Stormy Satisfaction [Doms of Destiny, Colorado 11] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Chloe Lang

  “When can I expect your man to come get me, Cindy?” She was fairly certain that Trollinger hated being called by her first name, which was exactly why she did it. Very satisfying.

  “Ms. Banks, Sheriff Wolfe put out an APB on you. It’s too dangerous for you to leave. Every road in and out of Swanson County is being watched. You must stay put for a few more days.”

  Fresh fury exploded inside her. “No fucking way. You need to get me out of this hellhole, Trollinger, and you need to do it now.”

  “You want to blow your chances? Go ahead. Leave. I no longer need your services.”

  Anna wanted to scream. She wasn’t about to lose the money for all she’d done for Trollinger. Right now, the woman had all the power. She had none. She had to trust her.

  “I’m sorry, Ms. Trollinger. I’m just very frustrated. If Ashley Vaughn hadn’t stuck her nose in where it didn’t belong, none of this would be happening to me.” That bitch needs to pay. “I don’t have any more fruit and I’m out of bottled water. What can I do?”

  “Just a minute.”

  She heard clicking coming through her cell. She guessed Trollinger was typing on her keyboard. Suddenly the line went dead.

  “What? No.” Had the call dropped? She stared at the burner phone, praying Trollinger would call back. Several minutes passed. The cell never rang again.

  * * * *

  Sylas stepped out of the O’Learys’ corporate jet and onto the tarmac of Walden-Jackson County Airport.

  The limo that the O’Learys had arranged for them was waiting by the plane.

  Nic shook hands with the driver. “How long does it take to get to Destiny from here?”

  “A little over an hour.”

  “Hear that, Sylas? If we’re lucky, we will get to see our girl before the stroke of midnight.”

  “I can’t wait, bro.”

  * * * *

  Ashley stepped out of her robe and sunk into the warm water in her tub. Instantly, the tightness in her shoulders softened. She inhaled the lavender scent she’d added to the water.

  She hadn’t spoken to Nic or Sylas since their Skype session a few hours earlier. She’d been able to get in more studying without them. Of course, she preferred having the help of her incredible men.

  Closing her eyes, she leaned back on the towel she’d folded up behind her head. She only wanted to think about Nic and Sylas and the future they had ahead of them. She needed to relax, but her mind just wouldn’t settle down.

  Phoebe was working the Steele Ranch case alone. The court date was approaching fast. She hoped that with Jena’s help they would be able to prove that the man claiming to be Jennifer’s late husband’s brother was an imposter.

  Ashley couldn’t wait to have the bar exam behind her. She needed to be back in the office, taking the load off of Phoebe.

  She was so excited for Phoebe and her husbands. They were going to make wonderful parents. Ashley had started a list of people she planned on inviting to Phoebe’s surprise baby shower. I will be taking Anna’s name off that list.

  Nic and Sylas would also make great dads. Thoughts of having children with them made her smile. Her mind drifted back to the night the three of them spent together. God, it had been wonderful. She couldn’t wait to have more nights with them, many more nights.

  * * * *

  As the driver drove the limo down the road, Nic looked out the window. “I can’t see a thing, Sylas. I wonder how close we are now.”

  Sylas looked at his watch. “We’ve been on the road for fifteen minutes. Just over forty-five minutes until we see our girl.”

  “I feel like a little boy asking ‘how much longer’ every ten minutes. But I just can’t help it.”

  Sylas laughed. “I’ve been checking my watch every five, so just keep asking.”

  “I will.” Holding Ashley again in his arms was waiting for him at the end of this trip. It wasn’t possible to contain his excitement. And he could tell Sylas was feeling the same. It had taken an intervention by some great men to get him to see what was best—best for him, for Sylas, and for Ashley. They belonged together.

  He grinned and turned to his friend. “So how much longer, Sylas?”

  * * * *

  Anna slammed the burner phone on the table, breaking its screen. She didn’t give a fuck. It was crystal clear that her partnership with Trollinger was over. The woman had hung up on her and hadn’t called back.

  All Anna’s plans were up in smoke and she had no place to go.

  Next stop for me is prison. “Fuck. None of this would be happening to me if it weren’t for that damn bitch, Ashley Vaughn.”

  She knew she had to get out of the state and locate a place she could hide. But the goddamn sheriff had put out an APB on her. Every cop in the state was looking for her car.

  She needed another vehicle, and the only way she had left to get one was to steal. She snapped the silencer to the barrel of the gun. Her hands were shaking. She didn’t have many options, and the ones she did have weren’t good.

  An image of Ashley appeared in her mind, and suddenly an idea occurred to her. That idea made her feel better and calm. “Why steal? Ashley won’t be needing her car when I’m done with her.”

  * * * *

  Sylas pulled Ashley’s key out of his pocket for the umpteenth time since she’d given it to him. Nic also had a key. “One. Seven. Six. Four. One.”

  Nic laughed. “You’re worse than I am.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’ve been repeating Ashley’s gate code over and over for the past five minutes. Are you afraid you’ll forget it before we get to her complex?”

  “Not a chance, buddy. I can’t wait to see the look on her face when we knock on her door.”

  * * * *

  Ashley slathered peanut butter onto her crackers and poured herself a glass of milk. This was one of her favorite nighttime snacks, a luxury she didn’t indulge in very often. But she’d earned it. She’d studied hard. Nic and Sylas said she was ready, and she hoped they were right.

  She sat down on her sofa and turned on the television. She needed something light to watch that would let her mind relax enough so that she would be able to fall asleep. The program she selected was a cooking competition show. The three chefs were baking desserts, which looked delicious to her. If she kept eating the way she had been the past few weeks, she would have to run two and three times a day.

  She put down her glass, recalling the last run she’d been on. Her running partner had been Anna, who was still at large. She and Phoebe hoped that Anna would be apprehended soon. They believed once she was in custody they would be able to find out the truth of who Walter Steele really was.

  * * * *

  Looking in every direction, Anna rolled down her car window and entered the code at the security gate. She’d been able to get all the way to her apartment complex without being spotted.

  She knew the only place that would be buzzing in Destiny this time of night was Phase Four, and she was nowhere near it. But she still needed to remain cautious and on guard. She had no intention of getting caught and being sent to prison.

  She drove her car to the back of the parking lot. There was one empty space next to the complex’s dumpsters. It was the best place to leave her car because the giant metal bins kept it from being seen from the street.

  Wild Oaks was dark and silent. That was a good thing. She didn’t want to be spotted by some nosy neighbor who would alert the sheriff’s department. She’d thought about going to her own apartment to collect some personal things for her escape out of the state. But she’d tossed that idea aside, knowing she didn’t have much time.

  She was here for two reasons. One, to make that goddamn bitch pay. And two, to take her car. That was all. Nothing else.

  * * * *

  After placing her empty plate and glass in the dishwasher, Ashley stretched out on her sofa. She was getting sleepy but wanted to see if Chef Rosie’s molten chocolate cake was going
to beat out Chef Jose’s apple pie à la mode. The judges had eliminated Chef Tony, who had baked brownies.

  * * * *

  With the pistol in her hand, Anna walked down the sidewalk to Ashley’s. The apartment door next to hers opened, and Henry stepped out with a cigarette and lighter in his hand.

  Fuck. Before she could jump behind the bushes, their eyes locked. Henry reached for his cell, which was clipped to his belt.

  She aimed the gun at him. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Mr. Underwood. Put your hands up.”

  He glared at her. She needed to be extra careful with the old guy. Henry had been a cop.

  “Hands up. Are you deaf or do you just want to die?”

  Slowly, he lifted his hands above his head. “Anna, you don’t want to do this. This can all be worked out, the way I understand it.”

  “Really? That’s why Sheriff Wolfe has an APB out on me.” Things hadn’t gone as well as she’d hoped, but now she realized that having Henry’s help was needed. No way would Ashley open the door for her. But for Henry the bitch would.

  * * * *

  Nic’s excitement grew as the limo passed the sign that meant he and Sylas were getting close.

  “Welcome to Destiny, the best-kept secret in Colorado.”

  * * * *

  Ashley’s doorbell rang, startling her awake. She glanced at the new show on her television and realized she must have fallen asleep when the winner of the earlier one had been announced.

  The doorbell rang again.

  It was almost midnight. Who could that be at this hour?

  Quietly, she stepped to her door and looked out the peephole. Henry was standing on the other side of her door.

  As she turned the lock, she said, “Henry, is everything okay?”

  “Don’t unlock your door, Ashley,” he yelled.

  But it was too late.

  She heard a muffled sound followed by a loud thud.

  Her door swung open.

  Anna stood in front of her, holding a gun with a silencer. An unmoving Henry was at her feet on the ground, bleeding.

  Panic rolled through Ashley and her heart thudded violently. “Anna, my God, what have you done?” She took a step, trying to reach Henry.

  “Get back and shut up, bitch. Put your hands up where I can see them.”

  “Okay, Anna. Just calm down.” Ashley held her hands over her head. “I’ll do whatever you say.” She couldn’t tell if Henry was breathing or not. “But he needs an ambulance.”

  “Did you not fucking hear me the first time when I told you to shut up?” Anna’s eyes were wild and full of hate. “It’s his fault. I told him to stay quiet but he had to play the hero.” Anna held the gun to Ashley’s forehead. “You ruined my life. Now, you’re going to pay. Give me the keys to your car. Now.”

  “My keys are in my purse, Anna.” And so is my gun. “And my purse is in the bedroom.”

  “What do you take me for, Ashley? A fool?” Anna glared at her. “I know you carry a gun like everyone else in this hellhole town. Be smart and don’t try anything. Now, lead the way to your bedroom.”

  Her mind was racing like mad. She could tell by the look on Anna’s face that the woman wasn’t here just for her keys. Anna meant to kill her.

  With the barrel of the silencer to her back, Ashley walked down the hallway. She realized that she had no chance of getting her gun out of her purse. But she had to try something. She wasn’t about to just roll over and let the psychopath put a bullet in her head.

  They stepped into her bedroom. Her purse was on the chair by the door.

  With adrenaline coursing through her veins, in one fluid motion, Ashley grabbed her purse and swung it around, trying to knock the gun out of Anna’s hand.

  It didn’t work, but Anna did stumble backward a few steps, giving her a split-second window of opportunity to save herself. Still gripping her purse, she reached inside to get her gun.

  Before she was able to pull it out, Anna charged, “You fucking bitch!”

  She fell to the floor and her purse flew out of her hand.

  Anna was on top of her, pressing her gun between her eyes. A twisted grin appeared on the insane woman’s face. “Good-bye, Ashl—”

  A vase came crashing over Anna’s head, and the woman collapsed on her. Terror stricken, Ashley pushed with all her might, trying to get Anna off of her.

  “It’s okay, baby.” Nic took Anna’s gun and lifted the woman off of her.

  Sylas bent over her and pulled her into his arms. “She’s not going to hurt you.”

  “You’re here,” she said with trembling lips. “Both of you.”

  Their faces were full of concern for her.

  She glanced down at Anna, who was out cold on the floor. Even so, Nic still pointed the gun that he’d retrieved at her attacker.

  “She wanted to kill me.” Her emotions of relief overtook her and she leaned her head into Sylas’s chest and began sobbing.

  Sylas stroked her hair and held her close.

  She opened her eyes. “Oh my God, Henry.”

  “Nic’s calling 9-1-1 now, baby.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Sylas had his arm around Ashley. She sat between him and Nic in the waiting room of the clinic. The place was packed with the citizens of Destiny concerned for Henry Underwood, who was in surgery.

  Phoebe and two of her husbands were in the seats across from him. The sheriff, Phoebe’s other husband, had taken Anna to the jailhouse after the bump on her head Nic had given her had been checked out. He squeezed Ashley a little tighter. I almost lost her tonight.

  The O’Learys sat beside him. They’d been one of the first groups of people to arrive at Ashley’s apartment and had been such a support for all of them.

  Some of the men who had been part of Nic’s intervention were also in the waiting room with their wives.

  Nicole Coleman sat with her husbands closest to the door that led to the operating room. Ashley had told him and Nic just how close the deputy sheriff was to Henry. They were like family.

  Everyone in the place was concerned about Henry and was praying he would make it through surgery. Sylas had never seen such an outpouring back in Chicago. The people of Destiny cared deeply for one another, and right now all their thoughts were on one man.

  Henry had tried to save Ashley, and Anna had shot him in the chest. No one knew if Henry was going to survive the night. In his and Nic’s minds and the minds of the entire town, Henry was a hero.

  Ethel looked at Ashley. “Are you sure you’re okay, sweetie?”

  “I’m much better now, especially since my guys came and saved me. Paris took my vitals and everything is back to normal. I’m still a little shaken, but I’ll be okay in time to take my exam.”

  “No way are you taking the bar, honey, after all you’ve been through.” Nic kissed her on the cheek.

  Sylas agreed. “You just need to relax until everything is back to normal.”

  Ashley shook her head. “I’m not going to wait six months for the next time the exam is offered.”

  Phoebe leaned forward. “I’m with your guys on this one, Ash. You’ve been through a horrible experience. The bar can wait.”

  “You of all people know how hard I’ve studied for this.” Ashley took her hand. “You need me to pass the bar. You’re going to be a mother. We are still trying to win Jennifer’s case. There’s so much work that must be done. I want things to go back to normal as much as they can. Taking the bar helps with that. What Henry did…and what my wonderful men did…for me…I want to honor them. I want to make them proud. But most of all I want to take it for myself. I want to prove that I can do it. If I don’t, then Anna wins. I am taking the bar.”

  “God, listen to our girl, Nic. She’s so strong.” He grabbed her hand and squeezed. “You’ve already made me proud, sweetheart. I won’t stand in your way.”

  “Neither will I, baby.” Nic kissed her. “We’re all so proud of you. But Sylas and I will be right ther
e with you.”

  “With me?” Her eyebrows shot up. “In Denver?”

  “Yes, baby,” Nic answered.

  “Wait a second.” Her gorgeous face filled with confusion. “I thought you were both working at Braxton this morning. What are you doing here in Destiny?”

  In all the confusion that followed the attack, they hadn’t had a chance to tell her.

  Nic spread his arms wide. “Surprise, baby.”

  Sylas grinned and cupped her chin. “It was supposed to be a surprise.”

  He and Nic told her about the O’Learys sending their plane, about Mr. Jenkins granting them time off, and about how hard it had been for both of them being away from her.

  Her eyes lit up. “You don’t have to go back to Chicago until my test is over?”

  “That’s right, sweetheart.” Sylas turned to Nic and could sense he was thinking the same thing.

  There wasn’t a chance they would leave Ashley alone again. One of them would have to stay in Destiny. The other would have to return to fulfill their notice. Who? That would have to be worked out later.

  “Oh my God, I can’t believe it.” She hugged them both. “You can’t imagine how much that means to me. I love you both so very much.”

  “I love you, too, baby.” Nic kissed her lightly on the cheek.

  “And I love you.” He kissed her other cheek.

  The door everyone had been staring at swung open.

  The doctor went to Nicole. “The surgery was a success. Henry is doing great.”

  The crowd jumped to their feet and erupted in cheers, hugs, and kisses.

  He and Nic held Ashley between them.

  “Thank God,” she said with tears streaming down her cheeks. “I’m so happy.”

  “So am I, sweetheart. So am I.”

  * * * *