Silence.

That's the only thing you could hear in the room. Pure silence. I was seated at a comfortable distance away from Jackson with my legs crossed and my hands hugging a fluffy pillow. Jackson stared at the ground for a few minutes and I stared at him, lost in my thoughts. He's so beautiful yet so troubled. He wants to tell me his story but something is holding him back.

After ten minutes. " Look, i'm sorry I asked...I didn't know this was gonna be so hard for you, maybe you should just—"

Without letting me finish my sentence he got up and walked out of the room.

Okay.

I was just going to tell him that maybe he should just tell me about the mafia, since I know that bringing up the past can be very troubling. I personally did not enjoy having recaps about Andrew, but then again I didn't share that with anyone but my own thoughts. Sometimes saying things out loud makes it more real and I wonder if Jackson's past is that dark that he doesn't want to—

" Sorry," He stumbled in the room with the remaining bottle of liquor in his hand. " I'm uh, ready"

He sat on the bed again in the same spot he did before. I tried to meet his eyes but they were a little dazed and unfocused. I'm pretty sure his hair has dried by now and his frame just looked completely exhausted, it's like on the outside he's physically fit —and I mean fit— but on the inside he's torn. I frowned.

He chuckled. " You're frowning and I haven't even started talking yet" When I didn't respond he continued. " After your dad found me he was planning on sending me to some kind of child protection service but I overheard two of his guards talking and snuck out, I managed to somehow slip past his staff but once I went into the real world something stopped me"

He took a swig from the bottle. " Every woman holding the arm of a child was my mother and every guy in a black suit was my enemy." He met my sad eyes. " Every sound that was too loud was the bullet that took my dad's life, I was broken"

" Do you miss them?" I whispered.

" Who? My parents? they're all I had" His voice cracked. " I don't know if you've noticed but I'm a lone wolf now" He tried to smile.

You have me idiot.

" What about your friends?"

" Fake," He laughed. " I'm their boss, my happiness —and your safety— is their priority, although I must admit Aiden has been with me from the start...he has a past that he chose to burn, literally"

I gasped.

" No, I'm not telling you about Aiden's past, he chose to let go of it and I really should be doing the same but..." His eyes drifted towards the ceiling.

" But what?" I slouched and leaned forward.

" I remember... seeing someone when I was a child but I don't know..." He got up and paced the room. It's like his mind was somewhere else. " Vito. I remember seeing Vito but I don't know why...I think he killed my parents"

" What? why would he...?," I paused. " Maybe my dad knows something, you said they've been enemies for a while didn't you?"

" Well, I don't remember telling you that but," He turned to face me and stared for a while, shocked. " but uh, um...I forgot"

I gave him a weird look. " Yeah sure. Why are you acting so weird all of a sudden?"

" I should go" He scratched the back of his neck and tried to leave but I ran and stood in front of the door.

" Not until you finish your story" I placed my palm on his firm chest. His muscles clenched and a slow smirk began to form on his lips.

" But you're dad has the missing gaps to my story and he plans on filling them in whenever i'm ready to take charge and be the real boss"

" So...," I stared at him like he was crazy. " Why don't you take charge?"

His eyes traveled over my body and looked away. "Because i'm not his son, and the first born child of the mafia boss is supposed to be the heir"

I gasped. " What? me?...but i'm a girl.."

" Which is exactly why Vito is after you," He sighed. " This was not a part of our deal i've said way too much and you're obviously cold so i'm gonna—"

" Don't you dare walk out on me now Jackson Miller!," I stood my ground in front of the door. " Wait, how do you know i'm cold?"

He bent down to my level and whispered in my ear. " Nice tits"

" Oh my god!" I shrieked looking at my exposed boob. " How long have I—"

" Around fifteen minutes," He smirked. " You know at first I was going to tell you but I thought 'why not have some fun' and see how long it would take you to notice"

" You're such a creep, ugh!" I slapped his arm, my cheeks turned crimson red.

" On the contrary, i'm actually a gentleman because a) I tried my best not to look and b) I told you because your nipple was getting—"

" Shut up!" I threw a pillow at his head and he gracefully dodged it.

" Oh come on, don't be mad at me," He grabbed my hand. " I was just having some fun since I'm practically opening up my soul to you right now"

He did seem kind of vulnerable. " Fine, under one condition; you have to tell me everything you know about why Vito is chasing me"

"Another day another time vanilla bean" He shook his head.

" Then get out" I clutched the robe tightly around my body.

His features changed as he studied me. " You don't have to do that you know"

" Do what?" I turned my back to him.

" Hide, or be self conscious, you're beautiful...I just want you to know that" He gently squeezed my shoulders and my legs buckled beneath me. He swooped me off my feet bridal style and bit his lip while staring into my eyes. " You know, you're not off limits anymore, your dad approves" he winked.

" Get away from me" I jumped down and shoved him. " You have absolutely no effect on me whatsoever"

" Is that so?," His voice was low and husky. " I bet you get wet just by me talking to you"

I gulped. " N-No"

" Sure babe" He slowly walked towards me and I backed up into the wall.

" S-Stop it" I squeezed my legs together and tried to calm my breathing.

" See?," His voice went back to normal. " You. Want. Me. Now, please put some clothes on before I actually lose my control and willpower"

"No," I said feeling a little more brave. " In fact I think I'm just gonna untie this knot right..now" my robe dropped in a pile around my feet. Two can play this game.

Jackson's eyes widened almost as if it were about to pop out of his socket. He turned around sharply. " Ashley," He spoke between his teeth, trying to sound calm. " You have three seconds to get dressed or else—"

" I'll take the or else, please" I batted my lashes.

He turned around and looked nowhere below my face. " You don't know what you're asking for" He stood in front of me.

" Oh I think I do" I whispered. Am I really going through with this?

His lips crashed onto mine.

Yup.

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