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And the less Becky knew the better.
The less she saw Jackson the better.
What had he gone back to Damon’s for?
She didn’t want Becky involved in this. Becky was like her sister—Damon and Becky were the family she’d chosen.
And she would protect that family at all costs.
She didn’t know for sure, but her gut told her he’d gone there looking for her. Instead, he’d found Becky, and now he’d use her to get what he wanted, and if Diaz found out... She shook her head, grabbing her car keys.
“I’m on my way,” she said, hanging up to the sound of Damon’s warning words.
He’d called her when Jackson first arrived, and she agreed it wasn’t a good idea for her to turn up. Not when Diaz’s men could be watching her.
But now that he was wining and dining Becky? No. Anna was not going to let her get involved with this.
Jackson was smooth, charming, and handsome. He was the kind of man who could warm even the coldest heart—Anna should know. For three years she’d worked this case without any distraction, and now all she knew was distraction.
She drove calmly to Damon’s, keeping to the speed limit, but she checked her mirrors incessantly. She had to be more careful now than she’d ever been.
When she pulled into the parking lot, she second-guessed her decision—she needed to stay as far away from him as possible so he couldn’t cloud her judgment—but she would not let him involve Becky in this.
She bit her lip, looking at Sloan’s. She felt like this was one of those moments in life, a fork in the road—one road led to heaven and one to hell.
She got out of the car, walked casually through the front door, said hello to a few of the guys, and headed into the bathroom that had another entry to the dining room.
Damon was busy with a customer, so that gave her a minute at best to assess the situation. She walked through the dark hallway, stopping at the entrance of the dining room. She stood in the shadows for a moment, taking the opportunity to watch them.
What she didn’t expect to feel was the pang in her chest.
Becky was leaning forward on the table, laughing. She looked like she didn’t have a worry in the world. And she looked... happy.
She looked over Jackson. He didn’t beam happiness, but he seemed relaxed and at ease.
Yet again, she wished for a different life. One where she could go on dates like this rather than having to pretend to love someone she despised.
Anna wanted a life where she could create her own family.
But she was stuck in hell with no immediate way out.
The dream is coming later,Anna reminded herself.
Right now, though, she had to sort this mess out before it became a disaster and someone got hurt.
She cleared her throat, took a deep breath, and pulled back her shoulders.
She heard footsteps behind her and looked over her shoulder to see Damon. He eyed her, no doubt suspicious as to why she was loitering in the hallway watching them. She was asking herself the same question.
She stepped into the dining room before he could stop her.
Becky’s eyes lifted to her as she entered, and a smile spread across her face. “Anna, I’m so glad you could come,” Becky said, pulling out a chair. “I want you to meet someone. This is Axel.”
Anna looked at him and saw somewhat of an apology in his eyes for lying to her friend. She knew how guys like Jackson operated; he might feel a twinge of guilt, but he’d make the same choice over again. He’d do what he needed to do to win.
She recognized it, because she was the same.
Anna sat down, turning toward him. “Axel, is it? I must’ve misheard you the other night,” she said with a smile that would melt butter.
