“No, but now I understand why he might have—”
She not only smacked him once across the face, but twice, without saying a single word. She turned, storming off, a knife twisting in her gut. He sure as hell was not who she thought he was. She sure sucked when it came to reading living people, not that he was actually living, but he wasn’t a damn ghost either. Caroline made it to her car before the tears started to fall.
******
Shaking, Jax stood staring at the ground, trying to regain control. Looking up, Jill walked right up to him.
“I know you didn’t mean what you just said to her.” Jill frowned, glancing back at Caroline, who ran, jumping into her car.
“Yeah, I did.” Jax also glanced in that direction, his voice not sounding very convincing.
“Then why do you look crushed?” Jill tossed him the keys. “I’ll find my own way home, but I think you better go after her. That was a pretty dick move, even for you.”
Caroline peeled out of the parking lot, spraying gravel everywhere. “Dammit!” Jax cursed as he quickly sat in the driver’s seat before slamming it into reverse.
She was a few cars in front of him, but he was catching up. “Fuck!” He cringed when she flew through a red light, a car barely missing her. Racing up beside her after maneuvering around cars, he blared the horn. She actually looked, before flipping him off. Rolling down his window, she rolled hers up. “Pull over, now!” Her response was to flip him off again and sped up.
“Piece-of-shit Nissan,” Jax cursed, slamming his hands on the steering wheel as if that would make it go faster. This would not be an issue if he was in his GT. Jax had the pedal to the floor, yet he was losing her. Seeing the light turn yellow, he glanced to see if she was preparing to stop. She did hit the brake a few times, slowing down enough that he was able to catch back up to her. Slamming the pedal, he maneuvered slightly in front of her, wedging her toward the curb. He was shocked when she actually went up on the median and kept going. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
Okay, she wanted to play. Jax jerked onto the median, stopped the car and jumped out. With a step, he was off and running, catching up to her faster than any car could. Running up beside the passenger’s door, he tried to open it, but she locked it, looking at him as if he’d lost his mind. “Open the door!” he yelled, but she shook her head and told him to go to hell. “If you don’t open this fucking door, right now, I’m going to tear if off.”
He watched Caroline’s hand hover over the lock button before she finally hit it, unlocking the door and slowing down, but he didn’t wait. He opened the door and swung himself in, slamming the door shut…hard. “Pull the goddamn car over.”
“Get out of my goddamn car,” Caroline shouted, swiping tears away. “Or I’m going to call the police.”
“I am the police…more or less, and I’m pulling you over for about ten driving violations.” Jax growled, and grabbed the steering wheel as he kicked his leg over, moving hers out of the way to control the gas and brake.
Caroline smacked at his arm. “What are you doing?” She smacked again, her eyes frantically looking for danger of being hit. “You’re going to kill us.”
“Oh, that’s classic.” Jax pulled into an empty parking lot, slammed the car in park and took the keys. “You almost got t-boned back there running a red light. Jesus, Caroline, you could have been seriously hurt.”
“Like you would give a shit. Now, give me my keys.” Caroline snatched at them, but he pulled them away. “Fine.” She got out of the car and started walking.
Jax got out, jumping in front of her. “Listen, I’m sorry and yes, I would give a shit if you got hurt.”
“You’re sorry?” Caroline snorted, swiping at a tear. “Well, I don’t accept. And honestly, I don’t even know why I care what you think about me so much. I must have brain damage from Rod, which I probably deserved, in your demented mind.” She threw that at him, flipping him off again.
“Will you stop flipping me off and listen,” Jax sighed, grabbing her arm to stop her. “I didn’t mean what I said. I was wrong to say that, Caroline. I would never lift a hand toward you in anger and I absolutely don’t think it was right that he did. I even made damn sure he would never do it again.”
Her body was still turned away from him, listening, but his last sentence made her turn around. “What did you do?” she whispered, but still eyed him with distrust.
He shook his head. “I didn’t kill him if that’s what you’re thinking. I wanted to, but just believe me when I say after Sid and I were finished with him, he won’t ever bother you again.”
Looking away from him, she nodded. “Thank you.” Holding her hand out toward him, she sighed, “Now, can I have my keys back so I can leave?”
His phone rang as he answered her, “No.”