Page 59 of The Devil's Detail
Freddie pales. “He didn’t just see red, he was going to kill him. He’s a fucking savage in a thirty thousand dollar suit. You need to get him under control.” He finally takes a breath and I raise my eyebrows at that.
“I don’t think that’s going to work, ever. I’m afraid he’s beyond reasoning now, and it’s all my fault.” I’d seen the depths of despair he was plundering. I’d seen the brutality, the pain. And he’d gone there because of me. I’ve blown up the love of my life, before we even got out of the starting gate.
38
Jackson
Not one wordis spoken as we set off to drive back into the city to my apartment there. I look out the window and see the ocean blinking at me, the sun sparkling off the water.
“Take me to Evie’s,” I state, not looking at Ash.
I need to speak to my sister. I don’t want to be on my own, and I don’t think I’m safe to be out in public. What a fucking mess. One minute I’m as happy as Larry, the next I’m about to blow a gasket. The fact that I lost it on such a big scale has scared the shit out of me.
I felt that guy's throat in my hands, and I was ice cold. Hardly anything standing between me and oblivion. A tiny thread. Just a slight more pressure. My cold and calculating brain had kicked in. If Carter hadn’t dropped that bottle and Ash hadn’t touched me, I’m not sure if I’d have gone over the edge.
And for what? A man who has lied and schemed. Setting up another rendezvous in his fucking house. Waiting for me to do what? Leave? And then fetch the younger guy back? I huff out a laugh. And it’s not a funny noise.
Ash doesn’t speak until we pull into Evie’s drive. “You gonna be okay?” I nod at him. “I can stay if you’re worried.” He’d clearly seen the cold stone killer. I’d lost the plot.
I shake my head. “I’m fine, Ash. I knew what I was doing. I just wasn’t sure if I wanted to stop or not. But I did. So…” I’m deflecting, and he probably knows it, but he lets it slide.
“You think he’ll press charges?” he asks, concerned.
I shrug. “We’ll see. If he does, he does. But they’ll need us before we need them. So I can’t see it. And besides, I just say I’m going to tell the truth, the whole truth. That I thought he was Carter’s next fuckboy. Spill my guts about what actually happened in CAshO to make me think that. Freddie won’t want that shit out there. Neither will Carter. And the young guy probably doesn’t need that sort of stench around him. Whoever he is. So I doubt it.” My computer brain has computed and run all the scenarios. “No one is getting off this shitpile looking good. There is no win-win here,” I grit out, my anger starting to burn hot again.
Ash looks at me weirdly, his brows pulled together and his face screwed up in astonishment. Before he can start asking me questions about what actually happened in CAshO, I jump out of the car and head to find my sister. I need the calm, I need her comfort, and I definitely need her counsel.
But my luck is fading. She’s out with the twins and Xander. The only adult in the house is Kell.
Out of everyone, Kell is the most hot-headed, the most brutally blunt. But today, he’s laid back, relaxed and chilled on the couch in his jeans, no T-shirt. What the fuck is he doing laid out in the middle of the afternoon?
Then I spot the reason why. His beautiful baby daughter is asleep on his chest. He’s wide awake, staring up at the ceiling. He turns his head when I walk in, his eyes—so like James’s—regarding me. He’s assessing me, and I see the concern on his face when he clocks my expression.
“Take your shirt off,” he commands quietly. He doesn’t move. Just continues to stare at me. “Take your shirt off, Jackson.” His voice is soft, but the command beneath it is unmistakable.
“Think you’re talking to the wrong man, brother.” I smirk at him.
“No, I’m definitely not. You need some Rio time. So get that fucking shirt off, get sat on that chair, and take my daughter.” Now I hear the smile under the commanding tone.
He moves to a sitting position, but the little bundle of love stays firmly attached to his chest. He nuzzles her hair with his chin, smiling so lovingly I almost get tears in my eyes.
I whip off my shirt, and reach for the baby. She hardly murmurs as she nestles into me. I sit, gingerly, but then recline into the chair and breathe in her baby scent. My nerves start to calm immediately. Any excess adrenaline gets tamped down. Any anger fades away. I breathe long and deep.
“Blame your brother for Rio wanting to sleep on us. Evie said Jonno took her every night in Ireland, let her sleep on him. My wife thinks he was trying to entice Aoife into loving him. And if he had a baby on his chest, she wouldn’t be able to resist him. It’s a girl thing, Evie tells me. Obviously worked.” Kell smiles at me. “Right, now you’re calm, and you can’t shout as you have her on you. You can start and tell me what the fuck is wrong.” The man is a tactical genius.
“Where’s Kitten?” I don’t want to have to tell him the full debacle about CAshO. They know bits and bobs about the blindfolds, the NDAs. They are men who have lived that lifestyle. But I don’t really want to go into it fully.
He arches his brow at me. “You don’t trust me to tell me? Or is it because Evie panders to your ego? You look like you’rewell beyond pandering. Just tell me, Jackson. Trust me with it. I can help. Or at least listen.” His smile is genuine as he sits back and waits for me to start. He’s lulled me into some much needed sense of security. Used the baby to remind me I can trust him—he’s been there for all of us. He’s always there to listen.
“I said yes to Carter.” I look at his face, and it doesn’t move. Just a ‘yes and’ impression in his eyes. “I met him at the Daisy Cafe today. God, it feels like days ago, not hours.” I drop my head back, working not to jostle the baby. “I had a meeting with a potential client, and he rang and turned up.”
“Bet he couldn’t keep away,” Kell states, grinning.
“No, he couldn’t. Anyway, I say yes, and we go to his to get it on.” Kell’s face pales. Clearly he doesn’t want to know the nitty gritty either. “Don’t worry, I’m not completely spilling my guts. You’re safe.”
“Thank fuck for that.” He blows out a breath, but I can see him laughing underneath. “Carry on.” He’s as bad as his wife, gesturing for me to hurry up.
“When we get there, he tells me there are some people signing some contracts, and he needs to sort it out. So Ash and I go and sit on the veranda to wait.” He nods, listening intently. “Carter comes out, telling me he’s all signed up, and the others are just doing theirs. He’s off to get some champers to celebrate. Asks Ash and I to make our way to the lounge to ‘join in’ the celebrations.” I wobble my head slightly.
