Blood is thicker than water

(Thank God I have a spare key, I forgot to take mine when I left. Things look weird like someone came here, maybe it was Pierre. But why he didn't call me?)

I hear some noise coming from the kitchen.

"What are you doing here?"

"What are you talking about?"

(What my mother is doing in my apartment? How did she find it?)

"Where's Pierre? Who let you in?"

Are you drunk, Amanda?

"No, mother. I didn't inherit this skill from you."

"I hope you're here to give my money not just to judge me."

"What money? I told you I'm not giving you money anymore."

"Then what are you doing here Amanda?"

"What do you mean? This is my apartment. I should be asking what are YOU doing here."

(Wait, this is weird.)

"Mother, when I said you could move here?"

"I met you here with your new boyfriend a few days ago."

(Of course, she did... I'm not surprised she can't even recognize her daughters)

"This is not permanent, you need to leave."

"I don't have money to move."

"That's not my problem."

"Oh! maybe your husband has a different opinion."

"You talked with Candice, not me. You can't even recognize your daughters. You're pathetic."

"That was...? No, this is impossible."

Alice looks confused, shocked he couldn't recognize Candice.

"I was not even in the country till yesterday."

"She talked to me pretending to be you."

"Yes, but I'm back now."

"You are unbelievable."

"You better get away from my apartment or I'll tell daddy where he can find the woman who stole all his money.

"Your little...!"

Alice opens and shut her mouth a few times but she's not able to speak.

---------

I'm still waiting for news from Lucas, he hasn't been talking with me since he came to interview Jackson.

Jackson now is more stressed than ever, I wish he talked more with me.

I want to tell him to stay away from Pierre, I know he's probably involved with the money laundering, but I don't know how to warn Jackson without sounding suspicious or messing with Lucas's investigation.

I convinced Jackson to come with me and Jax for a weekend vacation, since the company and the foundation are under investigation there's not much he can do at work.

It's a nice opportunity to try to know more about what's happening in his company, also keep him away from Pierre.

I'm standing by the balcony door, Jackson is still sleeping. I take a moment to look at him, he's really beautiful. The way he sleeps exactly as Baby Jax makes me smile.

When I'm still watching him Jackson opens his eyes, still a bit groggy from sleeping. His lips curve into a sweet smile, that smile I can't resist.

"Stop watching me like a creepy and come here."

He makes the sign with his hand, he's playful and sexy. For a moment he looks rested and not so worried about everything going on back home.

First I don't move or say anything, it's still a hard decision to be intimate with him. Of course, I want him, but I hate lying.

"Come on, don't make me chase you around."

Also, I'm not used to this flirty and sexy Jackson. I feel shy around him, I shouldn't show this too much but it seems he already notice.

"You look a lot more relaxed this morning."

I talk with him trying to cool off the tension, but I don't think this is what Jackson wants.

"Since when do you do small talk or act this shy?"

"I'm not..."

I try to sound as confident as I can, but I don't think it works with him.

"If you don't want me drooling all over you, don't come at me looking so delicious."

My mouth goes dry, I swallow hard. I'm the easy prey for this strong tiger laying on that bed. He's having fun with my struggle.

Finally, I walk to the bed and sit on the edge in front of Jackson.

"I can hear you from here."

Jackson sits in his place, standing up enough to reach me. He grabs my wrist making me crawl to him, I lose my balance falling over his chest, face to face with Jackson.

"Yes, but you can't feel me from there."

When I fall on top of him I can feel he's hard under my body. Jackson holds me tight against him, his muscles so strong and warm.

He gives me a wicked smile like he has some mischievous plan in his mind. Then he flips me down, now he's on top pinning me down to the bed.

"Now, you're on the place I want you."

I try to pretend to be annoyed by his cockiness but the smile on my face traits me.

We're both laying in bed trying to take some breath, sweating and patting from the amazing morning sex. Jackson runs his fingers through my hair, I feel so close to him now.

"I don't know what changed between us..."

Jackson talks, his words make my heart sink.

"It's... I don't know how to explain."

He keeps going turning to his side to face me.

"The way we kiss, the way your body reacts to mine. Never happened before, it's like our bodies finally fit perfectly, we're connected."

His eyes are intense, Jackson is opening his heart. I just stare at him.

"It's always special to me."

That's all I can say without lying or giving too much.

"It is now. I love the way you give yourself to me."

Love, there's the four-letter word. I know he's just talking about the sex but hearing the word from his lips makes my heart warm.

"I'm glad you agreed to come here with me. There was nothing you could do about the company anyway, you would just be stressed at home."

"Me too, I'm glad you thought about it but I'll get to the end of this story when we get back on Monday."

That's what I want too, even knowing it may be mean losing him forever.

Maybe now it's time to try to make him tell me a bit more.

I'm peacefully laying on his chest, I look up to meet his face.

"Do you have any suspicion of who is stealing from the foundation?"

Jackson looks at me a bit surprised, but his eyes soften after a moment.

"I don't know, all the alternatives I can think would mean someone close is betraying me."

I can see the intensity in his eyes, it makes me shiver. In some way, I'm one of betraying him, even if we didn't have any relationship before. I'm keeping secrets from him, I'm using him to help Lucas investigate. What I feel about Jackson and my nephew doesn't change this fact, I'm a liar just like Amanda.

At least now I'm almost certain Jackson is not part of this, he feels betrayed for someone stealing from him. Now I'm even more eager to find what's going on.

Lucas is not answering my calls, I don't know if he found something else about Pierre, I know he is the new investor that Jackson talked about. Now I'm even more worried about his involvement with Amanda and why he's interested in Jackson's business.

I decided to meet Pierre to see what I can find about him. If he's close to Amanda how I think they're, maybe I can get some information from him.

We spend the rest of the weekend enjoying our time at the beach, I know it could be my last moments with Jax and Jackson.

On Monday I take the courage to ask Pierre to meet me, I need to take the risk.

He asks me to meet him at a restaurant downtown.

"You look great, I was not expecting to see you here."

I thought he would be more intimate, but I guess I don't know everything about his relationship with Amanda.

"Why not?"

I'm trying to be careful, I know this is a dangerous game. I'm just focusing on discovering the most I can before he realizes there's something wrong with me.

"I thought you didn't want to come back anymore."

(Amanda is not planning to come back home?)

"Why you thought that?"

I try to learn more without sounding suspicious.

"You are always saying how tired and bored you are here."

"But you are here too now."

"Yes, but I told you it would be fast. You wouldn't need to come, can be dangerous. You should leave and wait for me as you said, Amanda."

(They're together, but he doesn't seem to be happy to see me here.)

"Where else should I be? You may need my help."

"No, I have everything under control. Also in your condition, you should be more careful."

(He also knows about the pregnancy.)

"I don't think you care that much."

"Amanda, this is not a good time to talk about this, just leave. We will talk when I finish here."

"But we're here now."

"Amanda!..."

He looks impatient, I'm not sure he intends to be with Amanda after this. But I can't push my luck any further.

"I told you we'll talk later."

"Ok..."

As for the last test, before I leave I try to get closer to him to see how he reacts. Pierre kisses me on my cheek, too cold for lovers.

When I'm leaving the restaurant my phone is buzzing, it's Amanda!

*We need to talk*

Of course, I couldn't wait for anything warm about speaking to my sister after all this time

*Where are you?*

*Meet me in the apartment, I know you had been here before.*

(She probably saw our mother there too.)

*When?*

I feel this is even closer to an end now Amanda is back.