Steel and Smoke
Jax’s throat sealed shut, Chains’ smirk through the window a physical blow. She’d been so careful, covered her tracks, but somehow he’d found her. Endangered the only sanctuary she’d ever known. The weight of their stares pressed down on her, suffocating.
Then Ava was there, stepping in front of Jax, her body a shield between Jax and Brick’s wrath. “Stand down, Prez,” she said, her voice a whip-crack of authority. She didn’t draw her weapon, but the air around her crackled with lethal intent. Her storm-cloud eyes locked onto Brick’s. “Jax didn’t bring them. But I know how to make them leave.”
Brick’s jaw worked, his fists clenched. The tension hung thick. Jax’s pulse roared in her ears, her eyes fixed on Ava’s rigid back.
“Make it fast, Ace,” Brick finally growled. “Before I let them have her.”
Ava turned, her hand closing around Jax’s wrist, her grip iron. “With me,” she said. She led Jax through the silent gauntlet of Scorpions out the back door to the garage. Inside, she released Jax, her gray eyes blazing. “You know what they want. We don’t have time for a standoff.”
Jax’s mind raced. “He’ll expect you to negotiate. He’ll want to talk terms. Buy time.”
Ava’s lips curved in a feral grin, the scar on her jaw standing out. “Then we’ll give him a conversation he won’t forget.” She crossed to her workbench and returned with a coil of wire, a block of C4, and a detonator. “You’re the wrench, Jax. Rig it.”
They worked in tandem, Jax’s hands steady despite the adrenaline. She wired the explosive while Ava outlined the plan. It was reckless, dangerous. But as Jax met Ava’s eyes, saw the fierce trust burning there, she knew there was no other way.
The meet happened at the edge of the compound, Scorpions’ bikes forming a perimeter around Brick and Ava. Chains stepped forward, his smirk widening as he took in Jax standing beside Ava. “Knew you couldn’t stay gone, Wrench,” he drawled. “Missed your pretty face.”
Ava’s hand shot out, fisting in Jax’s jacket. “She’s not yours anymore, Chains. She’s Scorpions now. You want her? You go through me.”
The tension snapped. Chains’ enforcers reached for their guns, the Scorpions’ safeties clicking off. But before the first shot could ring out, Jax raised the detonator. “Look down, Chains. See what you’re really standing on.”
Chains’ gaze flicked down to the C4 rigged at his feet. His face paled. “You wouldn’t,” he snarled.
“I would,” Jax said. “I know how you operate. But I’m not a mistake anymore. I’m a Scorpion. And we protect our own.” She met Brick’s gaze. “Tell them, Prez. Tell them what happens when they come for one of yours.”
Brick’s voice boomed. “You heard her, Chains. You and your boys walk away. Now. Or we bury you where you stand.”
The Devil’s Kin scrambled for their bikes, Chains’ curses swallowed by the roar of engines. Jax lowered the detonator, her hand trembling. Ava’s arm was around her waist, pulling her close.
“You did good, Wrench,” Ava murmured.
Jax turned in her embrace, her hands fisting in Ava’s cut. Around them, the club moved, their eyes on Jax now with solidarity. “I told you,” Jax said. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Ava’s smile was fierce. “Damn right you’re not.” She kissed Jax then, deep and claiming. The road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but for the first time in her life, Jax wasn’t running. She was home.