Page 38 of Fierce Lies
I glanced at my purse on the floor, bending to fish out my phone while looking over at Jackson again.
He turned slightly, catching sight of me, and something in his expression changed. His eyes hardened, calculating in a way I hadn't seen before. A shiver coursed through me at the look. Why was he giving me that look? Had something happened?
Did he know about my digging?
My breath caught, but he didn't say a word to me as he continued talking quietly on the phone.
My phone continued ringing in my hand, and Ivy's face lit up the screen. Jackson's gaze followed my movement, his conversation continuing in hushed tones as my stomach knotted.
I retreated to the bedroom, answering the call as I closed the door behind me.
"Hey," I whispered. I needed to tell her what was going on, especially with that look from Jackson. I thought we'd shared something, but now, I was unsettled. Something was wrong, and I needed to let someone know, maybe get out of here now, run away even.
"Elena?" Ivy's voice came through in a hushed, urgent tone. "That Malatesta guy came back tonight, Alfie."
I sat on the edge of the bed, pulling a pillow into my lap for comfort. "What happened?"
"I tried getting more information, like we talked about." Her words tumbled out in a rush. "I told him my father used to be friends with the father of the new Mrs. Donati, and I asked if he knew anything about them."
My stomach twisted. I'd told her to leave it alone, it was dangerous. Why was she like this? My heart fluttered as I bit my lip. "Ivy, why? I told you not to?—"
"I know, okay? But I dropped Anthony Cassaro's name," she cut me off in a harsh whisper. "And he recognized it right away. Said something about remembering that 'supposed accident.'" I could hear the air quotes in her voice. "The way he said it, Elena... I'm positive they're behind your father's death."
Of course. Just to confirm what I'd already suspected. But now, Ivy had put herself in the firing line of these likely mafia families.
Fuck. Fuckity fuck.
"I can try to get more?—"
"No," I cut her off instantly. "Don't. It's all too risky, Ivy. Please, I'm begging you, leave this all alone. I want to end this now."
"End what now?"
I froze at the sound of Jackson's voice. He stood in the doorway, arms folded across his bare chest, leaning against the frame. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes... his eyes were cold in a way that made my blood turn to ice.
Ivy went silent on the other end of the line. "Elena?" she finally whispered. "Is there a man there? Whose there? Are you safe?"
I couldn't tear my gaze away from Jackson. Despite the fear crawling up my throat, I couldn't help noticing how good he looked—the defined muscles of his chest and arms, the dark tattoo that snaked around his bicep and down his arm right to the wrist, the way his briefs hung low on his hips. It wasn't fair that someone so dangerous could look so damn good.
"I think we need to talk, Elena," Jackson said, his voice deceptively soft.
"Elena?" Ivy called through the phone, panic edging into her voice. "Elena, what's happening?"
"I have to go," I managed, my mouth dry. "I love you."
I ended the call before she could respond, setting the phone beside me on the bed. Jackson pushed away from the doorframe and stalked toward me, his movements fluid and predatory. I scrambled backward until my back hit the headboard, pulling my knees up to my chest like a shield.
Was he going to hurt me? The thought flashed through my mind, followed by the realization that I had no way to defend myself. I was in only a nightgown, vulnerable, trapped in my own bedroom with a man who might be far more dangerous than I'd realized.
"Why were you looking into old financials today?" he asked, his voice too calm. It terrified me even more. "Specifically, payments to Pristine Solutions from fourteen years ago?"
My breath caught in my throat. How did he know exactly what I'd been searching for? Unless...
"The office is monitored, isn't it?" I whispered, already knowing the answer but needing to hear it.
His silence was confirmation enough.
"Were you ever really in IT?" I dug my fingers into the sides of my legs as I hugged them to myself.
