Mess Us Up – Jaxson Kidman Page 0,8

flick at his cheek. “That looks swollen.”

“Go check out your lip, bro,” he says to me.

I smile and look forward, only to catch Jolie watching.

Her eyes are wide.

She turns and walks away again.

This time I chase after her.

I catch her at the bottom of the stairs.

My hands to her hips, stopping her.

She spins around, tears in her eyes.

“I forgot about the violence, how it is so easy for you all,” she says. “That’ll save everything, won’t it?”

“Don’t worry about it,” I say.

She pushes at my chest. “Just let me go, Mac. Go do what you have to do. I’ll just sit here alone for another day. Sound good?”

She rushes up the stairs.

I climb the steps slowly.

I find her not sitting on the edge of the bed, but looking out the window.

Hugging herself one second, wiping away tears the next.

I take a deep breath.

“Look, sweetie, Les…”

“I don’t care,” Jolie says. “You’re going to do what you want.”

“Jolie.”

“No,” she says. She looks at me. “I just want to talk to Violet. Okay? I understand what this all is. Believe me, I get it. But please… even if I have to get a new number or something. I can’t imagine her out there…”

Jolie’s teeth start to chatter.

I move toward her.

My heart beats fast when I’m near her.

And the word anything means a lot more.

I touch her face with my right hand, wiping a tear off her cheek.

My left hand gently touches the other side of her face.

I swallow hard.

“There’s a part of me that knows forever with us is going to happen,” I say. “And then there’s a part of me that knows you’re going to be the death of me. And either one I’m okay with. As long as you’re happy.”

“Mac… I just…”

I lower my mouth to hers.

I kiss her and then let her go.

“Mac, where are you going?” Jolie calls out.

I’m going to make you happy, sweetie.

I tell the crew I’m doing something alone.

They don’t like it but I don’t give a shit.

Aric and Raf have to hit the main campus for business anyway.

I tell Les and Taz to go to the skatepark and check up on Peg Leg Mikey. I just want everything normal to be covered while the rest of this stuff is going on.

Mostly I just want them to stay busy while I figure out a plan.

There really isn’t much of a plan though.

The only choice is to just show up and see what Violet does.

I’m not sure what she knows or doesn’t know. Or better yet… what she thinks she knows.

As of right now, the word about Jolie’s kidnapping hasn’t spread too far.

That’s because of her father using his contacts to keep things quiet.

That guy is wildly corrupt.

And what I need to know is if he’s in control or just someone else’s puppet.

I ride my motorcycle to the warehouse to get my car.

I drive fast.

Way too fast.

Somewhere in my head I can hear Jolie telling me to slow down a little. Because she wants me to come home to her safe and sound.

That’s where everything keeps leading me to now.

The life of wild and free now has a destination.

Jolie.

She’s the destination.

I’m not talking about the future or anything like that.

I’m talking about the mere fact that I have somewhere to go at the end of the day. I have something to look forward to. When I’m doing stupid or dangerous shit, I have someone to think about. It keeps me focused.

But it also drives me a little crazy.

I speed over to Violet’s neighborhood.

I’m still thinking about what to do and how to do it.

This is a huge risk.

Exposing the truth to Violet…

I have no clue what she’ll do though.

And that can cost her her life.

As I take one of the bends, I can’t believe my eyes when I see Violet running.

She’s out for a run on the side of the road.

Coming toward me.

I speed and fly right by her.

I’m not sure she even notices me.

I slam on the brakes, cut the wheel, and turn my car around.

The sound of that… I know I have her attention now.

I speed up again and Violet looks back at me.

Then she tries running faster.

Like she’s going to outrun my car.

I catch up to her in two seconds.

I have to slow down and let her catch up to me… only she doesn’t.

She stops running.

She reaches for her phone.

“Fuck,” I yell.

I throw open my door and get out of the car.

“Violet!” I yell.

“Mac?” she asks. “What are you…”

She gasping for breaths.

“Get in the