Page 30 of Twisted Devotion

I sigh and can’t help but think this is a plan to get me to concede. “All right, fine. I’ll cook tonight. Until then, go do something productive and try not to annoy anyone too much.”

“Between you and Bethany, my ego is really kept in check around here.”

“Yeah, and it’s a full-time job,” I say as I turn and walk away, heading back to the office.

I snack on a bag of stale potato chips from the cupboard in the kitchen while I flip through local news reports. Another part of my job: making sure Jackson and this facility don’t make it into the media.

Jackson pops his head into the office an hour later, after meeting with the client’s family from earlier. “I’m done for the day if you’re ready to go,” he says.

“Sounds good to me.”

After packing up my things, I shoulder my bag and grab my phone off the charger, sliding it into my back pocket.

Jackson opens the door for me, waiting until I’m ahead of him before stepping into the hall himself. He lets the door shut and makes sure the lock clicks.

“We’ll need to stop at the store on the way home,” I tell him as we pass reception and head for the back door leading out to where we parked this morning.

His brows raise, and he pushes the door open for me to walk ahead of him. “Oh yeah? What’re you thinking of cooking?”

A smile plays on my lips as I pause in the doorway, looking at him. “Guess you’ll have to wait and see.” That is definitely code for,I’m hoping to come up with something once we get to the store.

His smirk is slow, and a dimple creases his cheek. “I’m not used to this playful side of you.”

I roll my eyes instead of offering a response and walk through the door. At least, I attempt to. Jackson wraps his fingers around my wrist and pulls me back.

“Wha—?”

“That was a compliment,” he tells me. “Seeing you smile . . . I enjoy it.”

My eyes shift from where his grip on me doesn’t waver to his deep golden gaze, focused on me. “Jackson, no,” I whisper, shaking my head.

He lets out a breath and pulls his hand back, sliding it into the pocket of his black coat. “Relax, Red. I’m just being nice.”

I keep walking, focusing on the sound of the gravel crunching under our feet as we walk across the back lot toward his car. I so badly want to callbullshit, but I bite my tongue, zipping up my jacket to block out the cold wind. The sun is slowly sinking in the sky, but at least it isn’t snowing.

“Come on,” Jax says. “Let’s just—”

“Jackson Hawthorne,” a shaky female voice calls across the lot as she comes around the building at an awkward pace, stumbling closer and kicking up gravel with each step.

I immediately put myself in front of Jackson, using my back to guide him farther from the approaching human. Her aura is dark, muddy. Filled with sorrow and anger. I can guess why she’s here and why her emotions are so negative.

“Can I help you?” I ask, tensing when her eyes skim past me to glare at Jackson, who is standing stiffly at my back.

“I want to talk to him.” She lifts her arm and points a finger at him. The faded gray sweater she’s wearing looks to be about three sizes too big with how it’s falling off her shoulders and hanging from her outstretched arm. She looks to be in her mid-forties, with frizzy black hair and dark eyes. Her cheeks are slightly sunken in, as if she’s lost weight quickly.

How did this woman get past security?The team is supposed to have at least one guard patrolling the grounds at all times during the day.

I take a deep breath. “Unfortunately, Mr. Hawthorne is headed out, but if you’d like, I can assist you.” I turn my cheek ever so slightly to keep my eyes on the woman, but say to Jackson, “Go inside and get backup.”

His tone is low. “I’m not leaving you with this woman.”

I scowl. “Forget about me.You’rethe asset.”

“Fuck that.”

“Jackson,” I hiss. “I saidgo.”

Before he can say anything more, the woman shrieks and starts toward us—faster—with both fists raised as if she’s ready to fight.

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