by Measha Stone
So, for the time being, she would take on the mountain of papers.
Her father kept everything: paid bills, old newspapers, it was never ending. But, after two hours of going through one pile and half of another, she came across a red file folder with her name scribbled on the front in her mother’s script.
Ellie traced the elaborate loops and pen strokes, letting her fingers touch the places her mother had touched. If her mother had lived, would her father have turned out the way he did—would Ellie have turned out the way she had?
She settled on the bed and opened the file. Her birth certificate, some old school papers her mother had been especially proud of, and business papers.
Just as she was halfway through the file, the doorbell rang, followed by an insistent pounding. She shoved off the bed to get answers.
“Ellie.” Jason, breathless and flushed, stood in the doorway once she pulled it open.
“Jason? What’s wrong? Is the café okay?” She tugged him into the apartment and shut the door.
“The café’s fine. But some guys were just there asking about you. Ellie, they were asking about Ash, too. I recognized one of them. He works at that restaurant on Fifth.”
“Restaurant on Fifth?” She tried to think but came up blank. “What restaurant?”
“It’s ran by the Komisky family.”
Her chest clenched. The room chilled ten degrees.
“How do you know that? I mean, what does that have to do with me?” Surely, Marcus would be able to find where she lived easily enough, he wouldn’t have to shake down her cashier at the coffee shop.
“They said they were headed to Ash’s house next. There’s a party, and they were going to settle something with him first. And they wanted to know when you’d be back in. Ellie, what the hell happened when you were gone? What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. Why would they tell you what they were doing with Ash?” She walked over to the window, pulled the curtain to the side and looked for the detail. Since she’d moved home a cars remained parked on either side of the street. “Where are the cars?”
“I think they are going to kill Ash Titon, Ellie, and they’ll come for you next.” Jason’s voice held an unfamiliar edge.
“She spun around and went in search of the phone she’d left on the couch. “Okay. It’s fine. I’ll call him. I’ll warn him.”
Jason had her phone in his hand. “Of course. Here.”
She took it from him, pushing the buttons to bring it to life. Nothing.
“I had it charged. I know I did.”
“Here use mine,” he said, offering his phone.
“Thanks.” She took his but realized she didn’t know Ash’s number. It had been programmed into the phone. She’d never had to look at it.
“Dammit,” She gave the phone back to him and ran to the closet to find her shoes. “I have to warn him. I need to get there before those guys do.”
“I’ll take you.” Jason had the front door open before she finished lacing up her shoe.
She had to reach him before anyone else did. If he was having a party, then there’d be a lot of people there. He’d be surrounded. He might not see the threat until too late.
“Fuck the speed limit, Jason. Floor it.”
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CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“The girls are ready, and the doors opened twenty minutes ago. What the hell are you doing?” Peter barged into the Annex office.
Ash looked up from his computer screen but disregarded the anger in his cousin’s eyes.
“I’m working. Just take care of the announcements for me.” Ash waved a hand over the laptop.
“Are you fucked in the head? After what happened with Marcus at the last party, and then you throw another one so soon, and now you aren’t going to do the announcements? Do you know what that looks like?”
Annoyed, Ash slammed his hand on his desk. “I don’t give a fuck what it looks like, Peter. Just handle it.”
Peter’s gaze narrowed. “Bertucci is here, Ash. You can’t fucking disappear.
Having the party had seemed like the perfect avenue to take. Keep his mind off Ellie, and she’d become a faded memory. Except it wasn’t working, and now he had a full room of men waiting to be given the instructions on how to purchase their woman for the evening, or longer. The parties never started without his announcements, and having Peter suddenly step up would give the wrong impression.
“Fine. I’m coming.”
He yanked his suit jacket on and closed the laptop. He wasn’t getting anywhere in his search anyway.
“After tonight, you are going to Ellie’s house. Because I can’t take another fucking minute of your brooding,” Peter mumbled from behind him as they made their way to the ballroom.
“Ash! Peter!” Daniel came running down the hallway, waving his hand at them.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Ash asked.
“Ellie’s detail is gone.”
“What?” Ash squared off with him, ready to smash the messenger to alleviate his worry.
“They didn’t check in, and when I tried to reach them, no answer. Both cars. Gone.”
“This could be Marcus,” Peter said. “He could be goading you into leaving the house, going after her.”
“Marcus is here.” Daniel jerked a thumb behind him. “He just pulled into the front drive. He’s with his father.”
“Send four men to Ellie’s. Make sure she’s safe. I want eyes on her.” Ash shoved a finger into Daniel’s chest.
“I already sent them,” Daniel said, holding his ground. “What about Marcus?”
“Why would he come with his father? Especially if Bertucci’s here. Are they trying to start a war with the other families?” Peter questioned.
“I have no gripe with Kristoff.” Ash ran his knuckles along his jaw. He wanted out of the family shit, away from the old ways, but the assholes just kept worming their way back to him.
“What do you want me to do, Ash?” Daniel asked, phone already in his hand.
Ash looked down the hall at all the hanging pieces of art. He had thought to have Ellie’s work there one day. He could hear the murmurs of the partygoers already inside the ballroom, waiting for him to begin the evening. If Ellie had been there, she could be on his arm, walking into the room at his side. If he’d just let her in, that’s where she’d be. At his side.
But she wasn’t there.
Ash met his cousin’s eyes. “Let them come.”
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CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Ellie jumped out of Jason’s car two blocks east of the estate. Traffic stood still at the intersection, and she couldn’t wait for it to clear. Before Jason had the car shifted into park and scrambled out, she was running up the hill to the gates.
The estate glowed, lights burning in each window. The party had already begun. She ran faster, huffing and ignoring the burn in her lungs as she made her way up the incline.
The gates were open. Several of Ash’s men guarded them, but they made no move to stop her.
“Ellie, slow down.” Jason urged, but he fell in step with her as they climbed up the steps to the house.
Ash’s men milled around outside the front door.
“Ash, where’s Ash?” she demanded.
The taller of the group glared at her at first, but recognition must have hit him. He stumbled over his own feet to push the door open.
“Inside. He’s in the Annex, his office.”
She nodded and shoved past him into the house.
The door to the annex stood wide open. She moved on, down the hall, past the ballroom full of people.
The doors to his office were closed when she got to them. She tried the handle, but it was locked.
“Ash!” She pounded on the door. “I’m here! Ash. I’m here!” she yelled, smacking the flat of her palm against the door.
It opened sl
owly, and Peter’s face greeted her. His dark expression didn’t bring any relief to the tightness in her chest.
“Ellie.” Peter looked back over his shoulder. “You shouldn’t be here,” he whispered.
“I need to talk to Ash.” She tried to push past him, but he put his arm out.
“You really can’t be here, Ellie. It’s not safe.”
More annoyed at his arrogance than ever, she fisted her hands. “Fuck safe.” With both hands, she shoved at him. The surprise of her attack could be the only explanation for how she got the large brute to move an inch. And it was only an inch, but enough for her to wiggle through the doorway and burst inside.
Ash stood in the center of the room, facing off with Marcus and an older man.
“Ash!” She came to a halt between the men.
Ash didn’t take his eyes off Marcus. “Ellie, get out,” he ordered in a calm, low voice.
She wanted to touch him, to ease the fury and tension from his body, but she held herself in check. There were rules in Ash’s world, and to show any concern for him would be seen as a weakness.
“Can’t you just stop?” She unleashed her fury at Marcus. “What is worth all of this? Just because you can’t have some girl?”
“Your woman doesn’t know how to heel, but I’ll teach her.” Marcus’s sneer oozed over Ellie’s skin.
“I let you into my office out of courtesy to your father, but my patience is over. I’ve let you have your temper tantrum, but it’s over now.”
“I wouldn’t exactly say that.” Jason’s hard voice caught Ellie off guard, drawing her attention to the door where he stood, pistol in hand.
Marcus and the old man stepped closer together, their expressions relaxed.
“Jason. What the hell? Where’d you get the gun?” Ellie said.
Jason moved through the room, his pistol aimed at her. Ash wouldn’t care if it was aimed at him, Peter wouldn’t let that stop him either, but having it trained on her kept them frozen where they stood.
“You sure took your sweet ass time,” Marcus barked, holding his palm up to Jason.
“I told you I’d text when we got in the car, but you didn’t wait. Impatient as always, Uncle.” Jason reached beneath his coat and produced another pistol handing it off to Marcus.
“Uncle?” Ellie tried to grasp the situation, but the players of the game weren’t known to her. Except Jason. She knew him. Had known him for over a year.
“Ellie, get out of the room. Now,” Ash demanded.
But she couldn’t. All she could do was focus on the gun pointing at her. The round, black barrel aimed at her chest.
“You wanted me to get you in with your gun.” She stared at Jason. Of course. Once again, she’d been fucking played.
“It was the easiest way. We aren’t looking for a lot of bloodshed. Besides, the men out there can be useful once everything changes hands. Killing them would only make my ranks smaller.” Marcus cocked the gun he held and raised his arm.
“I did give you a chance,” the older man said with a shrug. “Sell the business to me, and I won’t kill the girl.”
“No.” Ellie sidestepped, placing herself between Marcus and Ash.
“Ellie, you’re being stupid. Move out of the way,” Jason jerked the pistol to the side.
“Why would you work at the café if this is your family?” she shot at him.
“You really are naive, Ellie. Your father hired me as a favor to my uncle. Just a part-time job to keep me legit.” Jason’s lips pulled into a smirk.
Had she been so blind to everything right in front of her?
Marcus spoke up again. “Everything that’s here is ours now.”
A low laugh bubbled behind Ellie. Peter.
“You really think you can just come in here with a gun and take the place?”
“No. I think I can put a gun to this bitch’s head and walk away with everything Ashland Titon owns.” Marcus’s smirk nauseated Ellie.
“You won’t be walking out of here with anything.” Ash’s voice boomed behind her.
“Well, I suppose we could strike a deal.” The older man pushed Marcus gently and came forward. “Give you a cut of the business, a small portion.”
“I said you get nothing.”
“Killing me won’t get him to sell you anything.” Ellie stepped toward Jason. “If I’m dead, why would he sell? He has a whole room full of women out there just waiting to fall at his feet. I think you’ve overplayed your hand.” She took another step.
Jason’s eyes flicked from her to his uncle. He obviously hadn’t planned on her standing up to him.
“Ellie.” Just her name, that’s all Ash said, but she knew what it meant. He wanted her to stand down. Well, she’d done that too often. Too many times, she’d let things slide, let the little details that didn’t make sense go because she didn’t want to cause waves by asking questions.
“Or is this all because Ash wouldn’t let him have a toy he wanted? He told you, I assume, this all started because he wanted to buy a girl who didn’t want to be bought. She didn’t want to wear a diaper, be forced to breast feed while your Uncle jerked off. And instead of finding a woman who had the same games in mind, he has a hissy fit.” She could feel Ash tense behind her. She’d overheard a conversation between two of the girls from the Annex in the garden one afternoon. Ash had no idea she knew about Marcus and Amber, and Ellie never felt the need to inform him.
“My uncle—”
“Is a dirtbag. Agreed.” Ellie nodded and turned her attention to Marcus.
His face burned red.
“All he had to do was pick someone else. Find someone willing to give him what he wanted. But he’s a spoiled ass who wants only what he can’t have.”
“You bitch,” Marcus seethed, turning his gun on Ellie. “You fucking bitch.” Spittle flew from his mouth, his fat, vulgar face puffed up with anger or embarrassment at having his secret desires laid out for his family to see.
“Marcus.” Ash drew his attention from Ellie.
“And you.” Marcus swung back.
Ash jerked forward, arm outstretched, but he wasn’t quick enough. Marcus aimed his pistol and fired before taking aim.
The blast dulled her hearing. Peter was on Marcus, wrestling him to the ground and getting the gun away from him. Through blurred vison, Ellie witnessed the gun put to Marcus’s head.
Another man ran into the room, tackling Jason to the ground, the gun skidding across the room. The old man stumbled in his attempt to flee, falling onto his side near the door.
Not concerned with any of them, Ellie searched out Ash. He wasn’t standing in the same spot anymore. He lay on the floor, a dark red pool of blood beneath him on the floor, a ring of blood spread across his left side. His eyes were closed.
“No,” she screamed, rushing to his side, falling to her knees. “Ash. No. Ash!” She yanked his shirt open; buttons popped off and flew, exposing his undershirt. The blood already saturated the cotton material.
“No, Ash. Please.” A hard sob shook her as she put her hand over the wound, pushing down, trying to stop the bleeding. “No. You can’t. No.” Tears fell from her face, mingling with the blood on his chest and on the floor.
This couldn’t be happening. He wouldn’t leave her. Not like this, not without fighting.
“Please.” She rested her forehead on his chest. “Please, Ash.” She clung to him with everything she had, listening for a heartbeat. Wanting to feel the familiar pounding of his heart. “Ash. I love you, Ash. So much. Please no.” She pressed her cheek to him while keeping pressure on the wound.
A fist gripped her hair. Not pulling but lightly holding her.
“Say it again, Ellie,” a hoarse whisper demanded.
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CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Ash’s side burned like hell had taken root in his side. He groaned when he twisted his body, trying to move. A light touch on his arm gave him pause.
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“Don’t move too much,” Ellie chastised in a soft voice.
She loved him.
He’d heard her say it.
Once, and then again after he made her repeat herself. The sight of her tears spilling down her face, the horrendous sound of her sobs made him want to get out of the damn bed and chase down Marcus fucking Komisky.
But she loved him, so he stopped fidgeting in the bed.
“Tell me again,” He closed his eyes to the pain and grabbed her hand.
She sighed and sat beside him.
He’d been brought home from the hospital the day following being shot. Hospitals were no place to heal, and he wanted to be alone with his Ellie. Where he could be sure she was safe and his men could protect them while Marcus was being dealt with.
“I love you,” she said. He grinned over the annoyance in her voice. He’d made her repeat the sentence at least a dozen times a day since they’d gotten home from the hospital.
“You shouldn’t have come back.” He tried to sound firm, but he couldn’t. He could either brave the pain in his side or he could give her the tongue lashing she deserved, and since seeing him in pain upset her so much, he routed his energy down that path.
“You can yell at me later, after you’re done healing.” She pulled the quilt up his bare chest.
“It’s too hot,” he argued and shoved the quilt back to where he had it.
“How did you know they would be here?” he asked. Questions roamed his mind for days, but he waited until he could think clearly enough to hear the answers.
She stood and folded her arms over her chest as he pushed himself to sitting up against the headboard.
“Glare all you want, Ellie, I’m not a fucking kid. It’s a scratch. I’ll let you be bossy for one more day and that’s it.” He pointed a finger at her.
Truth of the matter, he could stay in bed for another week, but he wouldn’t. Business had to be tended to, and he couldn’t operate anything from the comfort of his bed. Even if it was exactly where he wanted to be, if Ellie would be with him.