Page 39 of Unlocked

“Bullshit,” Corrine seethes out, still eyeing Jamison.

Xavier comes up behind her and wraps his arms around her before whispering in her ear. Her shoulders slump a little and her eyes soften. “We are really glad you’re okay, Kaz.”

Fuck, I feel so bad right now. These girls have been so good to me and I’ve kept so much shit from them. From everyone, really. I’m so tired. I’m tired of trying to keep everything straight. I’m tired of trying to keep track of every little lie. I look back at Jonathan. He’s been too fucking good to me and now he knows everything. He still loves me after all I’ve put him through. Maybe I just need to come clean with everyone. Maybe if I let everything out now, there’s still a chance I can salvage these relationships. I might not have a job at Bolt Corporation, but I can find some other way to make ends meet. I’ve saved enough money over the years to get me by until I figure something else out.

“I have to tell you all some things. I’ve kept a lot of secrets and I think it’s best I just lay it all out there.” I say with a steady voice.

“Unnecessary,” Sebastian responds coolly. “Jamison already informed us of everything.”

My head whips to Jamison and I glare at him. “He told you everything, did he?” I reply to Sebastian. Jamison’s gaze doesn’t waver.

“Yes, Kaz,” Xavier responds. “He told us about your resume and schooling. He also told us about some other family dynamics as well and unless you have a bigger secret than being a fucking ninja, I think it’s all covered.”

“How nice of you to finally decide when it was appropriate for you to spill my secrets,” I seethe out as I stalk over to Jamison. He leans against the wall with his hands in his pockets like he doesn’t have any care in the world. “Were you just waiting for the perfect time to upend my entire life?”

Jamison stares at me but doesn’t say a word. No one does.

“Answer me,” I scream. The sound of my palm cracking against his cheek echoes throughout the apartment. His facewhips to the side before he turns slowly back towards me. His lip is bleeding and his eyes are the deepest shade of blue. So dark, that if I didn’t know any better, I would think they were black. Jonathan grabs me around my waist from behind in an attempt to pull me away, but Jamison is too quick. His hand snatches my wrist pulling both me and Jonathan towards him. My body is yanked flush against his with Jonathan sandwiching me between them.

“Jamison, don’t,” Jonathan hisses as my chin is gripped tight and I’m forced to look up into the dark abyss swirling in Jamison’s eyes.

He leans into my face, close enough for only Jonathan and I to hear him. “I deserved that, Kitten, but it will only happen once. The next time you place your hands on me, it will be because I’m fucking you within an inch of your life.”

I’m stunned silent. I have literally zero brain function in this moment. All I can think of is the warmth at my core and the wetness between my thighs. How can someone I despise make me feel like this? Jamison lets go of my chin as Jonathan pulls me away. I turn towards the others to find Sebastian and Xavier holding tightly to both Riley and Corrine. Riley’s expression is worried, while Corrine looks downright angry.

“Before this gets out of hand,” Sebastian states, breaking the tense silence. “Kaz, we have all collectively agreed to not fire you.”

“Wait, what?” I ask, confused.

“Well, yeah. Umm, we were getting to that part. You’ve worked for us for so long and let’s face it, no one can do as good a job as you. With or without a perfect resume.”

“You guys are serious?” I ask, looking between them both as they nod yes. “All of you?” I ask, looking at Jamison. He nods his head and for a brief moment, I see a flicker of some kind ofemotion flash in his eyes. “Thank you,” I murmur out, trying not to read too much into it.

“There’s another thing we need to discuss,” Sebastian says, eyeing me. “I put a call into Frederick Degerson on my way over here. We have a meeting set up with his uncle tomorrow at Bolt Corporation. I think this is something you are going to need to be there for.”

He proceeds to tell me all about the information they’ve uncovered. I don’t know what they expect me to do or how they expect me to react, but dread pools in the pit of my stomach. Diablo could be my father, and if that’s the case, he could very well be the reason for Ben’s disappearance.

Chapter 32

Jonathan

I’m sitting in our meeting room with Kaz to my left. Jamison sits on her other side. Sebastian and Xavier sit at the head of the table to my right. Corrine is with Riley in her office while she goes over some paperwork. Andre’s face peers at all of us through the large screen video call. He looks tired as fuck with bags under his eyes. I’ve never seen him this disheveled.

“Are you sure you have it all covered down there? I’m worried.” Xavier says to him.

I look at both of them. “What’s going on?”

Andre straightens his suit jacket, sitting up straight. “Apparently someone on my property has been sneaking inside and messing with…things…” He trails off, lost in thought.

“Things?” I question, urging him to continue.

He seems to snap out of it before replying and shaking his head. “Uh, yeah. Just random stuff going on over here. I’ve installed more surveillance and am certain we will catch whoever it is soon enough. Probably one of the younger staff members we have recently hired.” He looks over at Xavier through the screen. “Either way, it will be taken care of. Sasha is perfectly safe here.”

Xavier looks like he wants to continue the conversation, but we are interrupted by a knock on the door. An assistant swings the door open when Sebastian calls out to them and inwalks Diablo Degerson. He walks in wearing a tailored black Armani suit, his light blonde hair styled back perfectly. Specks of grey pepper throughout it as he turns his gaze, his green eyes zeroing in on Kaz. She grabs my hand immediately under the table and I feel her squeeze tightly. My response is to slide my chair closer to her. Apparently, Jamison has the same idea. Diablo eyes us both with interest.

“May I?” He asks Sebastian, gesturing to the chair directly across from Kaz.

Sebastian nods and replies, “Of course.”

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