Authors: Mj Fields

Irons (Norfolk #1) (22 page)

“Which of us gets you first?” Shadows laughed.

“Pigs,” her voice wavered.

“Alright ease up, boys, these ladies aren’t like your other friends.” He kissed the top.

“It was a joke, Irons, we’ll play nice.”

Titan walked over and grabbed the brown bags and took them to the kitchen island. “Time to eat.”

“I want to know what the hell is going on!” Renee yelled and Titan turned and looked at her.

“Did you hear Irons? Possible gas leak. You should be happy you’re here and not in the college gymnasium. You ever sleep on a cot, princess? Not all that fucking comfortable.”

I looked at Jax again and he sensed my unease.

“Why don’t we all sit down and have a chat.”

Strength

Jax

I
didn’t lie,
but I held some truths that I had found out during the week. “Someone attacked Frankie last week. Until I find out who and why, we want to keep her safe. We want to keep you all safe. I believe Joel had nothing to do with it, so that leaves us with the question of whether or not it’s someone else who has a problem with Frankie, one of you two, or me and my family.”

“Why don’t you just call the police?” Renee asked.

Shadows laughed and I sat back in my chair.

“You know anything about politics, Renee?”

She shook her head yes. “Some, I mean, I vote.”

“Well, my father is running for Governor in November, which doesn’t make him popular on the left side of this circus stage or with the other hopefuls who lost the bid.”

“Your father is running for governor?” Renee gasped.

“That ain’t shit girl, our boy Irons has been groomed his whole life to become President of the United States of America.”

“You’re pulling my leg,” Renee laughed.

“Are you, I mean is that really a possibility?” Mary, asked pushing her glasses up.

“It is a possibility, yes. But not a decision I will make on my own.” I reached under the table and held Frankie’s hand.

“Do you realize how much good you could do, Jaxson?” Mary asked. “How much you could change that is wrong in this country?”

I loved the naivety and hope she exuded in that statement but the truth was that I was doing more for my country being part of the military than the president could ever do.

“Irons thinks it would be boring,” Titan laughed. “He’d prefer picking SEALS out of the ocean. I say let’s do this. I could live at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Even if it’s during a Republican term.”

I couldn’t tell how she was taking all of this, but her grip on my hand didn’t lessen.

“No fucking way,” Renee laughed.

“Renee you are attending school for political science. You grew up in Pennsylvania with a brother, and a sister, both older, both married with children, and both live within twenty miles of the home your retired parents still raised you in. Both worked in civil service jobs from the time they were in their twenties. Your mother is a registered Democrat and your father is a registered conservative. Both have voted every year except for the year you were born, because your birthday is November tenth, and they were in the hospital. You have no arrests and neither does anyone in your family. Your brother got out of a DUI, thus no criminal record.”

“You looked into my family?”

Titan nodded and looked at Mary. “You are a history major, with no specific concentration which shows you aren’t sure you know exactly what you want to do. You were raised with your mother and your father has never—”

“Please don’t,” Mary whispered.

“Fine, my point is this isn’t a fucking joke. This shit happened and now we not only have Frankie to look after, but both of you. Be pissed, blame me, blame Shadows, blame Irons, fuck, blame whoever, but stop acting like a spoiled little bitch, Renee.”

Her face turned red and she started to get angry.

“Enough, Titan. Ladies, I truly apologize for all of this and I can promise we are doing all we can to get to the bottom of it.”

“By digging into our personal lives?” Mary asked.

Shadows leaned forward, grabbed her chin and made her look at him, “Little Lamb, we had to make sure neither of you had anything to do with this, nothing more.”

She nodded and slowly pulled back. “Excuse me, please.”

When she walked out Frankie let go of my hand and followed her up the stairs.

Mary hadn’t had a great life. You could tell that from looking into her public records. She was an excellent student and was attending school on a scholarship. She was a sweet girl, I knew that from the very first time I met her. I could also see shame in her eyes like she felt like something we may have found out brought her pain. Frankie saw it too, that’s why she went to her.

Renee also stood and followed the girls.

When I heard the door upstairs close and knew they were busy consoling Mary, I looked at the guys.

“You need to remember they are women, not the kind we take home from a bar and fuck for fun.”

“Just making sure they know who we are,” Titan took a bite of his burrito. “This isn’t a romantic weekend or a fucking party and we aren’t some fucks trying to get laid. They should show some respect.”

“Ease up, Titan. Also, no more presidency talk, I don’t even know if that’s what I want anymore.”

“Who the hell are you kidding, Irons, it’s part of you,” he laughed.

“He’s in love, man. He wants to make sure Frankie is on board. Look at him, Titan she’s a game changer.”

“Look at her, she’d do whatever he wanted.”

* * *

The weekend passed
too quickly and I knew next weekend wasn’t an option because I had a fundraiser to attend with Mimi.

Frankie tried hard to act like it was a normal weekend. Forced herself to block everything that was happening around us out. When I told her she didn’t have to pretend with me, she said that it wasn’t pretending, it was how we were in her daydreams, in her fantasies and would be in soon in public.

“This is us Jax, me and you. Two people who love one another, support one another, respect one another, and will do whatever it takes to get to the point where we don’t have to hide and be afraid. So we block out the world when we are together, we will always do that when we are behind closed doors. It’s not pretending, Jax, it’s us.”’

The first fundraiser I attended with Mimi after my admission of love to Frankie was hard on me. I could barely stomach it. I was here because it was an obligation to my family. A family who’s every move had an agenda. I was being played and, since agreeing to toe the line, she was safe. Yes, the black sedan was spotted, but when I called mother on it she informed me that she had her best people watching over Frankie. “I’m holding up my end of the bargain Jax, you just make sure you’re doing the same.”

I received a text on my burner phone, excused myself and went to the restroom. Once behind the door, I took the phone from my pocket and read her text.

How will you become President and address a nation when you can’t even act like you are at least entertained by the press’s questions? Game face on, Jax. If I have to be strong so do you… Wings

I hated it, but we were no closer to uncovering the truth. We hit walls every time I had a lead or a suspicion. I felt we were never going to find out the truth. But deep down, I already knew the truth.

I tried not to think about it because then it would be real. Down deep the truth was like a firefly in the darkened night. A light that kept you awake and one you longed to jar up and keep, but knew captivity would be its end. That without it being free, you would be putting its life in danger.

I promised myself no matter how much I wanted that firefly, that unknown being, that in my distance I was keeping her safe. It didn’t stop the longing to watch it fly, to live. It grew stronger every day. Until I could know for sure what I was up against, I would just keep building up my pile of ammunition and gaining knowledge about every possible player in this game.

Politicians, greedy for power, and money would do anything to win the ultimate prize. They would use anything they could to get gain whatever it was they desired. They would alter documents, stuff ballot boxes, bribe judges, police, lobbyists and businessmen. They would blackmail, murder, torture, make and break promises, to win at this game. Nothing was off limits. Nothing.

Born and bred in this arena, and Navy trained, I knew where the ultimate power lay. The man the main players in the game they thought of as their pawn, stared back at me in the mirror every day. This reflection was me, Jaxson Irons. I was now fully prepared to fight and win this game. I was more powerful than ever before. I had Titan and Shadows and two unknowing players who I was sure would be as faithful as my brothers were. I was finally alive and ready to fight even harder than ever before. All because of the love I finally felt for an angel and a firefly.

The End

Thank You

To the owner of this book, thank you.

To all of you who enjoy reading my stories: thank you. I love that you fall in love with these characters when reading about them, just as much as I fall when writing them.

To Author Kari March for the amazing cover design and ability to understand my vision.

To Kris for the intros and the pimpen’

To Ellie N. for taking the time to understand my vision for them and embracing it. Thank you for being not only my friend and cheerleader but for pushing me and my work harder than I could have begun to imagine. You’re truly amazing.

To Chasity thank you so much!!

To Michelle G, thank you for everything, I <3 U, and your ability to be so ‘Pure’ even when you deal with me daily.

To Stephanie H. thank you for being my forever friend. I <3 U!!!

To Brandi C… I <3 U!

Aubrey Storm, you make me look good, like I have my shit together and we both know I don’t, lol, thank you.

Can’t wait to meet Beth and more or you at the Denton Author event hosted by The Indie Bookshelf

Eye Candy for Bookstore glad you ‘get me’ XOXOXO

To Book Boyfriend Hangovers, Laney, Paige, Maria, Tiffany, Erin, and Aubrey… You are some naughty girls. That’s why I love you.

To Renee Entresss Blog, Sexyways Book blog, As You Wish Reviwes, AJ’s Bootylicious Book Reviews, Anny Books, Smut and Bon Bons, Evocative Book Reiview, Till The Last Page, and so many others but if I don’t upload now I’ll miss my deadline, lol.

To Suzanne and Stephanie for not getting annoyed that childhood nicknames become penis’ and hot lover’s pet names. For both of you reading this and helping me fix some of the the boo boo’s before final edit and because I <3 U!!!

To all of you on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads: thank you for reaching out to me… you inspire me, make me smile and laugh, and want to do better. I <3 U!

To the Beta Chicks

I am so glad to have you here with me on this journey

Gloria, Bekah, Laurie, Tiffany, Michelle, Brandi, Jennifer, Jeana, Lauren, Tracy, and Stephanie.

To the MJ Fields of Fictional Fornicators Team

Thanks for all the support and encouragement. The messages about Lucas and Maddox and … I love you all. Oh and the pictures, definitely the pictures

To my family, you are my forever inspiration and where I draw from emotionally when writing, when reading reviews, when I need comic relief, and love.

Norfolk was an amazing experience and see we behaved…

Easter was epic Em. Jared thanks for the vulgar lines, yes I used one. To my siblings I love you more than the cousins, but you need to step your game up.

No “You wanna see my Dad’s John Deere” really isn’t a good pick up line.

When you take on one, you take on us all…except for you Nate, you’re fucked! LOL I <3 U!!!

BTW, some reviewers think I’m vulgar. They should know I come by it naturally.

To Uncle Gary whose reading of chapter one for the family will always be one of my favorite memories

To my <3 Ally B there is a deeper meaning here, I pinky promise, seal it with Eskimo kisses, and belly laughs.

When you are 30 we’ll discuss, maybe 40…

Other Titles by MJ Fields

Men of Steel Series

Jase

Jase and Carly Summer Lovin’

Cyrus

Zandor