25. Jackson
Chapter twenty-five
Jackson
N umbness. It seeps in, drowning the anger. All-consuming rage followed by nothing. I let her walk out after tearing her down, treating her like nothing more than an object. My chest tightens. The sensation that’s been there since the moment I found her in my room is suffocating now, a weight I can’t shake. But it’s done. Over. If there’s one thing I can’t and won’t tolerate, it’s betrayal.
She couldn’t trust me enough to come to me, and that cuts the deepest. Instead, she chose to put everything I’ve built, everything I’ve sacrificed for, on the line: my family, fractured as it is, and my career, which I’ve bled for. All because she didn’t want to hurt Noah.
But she didn’t think. Didn’t see. If that USB got into the wrong hands, it wouldn’t just be me or my son destroyed—it would destroy everything. Yet, she made that choice.
I slam my mug down and hiss as coffee spills over, burning my hand.
“Morning.” I blink and look up at Noah as he walks into the kitchen. “You see Georgia this morning?”
Georgia. Like the Peach.
“No.”
“Did you see her when you came home? She was here. I don’t think she slept here, though. Unless she fell asleep in the media room.”
I grip my mug to the brink of shattering it. “I haven’t seen her. Listen, I want to talk about yesterday.”
He shrugs me off. “Nothing to talk about.”
“There is. I was out of line. You caught me in a vulnerable state. I was upset about something and took it out on you.”
Noah pauses from grabbing the coffee pot and stares at me. “What did you just say?”
“You can wipe that smirk off your face. Yes, this is me apologizing. You walked in after something dire had happened, and my emotions got the best of me. I reacted poorly, taking it out on you. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” He freezes, eyes wide and jaw slack. He should be shocked. I’ve never been one to take the blame or apologize. “Now, tell me, do you plan to show up to work today or continue this show of trying to displease me any chance you get?”
He fills his mug. “Showing up. I even plan to work the whole day.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it.”
We stare at one another in a moment of truce before I break the connection and stand. “Hurry up. You’re gonna be late.”
“Yeah, yeah. But I’m serious. I’m kinda worried about Georgia. I’ve called and texted her, but nothing.”
A ping of guilt stabs at me, but I push it away. “Like I said. She’s a big girl. Maybe she got sick of this and went home.”
“No. There’s no way she’d do that. She’d head back to school before going there.”
“Why’s that?” I ask, my interest piqued. I shouldn’t care, though. She’s not my concern anymore.
“Her stepdad is a piece of shit. That fucker hit her. Hits her mom, too.”
My fists clench at my sides. “What?”
“Yeah. Sad. Her dad died when she was young, and her mom remarried. Guess the guy is a total loser.” He pulls out his phone and taps her contact before putting it up to his ear. I silently pray she answers so I know she’s okay and not at the hands of a motherfucker. “Straight to voicemail. Her phone has to be off.”
“I have an early meeting. Do you need a ride?”
“No, I’m good.”
I nod, unable to look him in the eye any longer. “See you at the office.” My words are clipped, and I walk out with heat rising in my chest. The drive to work is a blur, my grip tight on the steering wheel. My fingers itch to call her. Text her to make sure she’s safe. But this could be a ploy—a calculated move to wedge herself into my son’s life. To make him feel sorry for her. The thought churns in my mind as I replay every interaction and moment Georgia and Vince crossed paths. Could they have been working together? The boat. That morning he walked her up the stairs because she “wasn’t feeling well.” It took him far too long to come back, claiming he needed his AirPods.
Then there’s Burt. That bastard would absolutely use his son as a pawn to get to me. But where does Georgia fit into all this? Is she a victim, or is she playing the game just as hard?
Did Vince visit Noah at school? Have they been simmering on this for some time now? I offered her a fucking job, falling right into their trap.
I almost hit a pedestrian speeding into the parking garage. My anger rages as I walk into my office. “Sarah!” I yell, scaring the shit out of my assistant.
“Yes, Mr. Blake?”
“Get Wayne on the phone.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And close my door.”
“Yes, sir.”
Once my door closes, I open my home surveillance app. Not that I fucking care, but I search through the recordings, starting with after I told Georgia to leave. Sure as fuck, she did. Seven minutes later, a car pulled up, and she got in. She looks defeated, the light in her eyes gone.
There’s a knock on my door, and I swipe the app away. “Mr. Blake. Wayne is on line one.”
I nod, taking the call. “Tell me you have something.”
“No, but I’m getting close. I hate to say it, but Gary thinks the virus was planted. It’s only corrupted the footage from that day.”
“Dammit.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Blake. We’re doing everything—”
There’s another knock. “Sorry to disturb you. Craig is on line two. He says you’re expecting him.”
“Wayne, I need to call you back.” I hit line two and wave Sarah off. “Blake.”
“I found what you’re looking for.”
“Tell me everything,” I snap, my fingers drumming against the desk.
“Georgia Price. Goes by the nickname Georgie. Nineteen. Born in Dayton, Ohio, to Maribel and Samuel Price. She has a sister. Leighton. Seventeen. Goes by Lettie. Father died when she was ten. Heart attack. Her mother remarried a year later to Bill Shepard. Real piece of work. In and out of jail for gambling, minor drug possession, and three DUIs. Rumor is he gambled away the kids’ college funds. The wife’s got a pretty extensive hospital record but denies it’s tied to him.”
“Georgia?”
“She has her own hospital record. Sprained wrist, broken finger, bruised ribs, two swollen eyes. That’s just one visit.” My knuckles are white around the receiver. Who the fuck beats a woman, let alone a child?
“Social services reported possible abuse at home. DCFS made a visit, and it was an open and shut case both times.”
“I want everything you can get on this asshole.”
“Got it.”
My gut tightens at my next question. “And Price and Hallstead?”
“Sifted through his internet history. He has quite an interest in Price, but from what I gather, she knew nothing about him until recently.”
Fuck.
Doubt settles in my chest. I reopen the security app and pull up the surveillance footage from the morning Vince followed her upstairs. I click play. Georgia hurries up the stairs with Vince behind her. He slams her into the wall, and she goes pale at whatever he’s saying. My stomach twists as he leans in and sucks on her neck. Then she bolts into her room, terror in her eyes, and slams the door shut behind her. I sit, frozen in shock.
She was telling the truth.
Craig continues. “I hacked into his phone. He sent her a bunch of texts last night, threatening ones, and it appears to be the first time he’s reached out to her by phone.”
“Has she read them?”
“My guess is no. She’s shown zero activity since around eight p.m. last night.”
Fuck. Not long after I kicked her out. “Where did the Uber take her?” Please don’t say home.
“Dropped her off at a hotel seven and a half miles from your house. The Continental Plaza. Per hotel staff, she hasn’t left her room since she arrived. No room service, no bed service.”
“Send me the information on her stepfather and the text thread from Hallstead.”
“Will do.”
“I’ll have my assistant cut you a check today. Thanks for your speediness.”
“Always a pleasure.”
I disconnect the call. My email dings, and I scroll, needing to read the texts from Vince.
1-555-524-9963: Time’s up, whore. You have what I want?
1-555-524-9963: Stop trying to stall. Unless you’re trying to get fucked one last time by daddy. Feel free to tell him to send you my way. I’m always up for sloppy seconds, or should I say thirds?
1-555-524-9963: Don’t fucking ignore me. I’ll tell Noah everything. Just imagine what will happen when he finds out his ex whore is fucking his daddy.
1-555-524-9963: Stop messing with me, cunt. Get that ledger or I’ll fucking gut you. Blood turns me on. I’ll use your guts to lube my cock while I jerk off to your corpse.
1-555-524-9963:Playtime’s over. You have one hour, bitch.
By the last one, I can’t contain the fury burning inside my chest.
That piece of shit is going to pay.
God, I fucked up. The prick was holding serious shit over her, and I left her to deal with it on her own. She tried to tell me, but I wouldn’t listen, too consumed by my own anger.
I storm through the office. “Mr. Blake, where are you going? You have a nine o’clock with the Winster—”
“Cancel my meetings. I won’t be returning today.”
I punch the hotel into my GPS. Tracking down Vince and tearing his throat out should be my first priority, but I need to get to Georgia and fix the damage I’ve caused.
If it’s not already too late.
I make it in record time. Leaving my car with the valet, I hurry to the room number Craig supplied. My heart pounds as I approach her door and knock. The echo of my rap stretches on forever. No answer. I try again, harder this time, my urgency climbing with each passing second. Still nothing. I slam my fist against the door again, harder, louder—
“Jesus, hold on.”
I exhale, releasing the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. I’m suddenly nervous. Fuck, I don’t get nervous. I scramble to find the words to say when she opens the door. Her eyes lock on mine. They’re red and swollen. She’s been crying. Her shoulders sag. She looks utterly defeated.
“Wha—What are you doing here?”
“I came to talk.”
“I think you said enough.” She shoves the door to shut it, and I plant my palm against it, blocking her. “Jackson, you need to leave.”
“Peach, please.”
It kills me to watch her lip quiver. “Don’t call me that.”
“Let me in. Please.”
Her eyes close, a single tear slipping down her pale cheek. It hits me like a punch to the gut. I want nothing more than to wrap her in my arms and make all the pain I caused melt away. Shaking her head, she says, “I can’t. I’ve accepted what I’ve done. I’m not going to relive it—”
“I was wrong.”
The words rush out before she has the chance to send me away. “I should’ve listened. Given you a chance to explain. If I had, I would’ve realized the fucked up situation you were in. Instead, I said awful things—things I wish I could take back—things I didn’t mean. If I would’ve trusted you, which I should have—”
“I… I tried to tell you—”
“And I’m a bastard for not listening. You probably hate me. I hate myself. You did what you had to do. I would’ve done the same thing.”
“But I didn’t come to you. I was going to hand over the ledger without knowing what it would’ve done to you. It could’ve ruined you. I didn’t even ask. I took your life in my hands. Noah’s life. I would have destroyed you both because I was selfish—”
I reach for her and wrap her in my arms. She breaks down, sobbing against my chest. Lifting her, I carry her into the room, letting the door shut behind me. “Shhh…” I coo, sitting on the bed. I cuddle her in my lap and rub her back until her sobs subside.
When she pulls away, the sight of her pulls at my heart. I did this to her. “Peach, I’m so sorry.”
“For what? I’m the liar.”
“No, you’re human. You made a choice not to hurt Noah.”
“But I would’ve hurt you, making it even worse.”
I cup her cheeks, using my thumb to wipe away her tears. “Baby, you wouldn’t have. In the end, you chose not to.”
“But—”
I press my lips to hers, unable to bear another moment without kissing her, feeling her, tasting her. I kiss her until some of the tension eases—until I feel a sliver of relief from having her back in my arms. I pull back and look down at her. “This is on me. Not you. I brought this shit to your door. Vince wouldn’t have done what he had if it weren’t for wanting to get to me.”
“But why? What’s so important about the ledger that he’s willing to go to such lengths to get it?”
I let out a heavy sigh. Time to come clean. “A lifetime ago, Burt Hallstead and I were friends. More like brothers. We met at Harvard and, during that time, tossed around ideas about starting a company together. My skill set was in IT and logistics, a combination that’s hard to find. What I was able to do wasn’t something you saw often in this field, let alone that early in someone’s college career. He was a genius in marketing and business. It took years, but we finally mastered a coding program that allowed a machine to perform basic surgical procedures.”
“Jackson, that’s—”
“When we were ready to submit our proposals and secure all the patents, I let my guard down. I trusted him. And while I was already celebrating our future success, he was busy backstabbing me.”
“What do you mean?”
“He submitted all the patents, leaving me off them. By the time they were approved and sealed, it was too late. There was no way to reverse what he’d done. He was the sole owner.”
“No…”
“He left school and within two months, had every hospital across the US investing in our program.”
“I don’t get it. If he’s so successful, why does he want this ledger?”
“He’s broke. I’ve always been a smart man. Not so smart I saw his betrayal coming, but I’ve stayed one step ahead. I would’ve been a real dummy if I’d put all my cards on the table. He had reason to worry I would fuck him over. But the same went for him. It’s why I never wrote down the next level for the coding phase.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Burt has always been envious. No matter how equal we were, he always wanted more. Toward the end, he started to change. Got paranoid and became jealous.”
“What was he jealous of?”
“Veronica.”
Needing distance to tell the rest of this story, I set Georgia on the bed and stand up, pacing as I continue. “It was sophomore year when Veronica came into our lives.”
“Who is she?”
“Now or then?”
“Both?”
“Now, she’s his wife,” I say, my voice tight. “Back then, she was my girlfriend. Burt was in love with her. She was the one thing he wanted more than anything. I guess part of his plan was to figure out how he’d get her.”
Georgia stares at me, confusion clouding her expression. “What do you mean?”
I sigh at the weight of the memory. “Let’s just say, once she found out I was no longer going to be rich, she wasted no time jumping into bed with Burt.”
Georgia’s eyes widen, and she gasps. “She didn’t.”
“She claimed she was pregnant, and they got married in a lavish estate in the Napa Vineyards, courtesy of his first payout.”
“What a conniving bitch,” Georgia mutters, the anger in her voice stirring something inside me. “What happened next?”
I rest my back against the dresser. “While he was making millions, I watched, waited, and studied his every move. The program was engineered with built-in milestones—specific points at which the system would become outdated and require critical updates. We meticulously prepared for future technological advancements, ensuring our expertise remained indispensable. By embedding scheduled update intervals into the system’s design, we guaranteed clients would continually need our services, forcing them to invest more in maintenance and upgrades over time.
“It was always a matter of time before he’d require the next phase. Without it, his program would become obsolete. I kept a close watch on him as he poured his money into hiring coders, all of whose attempts ended in failure. As I wrapped up my master’s, he reached out, claiming he wanted to make amends. In reality, all he needed was for me to complete phase two. We both understood he couldn’t move forward without my expertise.”
“I hope you told him to fuck off.”
I hold her gaze, a surge of pride mixed with satisfaction in my eyes. “I did more than that, Peach. I sold the code to his biggest competitor, crippling his business in one fell swoop. His program had become outdated and resistant to progress, unable to adapt to the fast-paced demands of our industry. In this field, if you can’t innovate, you drown. Meanwhile, I launched Blake Industries. My program not only creates designs for raw materials but also manufactures them with a speed and precision no human could match.”
She raises an eyebrow, impressed but curious. “Did Burt ever try to come after you?”
He shakes his head. “He couldn’t. He hasn’t. Until now.”
“He has Vince doing his dirty work.”
"Seems that way," I confirm. "It’s not just that, though. Someone’s been tampering with our software. Everything’s been fixed, but the machines were glitching, and let me tell you, that’s nearly impossible—unless you know what you’re doing.”
“Burt?”
“Vince. Turns out, he never went to Harvard.”
“What do you mean?”
“He lied about it all. He’s been learning code, trying to sabotage me to level up his father’s system. I guess he thinks getting access to the ledger will revive his father’s company.”
“But if the updated program was sold, the ledger shouldn’t matter.”
“You’re correct. But Burt and his son don’t know that.” I slip my hand into my jacket pocket and retrieve the drive.
“What is that?”
“It holds the master files for the coding, but more importantly, it contains extremely sensitive information. The kind that, if it got out, wouldn’t just ruin me… it would take down a hell of a lot more than that.”
“Oh, God. I—I didn’t even know about the drive.” Panic rises in her voice. “He just spoke about the ledger. I would’ve never done it if I knew—”
“Shhh… I know. It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“Jackson, it does. He may not have gotten what he wanted, but he meant what he said. He’s going to follow through with this threat.” Her eyes meet mine, worry still clouding her expression. “He’s going to tell Noah about us. He’s going to hate you. And this will all be my fault. I’ve caused all—”
I’m on her in seconds, cupping her jaw and forcing her eyes to mine. “Don’t say that.”
“But it’s true. I’ve caused such a mess—”
I press against her shoulders, guiding her to lie back. I settle over her, brushing my hand up her side, reveling in the way her body shivers at my touch. My cock instantly swells, pressing against her leggings. I desperately want to thrust deep inside her sweet pussy, but I have to force myself to focus. She has to hear everything I have to say. “You’re done blaming yourself, you hear me? I won’t listen to another word of it. This will be the last time I say this: this is not — on — you .” She averts her gaze, but I stop her with a touch to her chin, pulling her eyes back to me. “Do you hear me?” She doesn’t immediately respond, so I tighten my grip. “Answer me, Peach.”
“I hear you.”
“If I had the chance to rewind time, I’d make the same fucking choice. You’ve become my lifeline.” Her mouth rests in a gasp, and I fight not to kiss it. “This started off as a game—an erotic game I was willing to play because I couldn’t stop fantasying about shoving my cock in every one of your holes. I’ve wanted to own you since I found you in my bedroom. To ruin you, make you mine. Now that I’ve had a taste of your body, your beauty, your mind, I sure as fuck don’t plan on letting you go.”
“What about Noah? About—”
“We’ll figure it out. I don’t have the answers right now. I have no idea how to handle this. But we— will — do — it — together . Do you understand me?”
Emotion wells in her eyes as she nods. I catch the tear that slips free, brushing it away with my thumb.
“Peach, I need to ask you something serious, okay?”
I feel her body tense. “What is it?”
“Did Vince ever mention the word Finch ?”
Her brow furrows, confusion flickering across her face. She shakes her head. “No. Why? What is that?”
“Nothing. Just… sensitive information. If it ever got out, it could cause serious damage. I just needed to be sure he only knew about the ledger—not the USB.”
“He only asked about the ledger,” she says quickly, her voice barely holding steady. “I swear to you—”
I cup her cheeks, grounding her. “I believe you.” I kiss her softly, letting the silence settle for a beat. “Now… before I ruined you last night, you were about to say something. I want you to say it now.”
“What—?”
“Don’t get shy on me, Peach. I want to hear it.”
She sucks in her bottom lip, and my cock flexes against her stomach. “I… I love you.”
The air leaves my lungs at those three words. I never imagined myself saying it again in this lifetime. I claim her mouth, kissing her with urgency, intent. Deep and erotic, her confession zapping between us. I pull away, finding her eyes filled with desire and love, and I swear, I want to beat my chest, knowing I’ve claimed the most forbidden fruit. “Say it again.”
“I love you, Jackson.”
Fuck, that’ll never get old. “Good thing. The feeling’s mutual.” Her eyes flicker with confusion. “You heard me, right? I love you. All of you. Now, I’m sorry, but I have to fuck you. I need you to know exactly who you belong to.” I brush my lips over hers quickly, then pull back. “Undress for me, pet.”
She sits up, her eyes hooded, and lifts her shirt over her head, granting me the perfect view of her tits. My tits. I grab her legs and pull her to the end of the bed, removing her leggings until I’m staring at perfection. Her cunt glistens for me. “Fuck, you’re a sight.” As much as I want to go slow with her, there’s only one thing on my mind, and it’s primal. Dark. I take what’s mine and run my tongue over her slit. My finger slides into her warmth, and a growl of pleasure leaves my lips.
“Jackson, please.” God, I love it when she begs. It’s music to my ears.
“Tell me, Peach.” I circle my finger around her clit and grab her hip with my free hand to hold her in place. “My greedy girl, tell me, when I saw you with my son last night, nothing happened. Did he get a taste of what’s mine?”
“No.” She squirms in my hold.
I grant her another finger, shoving deep. “You’re not lying, are you? Because if I found out someone got to taste what’s mine—”
“I’m not. I’m telling you the truth. Please, more.”
I clamp my lips around her clit and suck, causing her hips to buck against my mouth. The way I thrust my tongue into her wet hole, I treat her like my own personal dessert that’s meant for me to devour, using the juices from her arousal to lube her back hole. “Have you touched yourself since I fucked you?”
She shakes her head back and forth.
“Good. Every orgasm belongs to me. Your cum is mine. God, look at you. Drenched. Swollen. You are a beautiful mess, pet.”
Georgia pants, riding my face, and I’m a beast eating her out. I want to fuck her ’til she breaks, but I can’t stop tasting her. “Jackson, I’m gonna come.”
“Don’t you dare. I want you coming on my cock.” I stand, drop my clothes to the floor, and sink into her heat. Her body trembles. She’s close, and fuck, so am I. I take her mouth and kiss her with frenzied passion, never wanting to come up for air. She feels like heaven clenching around my cock. I pull almost all the way out just to pound back into her. My heart races out of control. I need more. “I need to own all of you,” I growl, tugging her leg up my chest. Her pants and moans are like a drug. “I’m going to fill you with my cum. Fuck!” My balls tighten, and my cock tenses with desire. “Take my cum, pet.”
“Yes—please, yes.”
I almost black out as her pussy flutters and her walls grip me. “That’s it, baby girl. I can feel your cunt gushing all over my cock.”
The thought of our juices mixing, making a mess of the sheets, has me hammering into her. She collapses onto the bed, and I pull out, cupping her throbbing pussy. I slide my finger inside her, spreading our juices over her lips. “This is how perfect we are together, Peach.” I swipe my finger over her bottom lip. “This is us. Perfect fucking pair. Taste us. Tell me how divine we are.”
My eyes become hooded as she drags her tongue along her lip. Her nipples become even harder, and I pinch one, then squeeze her tit in my hand. “Mine,” I say, my voice hoarse.
“Yours.”
I lower her legs and lean in, kissing her softly. She melts into me, and I tuck us both under the sheets. As she rests her head on my chest, an overwhelming emotion stirs within me. “Georgia,” I say her name, wanting her to understand the weight of what I’m about to say.
“Yeah?”
“I want you to understand I’ve only said this to two people—my ex and my son. With my ex… when a woman gives you a son, it does something to you. You feel this overwhelming gratitude—this sense of responsibility and loyalty. And in all that noise, it’s easy to confuse duty with love. I convinced myself it was real. That we were building something. But when the smoke cleared, what we had wasn’t love. Not like this. Not like what I feel for you.” I pause, letting the truth settle between us. “With you, it’s not about obligation or doing what’s right. It’s this... constant pull. It’s messy and consuming and terrifying. And I’ve never wanted anything the way I want you. I need you to know that.”
She raises her head, finding the raw emotion in my eyes. Vulnerability. But she has to know. She’s brought me to my knees. And as much as I tell her I own her, she owns me.
“Thank you for sharing that with me. I don’t use those words lightly, either. But my heart knows this is where I’m meant to be. It might not be right, but some things in life are beyond our control. And this is one of them. Like you said, we’ll figure it out. Together.”