Ash to Steele

by Stewart, Karen-Anne

  “Wait, Breck.” Gavin grabs my arm, “I know you don’t like guns, but you need to take this…just in case. It’s clean.” He hands me a .38 from his bag.

  Shaking my head, my eyes darken, “You know how I feel about guns.”

  Sighing, he places it back in the bag, covering it with a shirt, “Alright, mate. Just stay safe and smart. And, Breck...stay fucking alive.”

  Nodding, I head out and drive to a lot several blocks away, walking the rest while ducking my head to be sure to miss the cameras. Slipping the boxing wraps out of my sweatshirt pocket, I carefully place them around my knuckles to try to prevent as much evidence as possible of what I’m about to do. There’s no last minute change of heart, not when thoughts of the marks on Emma sear my brain, getting my head where it needs to be. I’m not a violent person by nature; I know how to leash the rage until it becomes a necessity, and I need to let it flow freely now. I’ve never felt that need stronger than I do tonight.

  Covering my hands with black latex gloves, I walk across the dark street to the house on the corner. Dim light shines from behind the old brick ranch. From the way Gavin described the man, he must spend his depraved wealth on clothes and women; he sure as hell doesn’t spend any on his living arrangements. From the little Gavin found out about him, he’s smart and ruthless. The car in the alley was untraceable, most likely stolen, and stripped before adding the desired changes to the interior, including the hidden locks, keeping Emma prisoner as he beat and attempted to rape her. I wonder how many vile crimes he’s committed inside that metal cage, doing every sickening perverse thought in his debased mind. Tonight, I’m just worried about what he did to Emma.

  Checking the back door, I find it’s locked, so I slip in between the bushes and the house, checking windows. All are locked. Damn. Their hearing me coming increases the risk of my ending up dead. Taking a minute to clear my mind, I refuse to think of that possibility as I kick in the kitchen door, quickly grabbing a chair and pressing my body against the wall as the first man appears. I don’t know if he’s Davis or Carter, but whichever one he is, he will never be the same as I crash the chair against his mouth and I hear bone crack. Blood pours as he groans in pain, falling to his knees, coughing and spitting out a choking mixture of blood, saliva, and a tooth. I grab the nape of his neck, jerking him up and using him as a human shield when the other one pulls his gun. I haven’t seen Edwin yet, but there aren’t any doors behind me, and I try to keep the layout to my advantage as I wrench the man’s arm behind his back, walking him towards the one with the gun. “Drop it or I’ll break his arm,” I warn.

  “Fuck you!”

  The sickening sound of bone breaking fills the air again milliseconds before the loud scream.

  “Shoot him, Davis,” the man writhing in pain yelps.

  So, this piece of shit is Carter, the one Gavin heard Emma telling the police is the man who dragged her to Edwin. Davis aims his gun at my head, and I keep Carter held directly in front of me as I rush him, causing him to stumble backwards from the impact. Not wasting time, I ram Carter’s head into the wall while I kick the gun out of Davis’ hand before cracking his jaw against the side of my heavy boot. Keeping my attention on Davis, I grab Carter, spinning him around and kneeing him savagely in the chin. His head snaps back as his body collides into the wall before sinking to a crumbled heap on the stained carpet below.

  Davis is going for the gun as Edwin makes his appearance, the leather strap still tied around his arm. Shit! I wanted him to feel every ounce of pain I’m going to deliver. The heroine will keep him from feeling the full impact, so I’ll have to make sure to damage him enough to feel it long after the effects of his high fade. Stepping on Davis’ wrist, I lean my full weight against his arm as I grab the gun, emptying the clip before sending a sharp kick to his gut.

  Edwin stumbles towards me, a gun held in his unsteady hand. There’s nothing between us, nothing I can use as a barrier. Keeping my eye on the weapon, I decide speed is my best option as I weave left then right as he fires a round, the bullet grazing my arm in a river of fire. Throwing the clip from Davis’ gun towards Edwin, his gaze slips, and I attack, grabbing his wrist and striking it against the wall. His gun falls to the floor when I twist his wrist, snapping it loudly before I send my elbow into his jaw. Crying out, he falls backwards, and I take that second to glance back at Carter and Davis. Carter is still rolling around on the floor, coughing up blood, but Davis is on his knees, trying to stand.

  Using Edwin as a weapon, I grab his arm, jerking him around and kicking him forcefully in the chest, causing him to projectile backwards, crashing into Davis. A hard kick snaps Edwin’s jaw to the side while I yank Davis to his feet, delivering two brutal blows. He crumbles to the ground, and I grab Edwin’s gun, impaling the steel butt into Davis’ mouth, hearing the cracking sound as it is shoved past his teeth.

  I turn my wrath back on Edwin, unleashing the full thrust of my rage as I smash his head against a mirror, before dropping him to the floor on top of the broken glass. I deliver a series of painful kicks to his ribs and abdomen that are just short of lethal. He begs me to stop, so I hit him, my fist crashing against his jaw viciously until it’s broken, knowing he didn’t have any mercy when Emma begged him to stop hurting her.

  The only sounds now are his repugnant sputters as I finish what I came to do. Images of Emma’s bruised wrists and marred thigh fuel my resolve as I break the arm he used to restrain her first, then pulling the hand he used to pry her legs apart to try and rape her behind his back, holding it high as I snap the bone in two places. All three are unconscious, but breathing, as I collect the bullet with my blood, cleaning up all evidence of my presence there, and leave. Glancing down the street, I dial 911, then toss the burner phone down the flood drain.

  The last stop of the night is just past Emma’s apartment door. I will have to handle this one with more delicacy since there’s a woman in the apartment; I won’t hurt him in front of her. Knocking on the door, I expect her to be the one to answer since he’s probably doped on pain medication from his wounded arm. The plastic bags filled with powder to resemble her choice of poison on the floor does what I planned, enticing her enough to step away from the entrance as I slip from around the corner and inside, locking the door behind me.

  James is half lucid when I grab his injured arm, covering his mouth with my left hand before using my right hand like a vise. He kicks and jerks underneath me as I squeeze his injured arm. Leaning my mouth close to his ear, my voice drips with contempt, “If you ever put another woman in danger, including yours, because of your issues, I will come back, and you don’t want that.” Just to prove that he never wants to see me again, I send my fist into his gut, my hand pressing hard against his busted mouth, stifling his pained cries as I deliver a few more reminders of what’s to come if he doesn’t heed my warning.

  James is whimpering as I scale the balcony, making my way down the rusted ladder and dropping into the alley below. Seeing the glass scattered on the ground from the window Gavin busted to save Emma, I have to force myself not to climb back upstairs and kill the bastard. Taking a deep breath, I struggle to focus and regain control as I slip off the bloody gloves and place them inside a plastic bag along with the wraps. I shove the bag inside the pocket of the sweatshirt, making one last stop, stripping out of the clothing and burning all of the contents before putting on different clothes and pulling the hood low as I keep my head down on the way back to my car.

  Gavin jumps to his feet as soon as I open the door, “I was beginning to lose it, mate.”

  “Did Emma wake up?”

  “No.” Gavin studies me, “Are you alright?”

  I give him a look letting him know that no sane human could ever be ‘alright’ with what I just did. “Go home, Gavin. Thanks for all you’ve done tonight.”

  “Take care of Emma. She’s going to need you.” Gavin’s hand stops on the door knob. Looking over his shoulder, he gives me a lopsided grin, “You can bul
lshit yourself all you want, but I know that that need goes both ways, mate.”

  “Go home, Gavin,” my voice is drained. Taking a quick shower, I wipe my hand down the steam covered mirror to inspect my shoulder. Thankfully, it’s only a flesh wound that I’m sure I can easily come up with some form of explanation when Emma sees it tomorrow. I slide back in bed next to her, and her soft body curls against me. Her breath warms my neck. Slipping her fingers through mine, I place her hand over my heart, covering what belongs to her.

  Chapter Twelve

  Emma crosses her arms over her chest and presses her lips tightly together, “I told you that I will not be the reason you miss the opening of the new Kylianna’s!”

  “Emma, we’ve been over and over this. I’m not going.”

  “Fine. Then I’m not moving into the new apartment,” she counters angrily.

  “That won’t hurt me any; I’ve already told you that you can move into this house, I’m not using it,” I smirk, happy to see her anger at me over her disquietude.

  Sinking defeatedly onto the sofa, she drops her head into her hands, “Please, Breck.”

  The force behind the plea gets me, and I start to weaken, “I hired a manager with impeccable experience.”

  “But it’s not his restaurant, it’s yours, and you are the one who busted your butt to make it all possible.” The supplication in her eyes enslaves me. “Please don’t make me have to know that I’m the one keeping you from one of the proudest moments of your life. I can’t handle that right now.”

  Throwing my head back, I let out a loud groan, “Okay, you win, but only on one condition. You come with me.”

  Pointing to her bruised face, she grimaces, sticking her tongue out, “I don’t exactly think I’m what you call arm candy at the moment.”

  Laughing, I pull her off the couch and plop her down on my lap, “Arm candy? Hell, Emma, I’d be too busy licking and tasting you to do anything else now that you’ve planted that image in my mind.”

  “You had your chance,” she teases, slapping my arm.

  Since waking up this morning, Emma seems to be her old self again, for the most part. I catch her staring off into space with that soul wrenching sadness ripping my damn heart out at times, but, overall, she seems at peace. I’d like to think that her waking up in my arms had something to do with it, but the embarrassment that set her cheeks on fire when she caught me staring at her, lying like an angel with her head on my chest, her hand curled around my neck, and her breasts pressed against my stomach, takes away my bragging rights. She’s fronting on some level, and I know it. Just as long as she doesn’t know that I know, then I’ll play along. I’ll do whatever it takes to help her heal.

  When she started to apologize for offering herself to me last night, I pressed my finger gently against her lip, rage burning like a demon ready to unleash the full wrath of hell on Edwin all over again when I brushed over her cut lip. It took all my self-control to keep from ravishing her as I made sure she understands that my refusing her last night had nothing to do with me not wanting her. Now, she seems to find humor in giving me hell about it.

  Wrapping my arm around her waist, I tug her backwards until she’s lying helpless in my arms, “Do you remember what I said the first time we met?”

  “Um, which part? When you told me that the dress I was wearing didn’t suit me or when you accused me of being fake?”

  “No smartass,” I smile down at her, my throat going dry as I get lost in the clear blue sky staring back at me, “when I told you that I will be inside of you.”

  The skies darken, her eyes turning cobalt blue, unable to hide the brewing desire; she’s also unable to hide the uncertainty. I know she’s not ready, and I won’t do anything to rush her, especially after last night, but I’d give years of my life if I could change what happened, make her comfortable enough until she is ready. I’ve never felt need like I need her; it burns my skin, boiling my blood to the point that I swear I’m going to erupt just from touching her. If the caged beast in my jeans has any say, I’d burst inside of her with the force of a volcano as many times as she’d have me.

  Her breath hitches from my words as I stare down at her in my arms. Her ability to speak seems to elude her. Giving a shy nod, the rose tint returns to her cheeks and the beast thrashes to be freed. Picking her up, I try to adjust her position so she doesn’t feel me harden underneath her, but it’s too late. I hear her faint gasp and, damn, if she doesn’t wiggle her ass, pressing her soft, plush denim covered flesh against my rock hard tip, sending me into a frenzied typhoon of ardent lust. Groaning, I shift her slightly, pressing myself against the softness between her thighs, causing her eyes to widen in shock when she feels the full length of just how much I want her pulsating against her wet heat, redeeming some of my earlier lost bragging rights. Sweeping my thumb across her cheek, my gaze penetrates her, “I have every intention on fulfilling my promise…when you’re ready.”

  Gavin knocks once, not waiting on a response and using his key. Emma about busts her ass trying to scramble off me, but I tighten my arm around her waist, not letting her escape, as I give her a wicked grin when her jaw drops. Brushing my lips against her ear, I whisper, “If you move right now, he’ll see exactly what you do to me, Emma.”

  She mercifully stops her squirming as her embarrassed gaze hits the floor. Gavin smirks before he gives me a look letting me know I’m not fooling anyone. I wasn’t trying to, I just didn’t want to lose the feel of Emma cradled on my lap and wrapped in my arms.

  Gavin’s attention focuses on Emma, “How are you feeling?”

  I feel her body tense, the reason behind it stripping all erotic notions.

  “I’m sorry for how I reacted to you yesterday, Gavin.” Emma drops her head, “I didn’t mean to-”

  “No apologies from you,” Gavin interrupts, “you have absolutely nothing to be sorry for. I’m just glad you’re okay.” His eyes shift to me, “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

  Not wanting to, I release my hold on Emma as she slips off my lap onto the sofa cushion beside me. I nod towards the kitchen as Gavin follows.

  “Word on the street is that Edwin and his goons were jumped last night by a rival dealer. With the bad blood between him and local gangs, it’s not being questioned.”

  “Should I ask who started that rumor?”

  Gavin slaps my shoulder, grinning, “Not a clue, mate.”

  Wincing slightly, I roll my injured shoulder.

  Nodding at my arm, his eyes narrow, “Did you get hurt?”

  “Nothing serious. Look, you didn’t have to get involved any further than you already were,” I state, not having to tell him how much I appreciated what he did for Emma and, now, for me.

  “We’re nowhere near even, and you know it,” Gavin responds, his voice solemn.

  “Yeah, we are, man. Emma’s sitting in my living room right now instead of in some hospital bed.” Grabbing the counter, the veins in my hands bulge as I tighten my grip, “I almost killed him. I thought about it. I wanted to. Still do.”

  “He would’ve deserved it,” Gavin states simply.

  The unspoken words scream inside my head but I push them away, drowning them out. I have no regrets. I would kill for Emma, no matter what it takes from me.

  “What about the neighbor? He knows your face from when you’ve taken Emma home, Breck.”

  “He’s a fucking coward. He’s too scared I’ll follow through on my threat. He’ll keep his mouth shut.”

  “How did she take the news about her apartment?”

  “Better than I thought. She’s so damn stubborn and independent, but she’s also smart. She knows she can’t go back there.” Glancing around the corner to the living room, I shake my head at her tenacity, “We’re leaving for New York tonight. She’s stubbing up and refusing to allow me to miss the opening.”

  Gavin takes a deep breath, leaning against the counter, “What exactly is going on between the two of you?”

  �
��I don’t know,” I answer honestly, my jaw tightening at how I’m may not be a low life like James, but I’m just as much of a coward, too fucking scared to tell Emma how I feel, too damn afraid to allow myself to kiss her, knowing that once I taste her lips, feeling them against mine, there will be no turning back.

  “You need to be figuring it out before someone gets hurt,” Gavin warns.

  I have no response; there’s nothing to say. This is new territory for all of us. Gavin knows more than anyone how I don’t make attachments, other than him and Jess. I don’t do emotional, or relationships. Never have. Until Emma entered my life, I would’ve sworn I never would. She’s the one exception to every rule.

  Emma’s staring out the window, that desolate, vacant fog killing the light in her eyes as she mindlessly twists the charm on her necklace.

  “Maybe you should call your dad,” I suggest, already knowing her answer.

  “I told you I will tell him, just not now. I need time.”

  Sitting next to her, I pull her head against my shoulder, “Alright, Em. I still think you should call, but I won’t push you anymore.” I’ve tried since this morning to get her to call her father and tell him about the attack when I found out that she didn’t call him from the hospital, but she’s the one having to fight through the shit of what happened to her; I’ll follow her lead, for now.

  “Everything is so beautiful from up here, so surreal,” she whispers, staring down at the earth below.

  I can’t tear my eyes away from her to look at the view. The sight of her far surpasses everything I’ve ever seen, “You hungry?”

  “A little.”

  Happy to be able to at least do something for her, I call the hotel, making sure they have dinner delivered when we arrive. The rest of the flight is spent with Emma’s head resting on my shoulder as I enjoy every second of the time I have with her. Tomorrow will be crazy, and she refuses to go with me to the opening. I know she wouldn’t feel comfortable there in her current state, but I don’t give a damn about how she thinks she looks; she’s just as beautiful to me.