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."
