Ava sat in the dark, her phone still clutched in her hand, the glow of the screen fading as the minutes passed. The silence in the room was heavy, oppressive, and the longer she waited, the more the tension in her chest tightened. She had no idea what Jaxon was walking into, but the fact that he had insisted on going alone told her it was something serious. Something dangerous.
The message to Caleb had been a spur of the moment decision, one born out of the gnawing fear that she might lose Jaxon if she didn't act. But now that the message was sent, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. Jaxon had asked her to trust him, to stay out of whatever this was, and by involving Caleb, she was defying that request. Yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had done the right thing. Jaxon was in trouble and if she could help she would whether he liked it or not.
Her phone buzzed in her hand, making her jump. She glanced at the screen to see Caleb's name flashing. Ava quickly answered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Caleb?"
"What's going on, Ava?" Caleb's voice was laced with concern, a hint of urgency beneath his calm tone. "You sounded worried in your message."
Ava took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "Jaxon got a call tonight. He left in a hurry, and he wouldn't tell me what it was about. He just said he had to handle it alone. I know something's wrong, Caleb. I can feel it."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, as if Caleb was processing her words, weighing the situation. "Did he say anything about where he was going?"
"No," Ava replied, frustration creeping into her voice. "But it sounded urgent. He didn't want me involved."
Caleb sighed, the sound heavy with resignation. "It's not surprising he'd want to protect you, Ava. But if he's dealing with something dangerous, you shouldn't be alone either. I'm coming over."
Ava's heart rate quickened, a mix of relief and apprehension washing over her. "You don't have to, Caleb. I just..."
"I'm on my way," Caleb interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Stay put until I get there."
The line went dead, and Ava stared at her phone for a moment before setting it down on the nightstand. Her mind raced with possibilities, each one more terrifying than the last. She knew that Caleb was right,Jaxon would want to keep her out of harm's way but that didn't make it any easier to sit here and do nothing.
Restless, Ava stood and began pacing the room, her thoughts a chaotic jumble. She tried to replay the events of the evening, searching for any clue, any detail that might help her understand what Jaxon was facing. But the harder she thought, the more elusive the answers seemed.
Minutes later, a soft knock at the door startled her out of her thoughts. Ava hurried to the door, her heart in her throat as she opened it to find Caleb standing there, his expression serious.
"Caleb," Ava breathed, stepping aside to let him in. "I'm so glad you're here."
Caleb closed the door behind him, his eyes scanning the room as if assessing the situation. "Tell me everything," he said, his voice calm but authoritative.
Ava quickly recounted the events of the night, from the tense conversation with Jaxon to the mysterious phone call that had pulled him away. Caleb listened intently, his brow furrowing deeper with each word.
When she finished, Caleb crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "This doesn't sound like Jaxon to take off without a plan. He's usually more calculated."
"I know," Ava agreed, her worry deepening. "That's what scares me. Whatever this is, it's got him on edge. And if it's tied to Veronica…" She trailed off, not wanting to voice the worst of her fears.
Caleb nodded, understanding the unspoken concern. "It's possible. But we won't know for sure until we hear from him."
"Caleb, what if he doesn't come back?" Ava's voice trembled with the weight of the question. "What if something happens to him?"
Caleb placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his gaze steady. "We're not going to let that happen. We'll figure this out together."
Ava felt a rush of gratitude for Caleb's presence, his unwavering support in the face of uncertainty. But beneath that gratitude was a growing sense of dread, a fear that time was slipping away, and with it, any chance of keeping Jaxon safe.
As if sensing her turmoil, Caleb gently guided her to the couch, sitting beside her as they both tried to make sense of the situation. "Ava, I need you to think. Has Jaxon mentioned any specific threats recently? Anyone who might be putting pressure on him?"
Ava shook her head, frustration gnawing at her. "No, not really. Just the usual,Veronica and her attempts to get him back under her control. But he hasn't given me any details."
Caleb frowned, deep in thought. "It's possible this call was related to something we don't know about. Jaxon has a lot of enemies, and any one of them could be trying to use his past against him."
Ava clenched her hands in her lap, feeling the anxiety tightening around her chest. "I should have insisted on going with him. I shouldn't have let him leave alone."
"You did what you could, Ava," Caleb said gently. "Jaxon wouldn't have let you go with him, and you know it. He's too protective of you."
Ava nodded, though the guilt remained. "I just hate feeling so helpless."
Caleb's gaze softened, and he reached out to take her hand. "You're not helpless. You're doing everything you can. But right now, we need to be patient. We need to wait for Jaxon to reach out."
Ava squeezed his hand, drawing comfort from the warmth of his touch. But even as she tried to reassure herself, the fear continued to gnaw at her, a constant reminder of how much was at stake.
The minutes ticked by in agonizing silence, each one stretching out longer than the last. Ava's mind raced with a thousand different scenarios, each more terrifying than the one before. She tried to focus on Caleb's presence beside her, but the worry refused to be pushed aside.
Finally, just when the tension seemed unbearable, Ava's phone buzzed on the table. She snatched it up, her heart pounding as she saw Jaxon's name on the screen.
"It's him," she whispered, her voice shaking.
Caleb's eyes locked onto hers, his expression urging her to answer. Ava quickly swiped the screen, bringing the phone to her ear.
"Jaxon?" she breathed, her heart in her throat.
There was a pause on the other end, followed by a low, rough voice that made Ava's blood run cold. "Ava, it's me. I need you to listen carefully."
Ava's grip tightened on the phone, her fear spiking at the sound of Jaxon's strained tone. "Jaxon, what's happening? Where are you?"
"I don't have time to explain," Jaxon replied, his voice tense. "But I'm in trouble, Ava. I need you to get out of there. Now."
Ava's breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding in her ears. "What do you mean? Where are you?"
"Ava, please," Jaxon's voice was urgent, desperate. "Just trust me. Leave the apartment, and don't go back until I tell you it's safe."
Ava's mind reeled, trying to process his words. "Jaxon, I'm not leaving without you. Where are you?"
But Jaxon's reply was cut off by the sound of a crash on the other end, followed by a string of curses. Ava's blood ran cold as she realized something was terribly wrong.
"Jaxon!" she cried, her voice frantic. "Jaxon, answer me!"
But there was only silence.
The line went dead.