Chapter 0309

He nods to me, and we duck out of the room.

I take Jackson down a few doors to dad's study. Not his office, where he does all of his big work — but a peaceful room where he goes to relax and

think, or to have little intimate chats with his closest advisors, or mom, or Rafe, or me. Or Markie and June now, I suppose, now that theyre all grown

up too.

I can't help but smile when Jackson walks into the room like he owns it, like he's been there a thousand times. It's not that he's being conceited -

Jackson just doesn't care to look around and admire the furnishings or dad’s books. He only cares about me — this room could be filled with rubbish,

for all he would notice. Jackson moves instantly to the window seat, sitting and opening his arms, a clear invitation for me to come close.

I press the door shut and go to him, exhaling in relief when he pulls me to his chest and then up inte his lap, helping me to curl comfortably against

him in the circle of his arms. When I'm nestled in tight, his voice rumbles out, deep and reassuring. “Tell me.

And so I do. I hold up the magazine so that he can see it, telling him all of the details of what it contains — about someone spilling about how Luca and

I are mated, and the press running with it, and printing all sorts of images that confirm it. Jackson listens closely, letting me talk, only glaring a little bit

at the picture of me kissing Luca. I have to fight my smile when I see him do that, and I quickly turn the page to get away from it.

When it's all finished, Jackson nods quietly, thinking it through. “So, do you think Luca did it? Told the press?”

“[ don’t know,” I murmur, leaning into Jackson's warmth. “Itisn’t...something I think is beyond him.”

"What do you mean?” Jackson asks, confused and a little horrified. And as I look up at him, I realize it's because he'd never do something like this — it

wouldn't even enter his head. So he doesn't get the motive — not at all.

“Luca...likes being a celebrity, Jacks,” I say quietly, staring up into his face. "And that's not a bad thing — Jesse likes it too, and Rafe and I don’t mind

it. But Luca actively cultivates it — he's talked to the press about his romantic relationships before. And considering how positive this article is...Luca

telling the press this big news the day of his big fight? It... can see how it would be tempting. The ratings for the fight will probably go sky high.”

“But he knew it would upset you,” Jackson says, frowning.

I stare up at him, and put a hand out flat on his chest, wanting to be close when I clarify things for him. "Jacks, Luca knew it would upset you.

“What?” he breathes, screwing up his face in confusion

“Think about it; I say, sitting up a

little straighter, wanting to ensure

that he understands. If Luca did

this, therrhe knows that I'm going to

be mag-at it — but he knows that.I'll

events y forgive him. This isn't the

sort of thing I'd leave him ayer — not

ifthe long run, not with <=

how..important he is to me.”

Jackson's face goes a little dark when he hears me say that, but he doesn’t say anything, listening closely.

“But Jacks™ continue, lifting a hand

to cup his'cheek, "in doing this, Luga

also basically made it impossikle for

yout to claim me publicly as your

mate.” ta.

Jackson's expression doesn’t change — he still just frowns in confusion.

“Whoever did this made it so that the

two of us — ge ie and you, Jacks? We

can’t be seer in public together ._

romantigally — you can't hold my >

hand, QFKiss me, or pick me up; of

give any indication that we're—

ronaantical y involved. At all-Not

where anyone with a camera could

catch us.”

"What!?” Jackson breathes, his eyes going wide as the gravity of the whole situation sets in.