Page 6 of Jack's Devotion

"What is?"

"You. This." I motion between us, accidentally smacking him in the chest in the process. "You can't just hold me against my will."

"Uh, this isn't kidnapping. That requires moving you from one point to another. I simply picked you up from the floor to check on you, which doesn't meet the legal definition. And holding you?" He chuckles, the deep sound vibrating through me. "You broke into my pool house. You've been sleeping in my bed. I have a right to hold you."

"Against my will." The distinction seems important with the way he's looking at me. Or maybe it seems important with theway I feel about the way he's looking at me. I don't know. But he isn't looking at me like a man pissed I broke into his pool house. He's looking at me like one who wants to toss me on that bed and have his way with me.

Judging by the diamond-like hardness of my nipples…well, parts of me are not entirely averse to the idea.

Of course my body picks today of all days to betray me. Quite rude and inconsiderate, honestly.

I absolutely, undoubtedly, am not crushing on Jack Whitlock. Again.

"Yeah, that."

"My father was plotting to have me killed to get his hands on my mom's money after she died," I blurt. "I ran away so he couldn't. And for the record, you aren't the most stubborn man I'll ever meet because I already met you. You can't meet someone for the first time twice. Science hasn't gotten that science-y yet."

"There is so much to unpack there.Science-y?" His eyes narrow to slits, a growl rumbling in his chest. "Your dad was plotting to kill you?"

Oh, I don't think he likes that very much. That's kind of sweet. Especially since I didn't like it very much either. Still don't, actually. But I've had seven years to come to terms with the fact that my father is a monster of Hyde-like proportions.

"Hold the fuck on. You remember me?"

"Yes. We met at one of your company's parties right after my mom died. Someone said my dress was ugly." I shift my gaze away from his. "You were nice to me."

"Pink dress. Sad little angel," he rumbles. "You had a book hidden in your shawl."

I blink at him. "You remember me?" I'm not entirely sure why I ask. I know he donated to the reward fund after I went missing. I guess I always just assumed it was because he knew my dad, not because he remembered meeting me that night.

"I remember." He swallows, his gaze shifting across my face. "You disappeared less than six weeks later. It bugged the fuck out of me."

"Why? Because you felt sorry for Dear Ole Dad?" I ask, unable to keep the snark out of my tone. From everything I've read about life around here after I went MIA, everyone felt sorry for my father. And he lapped up the attention like a neglected puppy.

Exactly like he puts up missing posters for the attention. If he actually wants to find me, it's only so he can finish the murderous plans my disappearance halted. It's certainly not so we can reconcile. Which is precisely why I need to stay out of sight until my birthday. There's not a chance in hell I'm going to let him kill me.

He wants one final press conference to play grieving father? Fine. Wish granted. But he'll be seeing a ghost.

Jack's gaze flickers across my face again, something fathomless in his eyes. "It seemed like you'd been through enough already, Madison. Didn't much like the thought of something happening to you." He shrugs. "If Gerald is the reason you disappeared, fuck him. He's always been a prick."

My heart actually flutters.

"You really think he was plotting to have you killed?"

"I know he was. I heard him discussing it."

"What did you hear?"

I stare at him for a long moment and then sigh. "He wanted my death to look like an accident so no one would suspect he was involved. He thought a car accident would be best. His guy was going to run me off the road near the cliffs so my car went over. He figured if the accident didn't take care of me, my car exploding when it hit the bottom probably would. Is that clear enough for you? Because it was for seventeen-year-old me whenI was hiding in his office and heard the man who raised me plotting it like he was ordering dinner."

I was too scared to leave the closet for hours. And I spent the next week afraid to get in the car, terrified it'd be the last day of my life. I packed a bag as soon as I turned eighteen, raided the safe, and took off the minute he left for work.

"Jesus," Jack growls, fury burning through his expression. For a minute, he looks downright dangerous. It's…hot.

And there goes my resolution not to crush on him again.

Great. Thanks, universe.

"He always was a shady prick."

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