Chapter Twenty Eight

Chapter Twenty Eight
A PRICE FOR LOYALTY

JAX'S POV

Immediately Benson had said that the issue could not wait, I knew it was not going to be good.

The look in his eyes told me that there was something big and serious, but why the hell was Benson being discreet about it? Why would he not tell me what was going on? I did not like it. I hated when things came up.

I stood up, taking one last look at Gabriella as Benson went outside of the room. Maybe he had understood I needed a little bit of privacy with her.

Good.

Benson had been my Beta for a very long while now. He was my best friend and confidante. He was a little but like me when he had wanted to. Cold, mysterious and broody. I remembered the time when we were little. They usually mistook us for brothers.

I looked down at Gabriella whose eyes were fixed expectantly at me. The look in her eyes made my chest ache. Why did she have to look so weak and fragile? Why did they have to stab her right in my stomach? Why had they injected her with something that had made her memory at the point of her tracking a USB erased?

She looked so weak and was barely breathing. I sighed weakly, leaning over, muttering a quick 'take care, I would be back soon,' and, 'Have enough rest, hm? Stay safe for me and don't hesitate to ring the bell if something happens or if anyone strange comes in.' She nodded weakly and I shoved a tiny bit of a bell into her hands. Her hands curled around the tiny object.

I pressed a kiss to her forehead and then hurried out of the door, slipping through. I took one last glance at her and then closed the door shut behind me.

God, I hated the idea of leaving her alone. I felt my teeth clench and my fists fold tight to myself.

Whatever it was that had torn me away from my moment with her, it had better be good. Benson was waiting right outside the door. I shoved my hands into my pocket and then followed him down the hall.

"What is it?" I asked, my voice coming out colder than I had intended.

Benson barely glanced back at me. He just kept walking and for some reason, it made me so mad I wanted to punch him or something.

"You'll see," he said.

"Benson," I growled, "Talk!"

“You’ll see when we get there,” he muttered, eyes forward.

I ground my teeth together. I hated this. I hated being kept in the dark, hated the feeling crawling under my skin like ants.

“Is it about Gabriella?” I asked, low and deadly.

“No.”

That was all he said. No explanation, no reassurance. Just that one word.

But the way he said it didn’t make me feel any better.

"Benson!" I growled.

Benson stopped and sighed, shoving his hands in his pocket.

"I don't know, okay? But you just have to come see this," he said in a low voice. I searched his eyes. He really didn't have any idea of the situation, but it was a worrisome one. I sighed and then stretched out my arms. "Lead the way then."

We moved down the hallway, turning past corners and empty rooms until the air changed again. I could feel the pull of fresh air, the coldness of the outside creeping through a cracked door ahead.

Benson pushed it open and stepped out onto the balcony without hesitation. I followed him, my gut tight with a bad feeling I couldn’t shake. Something about this was not right. I could feel it.

As he pushed open the doors of the balcony, I saw a man's back turned to me. He was older, with a neatly trimmed beard and eyes too sharp to belong to anyone who wasn’t dangerous in some way.

He was waiting for me.

He turned to face me and as soon as he saw me, he smiled broadly like we were old friends meeting again or something.

It was a little too much. A little too eager.

Still, I forced myself to return it, though it probably looked more like a grimace than a smile.

I stuck my hand out for a handshake.

It was Samantha's father, Alpha Maddox. What the hell was he doing here?

He took it immediately, his grip firm.

“Alpha Jax,” he said warmly. “It’s an honor.”

An honour? Was something the problem? Why was he here?

"Me too," I lied smoothly, shaking his hand slightly.

We stood there awkwardly for a while, the wind tugging at the edge of my shirt.

He looked like he wanted to say more. Probably a dozen things more, but he seemed to think better of it.

“You’ve built something strong here,” he said, glancing out over the land stretched beyond the balcony. “You’ve done well.”

I gave a short nod. “Takes good people to build anything.”

He laughed lightly, a sound that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Good men are rare these days. But you—you seem to have plenty.”

I wasn’t sure what he was angling at, but I didn’t like the way it sounded. Still, I didn’t show it. I just gave another polite nod and stepped back, jerking my chin toward the door.

“We should talk somewhere private,” I said.

Not out here where anyone could see or hear us.

He didn’t argue.

Just smiled again, that same too-pleased smile, and followed me inside.

We moved through the house in silence, Benson trailing a few steps behind. I led them down to a small office off the main hall. It wasn’t big. It was just a desk, a few chairs, a shelf with some old files, but it was quiet. And more importantly, it had a door I could close.

I waited until everyone was inside, then shut the door with a soft click.

Hr took a seat without being asked. Comfortably. Confidently. Like he owned the place already.

I didn’t sit.

I stayed standing, leaning against the edge of the desk, crossing my arms loosely over my chest.

“So,” I said. “What’s this about?”

He looked up at me, his face calm, almost too calm.

And then he said it.

“I have something to tell you.”

I stared at him, waiting.

“Yeah?” I said. “Spit it out.”

He didn’t flinch. Didn’t hesitate.

“Marry my daughter.”