The Badass returns (completed)

Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

(Jason's POV)

Who would of thought that I would be spending the night at Alexis Dylan's house, it proved just how different things were now compared to at the start. Even though it was the early hours of the morning I could hear people chatting down stairs, I thought they had all gone to bed when I had.

It amazed me about how much Alexis and the gang had come together over the current hours. Before we had even got home from the ball people had filled up every inch of her house and property. I had been informed that this was what it always was like in a time of crisis. They all came together.

Even though my gang had been my blood family, we weren't nearly as much of a family as they were. They were the definition of everything I wish my gang had been. Growing up with a father that was the leader of the gang wasn't easy, my destiny was already planned out for me before I had a chance to decide what I wanted.

In normal circumstances I would have waited to take over leadership, until Damon was ready to step down. But when I saw what he was doing, the real path that he was leading the gang down. I couldn't help but want to change it. I was the only thing that could possibly change it all. But it had backfired. I thought that he might be upset but I didn't think he would go as far as he had. If he had accepted that I won then everyone else would have. I wouldn't have hundreds of men coming after me, trying to kill me.

"Normally, I would give you your own room but as you can see we are bit full." Lexi said, breaking me from my thoughts. She stepped around me in the door frame, placing the blankets and pillows she was carrying on the floor next to the open fire place.

"I understand, I can just go back to mine if it's easier," I replied honestly. I knew this probably wasn't what she wanted, having me share a room with her. But she was doing whatever she could to keep everyone safe, including me. And I really respected her for that.

"We both know you wouldn't be safe there," standing up she looked down at the bed she had made on the floor, hands on her hips. "There you go!"

"Not offering me the bed?" I asked sarcastically, smirking over at her. She rolled her eyes, letting out a little chuckle.

"I would, but you see, I don't like you that much," I couldn't help but laugh at how easily she could throw shade at me. It reminded me of Ellie, dear I admit it. She was always like that, always the one to put me in my place, keep me on my toes.

Before I had a chance to reply she ducked into her wardrobe. I stripped down to my boxers before slipping into the makeshift bed. Surprisingly it was quite comfortable and warm with the fire roaring beside me. Just as I began to drift to sleep she stepped back into the room. In an oversized t-shirt and shorts I couldn't help but think about how innocent and fragile she looked as she slipped into her bed.

(Lexi's POV)

I laughed quietly as I hopped into bed, he was already fast asleep, his heavy breathing filling the silence. Laying in the darkness, I thought back to the events of earlier. A plan had been laid out and I really believed that we had a chance of winning this. We had a chance of taking Damon down.

But in saying that I stilled feared that this might not turn out for the best. That we might not all end up winning. Every guy in the house meant the world to me, every guy was my family. If I even lost one of them I don't know what we would do.

I let out a loud sigh running my hands over my face.

I was afraid.

I was stressed.

I always wanted to be in control, but right now I didn't feel like I was really in control. No matter how much I planned and practiced, I still feared that I was going missing something. That I was overlooking something. Yet I couldn't figure out what it was.

"Do you want me to just let you keep sighing, or would you like to talk about whatever is bothering you?" Jason's voice broke the silence. Obviously he hadn't been asleep like I thought. I sat up in the bed looking down at him.

"Am I allowed to say I don't really know what's bother me?"

"Well you know there is a guy trying to kill everyone you love, if that doesn't bother you I don't know what will,"

"Huh, sounds worse when you say it like that," I replied, realising how truly terrible it sounded when it was said out loud. Deciding I couldn't just lay in bed and sleep I slipped out of bed and walked towards the fire. Sitting next Jason, enjoying the warmth of the fire. He shuffled over, throwing half of his blanket onto me.

I couldn't help but look at his bare abdomen. Looking at him shirtless threw me back to the first time I saw him in such a state, when we were stuck up on the mountain. A small smirk coming to my face as I thought about some of our encounters whilst we were stuck there together.

"Are you checking me out Alexis?" He asked.

"When are you going to start calling me Lexi, Alexis makes me sound old," I decided to ignore his remark, even though part of me was checking him out.

"Now why would I want to do something that so clearly bothers you?"

"I think it's called being a good person," I teased, trying to look innocent as I said it.

He tutted, "Now when have I ever been called a good person."

I paused for a moment, looking down at him as he laid looking up at me.

"I don't think you're a bad person," I replied honestly, feeling like it needed to be said.

He held his hand to his heart, grinning wildly, "A compliment from you, holy heck who would have thought."

I grabbed the pillow next to him and smacked him over the head with it. Trying to wipe the grin off his face. It was moments like this that made me forget he wasn't just another one of the boys. Another one of my boys.

After a few moments, once he'd wrestled the pillow off of me. He sat up and moved slightly closer. A serious look crossing his face.

"You need to stop worrying about what is going to happen. Stressing about it, isn't going to make it any better." He told me. I looked away from his piercing eyes, instead choosing to look at the fire. He grabbed my chin softly in his hands and turned me back to look at him. "Those boys out there, your boys are smart. They are some of the best trained people I have ever seen. You've got the plan, you've got the equipment and you've got the people. It's all going to be fine."

"And if it's not?" I asked. "If someone gets hurt, how am I meant to carry on knowing it's my fault?" I whispered.

"If one of them gets hurt, it isn't your fault not even slightly."

"Whose fault is it then?' '

"Mine." He whispered back. "I brought you into this. I bought them into his. I promise you, I will do whatever I can to not let them get caught in the cross fire. If everything goes according to the plan, none of them even have to get close to harm's way. The only one that has to risk anything is you."

I nodded, trying to remind myself that what he was saying was true. But really I knew it wasn't totally. Even if they weren't there when it all went down, they would have to live with the decisions. They would have to pay the consequences.