by London Casey
~
I heard a tapping sound.
My first instinct was to go for my gun. I reached down and found my dick, but no gun.
Shit, I was still naked.
It was almost five in the morning.
Ashlynn was rolled up next to me.
I got out of the bed and hurried to put my jeans on. I then grabbed my gun and opened the door.
“Noah?”
I looked back and Ashlynn was sitting up.
“Hey,” I said. “I heard a noise. I’ll be right back.”
That sprung Ashlynn into action. There was no use in telling her to stay put. She would need to check on Jude. She was a great mother and I would never get in the way of that.
I opened the door to Jude’s room and looked into the crib. The baby was fast asleep.
Ashlynn was then right behind me.
“What did you…”
The sound came again.
From the front door.
“Shit,” I said. “Someone’s here. Get the baby…”
“No,” Ashlynn said. “I’m coming with you to see.”
“Why are you so stubborn?”
“Because it’s my life too.”
I went to the door and asked, “Who the hell is it?”
“It’s Detective Williams. I know you have a baby in there so I don’t want to pound on the door and make noise. Open the hell up, Noah.”
I handed Ashlynn the gun and she stuck it into her robe.
I opened the door and nodded to the detective. “Good morning…”
“Yeah, right,” he said. “I’ve been up all fucking night. We have to talk.”
“Am I in trouble?”
“No,” Detective Williams. Then he pointed to Ashlynn. “But she is.”
41.
(Ashlynn)
“What the hell did I do?” I asked.
“Do you have any coffee?” Detective Williams asked.
“No,” Noah said. He put a hand out to stop me from going toward the kitchen. “We’re trying to sleep. We have a baby that’s due for a feeding soon. What do you want?”
“Fair enough.”
“Is Benito okay?” Noah asked.
“He’s fine,” Detective Williams said. “It’s about your old stomping grounds.”
“Mine?” I asked.
“His,” Detective Williams asked.
“Just get to your point,” Noah said.
“Your cellmate in jail.”
“Bo?”
“Yeah. He’s dead.”
I looked at Noah and watched his face drop. He made a fist and raised it up. “Say that again?”
“He’s dead,” Detective Williams said. “He was murdered. I’m sorry, Noah. I understood you two were close. He offered protection.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” Noah said. “Benito was protecting him. He told me that. He was going to have a good rest of his life there. No games. No bullshit. How…”
“Why were you called?” I asked. “Is it that big of a shock?”
“Well, with my connections,” Detective Williams said with a grin. “If something seems important I check it out. It seemed a little off that your guy would get whacked on the inside. And, yes, Benito was offering protection. So that’s another reason I had to go check it out.”
“How?” Noah asked.
“No,” I said. “Don’t ask that.”
“Tell me how,” Noah said.
I grabbed for Noah’s hand.
“Shower,” Detective Williams said. “Someone got ahold of him and slit his throat.”
“In the shower,” Noah whispered. “Fuck. Where were the guards?”
I saw the look on Detective Williams’ face. “Noah, this was well designed. It wasn’t a homemade weapon that was used to kill Bo. My guess is that it was a guard. Now you know how this shit works. Everyone has their crew, gang, family, whatever. It’s not as simple as just going after someone. I’m sorry about that.”
“Why?” Noah asked. “Was it because of me? Because he ran protection for me?”
“That was the logical belief, right? Retaliation. But it wasn’t about Benito. It was about Ashlynn.”
“Ashlynn?” Noah asked. “Why?”
Detective Williams looked at me. “Do you know who Ellis is?”
I thought for a split second I could hold it all together. I could fake it. I could get the detective out of the apartment and then lose my shit.
But I couldn’t.
I squeezed Noah’s hand tighter and looked at him. Then the room started to spin.
“Noah… help…”
~
When I came to, I was back in bed. I looked down and saw my robe. I saw Noah at the edge of the bed, in nothing but jeans. I wanted it all to be a dream. A really bad dream. A horrible dream.
“Where did…”
“He left,” Noah said. “You passing out made it pretty clear. There’s a connection.”
“I don’t get it,” I whispered. “I…”
Noah looked at me. He looked pissed. Really pissed. “Who is Ellis?”
“Noah, I’m so sorry about your friend. I can’t…”
“Just answer my fucking question.”
I sighed. I started to shake again. “Ellis… was a thing.”
“A thing?”
“A thing, Noah.”
“Like what? You fucked him? A boyfriend? An ex-husband. Jesus Christ, Ashlynn, don’t be like this.”
“He came into Ricky’s a lot. For me. Okay? I started working at Ricky’s before I met you. It was easy money and I was good at it. There was something… I don’t know, I thought I’d get older and become a doctor and be able to tell people I worked at a strip club to put myself through med school. Like the American dream.”
“Did you strip?”
“No… I mean, not for… not on stage.”
“But for Ellis?”
“He was wealthy. He’d come in and order tons of drinks. He’d give me a lot of money. Eventually he wanted more. So I went into a room with him. He asked me to show him my chest. And I did.”
“And that was it?”
I swallowed hard. My throat tightened. “Not really.”
“Fuck,” Noah said. “I’m going to stand up, sweetheart. If you hesitate anymore, I’m going to take my son and go somewhere.”
“Don’t you dare,” I said. “Don’t you dare threaten me with my son.”
“Try me,” Noah growled.
“Fine. He kept coming in and wanted more. I always told him no. I told him I wasn’t that kind of person. He then made some comment a few times that if his money wasn’t strong enough, his hands were. Almost like an idle threat. I talked to Ricky and he took care of it. Then I met you, Noah. That night. I went to that fight because I had a plan. I wanted one last crazy night and then I was done with everything. Plus, I heard from a friend that Ellis might be following me. I felt safe at the fight. Near you. Near the other people. When bullets starting flying, I thought Ellis was there to kill me. Stupid, I know. I started to hide. Then I found out I was pregnant. I talked to Ricky about everything and he said to come back to work. I did. A few weeks later, Ellis showed up. He demanded me in the back room by himself. So I went. I explained what had happened and that I was pregnant and he didn’t need me.”
“What did he do then?” Noah asked.
“Nothing. He grabbed me and tried to touch me. He stuck his hand between my legs and… I slapped him. He kicked at me, hitting me in the stomach. I freaked out and barely got away from him. He was going to hurt me, Noah. I thought I lost the baby.”
“I’m going to kill him,” Noah said. “I swear to you…”
“Ricky called the police and he was taken away. I did everything I was supposed to do with the police. Restraining order and all that. Last I knew, he was gone. Long gone. Going to different strip clubs, looking for other women to harass.”
“Now he’s back,” Noah said. “And he has a demand…”
�
��What’s that?” I asked.
Noah took out a piece of paper. “They found this in Bo’s hand. It’s a note from Ellis saying that he wants his kid.”
“His kid?” I yelled. “No. No, Noah. No. Jude is not his kid.” I hurried from the bed. “I swear on my life, Noah.” I grabbed at Noah and he stood like a statue. “I would never do that to you. I swear.”
Noah looked at me. “I know. I believe you. This shit is all connected, Ashlynn. Benito, your father, and this Ellis guy. I think your mother has more secrets than she’s confessing.”
“What does my father have to do with this?” I asked.
“There was something else with the note,” Noah said.
“What?”
Noah opened his hand.
It was a picture folded up.
I unfolded the picture. It was the picture that had been taken from my mother’s room the night those men busted in.
I looked at Noah.
“Who the… was that Ellis? Or was that my father?”
Noah shook his head. “I don’t know. But it’s not good, sweetheart. This is a power move now. Everyone wants a piece of your father and they’re going through you and my son to get it.”
“That can’t happen,” I said.
“Then don’t keep shit from me.”
I hung my head. “I didn’t think of it. I block that time of my life out, Noah.”
“Ashlynn, this is more serious than I thought. We need to meet up with Benito and give him the location.”
“I don’t know what it is,” I said. “I told you that. She told me it’s a cabin in the woods. Part of the family. We can probably pull some records or something. Maybe Benito can help us. There’s no address or anything like that. It’s somewhere in the woods.”
Noah shook his head. “Fuck. This isn’t good. We need to… shit. Happy sign.”
“Happy sign?” I asked.
Noah looked at me. “There’s a road with a sign about being happy. Do you know where that is?”
“I… uh…” My wheels spun fast. “Wait. Yeah. I think. A happy sign. The happy restaurant or something.” I looked at Noah. “How do you know this?”
“Your mother told me a story about that sign. I think that was her way of giving up the location. We have to get to Benito right now.”
“What about Jude?” I asked. “I don’t want him near any of this.”
“Shit,” Noah said. “Okay. Listen to me. You have a gun, right?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Stay here. Lock the doors. Stay with Jude. Don’t make a move. I’m going to meet with Benito right now. I’ll tell him everything that’s happened.”
“Can’t you call him?”
“No. He doesn’t talk business over the phone. Too risky. I need to see him, sweetheart. I need to know he’s not involved. My trust… I don’t know who to trust right now.”
That was like a punch to the chest. “Oh.”
“I’m sorry,” Noah said. “Right now all I want to do is protect my son. And I’m asking you to do the same. Don’t make a move.”
I tried to grab for Noah as he left the bedroom. I couldn’t stop him though. I watched as he stopped in the hallway and looked to his left, at Jude’s room. He made a fist and put it out. Then he nodded.
I touched my mouth as tears filled my eyes.
All I could do then was be strong and wait.
All I had to do was not make a mistake… like answer the door for the wrong person…
42.
(Noah)
It was too much to handle. That was reaction as I sped to Benito’s. Just everything on my damn back. My best friend was fucking dead. Not that I knew much about Bo, but on the inside, you didn’t need much to feel everything. That man put himself on the line for me many times. Christ, I thought about when they took him down, shocking him to make sure he didn’t try and hurt the guards. That was a regular thing for Bo. He took it in pride and swallowed it all down for the sake of his family.
His family.
Those two boys of his. A woman that had a fierce love and loyalty.
I drove faster as the jealousy surged through me. Yeah, that’s right, jealousy. It didn’t make sense for me to be jealous. But I was. Some guy grabbing at Ashlynn? I could shove it aside. But some asshole paying her to flash him? And then coming back for more? Some guy trying to touch her body after I had been there and gotten her pregnant? Not to mention trying to kick and hurt my child.
This Ellis guy was dead.
He would be smarter to just put a bullet in his own head.
The tires screamed as I turned into the back lot of the bar to meet up with Benito. Before I could park, three men came out with guns. Rightfully so, they figured it was an attack on Benito.
I turned off the car and climbed out. The door opened again and I saw Dante walk out. In a full suit, but without the usual speed of his. It would take time for that bullet wound to fully heal.
“Put your fucking guns down,” Dante said.
The men listened.
“I need to talk to Benito,” I said.
“We heard about Bo,” Dante said. “I’m sorry, man.”
“Me too,” I said. “I know who Ellis is. He’s somehow involved with Craig. And he’s after Ashlynn and Jude. He was some stalker freak that was after her before I met her. I think he’s pissed she had a baby with me. He thinks the kid is his…”
I was at the door and Dante put a hand to it. “I have to ask something, Noah. And you cannot try to take a swing at me.”
“Try me,” I said. “I’m not in the mood to make any promises.”
“This baby… it’s yours?”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“You know exactly what it means.”
“Move your damn hand, Dante.”
Dante moved his hand, but I didn’t rip open the door and rush inside.
“The kid is mine,” I said. “I believe it. I saw pictures of all the shit Ashlynn went through. And you know what? Even if the kid wasn’t mine, I don’t care at this point. That baby deserves a good life and so does Ashlynn.”
“Wow,” Dante said. “I never thought I’d hear you say something like that.”
I ignored Dante’s comment and went inside. I found Benito at the bar and he was holding a glass of something, but he wasn’t drinking it. He was just swishing it around, staring at the liquid.
“We have to talk,” I said. “I know where Craig is.”
Benito looked at Dante and gave a nod. That was Dante’s cue to shut the door, lock it, and keep all ears away from the conversation. You could never know when a rat was lingering around.
“Talk,” Benito said.
“This is getting deeper,” I said.
“I’m really sorry about your friend,” Benito said. “We had protection for him.”
“Is that why you’re nervous right now?” I asked. “Because whoever set that up with Bo… that’s power.”
“We have more,” Dante said.
“Noah’s right,” Benito said. He looked at me. “You think Bo’s death and Craig are related?”
“Yes. The note he left with Bo points right to Ashlynn. She had some kind of stalker a while back. Before she got pregnant. The guy bothered her and she eventually got rid of him. He’s the one doing all this.”
“Jesus,” Benito said. “Is her pussy made out of chocolate or something? Everyone wants it.”
I grabbed a beer bottle and slammed it off the edge of the bar, shattering it. Dante grabbed my arm. “Hey, Noah, calm down.”
“I get it,” Benito said. “You really love her, huh?”
“She’s the mother of my son. She has nothing to do with her father. Her mother had been giving him money without anyone knowing. I guess her mother is all dried up, but he doesn’t believe it. So he’s coming after her. That’s why he used the address.”
“How does this other guy factor in?” Benito asked.
“I’m not sure,” I said. “Would
n’t surprise me if her father went to him and struck up a deal.”
“A deal?” Dante asked.
“Her father is a piece of shit. He probably told this Ellis guy that he could give him his daughter in exchange for money.”
“Christ,” Dante whispered.
“That’s not half bad,” Benito said.
“Do you know anything about Ellis?” I asked.
“Not much,” Benito said. “He moves slow and steady. He’s making this statement because of your woman. He really wants her. And if he has her father involved… just damn.”
“Just damn?” I asked. “Make some calls then. Get more of your family down here. Nothing can happen to her. No way.”
“I make the rules, Noah,” Benito said.
“My best friend is dead. A man who put his ass on the line to keep me alive. You promised he wouldn’t die. Now he’s dead.”
“Okay,” Dante said, putting a hand to my shoulder. “Why don’t we have a drink and calm down?”
I grabbed Dante’s wrist and twisted it. “Fuck that.” I pushed Dante out of my way. “You owe this to me, Benito. For all I’ve done for you. That’s the woman I love and my son. My goddamn child. I’ll do anything to protect them. Even if that means taking this guy on by myself.”
I turned to storm out of the bar.
“Noah?” Benito said.
I stopped and turned. He reached into his pocket and took out money. He put it on the bar and slid it toward me. Then he patted it.
“That’s yours,” he said. “Another payment for what you did on the inside. I told you I owe you. I’m paying.”
I walked to the bar and pushed the money back at him. “This is my payment to you then. My tribute. My asking for help. I don’t want anything to do with money if I can’t have my family.”
That’s when I left the bar for good.
I got into the car and I thought about what to do next.
Before I could make a plan, a plan came to me.
My cell rang.
I answered the call, an unknown number.
“Hello?”
“Is this Noah?” a voice asked.
“Yes. Who is this?”
“This is Ellis.”
43.
(Ashlynn)
The knocking wouldn’t stop. I was holding Jude and my phone was nowhere near me. Not a big deal since the door was locked. I carried Jude out to the living room and looked for my cell to call Noah.