Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 333: Big Mouth

"MARI!" Jax yelled, reaching out with one hand while the other still pressed down hard on Chad’s bleeding shoulder.

But before she hit the ground, strong arms caught her. It was one of her father’s men.

Jax was torn between going to Mari and holding Chad, who he knew needed him.

Thankfully, Alex drove in at that moment, since his men had informed him that Jax had been attacked.

Jax exhaled with relief when he saw him, grateful but also torn, because he couldn’t leave Chad.

Immediately Alex saw Mari lying limply in the arms of one of his, he hurried over and lifted her, holding her gently.

"Why is she out here? What happened to her?" He asked, his face was tight, and full of anger, fear, and pain, but his hands were soft around his daughter.

"She fainted when she stepped out and saw the bodies," the man answered.

Relieved that she wasn’t hurt, Alex glanced at Jax then looked down at Chad. "How bad is it? Have you called the doctor?"

Jax shook his head. "It’s a shoulder wound. I couldn’t call with all the shooting and my phone fell somewhere. I’m not sure."

Alex nodded and turned to his men, "Assist him in bringing Chad in," he said to one, then looked at another, "Look around for his phone and bring it in. The rest of you, clean up the mess here and you, look around for the phone and the rest of you, clean up everything," he told his men. "No bodies. No blood. No bullets. When we leave, this place must look untouched."

Jax was glad that Alex was there to coordinate things, because he wasn’t sure he had it in him to think straight. Not when Chad was in such a state.

He’d rather have been shot than have Chad in that state.

Jax lifted Chad up with the help of one of Alex’s men and took him inside. His boots left red footprints on the floor.

Mari’s father carried her inside the garage and laid her carefully on the couch inside the underground house’s entry room.

Jax took Chad into the room he’d prepared for him in the underground house, and laid him on the bed.

"I’m sorry, Jax," Chad whispered weakly.

"You idiot," Jax breathed, voice cracking with fury and fear. "Why would you do that?" He asked finally, now that they were safe.

Chad blinked, trying to focus. His voice came out weak but honest. "I’d rather get shot than watch you get shot. I know you’d do the same for me."

Jax let out a shaky breath and wiped sweat from his forehead with his bloody hand, leaving a smear of blood on his face.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t do this to hurt you. I don’t hate Mari. But I can’t pick her over you or Venita. I thought I was doing what was best for the family. Our family," Chad said apologetically.

"Mari will be part of our family someday. If she were my wife, would you have done this? How can you say you didn’t do it to hurt me when you planned such a thing against the woman you know I’ve loved for years?" Jax asked, torn between his anger at Chad and his concern for him.

Soon, the doctor arrived with an assistant, ushered in by one of Alex’s men. The doctor immediately knelt by Chad’s side.

"It’s a bullet wound," Jax explained.

"I’ll handle it," the doctor said and got to work.

Jax stepped out of the room, wiping blood off his hands. His stomach twisted. His chest hurt.

He hated this. All of it. He hated that his siblings had messed things up this way. He hated that Chad was shot and that he couldn’t be with Mari right now.

He pressed a hand against the wall and took a long, silent breath. Then he heard footsteps.

Alex stood there, his tall, strong frame blocking the doorway. "I heard the doctor is here. What did he say?"

"Nothing yet. He’s working," Jax said, and Alex patted his back.

"Chad will be fine. How are you doing? You should have the doctor look at your knee," Alex said, and only then did Jax look down and realise he was hurt.

"How is Mari?" he asked gently, his eyes soft.

"She’s still knocked out. But she will be okay. I’m going to take her with me now. After what happened, I don’t think she should remain here," Alex said, and though Jax’s heart ached at the thought of being away from Mari, he nodded in agreement.

"I’m sorry things turned out this way," Jax said, but Alex shook his head and tapped his back.

"I don’t blame you for any of it. You did your best. I also know you need time to resolve things with your siblings."

"Thank you. What about Andy?" Jax asked as Alex turned to leave.

"Andy is safe. She’s at the hotel. We will be going back home now," Alex said, and Jax looked at him hopefully.

"Home? Does this mean it is over?" Jax asked, and Alex smiled.

"Almost...." he trailed off when Venita was brought in.

Venita went to Jax immediately, crying. "Where is this place? What happened to Chad? You see what you caused? This is all your fault! I told you not to keep that bitch," she cried, then turned to Alex. "Our father is dead because of you, and now you want to kill my brothers and me too!"

"Shut up," Jax growled but Venita wouldn’t listen as she continued to hurl insults at Alex.

Alex looked at Venita as though considering if she was worth responding to or not, then after a moment he sighed and said, "Your father lived long enough to raise you only because I spared his life and gave him a new identity when the Cartel wanted him dead. Your father had more than enough to take care of you only because I gave him a job. Your father was murdered not because he wouldn’t tell them my whereabouts. He was murdered because he was discovered to be alive when they all thought he was dead. He is the reason they found out I’m alive. He told them about me hoping they’d spare his life if he did. Can you guess how they discovered your father was alive? It was you and this same big mouth of yours. It was you who made a TikTok video talking about how cool your father was and how you recently discovered he used to be part of a famous drug cartel..."

"Please, Alex," Jax cut in, not wanting him to let Venita know all of that.

Venita was already shaking her head in denial, her eyes wide and bright with tears.

Ignoring Jax, Alex scowled at Venita. "Before you run your mouth next time, make sure to think about the consequences. You should thank your stars that Mari is unhurt," Alex said before walking out.

"Is it true?" Venita asked, looking at Jax and hoping he’d tell her that Alex was lying.

"I don’t want you talking to me. Go into the room down the hall. That’s your room. Stay in there and reflect on your behaviour," Jax said before returning inside the room to stay with Chad, while Venita broke into a sob.