Page 101 of The Arrangement

“Are you going to tell me what was bothering you today?” I ask, sliding off him and cozying up against his side. “You said no secrets.”

He doesn’t answer me immediately, and a pang of guilt hits me hard. He doesn’t have to tell me everything that happens in his life—I don’t expect him to. I only want him to feel how he makes me feel: I’m never on my own.

“Okay,” he says, sighing. “You’re right. I’ve been a little thrown off today because my father has agreed to take responsibility for the fraud and extortion charges being levied at me and Gannon, as well as pleading guilty to the murder charges and all that entails.”

What is he talking about?I pull away to see his face. “Whoa. Hang on.” My heart pounds. “You told me there was a threat that was aimed at you, but made it seem like it was being handled. And I didn’t ask you about it because you didn’t seem to want to discuss it.” I shift my weight to sit up, my brows pinched. “There are fraud and extortion charges against you and Gannon?”

His gaze grows weary as his palm finds my thigh. “Not yet.”

Wow.

“But it has nothing to do with me or Gannon,” he says quickly, his eyes searching mine. “I mean it, Chloe. It’s?—”

“Shh. Of course, it doesn’t. That’s not where I was going with this.”

He sinks into the mattress and catches his breath.

I caress the side of his face. “For what it’s worth, even if those charges were against you, we’d beat them.”

He stills. A small breath leaves his lips as he jerks me into his arms.

I giggle as he rolls me onto my side, my back to his front. “Hey, what’s this for?”

“Just let me hold you here for a while.”

“Okay.” I hold on to his hands locked at my waist. “But you said he’s taking responsibility for it all, right? So it’s done?”

He kisses the back of my head. “Not exactly.”

“And why not?”

He sighs, resting his chin on me. “There’s a condition—one I don’t want to meet.”

“Which is …”

“He wants to meet with me.”

Oh. I know how much he dislikes his father, and rightfully so. I hate the man for what he’s done to Jason and his family. There’s no way Jason would want to face him. Not after everything that’s happened.

But I also know Jason’s sense of loyalty and his need to protect those he loves. And if he thinks this is the only way to protect the others from dealing with the mess of a trial, I know he’ll do it.

It’ll hurt him, even if he doesn’t admit it.

“Want me to go with you?” I offer softly.

He smiles against my hair. “No.”

“Are you sure?”

He kisses me again. “The fact that you’d even offer is more than enough for me.” This time, a third kiss touches me in the crook of my neck. “I’m not even sure I’m going yet. The fucker doesn’t deserve a soundboard to rattle off whatever venom or excuse he has. And, quite frankly, I’m not sure I could look at him and not kill him.”

I hum, pressing my back against him.

I have my thoughts on the situation, but my opinion doesn’t matter now. What matters is that Jason knows I’m on his side regardless of his decision and the outcome. I’m doing what he said—acting like Mrs. Brewer.

“Can I help you?” I ask sweetly.

“I don’t know how you can.”