INSTRUCTION

***JAX***

The door slammed shut behind me, and the room seemed to fill with my anger. Ten days. Ten wasted days, and we hadn’t made a single step forward. Marie had narrowed down the signal—a wooded area, a lake—but there was nothing there. Absolutely nothing. No house, no hiding place, no trace of Damian or Celine. I felt my patience go up in smoke, like a match too close to a flame.

Marie sat in front of her laptop, her fingers resting on the keyboard, as if she was just waiting for me to blow up. And she was right. I marched straight up to her, my steps echoing around the room like a threatening echo.

“Damn it, Marie, what have you found?” I spat, my voice as sharp as a knife. ”There’s nothing here. No buildings, no tracks. Nothing! You’re no use. Get out!”

She slowly raised her head, and when her eyes met mine, the air suddenly went cold. Her movements were deliberate, controlled, like those of an animal deciding whether to attack.

“You little wannabe gang boss,” she began, her voice soft, full of contemptuous calm that irritated me more than any shouting could have done. “What would you be without your people? Nothing. And they’re stupid enough to obey you, you piece of shit.”

My hands clenched into fists, my jaw muscles tensed as I continued to look at her. Marie knew exactly how far she could go – and she kept going further.

“Sit down, Marie,” I growled, my voice deep and menacing.

But she remained standing, her eyes sparkling with anger and defiance. ‘Why?’ she asked mockingly, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ”Are you afraid you’re no match for me, asshole?”

That was the moment I lost control. I grabbed her by the throat, pushed her against the wall, while my eyes drilled into hers. “You don’t talk to me like that,” I hissed, my voice a low, dangerous rumble.

But Marie wasn’t impressed. She slapped my hand away with more force than I expected, and before I could react, she swung. Her fist hit me square in the face, a dull pain that shot through my skull like a bolt of lightning.

“Guys like you, Jax,” she spat, her voice louder now but full of contempt, ”really get on my nerves. And the worst part? You guys really think I’m going to let you intimidate me. Oh God, Jax, where do you live? You’re a joke.”

I stumbled back a step, my hand instinctively going to my jaw where her punch still stung. The surprise only lasted a moment before the rage came back, hotter and more unstoppable than before.

“Marie,” I said slowly, my voice dangerously calm now, ”you should think carefully about how far you push me.”

But she laughed, a cold, cutting sound that irritated me more than I wanted to admit. “Oh, I know exactly how far I can go, Jax Boy. And you know what? You can’t stop me. Your problem is that you think you’re untouchable. But without your little lackeys, you’re nothing more than an angry guy who doesn’t know what to do with his fists.”

I took a step towards her, the tension in the room was palpable, like a taut rope that could snap at any moment. “You’re crossing a line, Marie,” I growled, my voice a low, menacing rumble.

But she didn’t back down. She remained standing, hands on her hips, her gaze fixed on mine with a mixture of contempt and triumphant defiance. “Then do something, Jax,” she said softly, her voice now calm, almost inviting. “Or are you afraid I’m right?”

Marie was a problem. A burning, explosive problem. And damn it, she knew exactly how to challenge me without ever really losing control.

The room suddenly seemed to get smaller, the tension between us was palpable, almost electric. Marie stood there, stubborn, defiant, as if she wasn’t the slightest bit afraid. But I knew better – no one stayed that calm without at least a little thrill. She wanted to play this game. But she had no idea who she was dealing with.

“You’re messing with the wrong guy, Marie,” I hissed, my voice deep, dark, almost a growl. My eyes fixed on hers, looking for any sign that she realized how far she was pushing me. But all I found was a spark that tempted me even further.

I stepped closer, closing the distance between us in a single stride until I could feel her breath on my skin. She didn’t back down. She smiled. Damn it, she smiled.

“What are you going to do, Jax?” she asked softly, her voice dripping with derision as she continued to look at me with that provocative look. ”Play up? Intimidate me? You’re not the first one to try and break me.”

My breathing grew heavier, my heart beating faster. She wanted this. She wanted to throw me off. And damn if it wasn’t working. Before I knew it, I had her pinned against the wall, my hands tight on her shoulders, my eyes locked with hers as the darkness took over.

“You have no idea what you’re doing,” I growled, my face so close to hers that I could feel her rapid breathing. Her lips curved into a wry smile that both provoked and drove me crazy.

“Oh, I know exactly what I’m doing,” she whispered, her voice a mixture of challenge and promise. ”But do you know, Jax?”

That was the moment when everything exploded. My hands moved down from her shoulders, grasping the fabric of her T-shirt, which stretched under my touch. A loud rip broke the silence as I shredded it without hesitation. Her eyes widened for a moment, but then she laughed softly, a dangerous, raspy sound that only spurred me on more.

“Shit, you’re hot,” I murmured before pressing my lips to hers. It wasn’t a gentle kiss. It was raw, demanding, almost brutal, as if I wanted to put every ounce of anger and desire into that one move.

Her hands pushed against my chest, not to push me away, but to pull me closer, her nails digging into my skin as she returned my kiss – just as wild, just as untamed. She was fire, and I was ready to burn myself on her.

I pushed her harder against the wall, her legs tightened around my hips, and any distance between us disappeared. Her skin was hot under my hands, and the sounds she made were a damn poison that only intoxicated me more.

“You’re playing with fire, Marie,” I murmured against her lips, my voice rough, almost hoarse with desire. ”And you’re going to get burned.”

Marie laughed, a dirty, defiant sound that cut like a flame through the tense air. She leaned against the wall, her posture relaxed, almost provocative, as if she wanted to say with every movement: You can’t touch me.

“And you seriously think I’m afraid of you, Jax?” she asked, her voice a dangerous whisper that fueled the anger in me. Her gaze was cold, piercing, and yet there was that damn spark in it that drove me crazy.

I stepped closer until I was so close to her that I could feel her breath on my skin. My eyes narrowed and my voice became soft, threatening, almost a growl. “You should have that, Marie.” My jaw tightened and I let my words hang in the air like a promise. “I swear to you, I’ll stuff your insolent mouth to the moon and back.”

Her grin grew wider, more dangerous, and she cocked her head slightly, as if amused by my threat. “He doesn’t look that big,” she scoffed, her voice dripping with sarcasm and so provocative that it made my blood boil.

Oh, she knew exactly how far she could go – and she crossed every damn line.

“Ohhhh, Marie,” I hissed, my hands clenching into fists to keep from losing control. ’You’re driving me crazy.”

“That was the plan, wasn’t it?’ she replied, her eyes fixed on mine, challenging, triumphant. ”You can lose control, Jax. I still won’t back down. You know why? Because you’re nothing if you don’t scream and threaten.”

I stepped even closer, pushing her harder against the wall with my body, my hands on either side of her face, my breathing heavy and hot. “You want me to lose control, Marie?” I whispered, my voice dangerously low, a whisper that sounded like a threat. “Then be careful what you wish for.”

She laughed again, a dark, rough sound that echoed through the room. “Then show me what you can do, Jax. Or are you just hot air?”

Damn it, she was driving me crazy. She was like a fire I couldn’t put out – and maybe I didn’t want to.

My eyes fixed on her, every movement, every detail of her face, the challenging sparkle in her eyes. But instead of the wildness that raged inside me, I let something else take control – something softer, darker. My kiss wasn’t wild, as I would have expected myself. Instead, it was surprisingly gentle, tender, almost like a question I couldn’t pronounce.

Marie seemed surprised by it, her posture stiffened for a moment before I felt her give way. I held her, but not in the usual way. It wasn’t power I wanted to demonstrate, but something else I couldn’t name. My hands slid slowly, almost cautiously, along her body, found the waistband of her pants, and then - then I felt it.

A break.

She suddenly pushed me away with a force I hadn’t expected. Her eyes were cold now, her voice an icy blade that pierced me. “I think I’m no longer needed here.”

The words hit harder than any blow. She bent down, packed her things, and before I could say anything, she had turned to leave. No hesitation, no looking back. Just coldness.

I stood there, my fists clenched, my thoughts in utter chaos. The room seemed quieter, emptier, as the door fell behind her lock. But then I heard it – a soft laugh. A barely audible, provocative sound coming from the shadows.

Roger.

He was leaning against the door, his arms folded, a wry grin on his face. “What?” I shouted, the anger in my voice loud enough to make the walls tremble. “What the hell is so damn funny?”

Roger shook his head, his grin growing wider. “Nothing, boss,” he said calmly, but his tone was full of irony. “It’s just... rare for me to see someone stand up to you. And in such a way. A woman with class, I’ll give her that.”

My jaw tightened and my hands clenched so hard that my knuckles turned white. “Shut up, Roger,” I hissed, my voice a low rumble that should have silenced any further comment.

But Roger wasn’t intimidated. “Just a tip, boss: maybe next time you shouldn’t try to dominate someone who has as much fire as you do. It could backfire.”

I took a step towards him, my gaze dark and menacing. ”One more word, Roger. Just one, and you can get lost along with her.”

He raised his hands, the grin disappeared, but I could see that he enjoyed seeing me in this state. “Whatever you say, boss,” he muttered before turning and leaving .

I was left alone, my thoughts swirling like a storm, the tension in my body unbearable. Marie. She had left, and she had left me with something I couldn’t place – a void that upset me more than any confrontation before.

“Damn it,” I whispered softly before slamming into the wall, the pain a welcome distraction. But she was gone. And I knew she wouldn’t come back easily. A woman of class, Roger? Shit, maybe he was right.

“Roger!” I shouted, my voice breaking the silence like a whip. ”Come back here, now!”

I heard his heavy footsteps on the wood, the soft creaking that made me even angrier. He opened the door, leaned casually against the frame, his wry grin back, as if he knew exactly what was tormenting me.

“What, boss?” he asked, his voice calm, almost defiant.

I turned to him, my eyes fixed on his, dark and full of unspoken anger. But instead of exploding, I let the words slide quietly, almost dangerously, out of my mouth. ”If you’re so damn clever, Roger, then tell me how to impress a woman of class. Hmm?”

He blinked, his grin fading for a moment, and I could see him scrutinizing me as if to check whether I was serious. Then he folded his arms across his chest, his eyes grew thoughtful, and a wry smile slowly crept back onto his face.

“A woman like Marie?” he asked, his voice dripping with irony. ’Hard to say, boss. But I’m pretty sure that ’pushing walls‘ and ’tearing T-shirts’ aren’t at the top of her list.”

I clenched my fists, took a step towards him, my voice as sharp as a blade. “Don’t play games, Roger. I don’t have time for your damn sarcasm.”

He shrugged, but remained unimpressed. “Okay, boss,” he said, his voice more serious. “If you really want to know how to impress a woman like Marie, then stop treating her like she’s some kind of order taker. She wants to see that you’re more than just a guy who yells and threatens. Show her that you can think. That you…” He hesitated, searching for the right words. ’…respect her.”

“Respect?’ I snarled, my eyes narrowing as I felt the darkness inside me rage. ”She humiliated me in front of my own people, Roger. And you want me to respect her?”

Roger shrugged as if that was obvious. “Yes, boss. Because that’s what makes her special. She won’t be intimidated, not even by you. And that, my friend, is rare. Women like her don’t want a man who breaks them. They want someone who understands them. Who can withstand their fire without being burned by it.”

His words hung in the air, heavy and inescapable. I felt the anger inside me subside, replaced by something else – something I couldn’t put my finger on. Maybe Roger wasn’t as stupid as he looked.

“And how am I supposed to do that, hmm?” I finally asked, my voice lower but still sharp. ”How am I supposed to show her that I... understand her?”

Roger grinned crookedly. “Start by finding her. And then... listen, boss. No talking. No threatening. Just listen.”

I was silent, my eyes fixed on the floor as his words echoed through my mind. Listen. It sounded so damn easy. But nothing was easy with Marie.

“Go,” I finally murmured, my voice little more than a growl.

Roger nodded slowly, his grin growing wider, before he closed the door behind him. And me? I stood there, alone, with the thought that I might finally have understood what Marie really wanted from me – and that it might be the hardest fight of my life.