. ༄. Cleo sat down at the table in Jax' kitchen while holding the cup of tea he made her firmly in her hands, enjoying how the cup warmed her hands. It wasn't cold, yet she was kind of freezing. If she would've lost more blood she would understand but that small amount she had lost wouldn't cause such symptoms as freezing and nausea.

Maybe it was the pain radiating from her nose into her head. The brunette had refused any pain medication knowing it would be way too early and would only cause her to relapse. It also could be the exhaustion or the fear how Jax would react to all of this in case he hasn't heard the full story from Tig before. Another question in her mind was bothering her. Was it better to be honest about her ex and what happened between them in the past? Probably, secrets were never good in a relationship.

"You sure you don't wanna lay down? You're paler than my wall", Jax told her in a concerned tone as he pulled a chair right in front of hers before he sat down. With his elbows resting on his knees, he bend forward a bit and looked at his girlfriend, worry written all over his face.

"No, I'm fine. My nose isn't even broken, only bruised. That's a good thing", Cleo smiled weakly. Honestly, she was glad her nose was only bruised. It would take two to three weeks until it would be fully healed again. A broken nose took around seven weeks and was more hurtful. "Are you mad at me, Jax?"

"You can be lucky about that. Looked pretty broken at first sight", the blonde sighed, reaching out to put a hand on her thigh. The worried look was replaced by a confused one. "Why would I be mad at you, babe?"

"Because I hit back and started a fight knowing very well Abel could've came out anytime. It would've confused him to catch his mom and his dad's new girlfriend fighting physically. Maybe I should've been the bigger person but she was driving me mad", the brunette explained with a desperate shrug. "I'm not like this but I'm also not a people pleaser who's letting other's treat me like crap. I did that once in my life and never again."

"Tara asked for it, Cleo. Even if Abel would've seen the two of you fight I would've explained it to him later. You know what I love about you? That you aren't a woman that needs protection or help from a man in every possible situation. Not that I would mind helping but I know you would defend yourself if needed instead of sitting around and whining about shit until I'm back to handle things for you." Jax features softened at first as he heard the insecurity in her even slightly shaking voice but hardened again at her last words. "Who's the person you allowed to treat you like shit?"

Cleo smiled briefly to herself and put a hand over his after setting her cup down at the wooden table. "I'm glad you like this about me 'cause I'm not sure if I could change. Not that I even want to", she admitted honestly while continuing drawing circles on the back of his hand.

The brunette became quiet for a long moment. It was a few moments later when she lifted her head and locked eyes with Jax. "You remember that guy from before outside St. Thomas?", she asked, waiting for him to nod. "That was my ex, the one I gave a little too much power over me in the past. Apparently he's following me on my dad's order since I'm not answering any calls or messages. He wants to know what's going on and Adrian has to do his dirty work as he's working for him since a while."

"Wait, that was your ex?", Jax huffed, leaning back against the chair to have a better look at his girlfriend. "He's following you and you thought it could wait until you tell me?"

"What would've changed if I told you right away?", she asked with a sigh.

"He fucking followed you, he found you right away. Means he's stalking you since a while and that was his moment to catch you alone. Or at least without me or any other member", the blonde stated matter of fact. He stood up wordlessly and made his way to the fridge to get himself a beer.

He chugged half the bottle in one gulp while trying to wrap his head around the new threat⸻ at least he was a threat in Jax' eyes. He had a deja vu kind of experience as the events of the past with Tara's psycho ex replayed in his mind. What if this Adrian guy would become just as dangerous? Other than Tara, Cleo didn't ask for his help and even though he loved her confidence and fearless personality, he wished he would've known.

"Come on, Jax, we were in front of a hospital. He's and idiot but not stupid. He would've never done anything to me in a crowded place", Cleo assured him eagerly. "I wanted to leave the shit I went through with him where it belongs⸻ and that's in the past."

"Guess he's not only part of your past anymore now, huh? He made the mistake to look for you, which means he's gonna deal with me now", Jax spat. He wasn't sure if he was angry at her or himself. She could've said something, but he also could've asked more questions about her past. "What did he do to you?"

"I'm sorry, okay? I had no idea he's working for my dad now." Cleo looked at him through her green eyes and swallowed softly as a lump formed in her throat. Her mouth and throat suddenly felt dry as fuck as she was thinking back to her time with Adrian. "I'm not gonna lie, we had some really great moments together but he couldn't control himself when he got angry or had a bad day. Everytime something went down with the club he came home all pissed with an attitude towards me that I couldn't stand. At first I didn't let him to put me down with his insults and treat me like a random chick."

"He's a Mayan? You gotta be kidding me, Cleo", Jax groaned almost desperately and ran a hand over his face while letting out a deep sigh. In his eyes, it couldn't get much worse. If he was in the same Charter as her brother, which he assumed, she was still seeing him sometimes. "What happened then? What changed?"

"Well, yeah, he is", the brunette muttered meekly, fiddling with her hands that lay in her lap. Her eyes were now fixed at her shoes as if they were the most interesting thing at the moment. "He's a fuckin' narcissist, he knew how to get under my skin and turn me into his little puppet. I do think he really loved me, but his love was poison from the beginning. The relationship turned from toxic to dangerous pretty fast one day, that's when I knew I had to get out, even though I still loved him."

Yeah, she remembered those days like it was yesterday. The long walks through the dessert, watching the sun rise or go down, the small trips they made. If it was only the two of them everything was fine but once they were back in reality the monster came out again. Their relationship had no future, she wasn't able to change him⸻ probably no one was and that was the sad part.

"He got violent, I assume?", Jax asked cautiously, his anger disappeared as fast as it came as he saw how much she was struggling to tell him everything. He wasn't used to see her like this. Quiet and insecure. Some days during the withdrawal when he gave her a visit she was like this but on other days she brimmed with confidence.

"Yes, not only once", she admitted in a whisper. "I was smacked around a few times, never so bad that I had to see a doctor but it still hurt and I don't mean physically, you know? Our relationship was amazing at first, filled with love and excitement. We planned our whole future together after a few months. To watch him become something so dangerous was the most painful part."

She left out the details, he didn't need to know what exactly happened or how often, it wouldn't change a thing and would only rip open old wounds. Back then she numbed the pain with drugs, that's how she survived that heartbreak she went through. It was her way to get over everything but in reality she only pushed those feelings aside for too long.

"One day it escalated and he started throwing things towards me, broke my nose with a damn ashtray. Enrico had to get me to the hospital because Adrian just left me there. He was in panic that I'd tell Enrico but⸻ but I never did. I was still stupid enough to love him, I was ready to forgive him for hurting me again. When I came back he was pissed drunk fucking one of the Croweaters. In our own damn bed. That was my wake up call. I know, it's pathetic that cheating bothers me more than violence but it honestly hurt more", she finished the story of her past and only now she noticed the tears streaming down her face.

The hate Jax felt towards that guy was consuming and he wanted nothing more than to hurt Adrian as well but in a much different way that would make him beg for forgiveness.

"Jesus Christ, Cleo", Jax sighed as he reached the brunette and crouched down in front of her. Since she wasn't looking at him, he lifted her chin and searched for her beautiful green orbs. "I'm here, okay? I'm sorry you were living a life like this. I just want you to know that I'm never going to hurt you, understand?"

"I know you won't", she said, her voice thick with emotion. The brunette buried her head in the crock of his neck after she wrapped her petite arms around him only to be pulled closer into his arms. Jax got up with her without letting go of her. Once she snaked her legs around his waist he carried her to his bedroom and gently let her down, told her to scoot over and laid down next to her.

Jax' arm snaked around her waist to pull her against him, her back pressed against his chest while holding her firmly. No words were spoken, he just let her cry it out and tried to give her the comfort she needed at the moment.

Maybe it was time to get to know her father and make clear he had to stay away from his Old Lady and that he needed to stop sending his guys after her, especially Adrian. If he would ever see that bastard again, which was definitely possible, he would let him pay for the things he did to Cleo.

⸻

authors note; this was a shorter chapter and kind of a filler, I'm sorry. I hope you still enjoyed it. Y'all know I always love to read your comments, feel free to leave some feedback. 🖤