Lucky

Impasse

Lucky

Chapter 3: Impasse

After leaving the diner, Jax drove a little bit longer and I eventually dozed off again before waking up with a jolt. It was completely black and it took a minute for my eyes to adjust to my new surroundings. The car was now parked in a large garage, Jax no longer in sight. I could hear voices coming from a little ways away. Glancing at the ignition, I noticed the keys were missing.

"Damn." I mumbled to myself for not being able to get out of here as easy. Hearing Jax in the mix of voices close by I relaxed a little, he shouldn't be too long I hoped. Soon enough the voices started to get louder and closer, and then I could distinguish his voice perfectly. A few more minutes passed before I got tired of waiting and decided to join the crowd of voices huddled close by.

Rust circulated the air around the door after stepping out of the car and slamming it shut with a thud. The crowd of people instantly looked up at me, a group of about four older men.

"Evangeline, get back into the car." Jax spoke forcefully. Ignoring him, I went to go stand by him, a few ways away from the other men.

"Why, who do we have here?" one of the men directed towards me. Standing a few feet from me, he stood a little shorter than Jax, had gruesome features, oily dark hair cut short, and yellow teeth.

"Don't." Jax warned, authority ringing in his voice.

"Ah, c'mon mate. I was just making a little, eh conversation with this fine young lady here." His voice sounded wishy-washy and dishonest, making me hold on to Jax's arm. Something about these men scared me, worse than the fear Jax held over me.

Jax grabbed my small hand in his large palm, rubbing soothing circles over the skin with his thumb. The act started to calm me a bit, as well as quicken my alertness.

"You will not with her."he said crisply, a slight edge in his tone.

"I think that's up to this little lady." The man said, a smirk creeping on to his face. Bad intentions started invading my thoughts sending a shiver up my spine. Jax stiffened beside me.

"What do you say, ditch Asher here and come have a bit of fun with me?" The man then began to reach for me before Jax stopped him in place.

He glared down at the man before letting go of my hand he preoccupied himself with and grabbing the intruders arm, pinning it behind his back. The two other men watched boredly, as if this was an everyday occurrence between them.

"Not with her, understand?" he whispered sharply to the man. The man nodded his head in up and down motions before Jax let go of him.

Directing his attention back to me, Jax leaned in close speaking softly, "Evie, go back to the car please." I obeyed.

I started my retreat back to the car as he continued conversation with the intimidating men.

A moment later their voices carried louder, ricocheting off the walls of the garage. Looking back at them I could tell something was off by the way they stood. Trying to hear what was being shared between them, I quieted my breathing and cracked the window slightly.

Suddenly the man who harassed me earlier delivered a blow to Jax's cheek. Jax's head snapped back, but managed to gain his composure immediately. A gasp escaped me as I watched him step back a bit before he responded with a punch to the man's gut and face. The two men from before walked a few feet away, watching the men fight with interest.

The man fell to the ground as Jax continued beating the man down. His muscles moved violently, and watching the intensity of the punches he was giving made me cringe. An aura of power radiated from him and seeing what he could do began to scare me. I turned around and sunk low in my seat, leaning my head back against the headrest.

I closed my eyes before letting a few tears blink out as I worked on slowing my breathing as not to sob. The full intensity of the situation hit me like a bus just then, he could do whatever he wanted and I'd have no way to defend myself. I wasn't in any way in control of anything, and wouldn't have a clue where I'd end up.

"What are we going to do Evie?" I whispered to myself just as Jax began his retreat to my car. Starting the engine, we drove away from the three men in a tense silence. I fixed my gaze to my shoes without a word.

The driving and silence continued for a while before the tension became too unbearable. I tried to catch sight of any signs, to give me some sort of indication of where we were going but he seemed determined to take the back roads.

My captor drove for about another hour before pulling in to an old looking motel. The neon open sign flickered red and yellow in the little window, and the building held an eerie atmosphere. Jax began to take his seat belt off before I turned to him for the first time in the last 2 hours. He had blood on his knuckles and a small amount trickling down his lip and forehead as well as his shirt. Nothing compared to the damage he delivered to the vulgar man earlier that afternoon.

"What are we doing here? I thought you were taking me home?" I asked, panic rising in my voice.

Jax ran his hand through his hair before whipping his head up to meet my gaze. "No, you assumed I was taking you home. I told you, you're not leaving my sight for a while." and with that the tall boy got out of my car and began walking to the passenger side. He opened the door and crouched down to reach my level.

"Get out." he said loudly. I shook my head no before crossing my arms. I don't know why, but a part of me knew he wouldn't hurt me. I just hope that theory wasn't wrong.

What are we doing?

What is he going to do to me?

Who is he?

Scary thoughts muddled around my head as I continued to grow more anxious by the minute. I knew asking again would be slim to nil in terms of getting a response, but I couldn't keep the words from pouring out of my mouth.

"Who are you." I said in all seriousness. Jax stared at me for a few seconds, his expression unreadable. Chewing on my bottom lip, I began to feel unsure about carrying out such a bold approach.

"Don't worry about it." He said just as serious, annoyance ringing in his voice as loud as bells.

Merely hours before I would have accepted my defeat for what it was. But I no longer cared, what ever was going to happen would happen, and there's no changing it until I can either find myself some help or answers. Either way, I wasn't budging.

"You told me you would tell me who you were, and if you cannot honor that than at least give me some guidance. What are you going to do with me?" I spoke slowly and softly, my voice quivering slightly.

Looking to the ground, he spoke.

"I'm not sure yet," he said before clearing his throat. "I can sense what you're thinking, and all of your assumptions are wrong, you know. This, isn't what it seems, but I'm going to need you to trust me" he snapped his head up to meet my gaze once again.

"But how can I trust someone who can't honor their words?" I asked harshly. None of this was making any sense, and left me even more confused than before.

"Evangeline, do you trust me?" he asked.

"Yes." I said too quickly. I don't know why, but a big part of me did trust him as stupid as it sounds. If it wasn't for him, who knows what that guy would have done to me. But if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be in this situation. I toggled back and forth before my thoughts were cut through.

"You shouldn't," he said harshly. "I honestly thought you to be smarter than that."

Conversation seized then, and I got out of the car stifling my complaint. We walked across the motel parking lot to the main office as I thought about what Jax had said, sparking more questions than before. Reaching the main office, he grabbed my hand as I stayed quiet, keeping my head down to the floor as I stared at my shoes.

He intrigued me in a dangerous way. I felt conflicted at the situation I was placed in. A part of me trusted him and wanted to figure him out, like a puzzle that needed to be solved. The more analytical part of me knew that couldn't happen, and I need to find a way to get away from him.

He's dangerous, threatening you with a gun and you want to make friends.

I hung on his word either way in spite of myself.