Chapter 62
JAX
Asher's eyes narrowed as I demanded an explanation, but instead of answering, he grabbed my arm and pushed me back toward the stairs. “You shouldn’t be here, Jax,” he muttered, trying to steer me out of the basement.
I wrenched my arm free, glaring at him. “What the hell, Asher? This isn’t you. How could you do this to him?”
His jaw clenched, and I could see the tension in his shoulders as he tried to keep his voice calm. “You don’t understand. Dominic is a threat to us, to everything we’re trying to build. I’m doing what needs to be done.”
“This?” I gestured wildly at the cage, where Dominic was staring at us with a mixture of fear and defiance. “This is how you handle it? By locking him up like an animal?”
Asher’s face hardened, and he stepped closer, his voice dropping to a cold whisper. “I’m protecting our family. Sometimes, you have to make tough decisions.”
“Tough decisions?” I shot back, my voice rising. “This is insane! What if Isabella finds out? She’ll never forgive us for this.”
“She won’t find out,” Asher said sharply, his eyes flashing with determination. “They’re not in contact anymore. She has no reason to know, and she doesn’t need to.”
I shook my head, disbelief and anger churning in my gut. “You can’t be sure of that. She has a right to know what you’ve done. We all do. Knox should be aware of this—he’s our brother too, and we need to figure this out together.”
Asher’s expression faltered for a moment, but then he straightened, his gaze unwavering. “Knox doesn’t need to be dragged into this. I’m handling it.”
“No, you’re not,” I snapped, stepping closer, my voice trembling with frustration. “This isn’t handling it, Ash. This is just making things worse. We need to talk to Knox and figure out what to do with Dominic. We can’t keep him locked up here forever. If this goes wrong, it could destroy everything we’ve worked for.”
Asher’s eyes flickered with something like doubt, but it was gone in an instant. “Fine,” he said, his voice tight. “We’ll talk to Knox. But we’re doing what’s best for our mate, Jax. Remember that.”
I didn’t respond, the weight of the situation pressing down on me as we made our way back up the stairs and out of the cabin. The cold night air hit me like a slap, but it did little to clear the turmoil in my mind. I didn’t recognize this side of Asher, and the thought of what Isabella would do if she found out filled me with dread.
As we headed back to the car in tense silence, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were teetering on the edge of something dangerous, and I wasn’t sure how we’d find our way back.
KNOX
The living room was filled with laughter and the soft glow of evening light as I twirled Isabella around, her smile lighting up the room. We’d been dancing for the past twenty minutes, the music from the speakers a perfect backdrop to our playful mood. The world outside could wait. In here, it was just us, lost in the simple joy of the moment.
I was holding her close, about to dip her dramatically, when the sound of the front door opening caught my attention. I glanced over Isabella’s shoulder and saw Asher and Jax stepping inside. Their expressions instantly sent a chill down my spine. Something was wrong, but I didn’t let on. Isabella was too happy right now, and I didn’t want to spoil that.
“Hey, you two,” I called out, forcing a grin as I pulled Isabella back up. “You’re just in time. Dinner’s ready.”
They both offered tight smiles, clearly trying to mask whatever was bothering them, but I could see right through it. I’d known my brothers long enough to recognize when something was weighing on them. But this wasn’t the time to press. Not with Isabella in the room.
“Smells great,” Jax said, his voice a little too cheerful. Asher just nodded, heading straight for the kitchen without a word.
I shot a quick glance at Jax, who avoided my gaze, and I felt my stomach twist with unease. What the hell had happened?
We all gathered around the kitchen table, the usual warmth and banter noticeably absent. Isabella had made one of her signature dishes, and she was excited to share it with us, talking animatedly about her day. I tried to keep the mood light, asking her questions and making sure she didn’t notice the tension radiating from my brothers.
Halfway through the meal, she paused, her expression turning more serious. “I got a call today,” she began, and I noticed Jax tense slightly beside me. “It was from Amanda, Dominic’s mother.”
At the mention of Dominic, both Asher and Jax exchanged a quick, uneasy look. I kept my face neutral, but my senses went on high alert. I’d been in too good of a mood earlier to catch on, but now the pieces were falling into place. Their tension, the way Jax had stiffened—something about Dominic was at the heart of whatever was going on.
“She’s worried about him,” Isabella continued, her voice tinged with concern. “She hasn’t heard from him in weeks. I told her I hadn’t either, but... I don’t know, it left me feeling uneasy.”
I kept my eyes on Jax, watching as he swallowed hard, his fork pausing mid-air. The look on his face confirmed it—there was a connection between Dominic’s disappearance and whatever had happened earlier.
“That’s strange,” I said, trying to keep my tone casual. “Maybe he’s just off the grid for a bit.”
Isabella nodded, though she still looked troubled. “Yeah, maybe. I just hope he’s okay.”
The rest of dinner passed in a blur, my mind racing. I knew I’d have to corner Asher and Jax later, away from Isabella, and get to the bottom of this. Whatever they were hiding, it was big. And it involved Dominic.
When the plates were cleared and Isabella excused herself to make a quick phone call, I seized the opportunity. I turned to my brothers, my voice low and urgent. “What the hell is going on? And don’t even think about lying to me.”
Asher’s face hardened, while Jax looked away, guilt etched into his features. “We need to talk,” Asher muttered, glancing toward the door to make sure Isabella wasn’t in earshot.
I nodded, a sense of dread tightening in my chest. Whatever this was, it wasn’t going to be good.