Jax (Immortals of New Orleans Book 7) (6 page)

Jax’s chest tightened as Katrina’s expression grew somber. He wanted to trust her. He’d never thought it possible that anyone besides another Alpha could understand what it was like for him to kill during a challenge, yet she stood before him unafraid, undaunted by the fatality he’d caused. There had only been a handful of occasions when he’d been forced to take the life of a brother. Each time it came with a price, and the cost was high on his soul. Yet this was the responsibility of a leader, and the pack rejoiced in the peace and stability of an established Alpha. They’d mourn the loss, perhaps some would harbor resentment, the family and friends of the deceased, but they’d also come to acceptance. It was the culture of the wolves: their past, their future, how it always would be.

“I know I said I’d stay, but maybe Jake is right. Maybe I should go. After what I did to you…your wolves…they won’t understand,” Katrina explained, her voice gentle.

Her soft palm on his skin soothed the bitterness of the past. Confused by his mixed emotions, he blinked and the memory of what she’d done flashed through his mind. A fresh surge of anger surfaced. Until she confessed what had happened, why she did what she’d done, he couldn’t forgive her. His hardened dick told him to forget about it, but reason prevailed.
Don’t let the temptress fool you.
Jax wrapped his hands around her wrists, closed his eyes and shook his head.

“We need to clear the air.” He lifted his gaze to meet hers, his brow furrowed and tense. He forced himself to remember everything that had happened, and his tone grew firm. “Until I know everything, and I mean every last fucking detail about what is going on with these demons, you aren’t leaving. Consider yourself a guest. Or a hostile witness. Whichever you prefer…doesn’t matter, because you’re not leaving.”

“You can’t keep me against my will.”

“Oh, I can and I will. What you did…” he growled.

“Things aren’t how they seem,” she offered.

“And just how are they?” Finn rose and approached them. “You accused Jax of forcing you to mate with him.”

“I told you…” Katrina’s eyes darted from Finn to Jax. “You have to believe me. I never told Tristan you tried to force me to mate with you. But I was trying to get you to stop coming after me. I was trying to protect you from these things. You and Tristan…you’ve never gotten along. When I told him that you wouldn’t stop coming after me, the rumors started. I know I should have stopped it but then Marcel died. It was just easier. You left me alone. You were safe. I’m sorry, Jax. But it’s not what you think.”

“Really? Because people almost got killed over your little accusation. Who does that?” Finn asked.

“Someone who’s desperate, that’s who,” Jake interjected, crossing the room to Jax and Katrina.

“How would you know? You were down in NOLA. It’s not like you were here when it happened,” Finn countered.

“I know Kat and there’s no way she’d do that without a reason.” His eyes went to Jax. “Let her go.”

“Really, just how well do you know her?” Finn questioned, his question laced with implication. “Are you lovers? Friends with benefits? Fuck buddies? Do tell, wolf.”

“Enough!” Jax yelled, without letting go of Katrina.

“You know her presence in this cabin causes trouble in the pack as we speak. It’s part of the reason Arlo is dead,” Finn said accusingly.

“What?” Katrina’s eyes widened. Unsuccessfully, she attempted to break free of Jax’s hold.

“That’s right, baby. They could smell you on him.” Finn poured a shot and downed it. “They were going after you. And he defended your pretty little ass.”

“No…Jax…please…you have to let me go.” Katrina shook her head, continuing to tug her wrists from his grip.

“I said enough!” Jax yelled. “All of you. You will not blame her for Arlo’s death.”

“Please just let me go. I’m not good for you,” she protested.

“Finally, someone in this goddamned room sees reason. I don’t know why you are so set on keeping her. It’s like you aren’t even thinkin’ straight.” Finn tunneled his fingers through his ginger locks. In a moment of recognition as to what was happening to his Alpha, his eyes landed on Jake, who shook his head no.

“I need to go back to New Orleans. I’ll find answers there. They won’t stop. If I stay here…”

“I’m warning you. Do not challenge me,” Jax commanded. Although he’d loosened his grip, he hadn’t released her. “I already told you earlier, we’re going to work things out between us. What happened in that cave and when you went to shift, no…this is fucked up. I saw what happened. That night in the club, the person who kidnapped me looked like you, but it wasn’t. In the ambulance…they changed. I want to know what the hell we are dealing with. Why are they after you? Why me?” Jax released Katrina and threw his hands up in frustration. She rubbed her wrists, tears brimming in her eyes. Her rage emanated from her like a beacon, stabbing through his chest. “No, you’re not leaving New York until I have answers, and if there’s something in New Orleans that you know about that’s going to help us, then I’m going with you.”

“Jax…” Katrina’s shoulders slumped in defeat. She looked to Jake for help but he shrugged, deferring to the Alpha.

“We can’t stay here. I’ve got to get back to the city, check on ZANE. Fuck.” Jax blew out his breath, the realization that his multi-billion dollar corporation, while probably still running, had been ignored. Assuring the publication subsidiaries were still intact was a priority. “Finn. I need you to round everyone up. We’re going back home.”

Jax turned away from Katrina, needing space. As he strode down the hallway to go shower, guilt rushed through him. Jesus Christ, she was pushing him to his limits. He wanted to fuck her senseless until they both couldn’t breathe. She’d kill them both. The way she tested him drove him insane, yet his beast celebrated her defiance. When his wolf demanded her submission, she’d give it freely and the moment would be all the more sweet.

Jax stepped into the shower, letting the cold spray pelt his skin, and prayed his body’s reaction would subside. He hadn’t wanted to escalate the argument further. If she hadn’t lied to Tristan, why had she allowed her brother to continue to think he’d attempted a forced mating? Although her excuses were like poison on her lips, the woman’s compassion touched his soul. He despised that she appeared to care, that her touch calmed his wolf in a way that no other woman had. Jax glanced to his erection, and cursed it. With his arm leveraged across the tile, he tugged at his cock and stroked himself. Like a punishment, he pumped it with vigor, angry that she did this to him, enraged he’d lost control.
Goddamned, motherfucking
…As his seed erupted, he cried out in frustration and smashed his fist against the wall. The crack of the tiles did nothing to change his decision. When they got to New York, he’d interrogate her to his satisfaction and send her home to NOLA with Jake.

Katrina stared out the tinted window of the limo and wondered how the hell she’d survived the past three days. After they’d returned to the city, Jax had insisted she stay in his home. She’d argued, unsuccessfully, that she’d be safer in a hotel, when in truth it would be Jax who’d be safe from her.

Her guest room, located on the first level of the three-story Central Park West penthouse, had become a prison cell. She’d considered escaping, but Finn had been assigned to guard her. While he’d initially spoken to her with contempt, he’d softened toward her after he’d found her crying on the balcony. A weakened moment, she acknowledged. Katrina didn’t usually lose her composure. But the sand in the hourglass was spilling out fast; soon they’d be out of time.

Jax had isolated himself on the third floor, ignoring her but to say good morning and good night. When she’d attempted a conversation, he’d summarily dismissed her, claiming he was needed in a meeting. The more time she spent away from Jax, the more her magick dissipated. If the demons didn’t make a move to abduct her, she suspected she’d die anyway.

Earlier in the day, Katrina had called Tristan to explain that she’d gone to New York and had been in contact with Jax. As much as she loved her brother, she almost felt relieved when she’d found out he was out of town, traveling to an emergency meeting in Seattle to help settle a dispute among allied Alphas. Over the past couple of years, she’d told Tristan about her kidnappings, but there’d never been enough evidence for them to find a perpetrator. Until recently, she’d always been able to immediately shift. Healing quickly, no physical evidence remained of her abduction. When she’d asked Tristan to help keep Jax away, he’d been quick to assume that he’d attempted to force a mating. Although she’d denied it, the rumor had settled within the pack. When she’d left for New Orleans, their relationship faltered. Soon after, her brother Marcel, died, leaving Katrina devastated. Despite moving back to Philadelphia to be with Tristan, they’d grown further apart.

Their phone conversation had been brief but she assured him that she was safe. Tristan, however, insisted he’d be flying home within the day. Regardless, Katrina knew the only place she’d ever felt remotely safe had been New Orleans. But she knew Jax would never let her go nor would he be satisfied until he had the answers he sought.

As they stopped in midday traffic, Katrina smoothed the silky printed fabric over her thighs. She wondered if Jax had selected the stylish wrap dress himself or had simply hired a personal shopper. The day after she arrived, her closet had been filled with a selection of clothing, all in her size. Food of her liking was cooked by his personal chef, delivered by butlers. He’d spared no expense seeing to her comfort. In her gilded cage, she grew miserable, desperate for his touch.

The car lurched forward, reminding her of their final destination. Jake called her name, interrupting her contemplation.

“You okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine,” she lied. Her stomach clenched in anticipation of seeing Jax. “I don’t get why I have to meet him here. He comes home at night. We’ve been in New York for days.”

“He’s busy. The business, it hasn’t been doing as well without him,” Finn offered. “Nick was in charge of operations. So now Jax has been training someone to take over but it’s intensive work. Most of his established corporations are doing well, but ZANE…the magazine is a delicate operation. It was Nick’s baby. It’s important to Jax that it doesn’t tank.”

“Is it in trouble?”

“He’s been gone for a month and a half. It’s doing okay but Jax doesn’t settle for mediocre.”

As they came to a red light, Jake moved over to sit next to Katrina and took her hand in his. “Listen Kat,” he began. “All this shit you’ve been through over the past couple of years, we’re going to find a way to make it stop.”

Katrina looked out the window and took a deep breath. No words could fix the situation. They needed to get to New Orleans and search for a spell, a weapon against her attackers.

“Look, I know what’s happening between you and Jax. I’m not sure why you’ve fought so hard to stay away from him. But I’ve spent time with you. Long nights in the bayou. You’re the real deal. Lying isn’t your style. So whatever reason you’ve got going on for putting distance between you and Jax…”

Katrina’s eyes flashed to his. She sighed, considering his point, but didn’t answer.

“You need to talk to him. You know I give Jax a hard time. There are times when the two of us butt heads. He can be a son of a bitch, for sure. But he’s Alpha of this pack for a reason. He was there for Gillian. He helped her shift to a wolf for the first time. I saw him fight down in New Orleans. He would have given his life to protect any one of us, a pack that isn’t even his. And Nick paid the price. What happened to Nick…” Jake’s mouth drew tight as he recalled what had happened. “Fuck, he didn’t deserve any of it.”

Katrina glanced up at Finn, who appeared stunned by Jake’s account of the night his friend had died. It hadn’t occurred to her that his wolves hadn’t known the details about the death of their beta.

“So my point is, he might be an asshole at times but you can trust him with whatever you have brewing. I can feel your magick draining. Maybe Jax hasn’t been around you enough to feel it but he damn sure will. Let him help you.”

Katrina, at a loss for words, nodded in agreement. She closed her eyes, searching for her wolf. No longer could she hide the truth. Denying her mate, her Alpha, would torture her. But if they could find a way to destroy the demons, bring them down one by one, they’d both have a chance of living.

You can do this
, Katrina told herself, rehearsing her speech. For fifteen minutes she’d worn a hole in the carpet of the spacious office. Located atop the Midtown Manhattan skyscraper, floor to ceiling windows lined the walls of the octagonal-shaped room.

Katrina ran her fingers over his sleek desk, noting how not even a pen was out of order. How could she be the mate of such a highly organized person? She laughed, recalling how her office was littered with pens of every color and half-filled sketch pads. Creative, she drew, painted and created. In Philadelphia, she’d been involved in the arts, and had opened a salon, enjoying doing the hair and makeup of local celebrities. But after her last abduction, being forced to return to New Orleans, she’d opened a gallery featuring several of her own paintings as well as work from local artists.