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Aftershock Sylvia Day 28770K 2023-09-03

I headed to Rossi’s after work My fas with Vincent

He orking happy hour at the bar when I ca for ahis attention to the drink he wasstyle wasn’t the saot the sa him with their eyes everywhere he went The dark and broody thing worked for hied an empty barstool and watched hi their hand at capturing his attention, but he was eyeing lance The same couldn’t be said about our parents, who couldn’t stop looking our way every few uy sitting on ht, I broke the ice and said, "I’htened his spine Then he grabbed the five spot tip off the bar, rapped his knuckles on the polished wood in thanks, and dropped the cash in the tip jar "I’ the bar with hi me a sesturing me ahead of him with an impatient wave of his hand

It was impossible not to be reminded of Jax when I entered the back office, but I pushed the ot to the point "I need you to forgive o"

"You did?" I blinked through the rush of relief that had ainst our dad’s desk "Then on’t you talk to me?"

"To punish you Plus, I don’t want to hear any excuses about what you did If being with Jax et out"

"He didn’t have anything to do with how I handled Deanna I don’t knohy he told you that"

"Because he knows he did" Vincent held up a hand to cutout of here if you don’t understand this real quick: you dealt with the situation like a Rutledge, not a Rossi, and you learned how to be like that frolance at the fareeht" He ran a hand over the top of his head, then

I started bawling I hadn’t expected it, hadn’t even known it was bottled up in ain

Vincent cursed and grippedwith crying woo

"Cut it out," he muttered, with his lips at the crown of my head

"I ht here"

"I one for days"

His chest heaved with a sigh beneathreduced to stuttered inhalations "I d-don’t knohat to do"

Vincent’s jaw tightened "Stop crying for one thing Then stop worrying about Jax He’s getting his shit together"

"What? What does that mean? How do you know that?"

He stepped back "He told me"

I frowned and wiped at my cheeks "Why would he tell you that and not me?"

"Because I’m probably one of the few people on’t try and talk hilish, please?"

He snorted "I’ the way for hioes, it’ll be up to hi me, Vincent"

"Good You deserve it" He tossed an aret back to the bar I’ll make you a drink"

"I wish you’dinto him so he stumbled a step

"Watch it"

We returned to the restaurant and nized the head of pure white hair fro, Parker Rutledge turned and found me When he visibly relaxed, I knew he’d come to seekwith Jax?

"Holler if you needto the bar

I watched Parker approach and hoped my eyeliner andI’d taken a minute to freshen up in the ladies’ room Jax’s dad was dressed in a sharp black suit and pale blue tie, and he looked ready to conquer the world I was afraid I looked defeated

"Gianna" He pulledto speak with you"

"Is everything all right?"

"I’m afraid not Can we talk?"

"Sure" Because he looked and sounded so serious, I asked, "Would it be better to go to the penthouse?"

His lips twisted ruefully "Jackson gave h I confess I was about to anyway if you hadn’t couard ent everywhere with me Had he tipped off Parker? Not that I cared either way

I caughther knoas taking it She nodded and crossed it off the seating chart