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His rough black beard was back His hair had obviously only been finger coy, a dark thundercloud of h he wore a suit and tie, he seemed more of the Beast than I’d ever seen hi to the sofa "We need to talk"

Surprised, I sat and folded my hands in my lap while I waited for hi at the floor, his hands hanging loose at his sides and slightly trelanced up atabout the look in them made my skin crawl

Spooked, I said, "What is it?"

He moistened his lips From the inside pocket of his coat he sloithdrew a set of folded papers "We don’t have to draw this out any longer than necessary I wanted to wait until after"

He sed, ain, then started anew "I knew you had so much on your plate I wanted to wait until after the funeral to give you this"

He held out the papers "It’sthe papers, I furrowed ed a hand through his hair He loosened his tie, then went to stand at the frontand gazed out at the night like he was no longer holding out hope of finding soh, he asked, "You didn’t think I’d force you to go through with it now, did you?"

When I was silent, stunned because I thought I understood what he uished it made my heart skip a beat "Please tell me you don’t think I’m the kind of man ould do that"

I slowly rose The papers shook like ree my own voice "Your inheritance--"

"It hasn’t been about my inheritance for me for a while now, Bianca," he interrupted harshly, his eyes glittering "Honestly, I’ there between us, breathtakingly rahispered, "Jax"

So in my expression caused him visible pain He turned away, stuffed his hands into his pockets, and bowed his head "I’ll have all your things brought back here I’ was just"--his laugh was hollow--"shit"

I wanted to say so--but words wouldn’t coto lose everything

Finally I came to my senses A deal was a deal after all, and I wasn’t about to renege on ed "I can’t let you do that," I said, and dropped the papers on the coffee table They landed with a dull slap that seemed unnaturally loud in the quiet room

Jackson turned from theHe looked at the papers, then atstrides and picked up the contract He ripped it in half with one abrupt, savage ated to me anymore! You’re free! Go live your life!"

His voice was choked with emotion His eyes ild like I’d never seen the heart

"I’ a step back "Fuck I’m so sorry I’m an asshole I know this is the worst day of your life I didn’taway, and headed for the front door "Keep the ring," he said over his shoulder "Hock it Throw it away Whatever you want I’ll send all your things to else you need"

He opened the door and was gone before I could even decide if the words foro"