Page 127 of Don't Think

I take a deep breath, then let it all out in one go. “I’ve been thinking about maybe relocating. Here.”

The room goes still.

“I mean, I’d be down to travel back and forth when needed. Most of our stuff can happen over video call now anyway, and touring doesn’t really change,” I add when nobody says anything.

Silence.

Casey lets out a loud scoff, the sound echoing in the room. He shakes his head in disbelief while he leans back against the sofa.

The rest of us share a glance, eyebrows raised, all turning toward him at the same time, waiting for him to just say whatever he needs to.

He leans forward, elbows on his knees, eyes locked on me. “Does this sound familiar to anyone else? ’Cause it’s giving bigEmeliavibes,” he says, voice low and sharp. “You moved, what, three hours away for her? And we all know how that ended. Now you’re talking about relocating to awhole other country? You really think that’s gonna go any better?”

Just hearing her name makes my jaw clench and sends my blood pressure spiking.

The fact that he’s evencomparingthe two situations when he doesn’t know jack shit about what actually went down? That’s what really sets me off. He wasn’t there for half of it. James and Gareth were. They saw it firsthand. He didn’t.

Before I can fire back, Gareth holds up a hand. “Hey, man—”

“I get it, Case,” I say, cutting in, my voice calm but tight. I flash him a smile I know will piss him off. “Really. Iunderstandthe concern. But this? This isn’t the same.”

Casey barks out a laugh. “How is this any different?”

“Because Iknowit is,” I shoot back, louder now. My chest is tight, fists curled at my sides. “I can’t just walk away from this.”

“You kept saying how you and Emelia rushed into things,” Casey says, throwing a hand out like he’s tossing the words in my face. “But look at you now. Mate, you got your dick wet once, and you’re ready to move across the entire globe,” he sneers.

“Hey,” James mutters, teeth clenched. “Enough.”

Casey scoffs again. “No, this isridiculous,” he says with another laugh. “But I’ll tell you what. Since she was easy enough to give it up to you so quickly, maybe she can change my mind too,” he sneers.

I don’t think. I don’t see anything exceptred.

My body launches off the seat so fast it’s a blur before I’m suddenly in front of Casey and I cock my fist back, then drive it straight into his nose—feeling the bones crack beneath my knuckles.

His hands fly to cover his face, blood already dripping. “Are you fucking kidding me, Jax?” he shouts.

Suddenly, James and Gareth are on their feet, scrambling toward us but still keeping a safe distance, like they don’t want to get caught in the crossfire.

“Alright, how about we all just calm down and talk this out?” James pleads, his hands outstretched, trying to play mediator.

Casey pulls his hands away from his nose, his eyes locked on the blood that’s pooling in his palms. He’s breathing heavily, and I can see the shift in his eyes.

He slowly turns to look at me, his face twisted in fury. Without warning, he lunges.

In an instant, we’re crashing through the coffee table, the glass splintering beneath us. Pain shoots through my back as the shards nip into my skin, but before I can process it, Casey’s arm swings back and his fist connects with my jaw. The impact joltsthrough my entire face, and my vision blurs as a hot wave of pain spreads.

“What thefuckis going on?” Don’s voice booms through the room as the door slams behind him.

Before I can even process it, Gareth grabs Casey by both arms and throws him forcefully back onto the sofa. James is at my side in an instant, carefully pulling me away from the shattered glass.

And Don?

Don is fuckingpissed.

“Get your shit and get the fuck out,” Gareth barks, pointing toward the door.

Casey sneers, wiping blood from his face. “Gladly,” he spits. “You guys are never gonna make it. Not with Jax constantly moving to chase tail.”