Page 67 of His Weekend Wife

CHAPTER TWENTY

Reaching Phillipe’s apartment, Ash climbed the stairs, each rung causing more acid to build inside of her throat. Several times she’d almost called the police on her drive here. But she was afraid she’d put Abby in further jeopardy. She’d also debated on whether she should call Declan, but he wouldn’t want her here. He’d demand they call the police.

Phillipe’s apartment was in a seedy part of town so Ash wasn’t surprised when she had to wade through ankle deep trash, and a stoned-looking man leaning vicariously against the wall, before she reached the last door on the right.

She knocked and the door swung open. Abby was standing on the other side of the threshold, her hair was ratted, her clothes were ripped and wrinkled, but the large, blue bruising on her right cheek was fresh. Anger tore through Ash. “What the hell, Abby?”

“I’m sorry, Ash. I really am. I had no choice.” Abby burst into tears.

“What are you talking about?” Ash moved forward just as Abby was ripped away from the door and Phillipe stepped into the opening, grinning from ear-to-ear. “Phillipe? What are you doing here?”

He laughed. “I’m here to see a design come through and you’re the center of the plan.”

“Fuck you!” She started to turn, but he reached out, grabbed her shoulder and dragged her across the threshold. She landed hard on her bottom, sliding a few feet on the dirty wooden floor. She barely had time to catch her breath before Phillipe was threading his fingers into her hair, clutching the strands in his fist and lifting her. The popping of roots sounded loud in her ears as she followed his tug. He gave her a slight push and she landed on the end of the crumpled bed.

Abby stood in the middle of the room, trembling, her shoulders slumped, and a tear soaked face smeared with mascara. Phillipe swatted her hard on the behind. “Phillipe, leave Ash alone! Please,” she pleaded.

“We’ve been through this!” he seethed. “You just don’t get it!”

“She doesn’t have to be here. There must be another way.”

“Bitch, I’m done talking with you about this shit. Now get the fuck over there before I lose my temper and throw you out of the window!” He pulled a gun from the waist of his jeans that had been hidden underneath the tail of his shirt. He waved it hazardously. “Don’t make me say it again.”

Without any more hesitation, she ambled over and sat next to Ash who was absorbing the seriousness of the situation, yet there were a few loose ends. “Tell me what’s happening here? There’s no need for the gun, Phillipe. Just let us leave and we won’t tell anyone.”

He laughed and the screeching sound twisted Ash’s stomach into knots. “Do you really think this is about not wanting that cunt to leave?” He jabbed the point of the gun through the air toward Abby who whimpered and buried her face into Ash’s shoulder. “I should have gotten rid of that whore a long time ago, but when I saw the opportunity for payday, I decided she was worth hanging onto a while longer. At least she’s a good fuck, even if she’s had every dick in town in her pussy.”

“A payday? She doesn’t have money.” Ash narrowed her eyes.

“You’re starting to understand.”

The truth came at Ash with the intensity of a bolt of lightning. She glanced over at her sobbing sister, then back at Phillipe who was still grinning, showing off a row of yellow teeth. He certainly wasn’t the charming, good looking man he was when he first came into Abby’s life. “I don’t have money either.”

“Oh, but that rich husband of yours has enough for all of us.” He sniffed loudly and swiped the back of his sleeve across his red nose.

“Maybe Abby should have filled you in on the details. It’s obvious you’re missing a lot here. Declan and I have been separated for five years. I have no access to his money.”

“Do you think I’m stupid? What man would give a woman thirty grand with no questions asked? A loaded sucker who still has the hots for a piece of pussy. I’m not a betting man or nothing—” he snorted, “but if I was, I’d say the suit would be willing to pay just about anything to get his wife back.” He slipped his watery gaze down her. “Hell, I’d tap that shit.”

The realization that she’d made a mistake coming came to her the second she saw Phillipe, but now she understood all too well that she’d put Declan into harm’s way too. Everything she cared about was under the thumb of the psycho standing before her waving a gun.

“He won’t give you a dime,” she said through tight lips. “He knows you’re a dirty, stinking ass who would only snort away the money.”

“What do you think, sweetheart?” Phillipe strolled to Abby and lifted her chin with the nuzzle of the gun. “You think this Knight fellow will be willing to pay for your bitch sister?” Abby’s hands were trembling. When she didn’t answer, he gave her bare foot a stomp with his boot. She cried out and bent over. “Answer, cunt!”

“Leave her alone, asshole!” Ash blocked Abby.

It took her a good minute, but finally the sobs stopped. Abby didn’t lift her chin. “Yes. I told you already,” she mumbled.

“Exactly, baby.” He brought the gun tip to Abby’s cheek and gradually followed the line of her jaw. When he got to her lips, he pushed the nozzle hard and she fell back to the bed.

Ash leaned over her sister, covering part of her body with her own “You’re a sick bastard!” Ash held his gaze steady. The last thing she’d do was falter under his stare.

“I always knew I picked the wrong sister. I like your guts, baby.” He wiped the back of his hand across his nose again. “I think we could have had some good times.” He grabbed his crotch and squeezed.

“You keep thinking because that’s as far as you’ll ever get with me.” Her insides were a mass of trepidation, but her voice was firm.

“Let me put it to you this way, cunt. If the suit doesn’t pay up, then the only thing I’ll know is what you and your sister’s brains look like smeared all over this wall. Got that?” He dug his hand into his pocket and withdrew his cell. “Your cooperation means this will all go easier for everyone involved. I need his number.”

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