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"No, that’s not what I’ for sohed "I don’t understand why he’ll do anything for his family when he doesn’t always seeme from the You gotta figure the Rutledges are like tiger sharks--they swim in the saest co what he’d said tolike you’re on vacation

"Okay," I said carefully, thinking of Jax’s father "Who’s the strongest shark in that fae?"

"Without a doubt"

Jax said his parents had started out as a love match and ended up miserable "What do you know about Jax’s ma Almost never seen in public the last five years before she died, and she avoided the spotlight even before that"

"Jax won’t talk about her"

"I can poke around, see what turns up, but it’ll take soe stone, security teahed I’d been seriously delusional drea you find And I’ll pay for your ti up, I rolled ht about his fa how things had gone for us so far "Thanks, Deanna"

"Hey, take care, okay? Guys like Jax can really fuck you up if you’re not careful"

"Yeah, I know Thanks You take care, too"

We hung up and I set hat the screen, I saas from Jax My feet tapped a little dance on the carpet before I realized what I was doing

I know you’re thinking about e and snorted "Whatever"

Obviously, you’re thinking about me, I typed back

I drea about Jax was one of ht a major business deal for u

A hed He’d changed tactics fro hardball to just playing Jax knehen a particular strategy wasn’t working

I started typing a reply, but he beatI answered and he spoke before I could even say hello

"You sucked ood, baby," he crooned "I couldn’t breathe, it felt so good Your hot littlearoundme off I came so hard for you And you sed it all, Gia baby Every drop"

For a moment, I couldn’t think of what to say,just what he said I loved going down on Jax Loved the way he felthow he tasted and smelled More than that, I loved the way he lost himself with me, shameless in his pleasure In those moments, I felt the intimacy with hi my cock," he said silkily "And God knows I’d spend every minute in your mouth if I could"

I found my voice "Selfish bastard"

"When it co in bed, naked and hard, wondering why the fuck you’re not here yet"

"Don’t you have soing in the background and laughed "Liar You’re working"

We used to play phone sex ga off si hi

"Guilty," he confessed, unabashed "Trying to keepon is the deal that screwed ry sex" He hu for it, baby"

"Not sure you want your dick anywhere near hed and h, deep and full-bodied "Even threats of bodily harot for you Co in a bit" I stood and walked to the , feeling restless Pushing the sheer curtains aside, I looked down at the city of Atlanta Where was Jax? It was a question I’d been asking myself every day over the past two years He hadn’t had to ask where I was, though, since he’d had me followed "Besides, didn’t you say we needed to talk? I doubt you’ll do et there"

He was silent a reat faood or bad They don’t bullshit and they don’t waste tiood people"

"Thank you," Ithat to heart I was proud of my family, proud to be a Rossi

"My family isn’t like that, Gia Don’t be fooled by Parker’s charives the time of day to people who are useful"

"Jax, I don’t have anything"

"You haveyour dad would use ainst you?"

"Maybe Or he’d just use you, period It could be anything, babe Just trustto wrap my head around a father and son who didn’t trust each other "Is he the reason you stayed away the past couple of years?"

Is he the reason you’re deterain?

"I stayed away because it’s the best thing for you"