“I’ll cover tomorrow. Stay home. Get some rest. Come in on Saturday, if you feel up to it.” He looks to Caden and then back to Lily. “They say blood is thicker than water, but that’s bullshit. Me and The Saint, me and you – we’re family. You take care of yourself, and I’m sorry this happened, Lily.”

She nods and I watch the tears flow as she reluctantly walks out the door.

Joe closes the door, and turns back to where I’m still restraining Caden in a choke hold from behind. He says nothing for a long moment, assessing how to handle the situation. I’ve been working with Joe for months now. He seems like a levelheaded guy and it’s clear he adores Lily. Smart, fair…I’d even consider him a friend. But I’m not taking any chances. This situation can turn on me in the blink of an eye.

Finally, Joe speaks. “I only know what my nephew has told me, but I saw the picture on the news too. Lily stepping out on Caden with you, son?”

“Lily and Caden broke up two months ago. Lily’s not stepping out on anyone. Caden here just doesn’t seem to know how to take a hint.” Caden attempts to struggle at my words, but I’m ready and a little pressure reminds him who’s really in control. He stills, but his nostrils flare and dark eyes go black and stormy. The truth is hard to hear sometimes, especially when you don’t like what’s being said.

Joe takes a deep breath in and closes his eyes, shaking his head. He’s surprised to hear what I have to say, but I can tell he believes me. This definitely isn’t the first time he’s seen the crazy in his nephew.

“Caden, this score you’ve come to settle, isn’t yours to settle, son. Seems like Lily’s made a choice and Jax hasn’t shown you any disrespect. This vendetta you’re chasing… Doesn’t exist.” Joe emphasizes the last two words, something in the way he says them, like a parent stressing a point to a small child, tells me he’s experienced at handling Caden’s one track mind. A mind stuck on a track that leads to nowhere, yet he’s physically unable to change course.

“Now.” Joe continues. “What we’re going to do here is…Jax is going to let go of you. And you’re going to stand there and not move a muscle as he collects his things and walks out that door.” He tilts his head back, motioning to the door behind him. “You boys want to continue this, we’ll set it up. In the ring. The way we fight around here. Clean. You got that?”

Caden doesn’t move or respond, not that I’m leaving him much room to wiggle in my hold.

“Caden!” Joe warns. “I want to hear you understand what I’m saying. Jax let’s go, there will be no fighting in here tonight. You clear with that? Because I’m starting to lose patience. Getting off a plane and chasing your ass here isn’t exactly what my nearly sixty year old ass should be doing. So no more shit tonight, tell me you understand what I’m saying. Or, so help me God, I’m dialing 911 and they’re taking you out in cuffs for assaulting Lily.”

Caden’s jaw clenches but he blinks his eyes in agreement.

“Jackson?” Joe questions. “We good?”

I’ll probably regret it, but I nod in agreement anyway. Joe nods back. Cautiously, I loosen my hold, but only enough to test the waters…see if Caden tries to turn on me. He doesn’t move, so I take the next step, removing my arm wrapped around his neck altogether. He still doesn’t move. Grabbing my bag, I head to the door and begin to open it, but I stop and look back, both Caden and Joe in my sight. Caden hasn’t moved a muscle, almost makes me think he knows he won’t be able to control himself if he does. “I’ll take you up on that offer to settle it in the ring, Joe.” Joe nods and I turn my attention to Caden. A heinous smile curls up on his lips. If I didn’t want to kick his ass so badly for putting his hands on Lily, I might be a bit more concerned how psychotic he really looks. Like a psychopath ready to tear off limbs and gnaw on them for lunch.

***

Lily must have been standing at the door waiting. She flings it open before I even finish knocking, throwing her arms around my neck in the hallway. Her quiet cries cause me physical pain.

“Shhhh…everything’s fine.” I pick her up and carry her inside.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers between deep breaths as she tries to reign in her tears.

I pull my neck back to look at her. “You think this is your fault?”

“Yes. I knew how Caden would react if I got involved with someone too soon, but I did it anyway.”

“Lily…,” I pause, putting a finger under her chin, bringing her eyes back to mine. “This isn’t your fault. Not one bit. Caden doesn’t own you. I know you two have history, but that’s what it is. History. He has no right to raise his hand to you, even if you were still together. There is no justification for what he did.”

Sniffling, she averts her eyes for a moment. It breaks my heart to see her so upset. Internally, my brain is battling against my emotions, I’m so filled with anger, yet I want to make Lily feel calm. Safe.

“Are you hurt at all?” she asks.

“No.”

She tries to force a smile but fails. “He’s not going to let it go this easily.”

Seeing the warped smile on his face before I walked out of the gym, I couldn’t agree more, but I need to calm her, not make her more upset. So I try to make her feel better. “We reached an understanding,” I reply cryptically.

Lily furrows her brow, her sweet face a mixture of fear and confusion. “What…”

I lean down and kiss her lips gently, silencing her before she can finish her sentence. “Tomorrow. We’ll talk about it more tomorrow. He’s consumed enough of our day.” I begin walking toward the bedroom with her still cradled in my arms. She rests her head against my chest. “You need to get some rest.”

I don’t see the full extent of the bruising on her neck until she’s lying on the bed. It takes every ounce of self-control to not leave and hunt that motherfucker down and beat him until his entire body is covered with matching bruise marks. But right now, Lily needs me. My retaliation will have to wait. Instead, I grab an ice pack, slip into bed next to her, and lift her on top of me, placing her on my chest. I wrap my arms around her tightly, protectively, making sure she knows nothing is going to happen to her. My own adrenaline still pumping ferociously through my veins, sleep evades me. But I tenderly stroke Lily’s hair until I hear her ragged breathing turn peaceful, knowing she’s fallen asleep. And even then I keep holding her, stroking her hair, willing her to feel safe in my arms as she sleeps so she can rest.