Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
JAXON/JAX
Now
What’s Owed & Collateral Damage
Some debts are paid in money, others in blood.
My phone lights up on the desk. Cash’s name flashes across the screen.
Cash Mayze: Livianna’s been discharged. I’m taking her to her place.
I stare at the words until they blur. She’s going home. With him.
The office around me feels too small. My calendar shows back-to-back meetings I’ve been canceling for days. Natalie stopped asking questions after the third one.
I set the phone down, and it buzzes again.
Cash Mayze: Thought you should know.
Generous of him. Letting me know the woman I love is starting a life that doesn’t include me.
I should respond and acknowledge the update. Maybe even thank him for keeping me informed like we agreed.
Instead, I pocket the phone and stand. My reflection catches in the window—wrinkled shirt, messed-up hair, and the kind of exhaustion that sleep won’t fix covering me.
It’s been days since the accident, and I still can’t catch my breath. It’s the same hopeless feeling I had when my so-called uncle brought me home from my family’s funeral.
Which reminds me. Axel’s latest report sits unopened on my desk. More details about the black SUV. More evidence pointing to people who want me dead and used her to send their message.
I can’t read it. Not yet. Not when knowing who’s responsible means facing what I have to do about it.
The office door opens, and Natalie peeks in.
“Jaxon, the Singapore team is asking about rescheduling.” She stops when she sees my face. “I can tell them next week, if that works.”
“Next week is fine.”
She lingers in the doorway. “Is there anything you need?”
What I need is sitting in a house with a man who thinks he’s won, living a life built on lies we’re both telling to keep her healthy.
“No. Thank you, Natalie.”
She leaves, and I’m alone again with the growing certainty that watching Livianna rebuild her life without me might be one of the hardest things I’ll ever do.
A couple of hours pass, and my phone buzzes. It’s not Cash this time. It’s a photo of security footage from Livianna’s gate. Cash’s rental car is pulling into her driveway.
Axel is doing his job and keeping me informed, like I asked the night before her accident. I should delete it and tell Axel to stop sending updates.
I should let her go instead of being haunted by the phantom of her. But I don’t because this is all I have left of her, and right now, I’m clinging to it.
Sunday
Now
I roll to the side of my bed, swing my legs out, and scrub my face in the palms of my hands. “It’s time to get your shit together, Jaxon.”
My head pounds from the abuse I put it through last night by drinking more than enough of The Macallan 24. The same whiskey Livianna one-upped me on when she was eighteen.
Everything I do has a direct link back to her. My soul is laid bare, and I’m reeling in my losses.
A baby. I didn’t even know I would feel the agony of something like losing it, but it’s a knife in my heart.
I didn’t realize I wanted kids until one was stripped away from the woman I love. Maybe that’s why the grief is so raw. I lost them both, and I have no one to blame but myself.
My phone rings. I grab it off my nightstand and answer it.
“Hello, this is Jaxon.”
“Jaxon, it’s Greg Hemings.”
I’m on my feet, adrenaline taking over. “What is it, Greg? Is this about…”
I stop myself. I can’t ask about Livianna when he has no clue we were in a relationship.
He breaks through my thoughts. “I’d like you to stop by the house today. We have some important things to discuss.”
“Such as?” I drag myself to the kitchen.
“Nothing that should be talked about over the phone.”
“This sounds ominous. Is everything okay?”
“No. You owe me a favor, and I’m ready to cash in.”
My stomach twists. “I always knew this day would come.”
“Yes, you did.” His tone is deadly. “When should I expect you?”
“Give me two hours.”
“Don’t be late. I’m already living on pins and needles. I can’t afford any more stress.”
“Understood.”
We hang up and I pull myself together. My nerves are shot. Greg’s summons is just one more thing to add to the list of reasons I should take a vacation far away from California.
But I won’t leave. Not when Livianna is here and might remember what we had. I’ll never leave her again.
I’ve been to Greg’s home dozens of times for business but only one time like this. Their house manager leads me to his office. The same room where we’ve discussed the secrets we both keep.
Greg stands when I enter. He’s aged since the accident—new lines around his eyes and tension in his jaw that wasn’t there before.
“Jaxon.” He gestures to the leather chair across from his desk. “Thank you for coming.”
I sit. “You said you’re ready to collect.”
“I am.” He settles into his own chair, fingers steepled. “You remember the Aspen deal.”
“Of course.” The land between Aspen and Glenwood Springs. Prime development territory that another real estate mogul wanted. “You helped me stop the sale of the land and keep my interests protected. What’s that got to do with now?”
Greg leans forward. “I’ve kept your personal life to myself, and like you, I want my interests taken care of.”
“Tell me what you’re asking for.” I rest my ankle on the top of my other knee.
“Find whoever hurt my daughter.”
My pulse kicks up, but I keep my face blank. “The police—”
“Are useless. They’ve been investigating for days and have nothing. They’re talking about cold cases and dead ends.”
I already know this. Axel’s team has been coordinating with the LAPD, feeding them information while running their own investigation. But I can’t tell Greg that.
“Greg, what makes you think I can do better?”
“You have resources they don’t.” Greg’s eyes bore into mine. “Connections that go deeper than law enforcement. People who can get answers that won’t show up in official reports.”
He’s not wrong. My network spans continents. Former intelligence operatives, private investigators, and tech specialists who can track digital footprints the police would never find.
I tilt my head. “That kind of investigation takes time.”
“I don’t care how long it takes. I want whoever did this to be found. And when you find them, Jaxon, I want you to take care of them.”
The innuendo hangs between us. He’s not seeking justice or prosecution. He’s demanding I take them out.
I meet his gaze. “You understand what you’re asking?”
“Perfectly. My daughter almost died. She’s lost five years of her life. Whoever’s responsible doesn’t get to walk away from that.”
I sit with that for a moment. “Why me?”
“It can’t be me. I’m too close to the project and I’ll be the first one they suspect.”
“I’m in the same position.” It slips out so I backtrack. “I’ve mentored her for over two years. The authorities will—”
“Use the tactics you did with the Aspen crash.” His jaw sets. “Find them and handle it. That’s all I’m asking.”
“You ordered the Aspen incident.”
“But you supplied the resources because you wanted them out.”
It’s true, but it was out of necessity. I’m stuck and I know it.
“All right.” I stand, extending my hand. “Consider your favor called in.”
His grip is firm and final. “I knew I could count on you.”
The weight of his request settles on my shoulders. He wants vengeance. I want the same thing. The difference is, I’m already hunting them.
Clicking heels on a marble floor echoes down the hallway. Laughter follows, and my heart stops. I’d know that laugh anywhere.
Livianna. My pulse speeds up, but I stay facing Greg, praying my expression isn’t giving me away.
“Hi, Daddy.” Livianna’s sweet voice seeps into my soul.
“Darling, what are you two doing here?” Greg steps around me.
I turn with his movement and there she is.
God, she’s beautiful even with fading bruises that remain around her left eye and cheek. But she’s not alone.
Cash is by her side, and they’re holding hands. He and I make eye contact, but he darts his gaze toward Greg.
“Hi, Mr. Hemings. I thought you’d like to see Lily today.” Cash slides his hands into his pockets.
“Cash, you’ve always been respectful of my feelings. Thanks for bringing her by.” Greg hugs Livianna. “You just missed your mom.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. Where’d she go?” Livianna gazes up at Greg.
“She’s on her way to a modeling job in Hawaii.” He kisses the top of her head. “How are you doing since you got home?”
“I’m doing better, Daddy.” She pulls back from the embrace, smiling up at him. “Still sore, but getting stronger every day.”
I’m frozen by her beauty. I can’t look away.
The way she moves, how she tilts her head when she speaks, the shine in her blue eyes when she smiles. Everything about her is achingly familiar. And completely out of reach.
“That’s wonderful to hear.” Greg keeps his arm around her shoulders and gestures to me. “It’s by luck Jaxon is here. Maybe you two can talk about your business and he can try to bring you up to date.”
Her eyes find mine and there’s just polite interest directed at me.
“Jaxon.” She extends her hand. “I’ve heard you helped bring Lehlani Rose Designs to life.”
I take her hand, keeping my grip professional even though every nerve in my body is begging to pull her close.
Her skin is warm against mine, and it’s almost too much. My heart starts racing from pure elation at the sight of her.
“It’s good to see you, Livianna.” I release her hand before the contact lasts too long. “You look like you’re healing well.”
“I am. Callum’s been a great help.” She sends him a loving gaze, and I want to rip the stupid, love-struck beating muscle from my chest.
Cash shifts beside her, tension radiating off him. He knows how much this is costing me.
She faces me, curious but distant. “I’m interested in knowing how my family got you to work with me.”
“They didn’t. You did, and it wasn’t a difficult decision to make.” I pause. “You had the vision. I simply provided guidance.”