Jackson (The Love Family Series Book 8) by Kate Allenton Page A

the FBI so that I can have my life back.”
    “You don’t have to do this. We’ll find another way,” Declan argued.
    “He’s right,” Gabe answered. “You don’t. Jackson and Alexis wouldn’t want you to put yourself in danger.”
    “If I stay, the Loves and I are in danger, and in order to get them to stop, I’d have to expose the truth, which we all know would put the rest of you in danger. If I go, I help him, and he’ll make it all go away. There is no choice. I choose Jackson, Alexis, and your family secrets over my spending twenty-four hours answering questions.” She glanced at Marsh. “You swear no harm will come to me?”
    “You have my word,” he answered, and she glanced back at Declan. He nodded. That was the only reassurance she needed to take the step into the unknown to protect the people she cared about. She would have done more.
    “Tell Jackson I’ll see him in a day.”
    Declan nodded as Scarlett followed Mr. Marsh out of the conference room and into the sheriff’s department lobby. Jackson was pacing the room, and he stopped when he spotted her. He closed the distance between them and placed his palms on her arms. “Are you okay?”
    She nodded. “But I have to go with Mr. Marsh. Declan and Gabe will explain.”
    He shook his head. “No. You aren’t going anywhere with him.”
    Mr. Marsh waited by the double glass doors.
    “I have to do this.” She leaned in and kissed his lips. “I’ll be back in twenty-four hours. Please don’t try to stop me.”
    “Why?”
    “Ms. Denton, we must go.” Mr. Marsh said, interrupting them.
    “It all ends today. I promise; please, trust me,” she said, slipping out of his hold. She followed Mr. Marsh with a backward glance over her shoulder. Declan and Gabe were standing next to Jackson. She couldn’t hear the words through the door, but she could read Jackson’s angry expression as he pointed a finger in her direction.
    He wouldn’t understand, but she did. She loved him, and there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do to protect the people she loved. If her life was in danger when the FBI showed up again, they might be caught in the crossfire. She was doing this for Jackson as much as she was doing it for herself. That realization made her pause. She’d always had a schoolgirl crush on him, but when had it turned into love?
    Mr. Marsh held the limo door open while she slipped inside. 
     

 
     
     
    Chapter 10

     
     
    Mr. Marsh made small talk in the limo and on the plane, no matter how she tried to push the issue to figure out what he wanted to know. He was a pro at avoiding questions. “Where are you taking me?”
    “To the hub of the problem, of course. I want to show you firsthand what her research entails to give you peace of mind that she isn’t deliberately harming anyone so that we can solve that issue once and for all.”
    Great, she was a sheep being led into the lion’s den.
    “No harm will come to you,” he said, reading her mind.
    “And the questions you want me to answer?”
    Mr. Marsh’s lips twitched. “In due time, Ms. Denton.”
    Scarlett had a hard time relaxing on the plane, or in the car, on the way to the facility. Once they arrived, the butterflies in her stomach were in full fight mode and swarming to escape. They’d given her a tour of the entire facility, including the areas off-limits to the other staff. Scarlett’s mind eased. Unsupervised interviews with some patients about their treatment helped.
    A few had even shown her what they were capable of doing. One levitated objects in the room. Another conjured objects into appearing. Others had dangerous gifts, and she could see how they might be scared enough to sign up. She had met a fire starter who had burned down her house and almost killed her children. The need to control her ability was evident. This place was the only one in existence that knew about the abilities and was trying to help those who needed it most. Scarlett’s stomach