Jackson returns, handing me a wad of paper towels, helping me to mop up the spillage.
“Oh my God, Jackson.” My voice quakes, and my lips tremble. “I can’t believe that monster did those things to Dani! Why didn’t your dad press charges? Why wasn’t that sick fuck locked up?”
“It’s complicated, but the cliff notes version is he was blackmailing my father and Hunt’s father. He threatened to kill me and my mother if Dad went to the police. He made several attempts on our lives these past few months.”
“What?” I can hardly see through my blurry vision. Jackson moves beside me, taking my hands. “He tried to kill you?” Montgomery’s words flit through my mind, and I didn’t believe him when he said this, but after witnessing the lethal way Jackson took care of him back on the boat, I know it’s the truth. “Because you killed Trent.”
“He told you about that.”
I nod. “He made out like Trent was this angel, but I know you wouldn’t have killed him without good reason, and if he was anything like his father, he was the devil incarnate.”
“He was his Mini-Me,” Jackson confirms. “He wasn’t a good guy. Abby was forced into an engagement with him, and he was a prick to her. She can fill you in on the deets. I killed him in self-defense.” Jackson explains about the elite, their depraved, illegal activities, what Atticus—Kai’s father—tried to do, the things that went down at Parkhurst six months ago, and how Trent tried to kill Abby and then tried to kill Jackson.
“Jesus Christ. I’d really love a drink right now, but I’m trying to abstain,” I blurt, rubbing a tense spot between my brows. This is total brain overload. To some, talk of sex slaves, sex dungeons, and other nefarious deeds might seem far-fetched, but after my upbringing, I have no trouble believing it. “Why didn’t I know any of this? The news reports I read barely mentioned this stuff.”
“Because they covered it up. The elite have powerful contacts in the world of business and politics, and it’s in a lot of people’s interests to see the organization continue.”
“This is what Montgomery meant when he said I would do his bidding.”
He bobs his head. “There are four founding elite members from Rydeville. Anderson. Manning. Barron. And Montgomery.”
“What exactly does that mean?”
“It means you are a descendant of a founding family, which is not something to celebrate. Now Montgomery is dead, you are arguably in worse danger.”
“Why?”
“They elected a new president recently, and he’s restructuring the organization. It looks PC until you dig beneath the layers. They have no intention of changing their ways. Did you receive an invitation to that elite ball happening in a few weeks?”
“I did, but I wasn’t going to go. I assumed it was an error.”
“It’s not. They know who you are, Nessa, and now that Christian is dead, his place will automatically go to you.”
“Well, I’ll pass. I don’t want anything to do with such a disgusting organization.”
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that. You’ll have to attend, but most of us will be there. We’ll keep you safe, and we’ll bring you up to speed before then.”
“Okay, so how does this link to you wanting to date me?”
Jackson sighs, leaning back against the couch. “I was only twelve when Dani was returned home, so my parents didn’t tell me what had happened to her then, but I knew something terrible had gone down because she wasn’t the same sister. I tried to help her, but I didn’t know how.”
He pulls at a loose thread on his sweatpants. “She tried to kill herself the first time two months after she came home,” he quietly admits. “She overdosed on prescription meds. I found her passed out in her room. My parents got her to the hospital in time, and then, she spent some time in a rehabilitation program.”
He turns his head so he’s facing me directly as he speaks. He looks so tormented, and my heart aches for him. “My parents did everything to help her, but the damage was too great.” Tears leak from his eyes, and I wrap my arms around him. “We were devastated when she jumped off that roof. I lost myself to booze, weed, and women for a few years because I couldn’t deal with the pain especially after Atticus told me he knew Montgomery was behind Dani’s ordeal and that my father had known too.”
He explains about the discord with his father over the past year and how they’ve patched things up.
“I sobered up after everything went down at Parkhurst, and all I could think about was murdering that bastard, but he had fled overseas, and we couldn’t find him. Hunt and I were working together, trying to find him when your name popped up.”
“You knew I was his daughter. That’s why you did it,” I surmise.
He runs his hand up and down my back. “I wanted to get close to you to find out if he’d been in contact with you.”
“He hadn’t. At least not yet.”
“I know that now.”
“What was your plan?” I’m deliberately keeping calm, but the storm is building inside me.
I was a means to an end. That is all.
He winces, but he doesn’t look away, keeping his eyes glued to mine as he admits the disgusting truth. “My plan was to make you fall in love with me, to trust me, so you’d tell me where he was.”
“But I didn’t know anything about him then.”
“I had no way of knowing that.”
“You could’ve asked me outright!” My outrage is climbing.
“I wanted to, but it was too risky. If you were working with him, it would ruin everything.”
The memory of our last lunch at Sawyer’s penthouse swims before my eyes, and all the puzzle pieces slot into place. “You knew he was behind my scholarship.” My eyes pop wide. “You thought I knew! That I was lying to you!” His jaw pulls taut as he nods. I thump him in the arm. “I thought it was you! I thought you’d done all that and kept it anonymous because you knew I wouldn’t accept charity. I stupidly thought you loved me so much you did it to avoid the pain of separation. I was going to pay you back when you fessed up, but then, I turned up at school and you were horrible to me!”
I jump up, and tears prick my eyes, only they’re angry tears this time. I pace the floor as remembered humiliation slashes across my chest.
“Nessa.” He stands, coming toward me, but I hold my palm up to keep him back. “I was in love with you, and I thought you’d betrayed me. That you were playing me the whole time. I was destroyed.”
“Hah! The irony.” I prod his chest with my finger. “I didn’t betray you, you fucking asshole! I was honest with you. I opened my heart and let you in and you … you shit all over me.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. I was so confused. I tried everything to evict you from my head, but you wouldn’t fucking leave.”
I plant my hands on my hips. “What? Your endless stream of bed buddies couldn’t help you forget?”
Oh my God, how did I forget that? How could I have let him make love to me last night? I probably have the clap or crabs now.
I am clearly insane.
“I didn’t sleep with any of them,” he rushes to reassure me. “I haven’t slept with anyone else but you since before the summer. I swear.”
I snort. “As if I believe a word that comes out of your mouth. You betrayed me, Jackson. You made me fall in love with you, and it was all a lie.”
He rushes me, putting his face all up in mine. “It started out like that, but it was real, Nessa.” He takes my hand, placing it on his chest, right in the spot where his heart is currently thumping like crazy. “I fucking swear it was all real. I fell for you, hook, line, and sinker. How could I not? You’re smart, sweet, caring, beautiful. Everything I never knew I needed. Everything I hadn’t realized I was looking for. These past couple months have been agony. I can hardly breathe without you, baby. I need you. I—”
I clamp my hand over his mouth, unable to hear any more.
I’m so confused, and I don’t know what to
think. I’m furious at his betrayal. He tricked me. Played me for a fool, and I was the idiot who fell for his seductive charm. Yet, he saved me from that bastard and a life that would not have been worth living.
But that was for Dani.
He did that for his sister.
He wanted his revenge, and his plan worked in the end because I was the one who led him to Montgomery.
It was never about me.
“What else don’t I know?” I snap, because I know there’s more. Removing my hand from his mouth, I step back, purposely creating distance between us, folding my arms protectively across my chest.
Jackson’s shoulders slump in defeat, and his voice sounds resigned when he hammers the final nail. “I hired a guy to watch you. That’s how I knew you’d left to go meet him. I placed a tracker in your cell, and Hunt placed cameras in here and in your bags. We used those to follow you to the Canaries.”
My heart ruptures, splintering into broken pieces. I genuinely thought Sawyer was my friend, but he was only playing the game too.
“Hunt did it to protect you,” Jackson adds as if he’s read my mind. “The reason we were arguing all the time was because he didn’t agree with my plan. He never wanted to see you hurt, and he never believed it. Hate me all you want, but Hunt’s motives were pure. It was always about protecting you from Montgomery and the elite.”
“And the others?” I ask, almost choking over the lump in my throat.
“Knew nothing until we moved back here. Abby is disgusted with me, and she refused to get involved.”
“Why did no one ask me?” I roar. “This all could’ve been cleared up if someone had had the decency to talk to me. You all knew he was my father and that he was a manipulative, depraved bastard, yet you sat back and let it happen!”
I turn around, chest heaving, barely able to breathe over the heavy betrayal pressing down on me, constricting my lungs to the point of pain.
“We knew he was plotting to kill me, and asking you outright could’ve backfired,” he quietly admits.
“Not one of you trusted me,” I sob.
“That’s not it, Nessa. It was complicated as fuck.” He walks in front of me, lifting his hand to wipe my tears.
“Don’t touch me,” I screech, moving away from him.
Pain slams into him, radiating from his tortured eyes. “Don’t blame Abby or Shandra. They have had your back from day one. They’ve been worried sick. The reason they didn’t ask you was because of me, but you didn’t trust them either, Nessa. You went running off to meet that monster without telling anyone. You’d been in contact with him for weeks, and you said nothing.”
I cannot believe he is trying to turn this around on me. Perhaps, there’s a kernel of truth to his statement, but it doesn’t mean what he did, what they all did, was justified. I understand their loyalty is to Jackson. He’s their friend, and they barely know me. Of course, they would choose him over me, but I can’t get over the fact they knew how dangerous he was, and no one dropped any hints. I’d no idea they knew C.M. If I did, this might have played out differently.
I have officially reached my breaking point.
The good news is, I’m no longer mad at myself. Oh no, all my rage is now firmly channeled in one direction—the blond-haired blue-eyed devil in front of me.
I jerk my chin up, spitting venom from my eyes. “Get out!” I yell. “Get the fuck out, Jackson, and don’t ever come back. I hate you.”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Jackson
STANDING IN FRONT of the mirror, I scowl at my reflection. The clean-cut guy in the fitted Prada tuxedo looks like the quintessential all-American male, but appearances are deceiving.
Underneath that charming exterior lies a coward and a fraud.
My treatment of Nessa has been so wrong. I manipulated her to serve my own agenda, proving I’m no better than the elite. I despise myself for the things I’ve done, not just to her but to my friends too. I’m lucky they are still standing by my side after the shit I’ve pulled.
I have failed Nessa time and time again, and I don’t blame her for giving me the silent treatment these past three weeks. I have hurt her so much, and it was pointless in the end. She was wholly innocent, like Hunt speculated, and if I’d had the balls to open up to her, things would be very different right now.
Hindsight is a cruel bitch, casting new insights that seem so obvious now it’s almost laughable. I was such a tool not to see what was right in front of me, who was right in front of me. I misjudged her and the entire situation, and it would serve me right if she never spoke to me again.
Except I refuse to give up, because I love her, and I won’t stop fighting until she believes me.
“You sure about this?” Hunt asks, lounging against the doorway of my bedroom.
“Yes.” I grab my keys and slide my wallet into the pocket of my pants. “No other man is escorting my girl. Ever,” I add, my tone bursting with determination.
“She could go postal on your ass,” Hunt warns.
“That’s a risk I’m willing to take. She’s entering the snake pit, and hell will freeze before I’ll let her go in there without me. Besides,” I say, slapping him on the back. “We need you and Xavier manning things remotely.” We both know Xavier could handle it alone, but I was never letting Hunt go as Nessa’s date to the elite ball tonight—it was always going to be me.
“You have your equipment?” he asks.
I nod, pressing my fingers to my ear to ensure the tiny bud is still in place. The small microphone chip is adhered to the inside of my breast pocket. All that’s needed to activate it is to press in on it. Then, it’ll transmit to Xavier and Hunt, and my friends will be privy to my conversation if they have their devices switched on. The rest of the gang will be there, and everyone is wearing the same monitoring equipment.
Hunt’s dad’s company, Techxet, has developed a whole range of new monitoring and security equipment on the QT. It’s a secret project, managed by a secret division in the company, and it’s all very covert. While it’s still in the prototype phase and undergoing continuous research and development, we have found numerous opportunities to test out the various products.
“Be careful,” Xavier adds, popping up behind Hunt. “And mind our girl.”
“Always,” I promise, leaving my house and jumping into my Maserati.
_______________
“What the hell are you doing here?” Nessa snaps, pouting when she sees it’s me and not Hunt behind the door.
“Taking Cinderella to the ball.” I waggle my brows, flashing her an award-worthy smile as I whip the bouquet of red roses from behind my back, hoping it will help to soften her up.
Don’t get me wrong—Nessa is perfectly entitled to her rage, but she’s got to forgive me sometime. Right?
“You look stunning,” I truthfully admit, admiring how sophisticated she looks in the deep-blue satin gown. It’s classically elegant with off-the-shoulder lace straps, a beaded corset top, and a flowing skirt. A simple silver diamante necklace and bracelet compliment her choice of gown, and her hair is styled in a glamorous chignon. While it’s not low cut, or daring, and most likely chosen not to draw attention, there is no way she’ll avoid it looking like that. “I don’t think you realize how beautiful you are, Nessa. You take my breath away.”
“You expect me to believe that crap?” she hisses, but it’s lacking heat.
“It’s the truth.” I shield nothing from her, granting her my full honesty, hoping she can see how sincere I am.
She snatches the flowers from my hands. “I’ll put them in water.” She pauses briefly. “Thanks.” It looks like it physically pains her to say that, but Nessa was never one of those ungrateful, rich bitches who didn’t appreciate token gestures.
“You’re welcome.” I flash her another grin, moving to follow her inside, when she slams the door shut in my face. “Ouch,” I murmur to myself, flattening my back to the wall, reminding myself it’s still a victory becau
se she hasn’t sent me away.
The door swings open five minutes later, and she steps outside, wearing a silver cashmere pashmina and carrying a glittery blue purse. “You can tell Sawyer he’s back on my shit list for this,” she says, striding toward the elevator, ignoring my offered hand.
“He won’t be pleased. You’ve only just taken him off it.” Nessa hasn’t just kept me at arm’s length; she’s been avoiding everyone. She’s understandably pissed.
Abby, Shandra, and Hunt managed to get her to talk to them this week, explaining how we’d agreed to open up to her that fateful Sunday and how much everyone regrets leaving it too late. Whatever they said worked, and she’s forgiven them.
Not me though.
I’m still at the top of her shit list, but I’m determined to break her reservations down and win her back.
“Maybe he should have considered that before he betrayed me again,” she huffs.
“You could tell me no,” I jest.
She pins me with a glare the White Witch would be proud of. “If I thought that’d work, I would.” The elevator pings, and she steps inside, her gown swishing around her legs as she walks.
“You know me well.” I step into the elevator beside her, fighting another grin.
“I’ve seen a different side to you these past couple of weeks. I know you’d just pester me to death until I agreed.”
Truth. I’ve been relentless since the day we returned from London and she kicked me out of her place.
Every day, I greet her in the parking lot at RU with a latte, fresh fruit, and yogurt. Every evening, she returns to find a rose waiting for her at her car. Every night, she receives a goodnight text from me, reconfirming my love.
Abby helped me choose some photo frames, and I printed out the few photos I have of us together, keeping one by my bed while sending Nessa a matching one. She hasn’t let me inside her place to know whether she kept it or threw it in the trash.
I’m trying to find little ways to show her I care, hoping in time she’ll give me the opportunity to prove it in other ways too. However, right now, her safety is of most concern to me, and that trumps everything else.
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