Mercy's Angels Box Set by Kirsty Dallas Page A

corner of a table,” I offered. Of course it wasn’t the whole story. Jax nodded.
                  “Was that before or after he hit you,” he asked me matter-of-factly. I hesitated and finally cleared my throat to speak.
                  “After,” I murmured. Jax was silent while I finished the dishes. Quickly I pulled off the rubber gloves and tried to pull my long sleeves back into place. Jax was too perceptive though, it seemed this guy heard, saw and knew everything. He carefully grabbed my hand and I flinched. His penetrating gaze observed me as he continued to hold my hand in a weak grip that I could easily break away from.
                  “I won’t harm you angel. This?” His thumb traced the scar on my wrist. My heart hammered. I didn’t want him to think I had tried to kill myself and I especially didn’t want him to think of me as weak. His eyes held no pity, instead perhaps curiosity and something else. I was an expert at reading people, at seeing the truth in someone’s eyes, but I couldn’t make out what Jax was seeing and feeling right then. Horror? Fright? Guilt?
                  “It’s not what you think,” I snapped. Jax didn’t react to my abrupt hostility. “I wouldn’t do that to myself. I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.” I was angry. Not at Jax, but Marcus. He did this to me he’s the one that ruined me. With blazing eyes of fury I turned to face Jax. I pulled my wrist out of his big warm hand and I angrily pulled my sleeves up and turned my arms over for Jax to see the marks in all their horrid glory. He looked at my scars and the playful joy in his eyes only moments before was completely and utterly gone. He looked at me with questions but did not voice them.
                  “These were mine,” I pointed to the light scars that laced my forearms like a horrifying web of pain. “They were my lowest point. I did things, horrible things with the intention of pissing him off. I hated myself for the way I behaved. I had so much self-loathing I did this to myself. But these,” I pointed to the deep ugly scars on each wrist. “This was him. He drugged me and he cut me. He told me it was to prove that he owned me and controlled me.” Jax’s fingers lightly traced the scars, the gentle sweep of his fingers betraying the anger in his eyes.
                  “For a long time I hated myself, but I would not kill myself. I would not let him win the game.” I didn’t care if the scars repulsed him like they did me, I just had to be sure he knew I didn’t try to commit suicide. Those warm grey eyes found mine and he nodded, he understood, he believed me.
                  “There you are.” A woman’s voice at the doorway interrupted us. I abruptly pulled my hands away and pulled my sleeves down, taking a hesitant step away from Jax. At the door stood a woman, long blonde hair styled perfectly. Her make up immaculate, dressed in an elegant pencil line skirt and fitted button down top. She looked like a model, glamorous, flawless.
                  “Selena, what the hell are you doing here?” Jax snapped. I winced at the callousness in his voice and was glad he didn’t speak to me like that. The woman, Selena didn’t seem fazed though. Her eyes took me in, a touch of irritation behind them and a whole lot of repulsion. I instantly disliked her.
                  “I told you I wanted to see you tonight. Beth said I would find you out here. I bought a picnic, I thought we could spread it out in your office and have some alone time.” There was no missing the meaning behind “alone time” and she made damn sure I was listening as she stared at me pointedly and spoke in a sing song voice that made me cringe.             
                  “I already ate Selena and you know very well I don’t have an office.” She laughed, it was fake,