3

Little Toy Bikers and a Woman on the Run

Chapter 187 Proud

Scarlett smiled as she watched Jax with little Tristen on his shoulders walk out of the woods. The little girl seemed to be enjoying herself like she was on a ride at Disneyland.

Jax bent down so Elliot could lift his daughter from his shoulders.

"Will you let me ride on your shoulders, daddy?"

"Tonight," Elliot promised, hugging her fiercely.

Scarlett looked at Jax and noticed the blood all over his shirt. The color left her face.

"Not mine," Jax said softly.

She shut her eyes and gave thanks that Jax was OK.

"I want to hug Scarlett," Tristen said when her father finally finished hugging her.

Elliot lifted Tristen up so she could hug Scarlett face to face.

"I knew you would save me," she said. "You waved at me."

Scarlett kissed the little girl's cheek.

"That's exactly why I waved at you. I wanted you to know I was getting you help."

Elliot returned Tristen to her feet.

"Angel Scarlett sent a whole army," she told her father. She looked down at her filthy and torn Frozen shirt and pants. "The clown ruined my Frozen clothes." Her eyes began to fill with tears.

"It's OK. You were getting too big for them anyway. We'll go get you new ones."

She hugged her father.

"I need to talk to the two of you for a minute," Jax said.

Elliot walked Tristen to the car and helped her into the back seat.

"Is everyone OK?"

"Depends on what you mean by everyone," Jax said with a smile. "The bad guys are all going to the hospital. Hale took the worst beating, but everyone else has typical battle injuries."

"The cut over your eye and the damage to your hands?"

"You can't fight without getting some damage," Jax said, shrugging off his injuries.

Elliot returned.

"I told Hale about your stalker situation because we need to keep your name out of this," Jax said.

"I didn't even think of that," she admitted.

She had been so focused on getting help for Tristen that she hadn't given any thought to what helping Tristen could mean for her.

"We have to keep Scarlett's name out of this or some reporter will try to find her and if a picture of her appears on the internet . . ."

"My psycho ex will know where I am. He'll come here, kidnap, torture and kill me," Scarlett said finishing Jax's sentence.

"Hale is on board, the MC too," Jax added.

"I'll talk to Tristen."

"It's got to be more than keeping her name secret. A reporter will try to find out the name. We need to keep Scarlett completely out of it. Tristen can say she has a guardian angel who helped her. Everyone will think this is just a little girl's imagination."

"OK. I can do that. Anything to help. Without the two of you . . ." Elliot broke off, continuing to be overcome with emotion when he thought of what might have happened to his daughter if Scarlett hadn't found help for her.
"Thanks, Elliot," Scarlett said.

"It's the least I can do."

"I need a moment with Scarlett before I go back to my guys."

"Of course," Elliot said. He returned to his SUV.

"Thank you for protecting my identity."

Jax hugged Scarlett hard.

"Sorry," he said loosening his hold on her. "Did I hurt you?"

"Yes, but I enjoyed it," she said.

He chuckled.

"I am so damned proud of you."

"I don't think anyone other than my dad has ever been proud of me before," she said.

He kissed her lightly on the lips.

"You are amazing."

Scarlett stroked his cheek with her fingertips.

"I was so scared until I found you. When I told you about Tristen, you switched into hero mode and I knew you would save her."

Jax pulled her close to his heart and held her for a long moment.

"Get Elliot to bring you to your motel. As soon as the deputies get here, I'll pick you up and we'll get out of town."

Scarlett kissed Jax's cheek and watched as he jogged into the woods.

"I think he's your boyfriend," Tristen said when Scarlett got into the car.

"Maybe," Scarlett said, a wistful note in her voice.