Chapter 117

Erin’s POV

I didn’t like being cruel to him over a cheap blouse, but I needed to get out of his office quickly. My entire body was incredibly warm, and my heart was racing at lightning speed. I wanted so much more of him; I needed more of him.

But I had to get out of there.

I hurried up the stairs before anyone saw me. I was completely bare; only the fabric of my shirt hid my breasts from the world, but only if I held them together.

The last thing I needed was for Anna to spot me like this; then, she would know something was going on between Gavin and me.

Once I was in the room, I felt relaxed. I dropped the ripped shirt onto the ground and grabbed my phone. I only had one message from Henry asking how my night was, but aside from that, I hadn’t spoken to him much besides telling him that I got inside the packhouse.

I opened our text thread to send him a quick message.

“Gavin’s being blackmailed by an unknown woman. His family is in danger as well and I think it might be related.”

I pressed send and waited only minutes before my phone dinged.

“Could be the reason he’s part of the Killer organization. Just be careful.”

I still didn’t want to believe that Gavin would sink so low as to become a member of that organization. Then again, there’s no telling what he would do to protect his family.

I know what I would have done to protect mine.

There was a knock on the bedroom door, making me put my phone down as I wrapped myself in a robe and went to open it.

It was Anna.

“Sorry to bother you; I thought maybe you would like some tea. Jill always liked a cup of tea at this hour,” Anna said as she walked into the room with a tray with a tea set on top of it. She placed the tray on the table on the far side of the room before turning back to me.

“I brought sugar and milk as well… just in case,” she said with a kind smile.

“Thank you, Anna. But you really didn’t have to do any of that.”

“I don’t mind. Honest,” she said sweetly. “I like having something to do around here.”

She went to leave, but then I thought of something.

“Anna?” I asked just before she walked out of the door. She paused and turned to face me. “Have you heard anything around here about a blackmailer?”

Anna rose her brows.

“A blackmailer?” She asked. “Who is being blackmailed?”

I wasn’t sure how much I should say, but there was a part of me that trusted her.

“I think Alpha Gavin is being blackmailed. But I’m not entirely sure by whom. But whomever they are…I think they are threatening his entire family.”

She gasped and covered her mouth with her hands.

“Is that why Miss Jill had to go to the safe house?” Anna asked. “And Alpha’s parents?”

“I think so,” I answered honestly. “But I’m lost as to why anyone would blackmail him. And who…”

“Could it be for money?”

“If it was that simple, then Gavin would just give them money,” I said thoughtfully.

“Have you asked him?”

“I don’t think he would tell me if I did,” I answered. “You really haven’t heard anything at all?”

“I’m afraid not,” she answered with a timid frown. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be more helpful.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I said in return. “Thank you again for the tea, Anna.”

She nodded her head before leaving.

I needed to find out who this blackmailer was and what she wanted. I knew she was a woman because the list Gavin had was all women’s names. Which meant he knew for sure that she was a woman, but he didn’t know who she was.

I wondered if he ever saw her face, or if he just heard her voice.

And what kind of bidding was she getting him to do for her?

The thought of Gavin bending over backward for another woman was unsettling. Even if she was a dangerous woman that he couldn’t stand.

For the time being, I brushed the thought out of my mind and went to take a shower. I couldn’t get the thought of Gavin’s touch out of my head. My body was still warm from passion, but it was nothing a cold shower couldn’t fix.

Emily was relentless during the shower. She was wiggling in discomfort as the icy water rinsed over the heat that infected my body. I allowed the water to soak through my hair and soothe my burning flesh.

Water was my natural element, so it felt nice whenever I got a chance to spend time with it.

I breathed in the cold atmosphere until I was ready to step out of the shower. I grabbed a towel that hung on the wall and wrapped my body in it.

I had red blotches all around my neckline from when he was kissing and sucking on my neck. They were small hickeys, not the mark of a bite.

I would have killed him if he marked me.

It wasn’t anything that makeup couldn’t hide. I didn’t want anyone in this packhouse to see these blemishes or else they would know something was happening between us.

I wasn’t even sure what was happening between us, but I needed to stay focused on this mission.

Once I hid the marks on my neck, I went into the room and grabbed a fresh pair of clothing. This time, I was making it a point to stay away from any short skirts and tight blouses.

I didn’t need or want him accusing me of seducing him again.

It’s been a few hours since I last saw Gavin and that was how I wanted it for right now. I wanted to roam around his packhouse and speak to some of the other workers. I knew packhouse workers well enough to know that someone always hears something, and the gossiping never ends.

Someone must have heard something about a blackmailer, and I was going to figure out who it was.

“Erin?” I heard my name being called as I neared the stairwell. I paused when I saw Gavin walking toward me.

He was dressed in a nice suit, and I knew it meant he was getting ready for a meeting. He looked so handsome in his suit, but he looked even better with it off.

The very thought made my cheeks grow warm. I straightened my stance, not allowing him to see through me as he often does.

His boyish grin made my heart quicken its speed.

That’s also when I noticed he was holding a white box.

“Can I help you with something?” I asked, keeping my voice uninterested.

He frowned.

“I wanted to make sure you were all right,” he said. “I’m sorry for your blouse.”

“I appreciate that,” I said, turning away from him to continue going down the stairs.

“Wait a minute,” he said, stopping me again. “I got something for you. It’s an apology gift.”

I frowned and stared at the box.

“You didn’t have to get me anything, Gavin.”

“I know I didn’t have to. But I wanted to,” he said, his grin widening. “Please accept it as my honest apology.”

“Money can’t buy me—”

“I’m not trying to persuade or buy you,” he assured me quickly. “But I would like to make this wrong, right.”

I stared at him for a moment longer; he looked so innocent, and it tugged at my heart. He truly was sorry; I could feel how genuine he was, and I knew I was being impossible.

I sighed and gave him a small smile.

“Thank you,” I said to him, taking the box from his hands.

I opened the top of the box and my eyes widened when I saw the most gorgeous fleece blouse I had ever seen. It was pearly white with white pearls around the collar.

“Oh, my goddess… it’s beautiful,” I breathed, taking the blouse out of the box, and holding it up to get a better look. “I can’t accept something like this…”

“Please do,” he said with a kind smile. “As I said… it’s a wrong I would like to make a right.”

I couldn’t help the smile that appeared on my face. Then, he stepped closer to me like he was about to walk past me, but he paused, placing his hand on my lower back.

He spoke in a low and sexy tone, “Then maybe later I can take it off you the proper way.”