Mafia's Ex Wife

Chapter Thirty Six

Jax (Four Years Ago)

"Lizzie, I know you're mad." 

She doesn't say anything, just slams the refrigerator door closed and thrusts a few containers of food onto the counter. When she huffs, a dark curl blows off of her face and she angrily tucks it back without a word. 

She's adorable when she's angry, but I don't dare say that out loud because I know it'll only make things worse, and I can't have that tonight. 

"Would you just say it, babe? Just tell me you're upset so we can make up and get it over with." I slide my arm around her waist, but Lizzie doesn't even entertain the thought. 

"I'm not mad." She maintains. "I just...I had a long day in court and I thought... I just didn't realize I'd be cooking dinner for your parents tonight." 

I lean back against the counter arms crossed over my chest. It's sure as shit not my first choice for the night either, especially with all the time I've been away lately. "Let's just order something, Lizzie. Really, my parents won't mind." 

She looks at my as if I'm growing a third head. "Jackson, if you think I'm serving Marlena Hale takeout food, you've completely lost your mind. She doesn't need another reason to hate me." 

 "I'm sorry," I catch her wrist, pulling her over to me. "I know I sprung this on you, but we're so close..." 

A tear trickles down her cheek, and I realize this isn't just about dinner. Lizzie's got something bigger on her mind. 

"Hey," I reach up, swiping at her cheek and Lizzie softens. She shuts her eyes, biting back tears. "What's going on, baby? What's wrong?"

Lizzie shakes her head. "Nothing. I told you, I'm just tired and I have a lot going on with work. I'm sorry. I'm just stressed out." 

"How can I help? Why I don't I grill something tonight? I'll go pick up some steaks." 

"It's not about the food, Jax. It's..." Her teeth sink into her lip as she shifts her weight. Nothing breaks me quite like seeing Lizzie cry. I fucking hate it, and I hate it even more knowing that I'm the reason. "They've been around so much lately because they're trying to convince you not to take Bruno's deal."

I don't say anything because she's right. My parents are just as against the deal as Lizzie is for it, and I'm being pulled in two completely different directions. 

"I just can't sit thought another dinner biting my tongue when they get to influence such a huge decision in our life."

"Then don't." I say. "Don't bite your tongue. Say exactly how you feel. Baby, look at me," I cup her chin, forcing her eyes to mine. "You have more say in this than anyone. Every choice I make, I make with you at the very front of my mind. I'm going to make the decision that's best for you and me. Not for anyone else. Certainly not for my parents." 

Lizzie swallows, taking a deep breath. 

"I'm going to take his deal, Lizzie." I tell her, a small smile breaking out on my lips. "I'm going to meet with Bruno tomorrow and make is official." 

"You are?" 

I nod. "We're going to negotiate a few things, and I'm going to stay on in a very unofficial capacity, but I'm going to sell."

Tears fill Lizzie's eyes, and she squeezes my hand. "Jax, I don't even know what to say..." 

I lean forward, my lips finding hers in a kiss that silences all the loud, disparaging voices in her mind. Lizzie moans, leaning into me and resting her body against mine. It feels so damn good, I think about canceling on my parents, but I know that I can't. Not with the bombshell I'm going to drop on them soon. 

They won't be happy to hear that I'm taking Bruno's deal, but I meant what I said. My future with Lizzie is more important to me than anything else and I have to protect it. 

"I'd do anything for you. You know that?" I whisper. "Absolutely anything."

_________

Jax

She doesn't see me at first.

As I lurk back in the shadows against the wall between the kitchen and dining room, my mom has no idea I'm here. I watch as she comes into the kitchen and flips the light on. As she opens the fridge and takes out her coffee creamer. As she sets a cup down on the counter and starts pressing buttons on her fancy espresso machine. 

She's fucking oblivious.

She'd have no idea if someone was here stalking her like prey. Watching her every move. About to attack.

She'd have no idea if she was about die.

When she turns her back, I slide out of my hiding spot and I grab her. One arm up underneath her shoulder and another across the front, holding the sharp metal blade at her throat. 

I touch the cool metal against her skin, and she gasps, failing around as if her might is any match for mine. She's my mother, but right now, all I feel is rage and hatred toward her. She's the reason Lizzie left. She's the reason I turned into such a cold, heartless monster. She's the reason for it all. 

"You're scared, aren't you?" I growl. My voice is low and almost unrecognizable, but I know that she knows its me. "You think this is how Lizzie felt? The night you did this to her?" 

I let my hand off of her mouth and she whimpers. "Jackson, please. What has gotten into you?" 

"That's what you were talking about the other day, wasn't it? When you asked me if she told me anything more? You wanted to know if she told me that you put a knife to my wife's neck and threatened her life and the life of my unborn child. Your grandchild." 

"Jax, I'm sorry. It was a long time ago." 

I can't help myself, and I laugh. A long time ago? Is she serious? As if it hasn't haunted every moment of my life since then. 

"The baby was. girl, by the way. Her name is Harper and she's incredible."

"Are you going to kill me?" My mom ignores what I say, only thinking about herself as usual. 

"I should." I hiss. "You've done a hundred things that I could have killed you for even before I found out about this. You're only alive because you're my mother and it's not a great look to kill you." 

She's quiet, weighing whether or not I'm actually going to do it. I'm not, but I'll let her sweat it out a bit. I want her to be scared. I want her to fear for her life. I want her to feel exactly how Lizzie did all those years ago. 

After a few seconds, I let my mom go and she scrambles away, clutching at her neck. She looks back at me in absolute horror. "Have you completely lost your mind, Jackson? What the hell is wrong with you?" 

"Me?" I chuckle. "You have absolutely no soul, you know that? You took away the only thing in y life that I have ever cared about, and for what? What did Lizzie ever do to you that was so bad? You really hated her all that much?" 

Her face stiffens. "I did it for this very reason. You lose all sense of reality where that girl is concerned. You never would have made it where you have without my interference."

"Yeah, because I would have sold out to Bruno and Lizzie and I would have moved as far away from this place as fucking possible." 

"Jax, I did you a favor. All that girl is is trouble and lies and she always will be. You've got her upon some pedestal but why don't you ask her who she was sleeping with while you were married? You might be surprised."