Page 29 of Jackson

I made a mistake, a huge one at that, and I know I just risked everything. He’s angry at me, and, honestly, he has a right to be. I fucked up.

“It looked like him, and nobody else noticed. I couldn’t pass up the chance to follow him. I know I made a mistake, Jackson ...”

“A mistake?”

His voice is scaring me.

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.

He continues.

“Not only did you alert him to the fact that we’re fuckin’ lookin’ for him but you tangled my guys up in a mess, and now the cops know we’re helpin’ you. You just sunk every fuckin’ plan with one stupid move.”

My heart breaks.

I fucked up.

“I’m sorry, Jackson,” I whisper. “I just ... I wanted so badly to find him, I wasn’t thinking.”

“No fuckin’ shit,” he growls. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

I hang my head.

“Easy, boss,” Spike says, carefully. I didn’t even see him get out of the car. “She didn’t do it on purpose.”

Jackson doesn’t look at me when he orders, “Get her out of here. I am going to try and fix this shit before it’s too late.”

His words hurt.

They’re crushing.

I know he’s mad at me, but damn.

“Jackson,” I say, stepping toward him. “I made a mistake. I’m sorry.”

“Your mistakes have cost us a fuckin’ lot in the last few months.”

Without looking at me, he gets into another truck that pulls up, then he’s gone.

Spike looks to me, offering a small smile. “He’ll get over it, don’t worry, precious. Come on, let’s get you out of here.”

My heart feels as though it’s being torn in two as I climb into the truck next to Ciara. She offers me a comforting smile, but it does little to make me feel better. I know I made a mistake the first time I went after Gerard, and once again, I made the same one going after him again.

But that man is ruining everything.

I didn’t want to see him get away with it once more.

I don’t say anything as we drive, and the silence feels deafening as the long stretches of road do nothing to drown out my thoughts. I feel terrible, and it seems that right now, all the decisions I’m making are the wrong ones. We had a good plan, and I ruined it because I didn’t think.

By the time we reach the house, it is dark, and I can’t see Jackson anywhere. I’m guessing he isn’t back yet. That’s probably a good thing, because I don’t want to go to sleep when I know he is in another room not speaking to me. That would make everything worse. Instead, I get out of the car and silently make my way there ... alone.

Addison comes in after I’ve had a shower and am getting into bed. She offers me a small smile and then closes the door behind her. “He’s just upset, he’ll come around.”

“I fucked up,” I exhale. “I saw him getting away, and I just didn’t think ...”

“Honestly, honey, I would have done the same thing. That man has upended your world, it’s only fair that you don’t want to see him slip away.”

I bring my legs to my chest, my back against the headboard. “Yeah, but I ruined all our plans. The police know the club are helping me now, and that’s going to make everything worse.”

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