Jax (The Protectors, #8) - Teresa Gabelman Page 0,3

our permission to 'hot to trot' his ass," Sid told Blaze, nodding toward Steve.

"I don't 'hot to trot' anything. I set shit on fire." Blaze glared at Steve.

Steve snorted like Blaze was joking, but the swirling eyes glaring at him had Steve hurrying away from Blaze. Steve stopped next to Jax and touched the coffeepot that sat full on the coffeemaker. "She couldn't be far. Pot's hot."

"No shit." Jax growled, not in the mood for the usual Warrior comedy hour. Something wasn't right. The ringtone he knew was Caroline's started ringing. He stepped toward the bed she had made on the floor—it still pissed him off that she was sleeping on the floor—and found it resting there as if it had been tossed. He picked it up. "Who's Rachel?"

"One of the teachers at her school," Lana said, her voice worried. "She always takes her phone, Jax."

Jax headed for the door, putting Caroline's phone in his back pocket without answering it, and walked outside. His eyes searched for any clue, his head cocked to the side, trying his best to hear anything that would tell him where she was.

"Her purse and wallet are still here." Lana came out, followed by Sid, Blaze, and Steve.

Jax didn't say anything as he glanced toward her car. Where in the fuck was she? Dammit, this was exactly why he didn't let his feelings become involved with anyone. He hated to care about anything or anyone because bad things happened to those he cared for.

"Hey!" Steve snapped his fingers. "Can't you shift? I mean, I know you don't shift a lot, but couldn't you shift like Hunter and sniff her out?"

Jax had actually thought of that, but he wasn't an animal shifter. He could, but it took him forever to shift back and it wasn't pleasant. Yet, if he needed to do that to find her, he would. "I only shift into animal form if absolutely necessary," Jax replied, his eyes still scanning the area in hopes of spotting a clue. "It takes too long to shift back into human form."

"Ah, got ya," Steve replied with a nod, as if he knew exactly what Jax meant, but his next words proved he didn't know shit. "Guess it would be embarrassing having to hike your leg to pee."

Blaze probably saved Steve's life when he grabbed his neck and pulled him along beside him. "Steve, let's go check around back."

Sid actually chuckled, shaking his head. "And to think he's a Warrior. What the hell were we thinking?"

"I'm going to check the area around the house." Jax jogged down the steps. "Call me if she shows up or you find something."

"You want us to come?" Lana started to follow, but Sid stopped her.

"He can move faster on his own. And from what I got out of the very tight-lipped Jax Wheeler, he was one hell of an Indian tracker way back in the day." Sid wrapped his arm around her shaking shoulders. "She's fine, Lana. Jax will find her."

Damn straight he would find her, Jax thought as he took off. Sid was absolutely right. He could move faster on his own. Caroline was his main priority and he would find her, and it better be unharmed.

Chapter 2

Caroline was glad she took the run. Refreshed, the morning air did her good as well as cleared her head. Slowing, she eased to a walk as she scanned the area and smiled. This was her land, or at least, she thought it was her land. She didn't know the exact landmarks, but it was close enough to her property, so as she stood there, she claimed it. A bird sang happily above her. She tipped her head back, closed her eyes, and just listened to the sounds of nature on her property.

Taking a deep breath, she stretched her arms over her head, then bent down and touched her toes. Placing her hands on her hips, she bent to one side and then the other. Slowly, she let out her breath, then decided to go down the trail she hadn't been on yet. She wanted to explore just a little longer.

Excited, she turned and started jogging. The trail was muddy from the heavy rains, but she didn't care. Nothing could ruin what was turning out to be a pretty good morning. After her nightmare, she'd definitely had doubts about the day ahead.

"What in the hell are you doing?"

Hearing Jax's voice behind her scared the hell out of her. In mid-jog, Caroline turned, her