Page 52 of Mafia Rules

He seizes my hand. “You don’t look like you’re really into this.”

I do a slight nod before moving back a step. I was, but only to piss Sasha off. “I don’t want you to go. Or I want to go with you. I don’t trust Sasha alone with you.”

“Do you trust me?” His fingers under my chin guide me to look into his eyes. His eyes narrow as if he’s trying to read my face, my response.

I don’t reply, unsure if I did or didn’t. I wasn’t thinking about him. I was thinking about Sasha and whatever tricks she would use to bed him any chance she gets.

“I don’t feel good about any of this.” I break free from him, putting room between us so I can breathe again. Being so close to him while it feels like he’s betraying me sucks the air from my lungs.

“You don’t trust me.” He half smirks, rubbing his chin. He pulls up his pants and gets dressed while I watch him in the corner.

“I don’t trust her,” I say in a tiny voice.

“No, your body tells me you don’t trust me. Why the fuck are we in a relationship if we don’t trust one another?” Ash forces his suitcase shut and struggles to zip it up. “I can’t deal with this right now.”

“What does that mean?” My heart hammered in my chest, a frantic drumbeat echoing the rush of blood in my ears — afraid of what his next words would be.

“I have to go on this trip. When I get back, we will discuss.” Ash grabs a dress jacket and grabs his suitcase with his other hand.

“I forbid you to go!” I shout, my voice cracking with desperation when he walks past me.

His body locks up when the words leave my mouth, his shoulders stiffening visibly, tension radiating from him. With his back to me, he doesn’t turn around. My palms sweat, slick and clammy, and soon, beads of perspiration form on my forehead. I keep quiet and wait to see if he’ll stay or leave.

“No one forbids me to do anything, Eve.” He says, looking over his shoulder. “Do you have anything else to say before I leave? Or is that the last thing you want to say to me?”

“Apparently, my feelings mean nothing, so what’s the fucking point?” It takes everything inside of me to make sure my voice doesn’t break when I finally address his question.

“I’m not doing this right now because of your insecurities.” He spins back to the door.

“You’re my weakness, but you're too fucked up for this to work,” I yell. I go to the bathroom and slam the door shut. Pressing my ear to the door, I hear him leave the bedroom, and I fall to the floor in a mess of tears.How do I do life without Ash?

29

ASH

The last time I let someone in, they took advantage of me. She took advantage of me — Sasha. My fight with Eve, every harsh word and hurt feeling, replay in my mind during the long, monotonous drive to the secluded spot my father had booked. In the front seat, Hardy's head lolled against the window as he slept off his intoxicated stupor; behind him, Sasha's gaze burned into the back of my head, her presence a reminder of how deep I’m in this.

We check into the hotel; the opulent lobby, with its soaring ceilings and crystal chandeliers, hinted at the extravagance my father had planned for thiswork weekwith Sasha. We arrive at our luxurious penthouse suite to find a bouquet of red flowers, handmade chocolates, and a bottle of fine wine chilling for us.

“Congratulations on your wedding.” A silence hung in the air as Hardy scans the card, his eyes shifting from me to Sasha. A subtle tension in the room. “He’s laying on it thick.”

Annoyed, Sasha rolls her eyes at Hardy before turning to the hall boy, noticing how he adjusted his collar nervously. “The pink and black bags go in the master.” Sasha takes charge of orchestrating our time here. Hardy being here wasn’t part of her plan.

“Black bags stay in the hall.” I press a crisp bill into the hall boy's hand, conveying my authority.

“Hope you brought enough to share.” Hardy gestures to his dirty clothes.

“Take what you want.” I gesture to my bag. Eve’s voice occupies my mind. The sadness in it when I left her in the bedroom. Despite all my efforts, she still doesn't understand that everything I do is for her benefit. Keeping Sasha away from her is in her best interest. Sasha didn’t play fair.

“We should go down to eat. I made a supper reservation.” Sasha's sharp and clear voice dictates orders from the main bedroom.

“I’m hungry...” Hardy straightens up from examining my luggage, rubbing his belly.

“It’s for two,” Sasha yells.

“So only Ash and me?” Hardy chuckles to me. “What a sweetheart you are.”

With a frustrated sigh, I shake my head, the stress of unanswered texts driving me nuts. I check my phone for the hundredth time. The lack of messages from Eve made the day feel strange.

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