A wave of anger rolled through me, and I clenched my teeth together to stop from blurtingthatI was only doing to Alec what he had done to me time and time again, but I couldn’t risk him tellingthatto James.
My brother would kill Alec in a heartbeat if he discovered how Alec treated me, andthatwould only lead us right back to the place I could never allow: Billiebeing on my father’s radar. It was easier to let Jackson believe I was a cheating whore than deal with the consequences of the truth.
Taking a breath, I tried to calm the storm brewing under my skin.“Jackson, please. I’venever asked you for anything before, but I’m asking you now. Please, please delete the picture and forget I was here.”
He snorted.“You have no right to ask me for anything-”
“I know,”I interrupted before he could remind me of my past sins yet again.“And Iknow I have no right to ask you now, but I am asking you. If not for me,thenfor Billie. If Alec finds out, he’ll pull the funding for her school and-”
“You should have thought aboutthatbefore cheating on the man who is providing foryour daughter, instead of her actual father,”Jackson sneered.“Ready to tell me whothatis yet?”
My gaze dropped to the ground as shame slivered through me. When he first found out that I was pregnant, he’d demanded I tell him who the father was. He demanded to know who was so important to methatI threw away the future he and I had spent years planning.
My refusal had only made him angrier. There were only three people in the world who knew who Billie’s father was, and if I wanted to keep my daughter safe, I planned on keeping itthatway.
“Didn’t think so,”Jackson huffed.“If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got things to do.”
He turned to walk away from me, but before he could, I grabbed his arm and pulled himoff the path into a secluded area surrounded by hedges in a bid to keep him from reaching his car.
“Please. I’mbeggingyou.”My sob of despair echoed into the night air as Jackson yanked his arm free.
His rough movement caused me to stumble back, and my heel sank into the damp grass. Unable to find my balance, I fell onto my ass, landing with a thud. A tear slid down my cheek as heavy resignation and regret drowned me.
Jackson towered over me, but I couldn’t bring myself to look up at him as I wiped mytear away with my muddy fingers.“You’re pathetic, you knowthat, Kiki?”he hissed.“I can’t believe I was ever in love with you.”
His words were another barb to my already damaged heart. It was a miraclethatthe organwas still able to work with the amount of barbed wire wrapped around it, piercing it every time it beat.
“Please, Jackson,”I whispered helplessly, already knowing the answer.
But when he didn’t reply, I dared to peek up at him. He glowered at me; not one iota ofpity on his handsome face was visible under his revulsion. Seconds passed, but it felt like an eternity before he finally spoke.“What’s in it for me?”
“What?”
He sighed.“What’s in it for me? I delete the photos off my phone, what do I get inreturn?”
I swallowed nervously.“What… um, what do you want?”
A wicked smirk pulled at his lips.“Tell me the name of the cunt you fucked behind myback.”
“I can’t.”I closed my eyes, shaking my head.
Of course he’d want the one thing I couldn’t give him.
“Then we’re done-”
“Wait!”Somehow, I managed to get to my knees as desperation coursed through me. Icouldn’t let him leave.“There must be something else. Please, Jackson.”
His features contorted into disgust as he continued to stare at me.“Fine. You want meto delete the photos from my phone. Suck my cock.”
My mouth dropped open.“Wh… what?”
“You heard. Either tell me who knocked you up or suck my cock. It’s up to you, but thoseare your only two options to get me to delete the photos.”Nausea churned in my stomach as my gaze dropped to the slight bulge pressing against Jackson’s pants. Without warning, he reached out and snatched my chin, forcing my eyes back to his.“What’s the matter, Kiki? It’s not like you weren’t at this party to get fucked, don’t tell me you’ve suddenly grown a conscience?”
I ripped my chin from his grasp, a venomous retort almost breaking free. But I managed to hold it back as a war raged in my head. I couldn’t tell Jackson who Billie’s father was, but I couldn’t let him leave without deleting the photos.
That left one option.
“I suck your cock, and you’ll delete the photos and forgetthatyou saw me here?”Iclarified, disgusted with myself for considering this option.
