26. Georgia
Chapter twenty-six
Georgia
M y eyes flutter open at the sound of Jackson’s phone. I didn’t realize I’d fallen asleep. I spot Jackson dressed, standing by the window. “Tell me what you’ve got.” His brows are furrowed, his shoulders tight. “Send me the images. Now!” He disconnects the call and looks over at me. “Did you get some rest?”
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“You needed it. Have you eaten?”
My stomach growls at the question. “Not since breakfast yesterday.” Guilt fills his eyes, and he frowns.
“Fuck. Let’s get you something to eat.”
“What time is it?”
“A little past three. I want you out of this hotel and in something worthy of your presence. Gather your shit.”
I nod and collect my things. Not that I unpacked, but I’d managed to brush my teeth and shower. When I reenter the bedroom, Jackson seems even more tense.
“Is everything okay?” He looks at me, and I have a feeling he wants to lie to me. “No lying. If we’re in this together, no secrets.”
He stares at me for a beat, then nods. “Vince is on a rampage. He sent a bunch of vile messages, none of which you replied to, which sent him into a deeper spiral.”
Shit. My phone. “My phone died. With everything… I lost track of—”
“That useless prick is going to pay for what he tried to pull with you. For now, though, we need to keep him happy until we figure out what he’s up to.”
“How do we do that?”
“I’m not sure. I have a guy tailing him and tracking his phone. He’s made several attempts to get in touch with you, even trying to go through Noah. Luckily, Noah’s been at work all day and hasn’t replied.”
“But he will. He thinks Vince is one of his best friends. What do we do now? Jackson, we should go to the police—”
“This is nothing I want to go to the police about. I plan on handling it my way.”
I step into him. “Jackson, this is blackmail. You should tell them what Burt did years ago. Isn’t that extortion? Theft?”
“Nothing they can do will get justice for today, for that worthless fuck blackmailing you or trying to fuck me over—twice.”
“So, what then?”
“I’m going to take you home, then I need to head into the office to take care of this my way.”
His cryptic answer sends my thoughts into a tailspin. “And what does that mean ? Please don’t do anything that will get you in trouble.”
He cups my cheek. “Peach, I’m not sure if you’ve realized this yet, but I’m not a man you want to fuck with. What Burt Hallstead and his son have in store for them is way worse than what the law can do.”
“Jackson—”
“I plan on taking everything from them. And then destroying every ounce of their self-worth. I won’t stop until he has nothing.” Anger and revenge coil around his words like a vow. “It’s going to be fine.”
“And Noah?”
“Right now, I need to get back to the office. I’ll put Noah on an important task that keeps him tied up for the rest of the day. It buys us some time.”
This doesn’t feel right. My mind reels, and nothing makes sense. “I don’t know about this. Maybe I should go to work with you.”
Jackson steps away from me, grabbing his suit coat. “No. I don’t want you anywhere near work right now. Vince could be watching you.”
“And if I’m at home? I’m more of a sitting duck there.”
“At least I know you’ll be safe. No one will get past the gates unless they’re buzzed in, which I will make sure doesn’t happen.”
I don’t like this idea. My stomach is in knots. My intuition screams for me not to agree to this plan, but I nod anyway. His lips brush mine, easing some of my panic.
“Let’s get you home.”
He says it like it’s a place I belong with him. And in my heart, I ache for that to be our reality. But there’s a pit in my stomach that tells me it’s only a dream. “Okay,” I whisper, gathering my things.
The ride home is heavy with silence. Jackson makes a few calls, demanding a man by the name of Craig meet him at his office immediately. When we pull up to the house, he helps me out, then presses his warm hand against my lower back. “I’ll get you settled,” he says softly.
We walk up the steps together, and he opens the door, gesturing for me to go inside. “Sure you can’t just stay with me?” I ask, sounding needy.
He cups my cheek. “Those eyes, Peach… is that worry or your way of having my cock sooner?”
“Georgia?”
Jackson’s hand falls, and he takes a slow step back.
“Jesus, where have you been?” I push past the panic flooding my chest and face Noah.
“What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at work,” Jackson asks, his voice tight.
Noah shakes his head, his concern evident. “Yeah, and I couldn’t get a hold of Georgia. I was seriously fucking worried. Where have you been?”
“I—uh…” Fuck… I feel like I’m going to pass out.
“You were right to worry. I should’ve taken you seriously yesterday. I came home to grab a file and found her passed out. I took her to Urgent Care to get her checked out.”
Noah takes a step closer, worry painted across his face. “What did they say?”
My gut tightens with guilt. “Nothing. It’s just a virus. I’ll be fine.”
“That’s good. You need anything?”
“No, I just need to lay down.”
“Yeah. Cool. You up to chill in the media room? We can put on a movie. Order some food if you’re hungry.”
“Noah, you need to go back to—”
“I’m not going back to work. I’m staying here with Georgia.” Noah’s response is firm, and I can tell Jackson wants to push back, but anything even remotely suspicious would only work against us.
“Fine. I need to head back to the office. If you need anything, call me instantly.” Jackson takes one last glimpse my way and vanishes out the front door.
“You’re turning my dad into a softie. You sure you’re okay?”
Far fucking from it. “Yeah.”
“Why don’t you get comfortable in the media room? I’ll grab some snacks.”
I nod, knowing there’s no way I can eat anything right now. Numbly, I walk to the media room, grab a blanket, and cover myself, hoping to conceal how badly my body shudders with nerves. What does this mean now that Noah is home? My fingers ache to text Jackson. A hand lands on my shoulder, and I practically jump out of my skin.
“Whoa, sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you. Do you want a Vitamin Water or Gatorade?”
Shit. “Sorry. I was dozing off.” Or massively freaking out. “I’ll take the Gatorade. Thanks.” I accept the bottle he’s handing me and attempt to take a sip, but the liquid feels like sandpaper.
“You sure you’re okay, George?”
“Yeah. Just haven’t been sleeping.”
“Speaking of sleeping, where were you last night?”
“I…” I don’t know how to answer this question. Fuck. “I… um… I got a hotel.”
“Hotel? Why the fuck would you do that?”
“I was worried about getting you guys sick and thought it was for the best.”
Noah sits, reaching for my hand. “Georgia, fuck, you shouldn’t have left. I don’t care if you get me sick.”
“I know.”
“We’re not dating anymore, but I’m here for you. I would never not take care of you.”
Tears burn my eyes. “I know.” Guilt tastes like acid in my throat. I don’t know how much longer I can do this. “Noah—”
His phone rings on the coffee table, and we both see who’s calling.
Vince.
“Give me a second—”
“No!” I shout, startling him. “It’s just. You’re right. I should’ve come to you. Can we just shut our phones off and enjoy the movie?”
His phone stops, and I feel a sliver of relief. Then it rings again, and panic rushes through me. Before he can answer, I hold my stomach and groan.
“Fuck—what’s wrong?”
“It’s… can you get me some Sprite? My stomach…”
“Yeah, for sure.” He gets up, leaving his phone behind. The moment he’s out of the room, I grab it off the table and end the call. Holding my breath, I punch in his password, praying he hasn’t changed it. It unlocks, and I swipe through his settings, putting the phone on Do Not Disturb. I hear him coming back, so I relock it and set it back on the table as he reenters.
"We’re out of Sprite. You cool with 7UP?"
“Yeah. Thanks.”
“What do you want to watch? I’ll let the patient pick the movie.”
I mindlessly pick a movie, not caring what it is since I won’t watch a second of it. The inside of my cheek is raw from chewing on it, and I’ve managed to pick away most of the skin around my fingernails. The only thing I can do is glance every so often at the clock. When is Jackson going to be home? I can’t do this alone much longer. A bang resounds from the front of the house, followed by the beeping sound of someone opening the front door.
“Who the fuck?”
It could be Jackson. He went to work, barked orders, and now he’s home. Breathe, Georgia. But that feels unlikely. My chest tightens.
Noah starts to get up, but I grab his arm. “Noah, wait.”
“Chill. I’m just gonna see who—”
“Well, look what we have here.” The color drains from my face as Vince’s cold stare sweeps over me, sending a chill down my spine.
“What up, man?”
“That sure is the question.” Vince claps his hands together, and my shoulders tense suddenly. “What. Is . Up? Been calling you.”
“Sorry, dude. George and I were watching a movie.”
“Lovely. What are we watching?” He walks into the room and plops down on the couch next to me.
“Some horror flick George picked.”
“Horror?” Vince raises his brows. “Didn’t peg you as the horror type. Figured more of a romance kinda girl. The forbidden kind.” He slaps his hand on my thigh, squeezing to the brink of pain. My stomach turns, and this time, I truly do groan.
“Is the 7UP not helping?” Noah asks, oblivious to his malicious friend.
I fight to keep my voice steady. “No, it’s fine. I’m just going to go—”
“Yeah, I don’t think so.” My eyes shoot to Vince. He’s not. He wouldn’t just out me right here. He has to know what it would do to Noah. “I’ve been waiting all day to hang with you two. You’re not escaping me now.”
“Yeah, but I don’t feel—”
“Don’t feel what, Georgia ?”
“Dude, chill out. She doesn’t feel good.”
“Oh, I’m sure she doesn’t. Guilt just eating you up inside, Georgia ?”
“Vince, for real, knock it off.”
“Where’s the ledger?” He stares at me, his fury barely restrained.
“I don’t have it.”
“What are you talking about? What ledger?” Noah chimes in.
“Where the fuck is it?”
“I told you, I don’t have it.” I wince as he digs his fingers deeper into my thigh.
“Seriously, what the fuck, Vince?”
“Is this where he finds out?”
“Finds out what?”
I break eye contact with Vince, my heart breaking as I look at the confusion in Noah’s eyes. I pull my gaze back to Vince. “Don’t do this.”
“Too late for begging. Where is it?”
“Please. Don’t do this,” I plead.
“Not what I fucking asked!” he yells, causing me to jump.
“What the fuck is going on? Don’t do what? Someone better start filling me in.”
It’s only a matter of time before Noah knows the truth. I can’t control that, but I can control the narrative.
“Last chance, Georgie.”
“Vince is blackmailing me into getting a ledger from your dad so he can ruin him and his company.”
Noah’s brow furrows in confusion, then his gaze narrows. “What?” He looks at Vince. “The fuck? Is that true?”
Vince releases my leg and leans back on the couch. “Let’s not jump to conclusions, bud. Why would I want to blackmail her? I simply told her she had a choice: confess her dirty little secret, or I’ll do it for her.”
“What secret is that? And why the fuck would you know anything about her?” Noah stares at me, waiting for me to shut down these outrageous claims. But I stay mute, my silence confirming Vince is telling the truth. “George, tell me what the fuck is going on?”
“Noah,” I say his name, my voice cracking, but he’s already up and standing.
“What the fuck is your secret? Are you two hooking up or something?”
Vince laughs, and chills skate down my arms. “No, not me. Though, I’m sure she wishes it was me.”
I shoot up off the couch. “Noah, listen to me. Vince and his father have this vendetta against your dad. They’ve been plotting for years to take him down. Sabotage his company. He told me if I didn’t steal a ledger from your dad’s office, he—”
“Get to the point, slut. Tell him you’re screwing his dad.”
I inhale a sharp breath, and my eyes shoot to Noah’s. He’s gone stiff, his eyes blazing in disbelief. He turns, and my heart cracks. “What?”
“Noah.” I try to reach for him, but he steps back.
Clenching his eyes shut, he shakes his head, then reopens them, a growing fury burning in the depths. “What the fuck did you just say?”
“You heard me, brother. Your little girlfriend is fucking your dad. Caught her coming out of his room the other night.”
“What?” He runs his hand through his hair. “Georgia… no. She—you wouldn’t—”
“She did. Ask her.”
He looks at me, waiting for me to give him an answer I cannot give. “Noah—”
“You’re seriously fucking my dad?”
“It’s not like—”
“You are or you aren’t!” he yells, and I flinch. “I’ve been trying to be fucking better for you. Be the person you see when you look at me—someone who’s not a piece of shit—and you’ve been fucking my dad this whole time?”
“Noah, it’s not like that—”
The words die in my throat as Noah suddenly surges forward. I barely have time to move before he’s right in front of me, backing me into the wall. His arms shoot out, palms slamming against the wall on either side of my head, caging me in. “You are or you aren’t ?” he snarls, his face inches from mine. There’s something wild in his eyes that I’ve never seen this close. A twitch in his jaw, a muscle ticking like a warning light.
My heart hammers against my ribs. I’ve never been afraid of Noah. But now? I think I might have broken something in him.
“Noah,” I whisper, my voice shaking. “Please don’t.”
“Don’t what?” he growls. “Don’t lose it? Don’t act like the monster you’ve always said I am?” He doesn’t touch me. But his presence is crushing. The fury rolling off him is suffocating. “I brought you into my house. Got you a fucking job. Saved you from going back to that hellhole with your deadbeat mom and sleazeball stepdad.” His voice cracks, rage bleeding into something rawer. “Even after you tore me to pieces, I let you stay. Because I felt fucking sorry for you.”
“Noah, please,” I beg.
“I should’ve kicked your ass out. Made you go home. Maybe a beating from your stepdaddy is exactly what you deserve.”
The words slice through me, but I don't let them sink in. My pulse pounds in my ears. I need to get out of here. I twist to run, but before I make it two steps, Vince grabs my arm.
“Let go of me—”
His grip tightens as I pull away, and the momentum sends me off balance. My foot catches on the rug, and I stumble, crashing into the table behind me. The sharp corner clips the side of my head, and I hit the ground hard, stars bursting behind my eyes. Pain throbs instantly, and everything blurs. My hand flies to my head, and I blink rapidly, trying to focus through the haze.
Through it, I hear Noah. His voice is gutted, raging. “How long?” His eyes are on me, burning. “How fucking long?”
I can’t speak. The words are there, but they won’t come out. He answers for me. “The night I caught you in the pool. That was it, wasn’t it?”
I don’t have to say anything. The guilt on my face is answer enough.
“I knew it,” he snarls. “I knew something was off. I wanted to believe it was just my old man being a sick bastard again. But there was no way you— my Georgia—you let him in. You fell for every slimy, manipulative thing he said.”
“Noah—” My voice is small, choked with pain.
“How’d he convince you to fuck him?”
“He didn’t convince me—”
“Bullshit!” he shouts, stepping forward like he might snap. “I bet he barely had to flirt to get you to open your fucking legs.” His hands ball into fists at his sides, shaking. He doesn’t touch me, but the fury radiating off him is thick and volatile.
I try to crawl back to get away from him, but Vince crouches down beside me. I freeze as his cold breath fans across my face, and his smile is pure venom. “You are a fucking slut,” he whispers.
Tears blur my vision. I want to fight back, to scream, but the words lodge in my throat. “Noah, I’m so sorry.” The apology tumbles out, broken and helpless. “I didn’t mean for any of this…”
He spits in my face. “Get the fuck out of my house. NOW!” His voice explodes through the air, but my legs are cemented to the floor. Grabbing my arm, he tugs me up. “Not sure you understand, but you’re not fucking welcome here. Get the fuck out of my house.” He shoves me toward the door. “And don’t even think about coming back.”
“Stop. This isn’t you,” I beg. But he’s too far gone. I broke him. “You have no idea who I am. But if you don’t get the fuck out of my face, you’re gonna find out, and it’s not going to be pretty.”
“Noah—”
“Get the fuck out—get out!” He snatches the Bluetooth speaker off the console and hurls it across the room, the crash echoing like a gunshot. “Take your used cunt somewhere else. I’m so fucking done with you.” Tears flow down my cheeks in waves as I nod, knowing nothing I say will help or fix what I’ve done. “Why the fuck are you still standing there? LEAVE!”
“What the hell is going on?”
I barely have time to register Jackson’s voice when Noah erupts, “You motherfucker!”
“Noah, don’t!” I yell, but it’s no use. Noah’s eyes flash with fury as he lunges at his father, his fist crashing into his face. Without pause, he pulls his arm back and hurls another punch “You piece of shit!”
“Noah, stop!” I plead, but he doesn’t listen.
Overwhelmed by his rage, Noah barely registers the shift until Jackson seizes Noah by the lapels and shakes him in one swift move. “Calm the fuck down,” he orders.
“Fuck you. Fuck you!” Noah shouts as he lunges for another swing, but Jackson anticipates the attack, catching his fist and yanking him forward, and then he slams Noah onto the ground and binds his hands behind his back.
“I said calm down,” Jackson repeats firmly.
“How could you?” Noah shouts, thrashing beneath Jackson’s hold. “You screwed her! She was my fucking girlfriend!” His voice cracks with anguish, tearing through me. A sob escapes my throat, the pain in Noah’s tone unbearable. Jackson steals a glance at me, his eyes heavy with the same guilt. Blood trickles down his nose and cheek, a stark reminder of the chaos we’ve created.
“She wasn’t yours anymore. You two were not together—”
“That makes it okay? You’re a worthless, womanizing asshole!” With a surge of unhinged fury, Noah wrenches free of Jackson’s grip and barrels into him, tackling him to the ground. Raising his fist, he slams it into his father’s face with unrelenting force. I scream, but it does nothing to stop Noah. His fist crashes into his ribs, then his mouth and chest, each blow landing with a sickening thud. For a fleeting moment, I wonder if Jackson is letting him—allowing his son to deliver the punishment he knows he deserves. “I fucking hate you!” he screams, guttural and broken, punctuating every strike as he unleashes his pain.
My heart pounds with a mix of fear and despair. I can’t bear to watch anymore. “Enough!” I cry out. “Stop it, both of you!” I try to pull Noah off his father, and he shoves me aside with a sudden jerk. I stumble back, my foot catching on the side table. The world tilts as I crash to the ground, pain shooting up my back. I let out a strangled cry.
Before I can recover, Jackson seizes Noah by the collar and drags him up, slamming him hard against the wall. Jackson is in his face, his voice a low, menacing growl that sends shivers through me. “You ever touch her or any woman like that again,” he states, each word razor-sharp, “and I will make you regret ever being born. Do you understand me?”
Noah glares at him, defiance flickering in his tear-filled eyes. “Fuck you,” he hisses, spitting in his face. “Fuck you .”
It’s all too much. I’ve caused this. I can’t—
I bolt from the room, my vision blurred by the tears that refuse to stop. My hands tremble as I fumble with my phone, forgetting my screen is broken. “Dammit.” Desperate to escape the chaos I’ve unleashed. I activate Siri, my voice quivering as I plead, “Call me an Uber.”
I don’t bother to slide on my shoes and race out of the house. My bare feet hit the pavement, and I race down the driveway, each step like a dagger thrusting into my heart. “I’m so sorry, Noah.” I choke on my own words. Regret suffocates me. Guilt. This isn’t how it was supposed to happen. I clutch at my chest, desperate to contain the unbearable ache that feels like it might split me apart.
Car lights pause at the end of the driveway. The passenger side window rolls down, and a woman leans over. “Ride for Georgia?” I ask, fighting back the tears.
“Yes. That’s me.”
Unable to say anymore, I nod and climb into the back, shutting the door behind me.