Page 22 of Ours to Keep

I'm sorry, I must have misheard him because I swear he just told me he wants me to go to a safe house.

My eyes spring open, focusing on his face, even with the bruise and cut lip, it only adds to his allure,momentarily distracting me from my thoughts.It should be a crime to be so handsome.

“What do you mean a safe house?”

His piercing blue eyes hold mine.”I don'twant you going back to the house. Tommy will be with you. It will look as though you're both having a couples' getaway.”

Something about him referring to me and Tommy as a couple makes heat rush to my cheeks.

“I don't understand. You want to lock me up somewhere?”

He shakes his head. “No, nothing quite so extreme. Elliot is sorting something out with a friend. It would be no different than staying in an Air B and B.”

“But what if Mia comes home and I'm not there?”

“Then Tommy will bring you back.”

It's wishful thinking on my part. Christmasis only a few short weeks away. And there's nothing stopping Richard from keeping her whereverthey are until the new year. However, I doubt very much that she'll appreciate being away from me during the Christmas holidays. This whole thing has my mind reeling. He’s never spent that much alone time with her before, between school and the holidays, I’ve always been there.

My chest tightens, my breath quickens, and the air around me feels toothin.

“Hey, Duchess, are you okay?” Jackson's voice cuts through the fog, but I'm still struggling to focus—my heart pounds in my ears, and my vision blurs at the edges.

“I... I can't...” My throat feels as though it is closing up, and I clutch at my chest, desperate to draw in a full breath. Panic grips me. It's cold and unrelenting. I gasp, desperately trying to fill my lungs, but it's useless.

“Take deep breaths,” Jackson instructs. “In and out, slowly.”

I try in vain to follow his directions, but my body isn't cooperating. My vision narrows further, and dark spots fill my vision, my skin tingles, a numbness creeping over my body. I can feel the room spinning as though it's been tilted on its axis.

“No, I can't,” I manage to choke out, but the words are barely audible.

His voice becomes a soothing, deep murmur in my ear. “You're okay, Duchess. Just focus on my voice. Stay with me. Breathe. In and out...”

I try to mimic his breathing, forcing my lungs to comply. Gradually, the tightness in my chest begins to ease as the room comes back into focus. The fog lifts, and Jackson's concerned face is inches from mine, his piercing blue eyes like sapphires, watching me intently.

“There you are,” he says softly, his voice a balm to my senses. “I've got you. Just keep breathing.”

I nod weakly, my panic slowly receding but leaving behind aheavy exhaustion. My body is now drained, but at least I can breathe again. “Thank you,” I whisper, my voice hoarse. As I move to sit up, I realise he's on the bed with me, and somehow managed to pull me into his lap. When did he do that?

His hand rubs soothing circles over my lower back. “I've got you. We'll figure all of this out. I promise.”

I take another deep breath as I cling to his shirt. Because not knowing when I'll see Mia again and the thought of her being away from me for Christmas is like an axe to my heart.

He continues to hold me, his arms a solid and reassuring presence. I can feel some of the tension slowly seeping out of my body as I lean on him for support. My thoughts are still swirling but no longer spiralling out of control. The panic is gone, but the unanswered questions remain.

“Jackson,” I start, my voice a whisper. “How is this going to work? The safe house, I mean. Where will you, River and Elliot be while I'm with Tommy?”

His thumb rubs soothing circles over the bare flesh on my hip where my sleep shirt has risen. “We'll keep a low profile while searching for Richard and Mia. Elliot is already busy chasing the number Mia used to make contact, so we'll likely be heading to France,” he admits.

And the sudden thought of being separated from them sends a fresh wave of unease. My feelings for them all have grown into something I never expected.

“I hate the idea of being away from you,” I admit, my voice trembling. “From all of you.” Especially after having them all so close.

His grip tightens slightly, and he leans down to gently kiss my head. “I know. I hate it, too. But I've already let you down one time too many. I need to keep you safe—we need to keep you safe, and that's our priority right now.”

I nod in understanding but can't ignore the lingering sadness that engulfs me.

I close my eyes. This is all so much to take in. If I thought being run off the road and what happened at the gala was bad, it's nothing compared to what Richard's done. I know all the guys are carrying burdens over the most recent, but I don't blame any of them. I hate that I was weak when I should have tried harder to fight back. But I trust Jackson. I trust them all, it's not something I can explain, I just do. Still, the thought of hiding and waiting while they're out there fills me with fear.

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