Chapter 18

I didn’t know what I’d expected to hear, but notthat.All my thoughts were arrested, blurred into nothing, except one swirled on repeat—he hit her.

In a flash, the texts from last night emerged from the chaos inside me.Your dad agrees we should talk.The U.S. Attorney for the State of Florida agreed with his daughter’s abuser. Heagreedwith Knox—the man whobeathis daughter.

Fuck. What the hell did we get ourselves into?

“Knox sent you a few texts last night.” I cleared my throat, deciding to ask her about it. “He said he won’t let you run away next time. He said he’ll make you his again. Just like he promised. What’s he referring to? What does that mean?”

Jade placed her elbows on the table and leaned in, staring straight into my battered soul. So innocently. So calmly. So…unbothered.

“What doyouthink it means, Alex?” she whispered curiously.

I gulped, knowing what it meant, and denying it in my head. “I don’t know. Tell me.”

She nodded, knowing that I knew. “It means he tried to rape me. He tried to rape me and I managed to escape. Barely.” She was turning red in the face, her chin trembling. “Satisfied? Want pointers on how he was going to do it?”

Jesus fuck, Jade.

I leaned closer, too, and she blinked fast, unsure of my next move, but I needed to make sure she heard me loud and clear. “I don’t fucking do that shit and that thought hasn’teverfucking crossed my mind. I may have kidnapped you, but don’t pin all the felonies of the criminal code on me. I’m not that guy.”

Goddamn, she was testing me in every way possible.

Jade composed herself and brushed me off, swiping her mane of brown hair off her shoulders. “Okay, well…good for Gianna then."

I moved past that comment as quickly as possible, ignoring that name like it was just background noise.

"Did you report any of this to the police?"

The irony of this conversation wasn’t lost on me. I'd nevertouched Gianna—or any woman for that matter—without her consent, never even laid afingeron her in a way she didn't like, and she was planning to go to the cops with utter bullshit toincriminate me, and I bet Jade stayed silent even when she had a real cause.

"No,” she confirmed my thoughts. “And tell them what? My boyfriend beat me up and tried to rape me? They don't give a shit. No matter who your dad is. Especially if your dad—"

Jade stopped talking abruptly and forced herself to close her mouth. But I knew what she was going to say.Especially if your dad is not on your side.

Jade fidgeted with her napkin and then her sunglasses. It was clear she wanted to end this conversation, and it waspainfullyobvious now how angry and broken she was. One minute she was filled with rage, ready to rip someone to shreds and the next she scrunched into herself, hurting from what must have happened.

“When did you break up?”

Jade threw the napkin down, looking right past me. “Two months ago.”

Two months—and Xavier still sent her walls of disturbing texts.

“Your dad knows?” I asked, knowing the answer.

“That’s a complicated question, Alex.” That was the second time she used my name in conversation. She was so careful with it, pronouncing every sound. “He knows some things and he knows it’s over between us, but…Xavier is conniving and manipulative. My father always liked him.”

I imagined Sebastian Moretti shaking hands with Knox andlikingthe guy. It didn’t align with my version of reality. Sebastian was the textbook attorney—meticulous, smart, and ruthless. Knox preferred flashy brands and big parties.

“Are you finished looking through my soul now?” Jade chuckled, the smile finally reaching her eyes. “I don’t know why I’m even telling you any of this, you pulled a gun on me this morning.”

And I smiled too.

She was a nightmare. A brat, a heathen, a pain in my ass, and a splinter in my brain. And I bit down on my lip instead of admitting to myself that I didn’t hate it. I didn’t hate her smart mouth and the way she didn’t back down.

“You need someone to talk to?” I offered, gentler than I would have liked. “And speaking to someone unknown can be easier than speaking to those close to you. Like talking to a stranger on a train."

I trailed my gaze down her neck, counting three dainty gold chains shimmering on her tanned chest. Then, I counted the rings on her slender fingers—two on one hand, her thumb and index finger, and three on the other hand—on her middle finger and two on her ring finger. The rings were simple and silver, contrasting with her nail polish. Black, of course.

She didn’t look like someone this could happen to, and I knew that was a stupid conclusion because bad things happened to everyone, butdamn.Her father was a U.S. Attorney, for fuck’s sake. Shouldn’t a man like that protect his daughter? Murder the guy who looked at her wrong? Save her? Cherish her? Love herno matter what?