CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE“May I ask why you were eavesdropping on Jackson?” Liam asked as soon as they were in the car and on their way to the airportAmelia blushed, her breath hitching in her throat at the question. She had no idea how to explain that she wanted to know what he was talking about and if he was in a conversation with Sophia and when she had had that they were talking about her, she could not stop listening inThe truth always works, she thought to herself deciding to go with that.“I did not mean to eaves drop at first but when I heard he was talking about Sophia, I could not help it” she told him , hoping he understood that.She did not think that he liked her or maybe he did not know exactly what to think about her at the moment but whatever it was, there was something about Liam that she could not put her fingers on. He was popular, she knew that but there was something else.“How exactly do you know Sophia? And if you do not mind me asking. You see, she and I have long
CHAPTER THIRTY SIXJackson reached his father’s house, one he had not visited in a while and was greeted by the house keeper. She was the same one who had taken care of their family house since he was a baby and he had almost forgotten how awful it had been growing up in this house, not being able to see either parents because one was super busy and the other was just not available until she had finally left.“Mr Jackson, so good of you to visit” the house keeper greeted.She always had this contagious smile and one that warmed him up whenever he asked her if she knew when his father would be returning.“Mrs Paula” he nodded in her direction“He is waiting for you” she pointed in the direction of the study.Jackson smiled, walking away and straight to the huge door.He and his brother only ever came here when they were being punished and one time he had entered without his father’s permission, he had witnessed his father having sex with one of the maids.The image had stayed with him
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVENAmelia was exhausted by the time she Chicago; it had been a long flight for her and she could remember dozing off in between and awakening.She and Liam did not have any further conversation after she had told him about her confrontation with Sophia and the fact that she had met Jackson before at the club but she could tell that he was no longer cold towards her and that was a start.He made sure to drop her off at her apartment and waited until she was out of his sight before he left. She wanted to place a phone call to Jackson to know how the conversation with his father had gone but she also did not want to appear too overly concerned about his family.She did not want to spook him or try to take the place that Sophia had once occupied in his life and honestly she was pretty hurt that he had said he liked her but was falling apart just because his ex had sauntered back into his life and she did not care that the fall out had been messy.If he was yet to move on
CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHTAmelia reveled in the feel of his tongue inside her mouth, the way they prodded and retreated… tasted and demanded for more.Her fingers curled around the collar of his shirt as she kissed him back, moaning when one of his hand gripped her ass and drawing her closer so they were aligned.So the heat of their body mixed and held, causing a hot frenzy to cascade down her spine.She was on fire and for a moment, she had forgotten exactly why she had been comforting him or what he had been saying; It was just them with the world dissolved around her.“You taste so good” he groaned, his fingers searching her body and inching closer to her underside of her breasts which were suddenly heavy with desire.This was Amelia’s cue to stop him and question exactly what they were doing; he wasn’t in the state of mind to be involved in this and she knew he was only using her to get away from whatever had brought him to her place but she did not want to stop.She did not care tha
CHAPTER THIRTY NINEAmelia prepared for work the next day with a lot on her mind.She had mainly been thinking about the abrupt way Jackson had fled her home the night before after kissing her senseless.She wasn’t sure of how she was going to behave with him at the office and only hoped he did not apologize again because one more of that and she was going to throw hands.She ordered an uber straight to the office, relaxing in it as she thought about the previous day. There had been something wrong with him, something about his father and his impending death. She had hoped he would just talk to her about it but he did not want to and she wasn’t going to settle for being his..His what? The voice in her head beratedIt was just one kiss and you heard him apologize profusely for it like he had forced himself on you when you had also kissed him back.This only gave her the reassurance that Sophia had been lying about so many things.Her phone trilled, interrupting her jumbled thoughts.S
FOURTYJackson knew that this was the last thing he should be doing; he should not even be near her at the moment when he can hardly get his thoughts together and his household was in literal shambles but he cannot help himself.The scent of her, the whiff of her perfume permeating his nostrils and her soft gasp then moans.AhThis was his moment of weakness… she was his weakness“Jackson, we are…”“One more ‘we shouldn’t be doing this’ from you, Amelia” he threatenedHe heard her giggle and then her soft laughter in his ears“What is funny?” he muttered, glowering at her“You look like an angry bear and I was trying to tell you that we are at our stop so you should get your face out of my neck” she smiled when his eyes darkened dangerouslyShe was teasing him of course and she loved that he was taut like a bow because of her.She had thought with the arrival of Sophia who was here to upend his life that he was going to be busy… to busy with her to even remember his words to her.Same
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
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