Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 361: Careless

Mari and Jax had barely settled at the dining table with Chad and Venita when Jax’s phone buzzed.

Jax glanced at his phone, and the moment he saw that it was Alex, he quietly stood up and stepped a little away from the table as he answered the call. "Sir."

The moment Jax heard Alex’s voice, it occurred to him that he’d made a mistake by not calling Alex first, and the man was furious.

Alex’s voice came sharp and fast. "Where is Mari?"

Jax didn’t hesitate. "She’s here with me."

There was a short, dangerous silence. "Bring her home. Now," Alex said.

"Yes, sir," Jax replied immediately.

Alex ended the call without another word, and Jax stood still for a second, his shoulders heavy. Then he turned back to the table.

Mari was already watching him. She knew that look. "Was that my Dad? What is it?" she asked.

Jax walked up to her and held out his hand. "Come with me. I’m taking you home."

Her brows pulled together. "What? Why? I don’t want to go home. I just got here."

"Your dad wants you home," Jax said calmly. "Now."

"I’ll call him," she said, reaching for her purse. "I’ll tell him I’m fine and that I want to stay."

Jax gently caught her wrist. "Don’t," he said softly but firmly. "He sounded furious. This isn’t the time to argue with him."

Chad and Venita watched them, but neither said a word.

Mari’s lips pressed into a thin line. "I’m an adult."

"You are his daughter. I have to take you home," Jax replied. "Please."

"You didn’t seem like you wanted me here anyway," she muttered as she rose and headed for the door.

"You know very well that’s not true," Jax called after her as he followed her out.

Mari said nothing else as they got into his car. As they drove past the scene where the accident had happened, Mari shuddered, and her brows pulled together when she didn’t see any sign of Diva’s car or the other car.

She turned to look at Jax to see if he noticed, but his face didn’t give anything away, and she was too miffed to want to say anything either.

She doubted Jax knew what had happened since they’d been together the whole time since the accident.

The car ride was quiet as she sat with her arms folded, staring out of the window.

Jax kept his eyes on the road. "I’m doing the right thing," he said after a while. "I know you’re upset, but think about how scared your parents must have been when they heard you almost got hit by a car. We should have called them first. It was irresponsible of us to let them hear about what happened from his men."

She sighed. She understood what he was saying. She just didn’t like it. "I just really wanted to be with you tonight. I missed you. I skipped clubbing with my friends just to see you and now I’m just going back home. It feels like my effort was wasted."

"I get it, and I’m sorry," he said gently.

She was quiet again, then spoke without turning. "How did my dad even know I was with you?"

"I don’t know," Jax admitted. "But I’m glad he had his men watching you. That’s what saved you. I can’t bear to imagine what would have happened had they not shown up when they did."

Her throat tightened and she nodded once.

The moment they got to her house and she stepped inside, her mother pulled her into her arms. "Oh my God," she whispered, holding her tight. "I’m so glad you’re safe, doll."

Mari hugged her back, her anger melting just a little.

Her father stood a few steps away, his face dark.

"Where did you say you were going when you left this house?" he asked harshly.

Mari stepped away from her mother and faced him. "The club," Mari replied. "With my friends."

"Then why were you at Jax’s place?" he roared. "Why were you standing on the road almost getting knocked down by a car?"

"I changed my plans," Mari said, trying to stay calm.

"You changed your plans? You changed your plans without talking to me? I had to hear it from Callan? Do you have any idea the danger we just walked out from? And you’re still being so careless?"

"I’m not being careless. I wanted to check on him. I got there safely—"

"Safely? Would we be standing here right now having this conversation if my men hadn’t shown up when they did to save you?" Alex cut in.

Mari flinched. She opened her mouth to respond but caught her mother’s head movement, shaking her head and asking her to shut up and apologize.

Mari took a deep breath. "I understand that you are upset because I didn’t communicate properly. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble."

Jax, who had been standing beside Andy quietly, stepped forward. "Sir, please. If you’re angry, be angry at me. I should have called you first and brought her back immediately."

Alex’s glare shifted to him. "I am angry at you too. I’m glad you know you should have called me first and brought her home without waiting for me to ask!"

"I’m not a child, Dad!" Mari snapped, "He doesn’t need to bring me home. And you could have called me instead of calling him and asking him to bring me home."

Alex’s voice thundered. "If you do not want to be treated like a child then don’t act like one! I saw no reason to call you since you didn’t think it wise to call me to let me know about your movements or what happened."

"Enough," Andy said firmly, stepping between them. "Both of you. Stop shouting."

She turned to her husband. "Our doll is safe. That’s what matters. You can see that she didn’t get so much as a scratch on her body and seeing how she’s running her mouth you can tell she’s okay. So, calm down."

Then she looked at Mari. "And you, understand that your father and I were worried. The least you could have done was call to let us know where you were and how you were doing after the incident."

Alex took a breath, still very much upset. "Jax, you should leave. Mari, go to your room."

Mari looked at Jax then her father. "Why are you asking him to leave?"

Jax shook his head slightly at her. "It’s okay," he said quietly. He turned to Alex. "I’m sorry for the trouble."

"I’m coming with you," Mari said as Jax headed for the door.

"Go to your room!" Alex barked.

She followed Jax outside anyway.

Jax turned to her. "Go back inside."

"No."

"I won’t take you with me when you’re disobeying your father," he said gently. "He has every right to be upset."

She scoffed. "So you’re just letting him control us?"

Jax met her eyes. "If respecting my mentor and the father of the woman I love is control, then I’ll accept it. I won’t let you disrespect him because of me. And knowing you very well, after your mood passes you’re going to regret your action."

She stared at him, then looked away. "Whatever."

She turned and walked back inside.

Jax watched her go, pain heavy in his chest, then got into his car and drove off.

Inside, Mari walked past her father without a word and stormed upstairs.

Andy looked at Alex. "Don’t you think you were too harsh?"

"If I’m not harsh, she won’t understand how close we came to losing her," he said quietly. "First it was his siblings. Now his ex. I won’t risk my only child."

"That isn’t Jax’s fault," Andy said softly.

"I know," Alex replied. "But he needs to handle the mess on his end. I love him. But I love my daughter more. So until I can be certain that she’s safe with him, I don’t want her visiting him."