Not a single person breathed at the table.
“Hi.” He smiled at us. “I’m Jaxon Trent. And I’m seventeen.”
And then he was gone. The video went black, and every heartbeat at the table was probably rushing as quickly as mine.
All eyes started shifting to my mom who stood there, still staring at the phone she held up with a shaking hand.
“Hi, everyone.”
We all jumped. Jax walked up to the table and pulled out his chair.
He was dressed just like Jared, minus the tie. His hair was braided in three rows above each ear and brought back to his usual ponytail at the back of his head.
“What is this?” my mother whimpered. She looked about ready to cry or die.
“Sit down,” he ordered, gripping the back of the chair. “Now.”
Her eyes widened, and I could hear her heavy breathing. Was she thinking of running?
Jax held up his phone. “This video is ready to go out to everyone in this room. Sit. Down.” His growl was deep, and like I’d never heard from him before.
My mother walked as if in a daze to the chair and sat very softly, not looking down but not looking at anyone, either.
“Jason. The papers?” Jax held out his hand.
Jason had one hand on the back of Katherine’s chair. “That was you that texted me?”
“I told you to trust me,” he said with a cocky tone.
Jason reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and withdrew what looked like legal papers.
“Sit down, everyone,” Jax commanded. “You’re drawing attention.”
Only Madoc’s dad and Jared were standing, but they didn’t take their eyes off of him as they lowered themselves into their chairs.
I didn’t know why any of us weren’t saying anything. No one asked questions. No one voiced concerns. We just all shut up, watching Jax take control of the table.
“Jaxon?” Katherine piped up, panic wafting off of her like perfume. “How could you have done this?”
He looked at her with innocence. “I’m the victim here.”
And then the corner of his mouth turned up, and he set the papers down in front of my mother with a pen that he retrieved from his jacket.
“Here’s your revised divorce agreement,” he said, leaning over my mother’s shoulder. “A nice amount of cash, no house, and no alimony. Sign,” he ordered.
“If you think—”
“Oh, no,” he interrupted her. “Don’t issue empty threats now. That’s my mom for all intents and purposes.” He pointed to Katherine. “And you’re fucking with her happiness. That ends now.”
I blinked, my eyes burning from watching the scene in awe.
Jax reminded me of my father in demeanor. Controlled and smooth. My dad always knew the score when he walked into a room, he was always prepared, and he didn’t hesitate.
When my mother didn’t budge, Jax held his phone out in front of her.
“You do not want this video leaving this table. Did you know that the state can press charges even if I don’t?”
Her lips pursed in anger, and she looked from side to side as if there was a way out somewhere. But she knew better. She picked up the pen and signed where the tabs indicated.
“And here.” Jax turned the page, pointing.
“And here,” he said, flipping another page.
In all of two seconds, he’d snatched the pen back, folded the paperwork, and stood up.
He looked to Jason. “The check?”
I looked at Jason and almost laughed when he actually shook his head for about a second as if to figure out if that had really just happened.
Taking an envelope out of the inside of his jacket, he handed it to Jax.
Jax handed what I would assume was her settlement money to my mom and smiled his bright, white smile. “Congrats. You’re divorced.” And looking back at Jason. “Now, the house?”
Jason tossed him more papers to which Jax threw the folded bit across the table to us.
“Homeowners.” He nodded. “Is everyone happy?”
Madoc and I opened up the packet, and I covered my mouth with my hand, seeing that it was the deed to the house.
In our names.
“Jax,” I barely whispered, my throat too tight.
“What about the video?” My mother was more scared than I’d ever seen her. She was practically shaking as she looked up at him.
He leaned down into her face, speaking to her like she was a child. “Your only concern right now is never pissing me off again. You behave, and so will I.”
He took the payoff check off the table, shoved it into her chest, and stood up. “Leave.”
Clutching the envelope, she didn’t even look back at me as she walked out of the ballroom. I felt Madoc squeeze my left hand, and my father took my right.
My husband.
My home.
And I looked around the table . . . my family.
My chest shook with silent hysterical laughter.
“This is so surreal.” Jason wiped his hand over his face as the waiters started clearing the bowls. “I’m not sure how I should feel about all of this,” he mumbled as he stood back up and held out his hand. “Jaxon, thank you. I don’t know what to . . .”
Jax swung and clocked Madoc’s dad right across the jaw, sending him reeling to the ground as everyone straightened in their chair and Katherine yelped.
Silverware clattered and all conversation in the room stopped. Everyone that hadn’t realized what was happening at our table saw us now.
Jason lay on his back, head up off the ground and holding his jaw.
“Jaxon!” Katherine screeched, jumping out of her chair along with Jared and Madoc.
Jax stood by her side, looking down on Madoc’s dad. “You should’ve married her years ago,” he scolded.
He gave Katherine a peck on the cheek and turned, walking away.
Jared, Tate, Madoc, and I took no time leaving the table and running after him. Katherine was getting Jason seated back at the table, and the room was still filled with broken conversation.
“Jax, stop!” Jared yelled.
He pulled to a stop in the foyer, turning around to face us. But I wasn’t going to let Jared yell at him.
“Jax, thank you.” I stepped in. “You shouldn’t have put yourself in that situation for us.” I held the deed with both hands to my chest.
“Don’t sweat it.” He stuck his hands in his pockets, looking very much like the boy I knew and not the threatening presence he had proven himself to be.
I shook my head, tears welling. “I would never want you to . . .”
“It’s fine, Fallon,” he cut me off. “You’re happy, Katherine is happy, and that makes me happy.” He took a deep breath and slapped Madoc on the arm. “See you tomorrow night for the race.”
I saw him jerk his chin at Jared, and he and Tate followed Jax out of the room.
Madoc wrapped his big arms around me, and I looked up him through blurry eyes.
“We’re free,” I whispered.
He took my ass in his hands and lifted me off the ground, slipping his tongue past my lips and kissing me so hard that I had to hold on to his neck.
“No one stops us,” he breathed huskily into my mouth.
No one.
A throat cleared, and I snapped my eyes open as Madoc set me back on the ground.
My father stood there, probably wishing he hadn’t just seen that.
“I’m heading out,” he told me.
Madoc let me go and cleared his throat. “I’ll go check on my dad.”
I smiled to myself and watched him walk away, giving my father and me some space.
I took my father in a hug, instantly cozy and reveling in the smell of leather and Ralph Lauren.
“I’m going to Shelburne Falls for the weekend, but I’ll be back Monday. Will you be in Chicago?”
“Yes,” he answered. “I’ll call you for lunch. Both of you,” he added.
I gave him a grateful smile as he started to walk away but then stopped. “Fallon?” He turned back around. “Who is that kid exactly?” He gestured to Jax talking to Jared and Tate just outside the doors.
“Jaxon Trent. He’s Madoc’s friend.”
“What do you know about him?” he asked, still watching Jax.
Not much, unfortunately.
“Um, well, he lives with his half brother’s mother. Dad’s in jail, and his real mom split a long time ago. He’s in his last year of high school. Why?”
He spoke low as if thinking out loud. “He’s a very impressive young man.”