Jax
My dearest Jax-
I hope one day you can forgive me. My intentions were to only protect us, even if it just meant there not being an us. Maybe when things calm down, we can have that dream. Please know that every bit of this was hard and is tearing me up. There will not be a time that I will not stop loving you.
Always
Your sweet Amelia.
I had read that letter every day since waking up in the hospital. It was the first thing I saw when I came to, our friends arrived shortly after. It took Amelia thirty minutes to drop off the face of the Earth. The day after I found her phone, I saw the messages my father sent. She made sure I saw them to know that her hand was forced in this all.
After a week I was discharged, and Hell rained down on Santa Rosa. It did not take me long to round up some information to send to the FBI and CIA. Before talking with Chris, I agreed to help them hunt him down, well at least provide some information. The major information I kept for Chris and me. The following day my father sent a message to us by burning down Brimstone. We knew by then he did not have Amelia. After that I hunted his men down left and right, leaving nothing unturned.
I was doing recon with Chris when I crossed a line. We were hiding and heavily armed at a beach warehouse the goons were using. They began talking about Amelia and how my father wanted her but just to use her against me. They joked about what they would do to when they found her. Not sure who shot first either Chris or I, but we did not leave a single man alive. Chris realized then that I was slipping. I do not remember the interviews that next morning because I was pissed the FBI said they lost Lucis.
Chris rarely left my side; I could not sneeze without him nearby. That night he made the crew get together to try and bring me back. We were hanging out at Ryder's house when Chris began acting weird. A message popped up and later he left for a call. Chris rarely talked on the phone and if he did the look of concern never crossed him. Emmet handed me a drink as Chris walked away asking if anything was new.
"I am sorry Emmet, the only thing I know is she is alive and Lucis doesn't have her."
"Well you bring her home. Jesús and I are delaying our wedding until she is home."
I shook my head and laughed. I know they would, and she would be pissed. I excused myself to find Chris. I needed some air as well. When I stepped outside, I could hear him on the phone.
"…not safe and I can't guarantee that will be enough. We might need more time before we can provide more detail." Chris was serious and shit worried. There was a pause, whoever he was talking to I could not hear.
"We'll figure it out. Give me a couple days?" they must have agreed because he ended the call.
"everything okay man?" I asked taking a drink of beer.
Chris cleared his throat. "Yeah, just a possible lead on Mia." Shit he seemed unsure of himself. "They want me to check it out in case it's a trap."
"Possible lead?" why weren't these people telling me? "Do you want me to come?"
"Nah man, whoever spotted her didn't want her spooked." He put his hands on my shoulders. "Bud you need to trust me. I will bring her home if I find her."
Something was very off, but Chris is my best friend, if there was anyone other than myself to find her it would be him. He promised to protect her, shit he shot up my father's goons with me. Whatever was going on he would tell me, right? He left that Thursday and came back the following Sunday. He was passed out on my couch when I woke up that afternoon.
He had pictures of Amelia; it was dated from Friday. Her bump had gotten a tad bigger. She looked amazing but very tired. Another picture showed her walking out of a grocery store. Chris stirred and looked up at me.
"I'm sorry man, no sign of Lucis. I also found her a couple hours from here, but I lost her."
"Thanks Chris. You're doing the best."
Just like a normal routine my father disappeared but his threats continued. When I got close or even the FBI one of their men or mine ended up dead. No matter what I did I was not any closer to being able to make sure I could have Amelia home. Things were slipping in my life and honestly, I was at my limit. In January Lucis told me he no longer wanted Amelia for his personal use instead he wanted me by his side so I could take over later, but he was still using her as leverage to get to me. Same month I noticed more strange behaviors of Chris and my CFO Mike noticed odd money amounts being transferred.
"Mr. Adams I've got the information for you." Mike came into my office and sat across from me.
"What did you find?"
"Honestly, it didn't get me far. Just that money was and is being transferred to an account listed as Indigo. The money started in December. What should I do next Mr. Adams?"
This was all too weird, only a few people had access to do this. "Hire a P.I Mike. I want to know everything possible. But this stays between us."
He agreed and left. Nothing was making sense, but something felt very wrong. I wanted to get behind this, someone I trusted was moving money to an account I had no clue on. If January was not bad second weekend of February became a shit show. My PI shot me a text saying there was an envelope on my desk with what he was able to pull up. Thankfully, it was a Saturday, so people were gone, and Chris was at Amelia's house with the crew. It was time to learn about project indigo.
It listed instructions on when a burner texted the word 'indigo' to another burner. The text was sent on the day I was shot. A picture of Amelia getting into a cab shortly after the text was sent out. What the fuck? A paper listed on how things were to be set up for in the event no other plan we had set up worked but only if she sent out the text. There was picture after picture of her shopping and some of her while she was inside a cabin. The next picture showed an ultrasound that was Amelia's or a Cassie Evers, she is pregnant with twins. Holy shit she is pregnant with twins. At some point I began crying, my girl was handling all this alone. I wanted to hold her and feel their kicks or talk to them. Let them know their daddy loves them. The last picture set my blood on my fire. It was Amelia a few days ago in the cabin with Chris.
My feet carried me quicker than ever to my truck. I could not think straight, all I could do was feel pure anger, my best friend has been lying to me since the day I was shot. He helped me bring Hell on my father and his goons. He would have done it even if Amelia were not missing. The whole situation was fucked up.
I made it to beach condo that was Amelia's home and flew through the home and to the back where Chris was. He was walking up from the beach. Logic was yelling at me to stop because he looked freaked out, but I was beyond pissed. He was not looking when I raised my fist and socked him. Pain shot through my fist and my body as I tackled Chris to the ground. Couple punches in I screamed at him. "You mother fucker! You knew where she is at! Fucking kept me from her and our babies!"
"Jax," he coughed "I'm sorry. We had no choice."
"No choice?! We have been working with the FBI since end of the year. She's been alone!"
At some point Ryder and Jesús were pulling me off him. Dani and Emmet were helping Chris up. Annie and Destiney had ice ready for us. Chris was not fighting but I wanted to beat the shit out of him more.
"Listen mother fuckers!" shouted Emmet. "spill it! What kind of shit is our girl in?"
"Chris is the one who hid her away and our babies."
"Babies?!" they all responded.
"Jax we have more issues than that." Chris's face was swelling now but I could still see the fear.
"What else could be worse Chris?"
He paused and looked at me. He was seconds away from losing his shit, the last time he looked this his dad died. Chris struggled to find his words. "When she first left, I called in every few days. The day of the interview she needed me to call her. That was when she told me of the twins."
I cut Chris off. "You've known since then?"
"Jax I am sorry. That weekend I visited her and made it a promise to visit her. I told you that I would protect her, even from you."
"I wouldn't have hurt her! Jesus Chris. But your still not telling me everything."
"January, I told her to text me by a certain time every day and I would respond within the half hour. Jax I have not heard from her today. I sent units there already, they said no one was there and there was a sign of a struggle."
My heart felt like it was stopping. Amelia was really missing now. I dropped to my knees, despite my friends around me I was so alone. No clue on what to do next. Familiar hands around me lifting me up and I was on the couch. There was shouting all around me, but I could not comprehend any of it. None of it mattered. Someone had her, someone could be hurting. My mind was rushing at this point and more shouting around me.
"What the fuck do we do now?!" It was Jesús, I have never heard him yell but shit it was intimidating.
The wheels began turning in my head. I needed to remove my father but also make sure Amelia was safe. The FBI and CIA were at my fingertips, but it come at a cost. They would learn that Chris use to work for him and could lock him up easily because my father knew the right people and he could still walk away. We needed something a little more drastic. Everyone was still arguing on what to do. Few times voices were raised, couple swear word and some ridiculous plans.
"I have an option." It was almost a whisper, but everyone heard me and looked at me.
"What do you mean Jax?" Annie asked.
Chris shot me at first, shit I did do a number on his face, but he knew where I was going on this. Chris spoke "Ladies and Ryder we should sit down for story time."
"Maybe some drinks too." I suggested. "make yourself comfy and please hold questions for when the story is over."
Back in 2014 Chris and I were in between various projects for Dragon. Sure, we were cocky with our work too. We stopped countless hackers from stealing banking information, created a software that prevented online theft unless you were fifty feet away and our security teams were testing weak sport in other details. We had gotten an offer from a group, it was just one for Chris and me to break into a mansion, steal some information off a computer and grab and item from the safe.
We already have lived a life like this before. Chris and I were being raised to become thieves, we just took that training and used it to make a security company. This job was easy for us. The windows were an hour and we got it done in forty minutes. When we reached our drop off location, I and Chris were shocked to learned we stole from a secret organization called 'Ghost', they were government but did not exist to those who did not need to know. They worked for all factions of the government. If you could not get something done in a logical way Ghost stepped in.
They offered us both jobs, I cannot tell you why, but we turned it down. Occasionally we did consult for them and they did keep tabs on us. The offer was always on the table if we wanted to take it. The company offered many perks, but one had to give up a lot.
"Hold up!" Destiney chimed in. "You could be spies?"
"Not really like what you see in the movies." Chris responded, "But close to it."
Dani was not hesitant "What could it mean if you took their offer and what could they do to help?"
Fuck it was such a loaded question, but I understood. "They would help get Amelia back and take out my father somehow. Future wise, I don't know."
"Well for now." Emmet spoke. "We need to get our girl back and those babies"
Honestly, I had no idea what it would entail for us. But whatever it took I would do it. I needed to make that call.
Two days too long before we were walking into the same mansions Chris and I broke into years ago. I never noticed it was gated with hedges on each side. The driveway leads up to a circular parking area, someone let us in, and we followed into a board room. There were boards up around the walls with various pictures and documents. Some were of our crew, myself, Amelia, Chris, and my father. Clearly Ghost has been keeping an eye on the situation. A man the same height as Chris and I approached us. He had short dirty blond hair and matching facial hair. He was decked out in black with a gun holstered to his side.
"Mr. Adams, Mr. Evers I am Layne Parker." He extended his hand for us to shake. "It's good to see you two again."
"Didn't think we would see you again." A short curvy brown woman came in from another door. Her hair black hair was sleeked back into a tight bun. Her red dress hugged every curve perfectly. Shit Amelia would look amazing int that, no focus Jax! "I'm Robin Martin."
"It's been a few years since we busted in here." Chris was somewhat smirking. His face was not as swollen but at least he could crack jokes. "Glad to see you have upped your security."
After formalities we explained things going on. It was a mess with no clue on where to go. I was impressed that they did not know Amelia was pregnant, once she left Chris did his hardest to hide that. It did change the mood in the room though.
"Knowing your guys history" oh yeah they knew of Brimstone as well. "I'm surprised you didn't come sooner." Robin looked at Layne. "We need to extract her sooner than thought Layne."
"My father has had her for maybe three days now. His motives are very unpredictable." Chris handed them what we had. "As you will see he's lost it and we can't figure out why."
Our file had consisted of his threats, demands and messages. We had pictures and the information on his side hustles he had been doing. I handed over private information on his bodyguards. I would rather die than join him and this was the final step before doing that.
"Shit Robin, Adams isn't fucking around." Layne handed the file to his partner. "He's really selling out his old man."
"He must have really fucked up." Robin stated while looking at the file.
A growl escaped my throat, my blood was boiling at this point. "You have no idea. That man is dead to me. He wants me to join him, but I want nothing of it." My hands are now fisting at my sides, anymore it was taking a lot for me not bring hell on this Earth.
Chris chimed in "What would it take for you to help us to get her back? We would do anything."
Something about his statement did strike true, he was honest. Something the way he said it, there was almost love there but also fear. His eyes were screaming that he was afraid and there was so much passion behind it too. I needed to talk with him later. Ghost offered us rooms until they could investigate the possibilities for us. We struck a hard bargain with them, safety for our crew, all of us. In return we would help when they needed, weather it was in the field or not. That was simple but approaching my best friend about the potential feelings for Amelia was dangerous.
I tapped onto his bedroom door. "Come in" Chris was sitting on his bed. His dirty long blonde hair was messed up as if he ran his fingers through it many times. He had managed to remove his shirt; scars covered his torso from what were not covered from tattoos. "What's up man?"
It was now or never, "Chris, I want you to be completely honest with me." I swallowed hard and took a deep breath. "Are you in love with Amelia?" he was expressionless almost, but the wheels were turning. Fuck this was not what I was hoping. "Chris…" he put his hand up stopping me.
"Jax, we have been friends for how long? Twenty some years. In college I admitted to you many things. Do you remember?"
Of fucking course, I did, he came out to me, also admitted he had feelings for me in different ways. It was why our sexual escapades worked; I was comfortable with him because he is my best friend, but it was the closest he would get to fulfilling a fantasy. Did I love him? Yes, I did but not in the way I did Amelia. I honestly do not think I could. All I did was nod though.
"I love you man but not the way you and Mia do. I honestly do not think I could, it is not my style. So much happened to me before my father died and it made relationships hard. However, being a third to you guys is the closest I will ever get to one. Am I asking to be your boyfriend? No, but I would never sleep with others unless I talked to you, I would also be there for you like one." He came up to me and placed his hands on my cheeks. "I honestly think you are denying yourself on your sexuality. You are not bi, but I will not push you on this. It's something you need to figure out."
I am not sure how long we had that conversation for. He was not fully wrong; Chris honestly did not want to settle down. He was content with Amelia and me. I never had an issue with Chris doing things to me, hence the not fully wrong. But I was not okay with everything else we talked about. I could see the white picket fence dream, Chris could not at all, he honestly saw the future with Ghost or Brimstone (which were two opposite) and he was okay with it.
Then life being as fucked up as it is, especially our lives, we both made a deal with Ghost. They were going to own us regardless, there was a huge chance now that our lives would never go to that dream. Lord knows what we could or would do for this company. There was so many things up in the air and if that did not scare me it was also the countdown on my phone for the twins. Three months and they would be here. I was more ready to be a spy then a father. Mostly because I never had a proper father role model.
I was now sitting in Chris's bed watching some random cop show with him. He was critiquing it while I was deep in thought. A knock at the door got our attention. Robin walked in, it was three in the morning and was still decked out in that dress.
"Hey boys." She leaned on the door frame. "We're 90% sure we found her."
"What?!" Chris and I both said.
"Get your rest because we'll fill you in on it all, as well as the terms. Then nightfall we'll extract her." Robin nodded and left.
So many emotions were going through me right now. I would have my Amelia back and my father would pay for it all. I would literally stoop to my father's level to get her back.