Free Jax (The Protectors Series) Book #8 by Teresa Gabelman

to throw a punch, but Sloan stopped him. "No way could you pull off being me. Jax knows exactly who is who."
    The fact was, Jax wasn't sure. Mika was good, damn good, but there was one way to find out. With a fluid motion, he reached behind him and pulled out the knife he always carried in the waistband of his pants, and with precise aim, threw it.
    "Motherfucker!" one Sid bellowed, staring at the knife handle sticking out of his shoulder. "What in the fuck is wrong with you?"
    Jax's eyes went straight to the other Sid, who stared at him wide-eyed before breaking away, running toward the door. Before Jax could reach him, Mika was outside, already shifted back to himself. He had grabbed a woman from the crowd and was holding her in front of him.
    "If you come one step closer, I will break her fucking neck." When Jax remained silent, Mika torqued the woman's neck, making her cry out. "You know I'll do it, brother."
    "Then you will die." Jax's tone was matter-of-fact, knowing once again his brother had the upper hand. It pissed him the hell off.
    "Please," the woman cried, her eyes begging Jax for help.
    Jax sneered with a curse, unable to do a damn thing without endangering the woman. Neither his oath nor strength of character would allow him to do it.
    "Watch your back," Jax hissed at his brother. "I'm coming after you." He pointed directly at him in warning.
    "Big words, brother," Mika sneered.
    "Why don't you let the woman go and face me like a man?" Jax knew Mika wouldn't let go of his shield, too afraid to lose, and lose he would, but it was worth a try; plus the more he got in the bastard's head, the better.
    "Because I want you to suffer." Mika's face contorted with hatred as he backed his way through the crowd still holding the woman. "And I know you aren't afraid to die, but you do fear something happening to someone you care about. Alisha proved that." Mika finally pushed the woman free, then turned, rushing into the crowd, shifting from one person to the next as he fled, until he finally blended in with everyone else.
    Jax's eyes tried to track Mika as he raced through the crowd, but it was useless. "Dammit," Jax cursed as he turned to head back toward the club, but found all the Warriors had been behind him the whole time. "Who's with Caroline?"
    "Go search the crowd and make sure the woman is okay," Sloan ordered before answering Jax. "Blaze stayed behind."
    "You son of a bitch." Sid stormed up to Jax, the knife still sticking out of his shoulder.
    "You hit the wrong guy, dude." Steve was still standing there, his eyes going from Sid to Jax.
    "I gave you an order." Sloan's growl sent Steve scurrying into the crowd.
    "Do you think the chance of maybe hitting the wrong person, as you did in this case, was too big of a risk to take?" Sloan asked, his focus moving from the knife in Sid's shoulder to Jax.
    "I'd say, fuck yes, it's too much of a risk to take," Sid growled. "It hurts like a bitch."
    Slade had stayed behind also. He leaned close in concentration. "It's buried all the way to the handle." His eyes rose to Sid. "You want me to pull it out?"
    "No, I'm going to wear it as a new piercing." Sid just gave him an "'are you serious"' look. "Fuck yes, I want it out."
    "I need something to stop the blood." Slade looked around.
    Jax figured since it was his fault, he should play nice. Taking off his jacket, he pulled off his shirt, tossing it to Slade. "Here."
    Slade put one hand on Sid's shoulder, then gripped the knife handle with the other one. "I'm going to count to three."
    "He's lying." Jill walked up at that exact moment. "It's two."
    "Just pull the damn thing ou— FUCK YOU! That hurt." Sid grabbed the shirt out of Slade's hand and applied pressure. He walked up to Jax, getting in his face. "If you ever fucking throw a knife at me again, you are a dead man."
    Jax casually pulled on his leather jacket. Not one to usually give explanations for his actions, he felt Sid deserved one. "Most shifters will lose their