The Unspoken Warning

Though the early air is clear, the weight in my chest makes it seem heavier. Sunlight dances across Ava's kitchen window, giving the oak counters a golden glow. Although the air smells like coffee, it does little to get me going.

since I neglected sleep.

Not rather.

Not last night.

Jaxon was a dilemma I never intended to deal with once more, yet he was here the instant I started to walk back into this house. largest. better. More deadly than I had ever thought.

Still worse? She understood it.

Sitting at Ava's kitchen table now, I pretend my world isn't tilting by idly stirring my coffee.

Ava slams a plate of pancakes in front of me, sighing broadly as she drops into the seat across from me. "God, I am worn out. Why I felt that leaving last night was a good decision is unknown. You most likely feel this as well.

My fingers tightening on the mug, I blink at her. Assuming only, she knew.

I nod here. Certainly. late hours.

Understatement of Year.

"Mm.," She looks at me warily and bites a pancake. "You great?" You had been staring at the coffee like it denigrated your family.

I start to grin. "I'm just getting used to be home again."

"Uh-huh," Ava's eyes focus becomes keen. "Right, you did see Jaxon last night?"

I jolt. I keep my face blank and raise my cup to my lips to get myself a second.

Really, I say at last. "Briefly."

Her eyes narrow. "And then?"

And thus? And my nervous system short-circuited overall? And my gut twisted in incomprehensible directions.

And none at all, I say. "We spoke hello. That sums it out.

Ava looks at me, obviously dubious.

Levers back in her chair, she replies, "You know he's different now."

I keep my face blank but my heart rate increases. "Differing how?"

Ava groans and spins her fork in her palm. "I'm not sure." He closes off. Like than normal. He used to be flirty, but now days? He lets them in hardly at all. Lena sensed something shifted in him.

My gut gets tighter.

I ask nothing specifically. I am not interested in knowing.

Because if Jaxon's changed now, I could be part of the reason behind it.

Ava gives a shake of her head. "Anyway, just be careful around him, okay?"

My spine becomes rigid. "Be cautious."

She laments. "You are familiar with his nature. He gets in his own way. Simply said, I want you out of the crossfire free from capture.

Her nonchalant, so protective attitude seems to be the reason my throat gets dry.

Ava doesn't know that I could already be too late to pay attention to her warning.

The day drags on under a heavy, oppressive weight.

I tell myself I will not consider him. I will not search for problems.

Still, trouble finds me everywhere.

Searching for some air on the rear patio, I turn around and hear voices.

Jaxon's vocal voice.

Low, austere, clear.

"Man, I'm not sure what you want me to say," he says quietly. I mentioned to you I'm done with all that.

Another voice, one I cannot identify, laughs viciously. Actually? Doesn't seem like it.

I stop just out of sight, pressing my back against the wall, driven by curiosity.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Jaxon now has a piercing tone, slanted with something sinister.

"It means you can pretend all you want, but we both know you're not the type to stay clean."

My pulse races. In cleanliness? Given what?

Jaxon lets out a strong exhaled. "I told you; I'm out here. That garbage is no longer needed by me.

The other man laughs at you. " Right. Given your performance is quite outstanding. Jax, tell me—when was the last night you slept through?

Long quiet exists.

Jaxon's voice suddenly is low and strained.

"Leave it alone."

I never realized I was holding my breath until my chest started to hurt.

Something Ava is not aware of exists here.

Something I most definitely should not know either.

Ready to go before they know I was listening, I carefully back off, but my foot catches on a loose board.

There are creaks.

Blood goes to frost in me.

In silence.

Then, "Who's there?"

trash.

I arrive just in time to see Jaxon circling the bend.

When he spots me, he pauses.

We neither move for a moment.

His eye then darkens.

"How much did you listen to?"

My heart leaps against my ribs. I had to lie. I should act as though I wasn't listening.

But I respond, "Enough instead."

Jaxon's jaw shuts. His gaze veers to the side as though he is checking his pal is gone.

He then moves forward, so closing the distance separating us.

Quietly, he adds, "You don't know what you're playing with, Lena."

I chuck my chin. "Then tell me."

His lips draw a narrow line. You do not want to know.

A sluggish breath passes through me. Maybe I do.

Jaxon looks at me for a protracted period, his expression incomprehensible.

Then at last he lets out a breath. " Not here."

My stomach turns.

Suddenly, it goes beyond just curiosity now.

It relates to Jaxon allowing me in.

Later that evening in secret Lena and Jaxon meet.

He tells half the truth—his past, the things he is attempting to leave behind.

But something more massive slams into their world just as she begins to see him.

Ava grabs them.

And then the true danger starts.