Mitch shakes his head, and I wish I could decipher what he is thinking. I bet it is along the lines of, “Jax is an idiot.”
Lights beam through the windows of the cabin, and Mitch tenses, telling me that no one really knows we’re here, and he wasn’t expecting anyone.
“Who is it?” I ask, shuffling my legs toward the window, keeping my body to the side of it in case someone tries to get stupid and shoot us or something.
“No one knows I live here,” Mitch says, taking a handgun out of the back of his waistband and moving toward the door.
My leg is acting up, and I limp closer to the window, my chest freezing when I see the white vehicle.
“Wait!” I call out, moving through a long hallway that Mitch went down. It leads to the front door, and I run to it, injuries be damned. “Don’t do anything.”
Mitch has his hand on the door and opens it, getting a glimpse of the blonde hair that is barely visible through the tinted window.
When I come into view, Felicity swings her door open, her face a picture of horrified, and she runs to me, wrapping her arms around my body.
I shouldn’t give in to it. I shouldn’t rely on her or let her comfort me in this moment.
But I couldn’t stop myself even if I wanted to.
I let myself fall into her arms, let myself feel the immense relief that her presence gives me, let myself rely on her comfort and strength.
“Jax.” Her mouth is by my ear, but she just says my name on a release of breath, relief that I am okay, that we are okay, coursing through her trembling body.
I hold her to me, letting myself soak her in, inhale her scent, and swear to myself that I will do right by her, no matter what it takes.
“How’d you find this place?”
Mitch’s voice interrupts us, and Felicity pulls back, giving Mitch a firm look. It’s a look that tells me no matter what she feels for him, friendship or love, she is on my side.
It feels good to have someone there.
“I followed you.”
His eyes narrow. “I led you home. You went inside.”
Felicity lifts her chin. “If you thought I was going to just go home quietly while you took him somewhere no one knew where, you were kidding yourself.”
Mitch scoffs. “City, I’d never hurt my brother.”
“Maybe not you,” she says, accusation in her tone.
For a moment, they stare each other down, and I’m both flattered and wildly confused.
“My club won’t hurt my family.” Mitch’s voice is low, nearly a growl, and I realize there must have been words exchanged when I wasn’t around.
“I don’t know that either, Mitch.” Her words are soft and quiet, but the slight tremble in her hand has me wrapping her cold fingers into mine, willing warmth to seep into her bones.
Mitch looks away, and I see the hurt placed there. It feels like my fault. I am the one that put those suspicions of Felicity’s there, who said I didn’t understand why he was in the club. I’m the reason they’re both here tonight.
“It’s okay, City Girl. Mitch was helping,” I say softly, running a hand over her shoulder and pulling her in tight.
Her eyes meet mine for a minute, and her defensive posture softens, her hand coming up to cup my cheek.
“Come on,” she says, tugging my hand.
“Mitch.” I start, giving myself a moment to look my brother in the eyes. He’s still standing there quietly, and for the first time in years, I see a vulnerability in his expression.
He doesn’t want this mistrust.
