CHAOS (Beneath The Secrets Book 1)
CHAOS: Chapter 21

Maeve pulls her arms up to frame her face in a big yawn.

“I feel ya, baby girl.” It’s a perfect morning to stay in bed late and wish that yesterday didn’t happen.

Of all the clubs in the entire world for Jax to end up in, it had to be mine. But for him to be there with Brody confuses everything.

Slumping back against the pillow, I try to fit everything together, but none of it makes sense.

If Jax and Brody aren’t friends, how did they both wind up at the club? If they are friends, why was Jax so quick to knock Brody out?

That will forever go down as one of my all-time favorite memories.

Well, second to the moment Maeve was born. I scoop up my sleeping baby and lay her in her crib before heading to the kitchen to make coffee.

“Morning. Your phone has been going nuts. Gil texted me to see if you were around. I told him you were sleeping.” Anna hands me a steaming cup with a half-frown. “You came home early last night. Is everything okay?” She pulls her yoga mat from the rack and unrolls it while watching me.

“Everything that could go wrong, did.” I slide onto the high stool and wrap my fingers around the hot mug. “They were both there.” My sigh ruffles a maroon lock of hair.

“Who?” Her long legs fold and the soles of her feet meet.

“The two people I never thought I’d see again. Jax and Brody.” I drop my head to my arms.

This is the last thing I want to deal with.

Anna leans over her paired ankles, and her brows raise. “Maybe it’s a good thing. Did you ask Jax for some child support?”

I groan against the cool countertop. “It isn’t like that. He knew I was on birth control. It wasn’t his fault Maeve beat all the odds.” She’s my little miracle baby. With the heart of a tiger.

“You didn’t tell him, did you?” Anna’s voice drops.

I can tell she’s disappointed.

“Did you at least throat punch Brody for general assholishness?” Her arms twist her torso around in another pretzel looking stretch.

“You’ll never believe this. Jax did. Well, not in the throat. But he did punch him!” It’s still the highlight of the evening.

“Maybe that’s why Gil is trying to get a hold of you,” she says, facing the wall. “You better call him.”

“Fine.” I don’t move, though. The froth on my coffee flattens as I take a sip.

There. Now I can get back to him.

Shit. Fifteen missed messages.

Gil: Whatever the fuck happened last night, you need to call me.

Gil: Call me now.

Gil: Whoever this guy is that broke my desk getting your contact info owes me a new one

Gil: YOU OWE ME A NEW DESK

Gil: Never mind. You’re just fired.

Are you kidding me?

Did he just fire me over text?

Would Jax do that?

My stomach twists at the thought of how hard he hit Brody.

There’s no doubt he’s huge and strong. He would be terrifying to be on the wrong side of.

I must have made him mad the way I left him.

Unknown: I know where you are now. I’ll be there in the morning.

Oh my god. He’s coming here?

A cold wave of nausea goes over me.

“Anna?”

“Hmm?” Her feet and palms are on the floor. All I can see is her ass sticking up in the air.

“I think Jax is on his way. Can you keep Maeve distracted? I don’t want him to meet her. At least, not yet.” I have no idea how he will react. What if he’s angry?

She flips over and sits on her mat with a confused look. “Wait, you don’t want him to know?”

“Please? Just until I know for sure.” Rushing to the bedroom, I change out of my baggy t-shirt and shorts to jeans and a long-sleeved blouse.

The thought of Jax thinking he can just waltz in after getting me fired makes me furious.

Who does he think he is?

He can’t just take over and ruin everything that I’ve built.

By the time the doorbell rings, I’m fuming.

Flinging it open, my jaw drops in shock.

Brody.

“What are you doing here?” I push the door almost closed as he wedges his foot in the gap.

“I felt bad about how things went down. It was a surprise seeing you last night. You still look good. Nothing a few workouts wouldn’t fix.” He gives me his best lopsided grin.

It used to make me giddy.

Now I want to kick him in the balls.

“What do you care? You gave up any say over me, or my body, a long time ago.” My heel replaces its way onto his toe.

He grunts and his lips thin, but he doesn’t move his wedge.

“That isn’t what I meant and you know it, Sof. Things in the past can stay in the past. We all make mistakes. It’s important that we move on from them.” His palms open as he steps closer and his voice gets husky. “You did moves last night I’ve never seen. I want you to do them again, but for me.”

“Mistakes? Like ‘oops, I tripped and fell into my best friend’s fiancé’s vagina with my dick?’ It’s not like you misspelled a name on a piece of paper, Brody. That isn’t something you can just erase.” I try to shove his shoe out again. “Go away.”

“You know I didn’t love her. She didn’t mean anything.” His fingers thread around the edge and he starts putting his weight behind his push.

“I don’t care. We’re so⁠—”

I’m cut off by Maeve screaming from the back room.

Brody’s eyes widen. “Is that a baby?”

“Yes. Now go.”

His knee digs against the wood, and I lose ground. “Who’s is it?”

“Not fucking yours.” I grab my keys laying on the table and dig the sharp metal into his knuckles.

He lets out a yelp before stumbling backwards.

His swearing is muffled as I slam the door closed.