The live video on my phone showed Jax on his knees in the warehouse, a gun pressed to his head. Blood trickled from a cut on his temple. His eyes, even through the screen, burned with defiance and love for me.
“Lily-Rose,” the distorted voice said calmly on the call. “You have thirty seconds. Tell him to drop everything or watch him die.”
My heart slammed against my ribs. I was alone in the apartment, shaking, tears blurring my vision.
“Jax!” I screamed into the phone. “Please… pull back. They have the kids. They’ll hurt them.”
Jax’s voice came through, rough and steady despite the gun. “Baby, don’t. This is what they want. I love you. I’ll get out of this. Trust me.”
The man holding the gun laughed. “Touching. But she already chose once tonight.”
I dropped to my knees, sobbing. “Ja
