No Way Out, Only Through

Silence settled between them, heavy but not uncomfortable. Jax was still staring at Grace, like he was trying to figure her out, like he hadn't expected her to say that.

Grace shifted slightly, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "What?"

Jax blinked, then shook his head, a small smirk playing at his lips. "Nothing. Just... you surprise me sometimes."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well, you're not as insufferable as I thought you'd be either."

His smirk widened. "High praise."

But the playful moment didn't last long. Reality came crashing back when Jax sighed and leaned back against the couch, rubbing a hand over his face. "Look, even if we could pay them off, I don't trust that it would end there. They don't just let people walk away, Grace."

Grace bit her lip. "But if they have the money—"

"They'll just want more." His voice was sharp, but there was something else underneath it—fear. Real fear.

She had never seen Jax like this. He always carried himself with this untouchable confidence, like nothing could get to him. But now? He looked exhausted. Worn down. And that scared her more than anything.

"They already think I still owe them," Jax muttered, shaking his head. "And if I go anywhere near them now—" He exhaled sharply. "I don't even want to know what they'll do."

Grace hesitated before carefully reaching for his hand. "We'll figure something out," she said quietly.

Jax stared at their hands for a second before giving her a small, tired smile. "Yeah?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

For once, he actually looked like he believed her.

Grace's mind was racing. There had to be a way to fix this. To get Jax out of trouble without him putting himself in danger.

And then—she had it.

Her eyes widened as the idea hit her like a lightning bolt. She turned to Jax, gripping his hand tighter. "Wait."

Jax raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"I have an idea."

His expression was skeptical. "Grace—"

"No, listen." She leaned in, her voice full of urgency. "That money I get from your mom—it's a lot, Jax. More than I even need."

Jax immediately shook his head. "No."

Grace ignored him. "What if I pay them? Not in person, not with you there, but... what if I wire it to them or something? A big sum, enough for them to leave you alone for good."

Jax scoffed. "Yeah, because they'll totally be satisfied with that and not come looking for more."

"They might," Grace admitted. "But if they do, we'll go to the police. Right now, they think they have power over you because you're scared. But if you show them you're not playing their game anymore, they'll back off."

Jax was quiet, staring at her like she had just spoken a different language. Then, he ran a hand through his hair. "I don't like this."

"Because it's a good idea?" she teased lightly, trying to ease the tension.

"Because it's your money," Jax said, his voice serious. "You worked your ass off for that, Grace. You're already stuck pretending to be my girlfriend—why the hell should you give up your money too?"

Grace shrugged. "I don't mind."

Jax narrowed his eyes. "You should."

"I don't," she insisted. "And besides, I'd rather spend it on something that actually matters than on, I don't know, fancy clothes or some stupid overpriced apartment."

Jax was still staring at her, like he didn't quite believe what he was hearing. Then, to her surprise, a slow smile tugged at his lips.

"You know," he said, voice softer, "for someone who supposedly hates me, you sure act like you care."

Grace felt warmth creep up her neck. "Shut up."

Jax chuckled, shaking his head. "No, seriously. Why are you doing this?"

She hesitated. "Because... I do care, Jax." She met his gaze, her heart beating a little faster. "We might have started this whole thing as a lie, but... we're friends now, right?"

Jax's smile faltered for half a second, but then he nodded. "Yeah." His voice was quieter this time. "We are."

A silence stretched between them, but it wasn't awkward. It was... something else. Something softer.

And for the first time since that knock on the door turned their night upside down, Jax looked like he could finally breathe.

Jax leaned back against the couch, rubbing his face like he was trying to process everything. Grace could see the war happening in his head—the part of him that wanted this problem to just go away versus the part that refused to let her get involved.

She didn't give him the chance to argue.

"I'm doing it," she said firmly. "End of discussion."

Jax groaned. "Grace—"

"Nope." She crossed her arms. "Not listening."

"God, you're impossible." He ran a hand through his black hair, exhaling sharply. "You do realize this means you're officially involved in my mess now, right?"

Grace raised an eyebrow. "Jax, I've been involved in your mess since the moment your mom handed me that contract."

Jax actually laughed at that. A real laugh, the kind she hadn't heard from him in what felt like forever. But it faded just as quickly, replaced with something more hesitant.

"I don't deserve this," he muttered. "I don't deserve you fixing my problems."

Grace rolled her eyes. "Oh my God, stop being dramatic."

"I'm serious." He looked at her then, something raw in his expression. "No one's ever done this for me before. No one's ever stayed when things got ugly."

Grace swallowed, caught off guard by the way he was looking at her.

"Well..." she said softly. "I'm not just anyone."

A silence stretched between them again, heavier this time. Jax's gaze flickered to her lips for a split second before he quickly looked away, shaking his head like he was trying to clear his thoughts.

Then, with a deep breath, he stood up.

"If we're doing this," he said, voice steady, "we're doing it my way. No reckless moves, no stupid risks. We make sure they get their money, and then we cut them off completely."

Grace nodded. "Deal."

Jax studied her for a moment, then sighed. "I really don't like you sometimes."

She smirked. "Liar."

And this time, when Jax smiled, it didn't look forced. It looked real.