Page 44 of Lies You Told
“What else happened? You looked spooked and sounded; I don’t want to say scared, but.”
“A guy was looking at my firm’s building. I swear he was looking at me, but I couldn’t make him out.”
Before I finish my train of thought, Jaxson has his phone out and walks out of the room. He comes back to me a minute later, and he looks pissed. What the fuck is happening?
He sits down again in the chair, and I wait. I wait for him to tell me what has him so pissed right now.
“It didn’t look like Blake,” I say.
“I think I know who it was,” says Jax.
25
JAX
The fucking shit for brains. Why is he here? Why now? I hate seeing her look the way she does right now, and I know she will hate what comes out of my mouth next.
She’s looking at me, waiting.
I don’t want to upset her, but at the same time, she needs to know. I know this. I’m not stupid.
“Mac.” I don’t even get to finish before all the color leaves her face, and her mouth hangs open in shocked silence.
“How?”
“I’ve been looking into him. Greyson did a few years ago, but I’ve been having my guy look into him.”
“I’m gonna be sick,” she says, standing up as she runs to the bathroom.
I follow, knowing I don’t want her to push me away. I know that’s probably her strongest emotion right now. I stand by the door as she heaves in the toilet, ready to help if she’s sick. I hate that this guy still has this effect on her after all these years. I hate myself more, though. The hell I must have put her through listening to Blake. Fucking Blake!
She stands up, ready to move, when she throws up for real this time.
I’m on my knees, pulling her hair back from her head. Both of her hands grip the bowl, and her breathing gets more and more erratic. I keep her hair back and see the sweat glistening on her skin.
Once she finishes, I pull her back so she’s sitting on my knees. She shivers in my arms.
“Why are you being so nice to me, Jax?”
Is she for real? In the short time I’ve been around her, I’ve seen this whole other side to her, one that I really fucking like. Dare I say I’m falling for her in a big way?
“Because I lo…” I say before she cuts me off.
“Don’t say something you’re gonna regret in another hour. I don’t think I could handle that right now. Also, I know I can’t say it back.” She puts her head on my chest, hiding her face from view.
I stroke my hand through her hair. “Shhh,” I whisper, kissing the top of her head.
Chloe is asleep on her bed, wrapped up in a blanket after taking a shower, when an intern from the office drops off my laptop and stuff. I keep looking over at her; she looks so restful in sleep. Way more so than she did an hour ago, holding onto me on the bathroom floor. I didn’t like seeing her like that, weak and broken down. It’s not a look I’m used to seeing on her. Chloe has always been a fighter. The damage I’ve done to her all these years–it’s no wonder she hated me for as long as she has.
My personal email alert comes up on my phone, and I see it's off my investigator. I’ve been waiting for him to get back to me since I told him about Chloe’s breakdown. I debated getting in touch with Greyson, but I needed to show him and Chloe that I could protect the people I love. There’s that word again, LOVE. I love her, even if she doesn’t think that’s possible.
TO: Jaxson Hill
FROM: Cain Security Ltd
SUBJECT: Follow up on Mackenzie Hale
Jax,
