Page 17 of Break Me Not

The disappointment on Claire's face was obvious, but I couldn't help it. There was no way I could stay with them in the same room.

“How about you finish your lunch and I’ll go ahead and check the perimeter?” Jax offered. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”

She sounded sincere, like the guilt she felt about sleeping with me was eating her alive as much as it was me.

But she had always known who I was. I was the clueless one.

“It’s okay. I don’t like to mix family and business,” I spat, my voice going tight. “Sorry, but I will have to call someone els⁠—”

“She can do it,” Claire said, threading her arm through mine. “There is no one better. Trust me, okay? Forget about not graduating college. And the overall distasteful look. She’s actually a really caring and hard-working person⁠—”

“Okay, Claire, your mom gets it.”

I winced at your mom. Not long ago, a similar thing was coming out of her mouth in very different circumstances.

I couldn't take this, and Jax seemed to notice that.

“I'll do the perimeter and give you my quote. You can make your decision after that, okay? See you tonight, Claire.”

I could do nothing else but nod and let my daughter take me back to my office to finish our lunch.

Jax

“Come in.”

Hesitantly, I pushed past Liz's office door, peeking into the surprisingly cluttered space.

Well, that wasn't the word she would probably use for it. Maybe curated?

There were multiple paintings hung throughout, even photographs on the back shelf that seemed to have been taken by Sloan’s wife. Though they were more safe for work than the ones she did for the club, I had seen so many there that it was hard not to make the connection.

The light overhead was dim and probably on its last life. The lamp sitting on her desk was some sort of glass flower that radiated warm light mixed with yellow and blue.

The rest of the gallery was extremely well kept. Not a speck of dust inside, and it all followed a very obvious and specific organization I was sure Liz knew like the back of her hand.

She seemed like the type. Always knowing what she wanted, always the boss, never losing her grip on control… until my tongue was licking her cunt.

Liz was at her desk, her computer pushed to the side as I came in. She had put her hair up and was now wearing glasses, a hand-knitted shawl wrapped over her.

She's so beautiful.

I felt like I was seeing a part of her that I shouldn't. The one she reserved only for the people closest to her.

When she raised a brow at me, I cleared my throat and lifted the box in my hands, showing her all the security cameras I’d taken down for her.

Get your head in the game, Jax.

“These are shitty. I'm not sure who recommended these, but they're easily hacked. I mean, most cameras are, but at least with us you’d have full-time coverage so⁠—”

“I only said I would take your quote for Claire. I want nothing to do with you.”

My heart squeezed in my chest. Acting quickly, I made sure to shut and lock the door behind me.

“Jax, whatever you’re planning to⁠—”

“I’m sorry,” I said, quickly placing the box of security cameras on the ground. I walked slowly toward her desk, scared that if I moved too fast, she would bolt. “Can I explain, please?”

She looked at me for a hard moment before motioning to the seat across from her. I sat up straight, so on edge that my hands were balled into fists.