Page 106 of Break Me Not

“There's a video circulating online. It's better for you if you don't watch it. I just wanted to warn you before you get on your phone and start looking… Damn it, Jax, I literally told you not to!”

It was too late. I was already turning on my phone, but before I could search for it, it found me. Ax, Sloan, and Mia all sent me the same link.

I can’t get in touch with Liz. Do you two need help?

Is Liz okay?

Jax, did you know about this?

Claire tried to take the phone from me, but I pushed her away and twisted to the side, away from her.

Laura had told me there had been an incident between Liz and her ex, but that Liz was okay and that it had already been handled.

That was all the information I got. Nothing could have prepared me for this.

Pure horror traveled through my entire body as I watched her ex choke her and try to kill her. It was even worse knowing it had already happened and that I’d been unable to do anything about it.

I was fucking losing my mind.

“Is she okay? Where is she? I'm going to fucking kill⁠—”

“She's fine. She's healing and… Well, I think you should just ask her when you see her.”

My head snapped in her direction. “See her?”

She nodded. “I am here to drop you off at home.”

“At my apartment? And then we can go to her?”

“Jax, she’s there waiting for you. Your home is her home. Her home is wherever you are, and I think the same is true for you.”

Feelings of guilt came back to life inside me.

“I'm sorry I didn't tell you.”

She let out a huff. “But you're definitely not sorry you fucked my mom. And at a sex club? Ugh, the more I learn about you guys, the more disgusted I feel.”

I couldn't help but smile at her. Because there was one thing that I knew to be true, and it was that she was definitely messing with me right now. She might have been annoyed, even angry, back then, but I could tell that none of it really stuck.

“Thank you,” I said. “For not blowing up on us. You had every right to.”

“And I still could.” She gave me a pointed look before rolling her shoulders back and letting out a sigh. “But my mom deserves love, and I would never stand in the way of that. And I don’t need to tell you that if you ever even think about hurting her, I will gut you.”

I smiled and laid my head on her shoulder. She tried to push me off.

“I'm driving! Stop bothering me.”

I only snuggled into her harder. It had her swerving lightly and pulled a laugh from us both.

“But what I really want to know is… Are you going to call me your stepmom?”

“Ew!” This time, she shoved me hard, and I laughed for the first time in weeks. It felt really good to be back.

“How about this,” I whispered and leaned forward. “I know just the way to pay you back.”

She raised a brow at me.

“You want to try it? The club?”