. Don’t do this. You know there’s no chance in—”

His words were cut off by the loud bang of the door hitting the wall. Before he could react, Antonio launched himself at him, crashing onto the oval coffee table, and then dragging him down to the marble floor. The first blow smacked him right on the face and Jax saw stars. A piercing sound rang through one ear.

“I knew you were shagging him!” Antonio said between punches. Jax instinctively blocked them with his arm and hands.

Antonio was a large man, built like a brick house. He had made his money peddling his workout videos to the rich and famous, but everyone knew that he’d also supplied his clients with illegal substances. He’d been arrested several times but not once had he stayed for more than two days in a real jail cell. Part of his success lay in his connections.

Adrenaline kicked in, and as soon as Jax saw his chance, he brought his fist up and smashed it against the man’s head. It connected and threw Antonio off him. Fiona stood screaming at the two of them, as Antonio charged back while Jax scrambled to stand. The larger man’s shoulder made contact with Jax’s gut. Even though Jax had his head in a lock, Jax felt the impact of Antonio’s punches through his ribs, driving the air out of his lungs.

“Tony, stop!” Fiona begged “You’re going to kill him!”

Jax countered with a hard jab on the man’s side, then on his back. But Antonio was relentless and fought back, driving a fist onto Jax’s solar plexus. It caused Jax to double over as the wind got knocked out of him. Antonio cursed him as Jax sputtered blood onto the white floors.

This man could end him right there and then. Jax didn’t feel fear. What filtered into his head were Cade and Harley’s faces. When was the last time he told Harley he loved her? Why hadn’t he admitted his feelings to Cade?

Staggering backwards, Jax reached a hand up when, through one open eye, he saw Antonio raise his knee for a kick. But the blow didn’t come. Instead, there was an explosion that burst in the room. Red liquid poured out and spread onto Antonio’s shirt. When he fell forwards, Jax caught him with his arms, and stared shocked at Fiona standing with a crazed look on her face. Her hands trembled as she held onto the gun.

Zee appeared through the door, immediately disarming Fiona. Jax stared down at the bleeding man on the floor. How had his life come to this?

***

Cade’s hand lay on his naked chest. She’d slept soundly only the past two hours. Jax knew this as she’d constantly woken up through the night to make sure he was okay. He dreaded to guess how she’d react to the news. But he couldn’t let her find out from other people. If he wanted Cade to trust him, he had to be completely honest.

Jax lifted her hand to his lips, brushing them over her soft skin. She stirred, then slowly opened her eyes.

“Hey.” Her voice was husky, and the warmth reached his heart.

“Good morning.”

Cade raised her head to plant a kiss on Jax. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m in a bit of pain.” He ran a hand through her long hair and rubbed her back. “It’s time I was honest with you, Cade. Tell you what happened.” And he did.