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seem at all happy to see me, perhaps since the last time I saw him I hit him. “ You should stay here.”
    I shook my head at him. I couldn’t keep the venom out of my words. “No way. I’m supposed to have Alexa in sight at all times. And I don’t trust you to protect her.”
    Jax bit down on his lip and clenched his fists. His golden eyes looked like they were on fire. “Be careful what you say to me, Ethan. You think you have lost so much, yet you have so much more than you deserve, and others have lost so much more than you.”
    Despite my promise to myself to never get violent again, I shoved him. “I’m in no mood for your word games. Let’s get this done with. My mother’s keeping close tabs on our whereabouts.”
    Alexa pulled me back and whispered. “Don’t let him get to you. I want you to come with so that I’ll feel safe.” She took my hand and interlaced her fingers with mine. We’d gotten to know each other pretty well the last couple nights. Joshua had upset her upon our arrival, and she’d clocked him in the eye. That made her best friend material as far as I was concerned. Joshua and I hadn’t gotten along since he sang an evening-long rendition of “Ethan and the Bimbo Queen” at one of my Uncle Henry’s fundraisers.
    Jax looked at the two of us holding hands and huffed. “Joshua, you are okay with this?” Even though I’d sensed that Alexa and Joshua had history, I had no idea how much. Besides, Alexa and I had a lot in common just having suffered huge losses. I felt connected to and comforted by her. The fact that it pissed off Jax made it even better. I gave Alexa’s hand a gentle squeeze.
    Joshua shrugged and rubbed his bruised eye. “He can have her. Pretty Boy could use some roughing up.” Without missing a beat, he broke out into song. “Mr. Perfect needs a shiner. You see…he’s a Ten…but he’s also a whiner.” If there was ever a person who deserved to be born without vocal cords…
    Jax practically spat at me. “Your stupidity knows no bounds. You never deserved her.” To Alexa he narrowed his eyes and instructed. “Remember that games can be won and lost. Now, hold on to my arm. It’s time to head to the Exiler camp. This will be like going through a portal…just one that I make rather than one you have to walk through—and where you don’t dry heave.” He emphasized the need to keep this mode of transport “quiet” and that the consequences for outing him would be most severe.
    I grabbed Jax’s arm too, being sure to hold on extra tight. The Garden City suite faded out, and dark desert scape faded in. We arrived near a controlled bonfire, in front of a large cave where lunch was being cooked but out of sight of the Exilers. As we approached, the night watch raised their guns and pointed them at us. Intellectually understanding the conditions the Exilers live in and seeing them in person were two very different things. The unsanitary conditions. The primitive nature of it all. The inhumanity. I didn’t understand how they were able to survive with what little they had.
    Alexa screamed at the sight of the guns pointed our way. She was not enjoying her field trip to Thera. Apparently, knowing that her employers rule over an entire planet had her a little upset. It had been a lot for her to take in. And Garden City was palatial and civilized compared to the Exiler camp. The guards stepped forward and surrounded us.
    Jax raised his voice. “Put the guns down. Now. We’re here to see Adam Caster.”
    A tall blonde came out of the cave. One that reminded me of the blind date who inspired Joshua’s “Queen Bimbo” tune. She looked us all over. To the guards she said, “They’re friendlies.” She chuckled at Jax. “Well, well, well. Jax Christo. The last time I saw you we were doing surgery together.”  
    “Surgery that would not have been necessary had you not lured Blake out of the house, Bailey. I don’t think it’s the time to reopen those