CHAPTER FOURTY ONEEthan was a phone call with Amelia’s mother when his wife walked in with her face showing signs of visible annoyance He was unsure of why she would be angry and honestly he was tired of having to satisfy her every whim.Since they had been married which seemed like ages ago instead of just a week, he had had it up to his neck with her incessant demands for luxury and her crass behavior.She wasn’t always like this but he had to admit he did not know her that well to vouch for her behavior or character.She had just been a quick fuck and a person that had been open to his sexual preference and he had foolishly allowed her to drag him to the altar.Although their agreement had been that none of them could hold the other back, it seemed to him like he was being held back both by her demands and the bills.Suddenly he could not keep up with how much his money was spent and he barely made it through the previous month and now he had to settle a debtIt was at this point
CHAPTER FOURTY TWOIt was the weekend and with nothing to do, Amelia decided to sleep in and then when she was tired of sleeping, she ordered take outs, closed the curtains of her home so it gave a dark room effect and decided to watch her favorite Bridgerton show on Neflix.She was sniffling tears at the conversation between the viscount, Anthony and lady Kate when her doorbell rang, interrupting her otherwise uneventful day.She was not expecting anyone and did not like her movie interrupted.The sharp jingle of the door bell again annoyed her even more“Coming” she snapped, rousing from where she sat to get it“Sophia!” she gasped, her eyes surveying the woman.“Surprise?” Sophia smiled, her eyes taking in her appearance.She had come against her friend’s warning because she had been curious as to why Amelia of all people.Since her conversation with Jackson where he had all but run her out of his home, she had been curious to know exactly what he saw in Amelia that would make him
FOURTY THREEDuring the weekend, Jackson did nothing except read but this particular weekend was one he did not want.He had to visit his father and he had been told that his mother was going to be around and she had a lot of questions for him as to their father’s health.She had the nerve to think to ask him a question when he also had just discovered about their father’s sickness and he wanted nothing to do with her.This was her way of trying to worm her way back into their lives after being absent from it for so long but he wasn’t going to stop her from visiting his father and from rubbing up against George who seemed to be more receiving of her.She could do whatever the fuck she wanted to do except question him.No, that was what he wasn’t going to allow happen.He gritted his teeth as he climbed into the bathroom, wanting the cold shower that it provided as he readied his mind for what was to come.It would seem that he was the only one who fully understood how utterly connivin
CHAPTER FOURTY FOUR“Don’t talk to me like that, Jackson especially not in front of your father” his mother said sweetly.“I can talk to you anyhow I deem fit, mother” he drawled“Jackson, don’t” his father called outJackson decided not to say anything more; he should not have even allowed his mother to goad him into talking seeing as he had ignored her for the last years.When his father was sure that there wasn’t going to any more altercation between them, he said“I have called you all here to talk about my will because I do not want some sort of contest when it is all over” his father began, he was staring pointedly at Jackson’s motherJackson’s face cracked up with a smile at thisHe knew that his father wasn’t dumb and he knew exactly why his wife that had left him and two sons for how many years was back into his life and trying to worm her way into their money.She had probably gone broke, he thought to himself.That wasn’t far fetched because of her real lavish lifestyle and
FOURTY FIVE“What are you doing here?” Jackson asked as soon as Sophia stepped out of their midst to get some drinks.“I should be asking you the exact same question, don’t you think?” Amelia counteredShe was pissed that he was here and she could only guess that this was the reason Sophia has invited her out. To show her that she could still get Jackson to do whatever she wanted and there was nothing she could do about it.“I was having a rough day and decided to come out here” Jackson told her.There was no point in informing her about the contract between him and Sophia, solely because he knew that she would not believe a word that came out of his mouth.“Isn’t that like really awfully convenient seeing as this is the same club in the whole of Chicago that you get to meet Sophia. You know she did mention that you both always come here to have fun and she was sure you must have stopped coming since the issue between you both but as far as I can see, she is wrong” Amelia snapped.She
CHAPTER FOURTY SIXEthan peered out of the airplane window, his heart pounding in his chest as he stared at the clear sky. He was on his way to Chicago, and you guessed it right? The very same city where Amelia resided. He is amazed at the sight of the city laid sprawled beneath him and his mind was a jumble of emotions. He had thought about embarking on this trip since the last he and Amelia spoke and she had told him never to contact her again; the very same time he had heard the voice of her boss in the background.He had no idea how she was going to react to the sight of him in her city but he was damned if he was going to allow her make a mistake by falling for her boss. He did not want to admit of course that he had made a mistake and he should have taken the man’s advice when it was offered.He had acquired Amelia's home address from her mother who was in full support of his decision and who had encouraged him to pursue their relationship once more despite his marital status be
CHAPTER FOURTY SEVENJackson volunteered to take Amelia back home when Sophia expressed her desire to leave mid clubbing. She was not enjoying herself and he had made sure of that by only paying attention to Amelia and getting her drunk.He had no idea why he was allowing Sophia get to him again and why he was using Amelia to get to back at her.“You should not have done that” she told him as they helped a drunk Amelia into a chair.He said nothing in response to her but he could feel her stare on the side of his face. She was glaring at him“You know how much you shouldn’t get on my wrong side if you want me to leave so you can have the pleasurable time you want with this child” she said, waving her hand dismissively in Amelia’s direction.Jackson brought the glass he had been holding to his lips and took a deep slurp, warming his belly.“You are not going to respond? Wow” Sophia snapped.She was not used to being gaslighted like this and that was what Jackson was doing. He knew how
CHAPTER FOURTY EIGHTAmelia woke up with an excruciating headache, one she wasn’t sure she was going to survive from.Her groan echoed in the brightly lit room as she tried to get up, yelping when another stab of pain invaded her head.Her eyes fluttered open, but she immediately regretted it as a throbbing pain reverberated through her skull. Her temples pounded mercilessly, and she groaned, squeezing her eyes shut again. A haze of confusion clouded her thoughts as she tried to piece together the events of the previous night.As the fog in her mind began to clear, she slowly became aware of her surroundings. Her eyes observed the ceiling, white and absolutely foreign.One, maybe because it was totally higher than the one in her house and the bed felt stranger. Panic surged within her, and her heart raced.How did I end up here? Where the fuck am I? she thought to herselfHer eyes shot open, and she sat up abruptly, scanning the room with frantic eyes. Her breath caught in her throat
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND TWELVE“He sent an address… we have to go” Jackson declared, reaching for the gun on the table.Liam and Simon got up with him wondering what the fuck he was on about “What are you talking about?” Liam asked“I was on the phone with Damien, he wants us to meet. Just me and I know it is a trap but there is no way I am going to allow him make good on his threat of sending me Amelia in pieces”“We cannot… I understand what you are saying but we cannot go there alone” Simon told himIt was the first time he and Liam were agreeing on anything “You are right, we aren’t going there alone… I am going on my own. I cannot let anything happen to her”“Nothing will but we have to figure this all out , come up with a plan. We are going to his own turf and he might as well kill the both of you.” Simon argued“He is right” Liam muttered. “We are going to go in with a plan, Jackson if we are going to have any chance of reaching the both of you alive.”Liam made a couple of phone
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND ELEVENDamien stared at the television in front of him, his teeth grating against themselves as he watched the news. It would seem that the man he had asked to do a good job of keeping Jackson off his scent was doing a rather poor one because why the hell was his picture in the fucking news.The fucker had put a bounty on my head, Damien thought as he stared incredulously as the voice of the news presenter droned on. He was hot topic at the moment and he did not need that for his business. It would seem that he had underestimated Jackson. He wasn’t going to let him go scot free; it only meant that he had to kill the guy and the one way to do that was to lure him here to his own tuff.It was going to be easy once he dangled Amelia in front of him like a fucking worm on a hook. He knew the man would come running because he loved her.Damien laughed at this; he was going to enjoy killing Jackson and it was one way to take Amelia if he did it in front of her. She had
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND TEN“How could I have let this happen?” Jackson asked for the hundredth time, beating his hand on his thigh.He had contacted the cops about the kidnap and although Liam had spoken to one of them, he had sounded super vague which Jackson found suspicious“You could not have known what kind of asshole he was, Jackson. It is not your fault and the only thing we can do now is figure out a way to make sure we rescue her unharmed.” Liam told himThey were sitting at the table in a bunch with Natalie supplying snacks as they plotted. She had come along with Simon whom Liam still had not taken a shining to but she had said they had been together when he called so she could not refuse when he asked to accompany her.He wasn’t saying anything but he looked contrite as they tried to figure out what was going on and Jackson could not deny that he needed all hands on deck if he was ever going to see Amelia again.“I don’t think the detective is telling us everything we should
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND NINEDamien opened the car door and helped Amelia out who was still unbelievably silent even after all he had told her about Jackson and how he was going to make sure he wiped the bastard from this earth for daring to touch her.She had grown he had to give her that but she had to be aware that he was no longer the man she used to know. The one that tolerated indiscipline and had allowed her enjoy her years while she was running from him.He guessed he had Jackson to thank for making that open proposal. It has made him see his baby again and realized how much he wanted her back for himself.Oh, the things he planned to teach her and make her do to him. By the time he was done, she would never think of fleeing again.He escorted her into the house and straight for the den where he pushed her inside. She collapsed unto the floor, her eyes widening as they happened upon a portrait of her on the wall.He had had it made on the night he had seen the proposal by Jackson
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND EIGHTAmelia remained silent as the car moved, her head buzzing with thoughts and my mind far away. She was unexpectedly calmer than she had thought she would be and she made no move even as Damien touched a hand to her thigh, grinning at her.She had no idea where they were headed and tried to regulate her breathing as much as possible so she did not behind panicking.She knew by now that Jackson would be aware of what had happened and would come for her. She only hoped it wasn’t too late.“You have been specially quiet; aren’t you going to rave and ask me questions?” Damien questioned herHe was surprised at her level of calmness; nay, he was disgusted by it.He wanted her to scream and he wanted to enjoy the terror in her eyes but she wasn’t giving him the satisfaction he craved.She was nothing like the fiery girl he used to know who would scream and curse even as he hit he countlessly.“I promised to do whatever you want; do you want me to ask you questions?”
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND SEVENAnna could the loud screams that was hers as she watched the car drive away with Amelia.Her heart pounded violently against her chest as she clutched the phone, her trembling fingers struggling to dial the numbers. Fear and panic gripped her as she attempted to call Liam. She was finding it hard to breathe and unable to form coherent thoughts as she waited for him to pick up “God please” she muttered to herself.She wasn’t much of a prayer person but at the moment, she hoped Amelia would be safe and they find her before Damien did something to her or worse killed her.The phone rang once, twice, and on the third ring, Liam's voice finally filled the line. "Hey, Anna, what's up?" he asked casually, unaware of the turmoil brewing on the other end.Anna's breath hitched, her voice barely a whisper, "L-Liam, it's Amelia. She's... she has been kidnapped. Damien came and he… oh my God, I am sorry for leaving her all alone in the house but I had to. I don’t know
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND SIX“You don’t have to keep watch over me like a hawk, Anna. I will be fine and you did say that the meeting is quite important for work; do not let me be the one to keep you here” Amelia declared“I know you will be fine on your own but I still think I should stay back and maybe reschedule the meeting for…”“For when? Whenever Damien is not chasing after me? Don’t think about doing that and just go for your meeting. I will be fine and he has absolutely no idea that I am here so what could go wrong” she interrupted“Fine, I will be back in a jiffy so don’t go anywhere” Anna warned, taking the stairs in twos so she could prepare for the meeting.It was impromptu but it was important and although she wanted to stay home to watch over Amelia, she also had to consider her job and it is as Amelia had said. Damien had no idea where she was and even if he was looking for her, he would have eyes on either her house or Jackson’s and definitely not hersShe soon was ready an
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND FIVE“I need all the information you can get on him” Jackson told Liam when they were alone.“I have already done some digging on him. I started looking into his operations, and it wasn't easy. He is elusive, leaving no traces behind, but I managed to uncover some crucial information."Jackson's eyes widened with surprise. "You investigated Damien already? Why didn't you tell me?" he asked“Of course I investigated him; how would you think I would after hearing all he had to say that evening. I needed to know what we were up against and how best to address the situation” Liam told him“So? What are we up against?” Jackson questioned. “What did you find out?” His curiosity now piquedLiam leaned forward, his voice hushed.“His full name is Damien Lodge and he is a well known drug dealer. It wasn’t hard getting information on him because he is wanted in about nineteen states for different crimes and no one has been able to pin him to any of the crimes. His empire is
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND FOUR“You look really sick, Amelia. Is there anything I can get you?” Anna asked as she opened the door to her friend’s room who had not come out in days “I don’t need anything; thank you for asking” Amelia muttered, her eyes drowsing from sleeping too much “I know you don’t but is there not a way or anything I can do to get you out of that bed? You have been like this for days and it is scaring me; when was the last time you had a fucking bath” She questioned, her eyebrows shooting up in concern.Amelia groaned. She did not want to talk about what was bothering her, only that she wanted to be left alone to her misery and fears but if there was one person who would understand seeing as she had accommodated her when she had run out on Damien then it was going to be Anna.Amelia could see that she was waiting for an explanation or a lifeline but she did not know how exactly to begin talking about it without falling apart and she wanted no one to tell her she was e