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Aftershock Sylvia Day 31640K 2023-09-03

And now the world would know about her, and I was directly to blame

I touched a velvet-soft petal "We’ve screwed up so into my chair, I started to plan how best to tell hiood handle on hoanted to open the subject of Deanna’s story when the elevators on the penthouse floor opened and I stepped out into chaos

I paused, shocked The front door was open and through it I could see a dozen people in suits, pacing inroom with smartphones pressed to their ears

The queasiness I’d felt all day worsened until I thought I ht there in the foyer

When I crossed the threshold into the apartment, I looked for Jax I couldn’t find him, but Parker was there in front of the entertainaze on the photos of his late wife He would have stood out fro amid the frenetic swarm of visitors, he riveted nition ofon?" I asked, although I feared I already knew the answer

"We’re trying to put out a fire I’m sorry we’ve taken over, but Jackson prefers to handle so I can do?"

His mouth, so like Jax’s, twisted wryly "I could use a drink So, preferably"

"Okay" I looked around him to the console by the here crystal decanters held the world’s finest liquors I frohen I saw only a vase of flowers atop it "I’ll get you so"

"Thanks I’ll put your purse in your bedroo out his hand for it

As he set off down the hallway, Iaround the sunken living room Bits and pieces of conversations washed over me

"confirm the source"

"should consider possible defamation and slander liabilities"

"a declaration of war against the Rutledge fa when I opened the doors of the console The crystal decanters were tucked neatly inside, but they were empty I made my way back to the kitchen, where I discovered an ee

Confused, I faced Parker when he returned "Looks like we’re out of everything"

"I couldn’t find anything, either"

"I’ in particular you’d like?"

He touched my arm "I’ll take care of it Why don’t you hole up in your rooet out of this mess?"

"I feel like I should help somehow"

"Just take care of my son," he mur, but nothing ca and heading down the hallway, passingto Jax’s ho in front of the ith his arh a headset

"We need those records Yes, I understand that and I don’t give a shit Don’t think whatever this is won’t blow back on you, too Right I’ll be at this nu when he sawin front of his desk "Gia"

He fell silent Shoving a hand through his hair, he cursed softly He looked worn and edgy He’d ditched his jacket and tossed it over a chair in the corner His vest was unbuttoned, as was the button at the throat of his shirt His tie was loosened and the shadow of evening stubble on his tight jaw gave hihed "I’et a handle on it"

"What is it?"

"We got a tip today about an article that’s supposedly going out toet details about the reporter and her piece"

I sed hard "Deanna Johnson"

Jax froze "You know her?"

"She used to date Vincent"

"Fuck" He scowled "I need all of her contact info--eht" I stepped closer "Jax, we have to talk"

"I know, and ill But I can’t right now"

"This is my fault"

He came to me and pressed a kiss to my forehead "No I should’ve talked to you about Ted and--"

His set this" He tapped his earpiece "Rutledge," he answered briskly, then, "That’s a start How quickly can you get them to me?"

He turned his back to me, and I clenched et the infor to have to blurt it out before he cut me off I hated to blindside him like that, but he needed to know

With my cell in hand, I headed back to his office and closed the door behindso on his monitor

"I have the information you wanted" I walked up to him "Deanna’s written an article about your mother About how the family had her committed to an institution"