Page 25 of Make You Mine

“Ashley,” I growl, blood running hot as I see red. “Who the fuck did this?”

She closes her eyes, and a single tear slips onto her cheek.

Tugging her into my embrace, I soften. “Baby, did he do this?”

Her body starts to shake, and eventually, she relaxes into me, and when she does, the dam breaks and her tears flood onto my shirt.

I count to ten, trying to put her needs before my own to murder the motherfucker. I wanted him dead for taking her from me, but now I want him terrorized, mutilated, and slaughtered for ever thinking it was okayto touch her.

And how many times has this happened?

I know now isn’t the right time to question this, so instead I ask, “Where was Nori?”

Ash picks her head up. “He made sure Nori wasn’t in the room. He always does.”

Always does…That guts me. I feel like I can’t breathe, as if the actual wind has been knocked out of my lungs.

“So to answer your question from the other day… No, Trent. I am the furthest thing from happy and haven’t been for a very long time.”

At that admission, I swear a little piece of me dies at the same time another piece comes alive. I hate everyone but her for the shit she’s had to endure, but now I’m even more determined to give Ashley that happiness we’ve been dreaming of.

I tuck her hair behind her ear, cupping her cheek. “Listen tome. If it's the last thing I do, I will get you out of this and free from him. For the time being, keep Nori as close as possible.”

At this point, she needs to know who her allies are. “Luca will protect you. His loyalty doesn’t lie with Junior, it lies with you. I’m going to get you a burner phone. Hide it in your sewing machine and only use it to call the number programmed in it.”

She stares at me, wide-eyed.

“Do you hear me?” I press, needing some kind of response from her.

Ashley nods slowly, taking in my words.

“I promise I’ll explain everything, but know it was all for you.” I kiss her forehead, lingering there for a moment. “Every. Single. Thing was for you.”

“He’s almost home. I’m going to have Luca come inside. But I have to leave. If I see him…” I swallow, reaching for my gun that I don’t have, since, in the eyes of Junior’s guards, I’m just a doctor who makes house calls for criminals. It’s probably a good thing… I want to blow his fucking brains out and make his best friend eat them at this point.

I hold her chin, making sure she completely comprehends what I am telling her. “But I mean it, Ashley, use the phone. If he comes at you again, use the phone.”

I bend down to Nori. “Protect Mama, just like we trained you to.”

Ashley gasps, and before she has time to ask me any questions, I pick up her hand that’s resting on Nori’s head and kiss her fingertips.

“I’ll see you soon, Doll,” I whisper, letting her hand fall away from mine as I leave.

Walking out to my car, I barely open the door before I’m vomiting all over the ground. Thoughts of what he may be doing to her wreak havoc on my mind and nervous system. Luca appears at my side as I start striding back toward the house on shaky legs.

Fuck this, I’m taking her with me.

“T. Be smart and think this through. I promise I’ll increase my security on her. If you take her right now, she’ll never live a life where she isn’t looking over her shoulder, and she’ll never forgive you. You know the son of a bitch will kill Micah, her mother, and the rest of her family and friends, including yours too.”

Groaning, I pull on my hair, so frustrated with the corner I’m backed into. The corner of my nightmare I’ve been living in for the past three years, but unfortunately, it just got a whole hell of a lot darker.

I barely get my words out, enough to make sure he understands what I need from him inside that house. And exactly how this changes every-fucking-thing.

With every muscle in my body tense and reluctant to leave her, I fly out of the driveway, calling Micah immediately. He picks up on the second ring, and I don’t give him a greeting. Instead, I’m barking down the line.

“She’s living in hell, Micah.”

“W-what?” Micah’s more unsure than I’ve ever heard him. He should be. How the fuck did he not know this was going down?

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