Page 26 of Make You Mine

“He’s hurting her, and God only knows what else. Get her the fuck out of there!” I practically scream.

“What the fuck do you mean,hurting her?” His words sound pained, but I don’t give a fuck. She’s my only concern right now.

“I saw the bruises. And fuck, it’s taking everything in me not to do something about this right this second. I need to see her this week. I mean it. Find a way to get her to me so she can know what’s going on. We need her to understand.”

“Okay, okay, fuck. I’ve noticed he’s been more of a dick around her since our father died… but I didn’t realize it was to this extent. Do you think he’s been doing this all along?”

“I don’t know. I can’t even think about that. I’m so fucked up over this. She didn’t ask for this. She doesn’t deserve any of this.”

“I know. I promise I’ll do whatever I can do. I did find out today that Junior’s going to Italy sooner than expected. His issues with the Russians have the families in Italy down his throat and in his business. He has to go over there and save face to keep their support.” His words provide a small sense of relief for Ashley’s safety as well as the possibility of this allowing me more time with her and more time for Nico’s plans to fall into place.

“Good. Get her to me. I’ll be at Hotel Luxure tomorrow.”

“Okay. I’m going to kill that motherfucker myself if this shit goes sideways.

“Not if I get to him first. Pick up that burner phone we discussed…tonight,” I demand, before hanging up and heading to our private shooting range. I have to blow off some of this rage somehow.

I call my brother, and thankfully, he picks up. I feel so out of control.

“I need you. Meet me at the range.”

Nine

Checking the phone for what feels like the tenth time, I place it back in my purse beside me in the back seat. I’ve been very anxious lately and my brain can’t turn off. It appears that Micah has noticed my elevated level of stress and surprised me with two tickets to see Moulin Rouge on Broadway.

Seeing Broadway shows was something Lottie and I used to love doing. We would go as often as we possibly could. I, of course, went to ogle at the ornate costumes, and Lottie went for the theatrics of it all. On occasion, Micah would join us too, usually complaining about the length of the plays, but I know he low-key loved it. In a perfect world, I’d be designing those costumes.

I miss those days when my bestie lived next door. I miss being able to spend every available moment with her, spill all our secrets to one another, and not have a care in the world besides what we were going to wear to school that day.

Oh, how times have changed. Now when I talk with her, I have to censor almost everything that comes out of my mouth.I fear that Junior has my phone tapped. I’m hoping my Nori Beach trip doesn’t fall through; I need to feel some sense of normalcy before I literally lose my mind.

Maybe that’s why Micah did this for me today…or at least that’s what I'm trying to convince myself is the reason and not because of the bruises Trent saw that mar my neck. I’ve caught Micah subtly trying to look for the marks a few times already, and the fact that he’s the one who gave me the burner phone today tells me he knows more than he’s letting on.

As I watch the street signs pass me by, I realize that we’re nowhere near the theater… We’re in the heart of SoHo.

“Hey, guys, where are we going? This isn’t 45thStreet.” I ask Luca and Micah, who are both in the front seat of the SUV.

“Don’t worry, we’re taking a slight detour,” Luca replies nonchalantly, like he’s not forty-something blocks south of where we need to be.

I pop an eyebrow at my brother as he continues to stare at his phone. There’s still time before the show starts, but I assumed we left early so we could grab a bite to eat… Clearly, that’s not the case.

“Mind sharing what that detour might be?” I ask, hopeful I’ll be given a real answer, but a response never comes. Instead, the SUV pulls up in front of a cute Parisian-style boutique hotel.

Luca turns in his seat to face me. “You have thirty minutes,” he says, handing me a keycard envelope with Hotel Luxure and room 328 written on it.

Hotel Luxure… Trent’s hotel.

“He’s waiting for you,” Micah adds before exiting the SUV to open my door.As I step out, he reaches for my arm, causingme to pause and look at him. “Let him explain, alright.” Steeling my nerves, I nod.

The hotel is stunning, but I can’t truly take it all in at this moment. My heart is practically in my throat as I walk down the hallway of the third floor. A mixture of emotions runs through me at the thought of being alone with him. Not only am I eager to talk and get some answers, but I’m also confused and angry in regard to him suddenly being back. Stalling right outside the door, I take a deep breath.

I can do this... I deserve answers.

A scan of the card and my questions will be answered. So why is it so damn hard to raise my hand?

With one last deep exhale, I’m entering the room.

The door barely has time to close behind me before big arms wrap around me, pulling me in close while I relish the familiar scent. It smells like home and safety…everything I’ve been yearning for these past few years. Before I allow myself to sink further into his embrace, I pull back and stare at the man who’s never been far from my heart. But this man looks different from the one I’ve been missing.

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