Page 75 of Redemption

My brain was a tangled web as I tried to keep the security assessment separate from my feelings for Sloan. My gut told me to get rid of him, but I wondered if it was actually my heart that was speaking.

I was relieved that she’d been the one to end the relationship, but it stung that she’d broken up with him only a few days before jumping into bed with me. And this is yet another reason why it’s a bad idea to sleep with the principal.

I pushed all those thoughts aside. Regardless of my reasons, I wanted him gone. Now.

“He needs to go.”

“Jackson,” she sighed. “Be reasonable.”

“I am being reasonable. We don’t know his motives. We don’t know why he’s here. Hell, for all we know, he could be behind the threats.”

Sloan leveled me with a flat look. “He’s not.”

“Until we find the culprit, we can’t rule anyone out.”

“By that logic, you could be the culprit,” she hissed. “Maybe you sent me the threatening notes so I’d have to hire you as a bodyguard. Maybe you set this all up.”

“Now you’re just being ridiculous.”

She leaned forward. “And so are you.”

She didn’t understand. She hadn’t spent the last fourteen years working in private security. Seeing the types of wackos our clients dealt with. I wasn’t taking any risks.

I leaned in. “Sloan,” I said, my voice laced with a threat. “Get rid of him, or I will.”

Perhaps I was being unreasonable and heavy-handed, but I wanted him gone.

“I will handle it,” she said through gritted teeth. “But Edward came all this way for a reason. I’m not just going to throw him out without letting him say whatever he came to say.”

God, I hated how feral this woman made me. Deep down, I knew I couldn’t stop this conversation from happening. But I didn’t like it.

I leaned in. “I’m not leaving you alone with him.”

She scoffed. “Possessive much?” Though she couldn’t hide the desire in her eyes.

My blood boiled with lust and frustration. Hell yes, I was possessive. But this wasn’t about what I wanted. It was about Sloan. “Whether you realize it or not, your safety is my priority. And you have no idea why he’s here. He could be seeking reconciliation or revenge.”

“Fine,” she huffed. “But stay here.”

I hadn’t waited this long, only to lose her once more. This was my shot. It wasn’t a second chance; it was my last chance with Sloan—and I sure as shit wasn’t going to let Edward or anyone else screw it up.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Itook a breath and turned to face Edward. He’d made himself comfortable in my absence, helping himself to a drink and the view.

I’d ended a long-term relationship over the phone, and I could understand why Edward might want closure. But I was still surprised he’d traveled all this way to try to get it. At least, I hoped that was the only reason he was here.

“Is everything okay?” Concern tinged his features, and it seemed genuine.

I nodded. “It’s fine.”

“Do you want a drink?” he asked, and I tried not to balk at the fact that he’d invaded my space and was acting like he owned the place. Typical. “I ordered champagne, but it hasn’t arrived yet.”

I wanted a shower. I didn’t want champagne, and I definitely didn’t want to have an uncomfortable conversation with my ex in front of Jackson.

“What are you doing here?” I cringed when the words came out harsher than I’d intended.

His attention darted to the kitchen, where Jackson sat, likely watching us. God, talk about awkward.

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