Emily watched as the tension between the two men escalated, her palms sweaty with anxiety. It was a confrontation she had unintentionally caused, and she knew that trying to mediate would only make things worse.

Frustrated, she threw up her hands and said, "You two can argue all you want, I’m going to get some fresh air."

Jackson quickly caught up to her as she moved toward the door. "I'll come with you," he said, possessively wrapping an arm around her shoulders, leading her out of the ...