Page 15 of Jack's Devotion

"Was I being held hostage?"

"What? No. But you told me the prick wants you dead. I'm not exactly thrilled about the thought of you being anywhere near him on your own."

"It's fine, Jack. He didn't even see me."

"What did you do?"

"Why do you sound so suspicious?"

"Why are you avoiding the question?"

"Who says I'm avoiding it?"

"Madison," he growls.

Dear Baby Jesus, I do not want him to make that sound while his face is buried between my legs. Promise.

"I called him from a burner phone to torture him a little," I confess. "I wanted to get his reaction."

"And did you get what you wanted?"

"Yes. No." I huff, scowling at the road ahead of me. "I don't know. Maybe. He looked spooked and then called someone as soon as we hung up. I think it was whoever he hired to try to kill me. I took a timestamped photo."

"Smart girl. We'll be able to use it to connect the call with his phone records."

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking," I mumble, pulling up along the curb where I've been parking my car. Eventually, I'll have to go to Sheriff Armstrong and tell him everything. When I do, I want as much evidence as I can get my hands on. What I've collected over the last seven years is enough to bury my father, but none of it has anything to do with what he tried to do to me. It's all financial crimes and shady dealings at my company, things I'm sure he never thought anyone would ever find out about. He really should have looked for me, though. Leaving me out there on my own was just asking for trouble. And I'm more than happy to deliver. "I'd really like to bring them both down so I can sleep at night if I'm going to be sticking around."

"You're sticking around, huh?"

"Who said that? You're hearing things."

Jack's deep laugh rumbles through the car. "Get your gorgeous ass back to the pool house and pack your shit before I come home and pack it for you, Madison. I mean it."

"You have companies to run."

"My companies run themselves. I spend my time terrorizing my employees and making people a shit ton of money because I'm bored out of my mind. Believe me, if I come home to pack your shit, these assholes will probably send you a fruit basket."

"You told your employees about me?" I squeak. "Jack, I'm hiding! You can't do that!"

"Slow your roll, baby girl. I didn't tell anyone anything. I'm just saying…a day without me here annoying the fuck out of them would be a vacation for them. So do you want me to come pack your shit and get you pregnant or not?"

"Annoy your employees, not your hostage. Bye!" I hang up on him so fast I'm honestly impressed with myself. I'm also smiling like a crazy person.

Leave it to Jack Whitlock to make coming home to face my father feel less like returning to the trenches and a lot more like…well, like building something brand new.

Chapter Five

Jack

"I'm bringing someone to dinner with me tonight."

Drake laughs for so loud and so long, I pull the phone away from my ear to scowl at it. When I put it back, he's still laughing.

"I'm serious, motherfucker," I growl. "And I expect you to be on your best behavior."

His laughter dries up. "Who the fuck are you bringing, Jack? I swear to God, if you say the ghost from your pool house…"

"Well, actually…"

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