Page 57 of Mafia Rules

I approach the door and bang on it hard. “Ash!” My voice shakes. How can he let her treat me like this? What the fuck was going on behind that closed door?

The door creaks open again, and a scornful scoff replaces Sasha's cheerful smile. “You’re making a scene.”

I push on the door, nearly knocking her over with this surprise strength from somewhere in my body, and step into the luxurious penthouse. “Ash!” I call out.

Ash doesn’t reply. I keep going into every room, checking each one thoroughly. They are all empty. Relief washes over me as I find the master, but my stomach drops when I see Sasha's clothes and Ash’s clothing strewn across the floor. Behind the closed door, I hear the shower's steady drumming and the faint hiss of steam.

“Ash.” His name, a fragile whisper on my lips, shatters the composure I'd fought so hard to maintain, the pieces of the puzzle clicking into place, bringing unbearable pain. A wave of weakness washes over me, and my legs give way, sending me tomy knees. Hot tears stream down my face, blurring my vision. It was all fake. He meant nothing he said to me. I hang on to the bed, my arm shaking. I felt like a toy in his hands, a game he played with for amusement, picked up and thrown aside whenever the mood struck him.

“Oh, get up.” Sasha stands by the door, “What did you expect would happen with the two of us rekindling our love?”

I want to scream and yell at her, but Ash did this. His choice of her over me felt like a stab in the back. I wouldn’t let him fuck with me anymore. I pick myself off the floor and walk past her again, my legs wobbling with each step.

“Why did you even come here?” Sasha asks.

“I don’t know.” My lips tremble as I try to keep it together.

A brief flash of sympathy crosses Sasha's face, quickly replaced by her usual smirk. “At least you know now.” She offers.

I roll my eyes and return to the hallway, the hall boy still standing there with my things. “Take them down,” I say, passing him. I’m drained of energy, both physically and emotionally. There is no fight left in me.

32

SASHA

Ipush the door closed behind Eve, hearing the satisfying thud as the latch engages. Did I feel good about what I just did? My stomach burns with a mixture of guilt and exhilaration. No, I didn’t. But I couldn’t give in to her. Ash deserves better. She’d never be good enough for him. I return to the bedroom and pick up the clothes on the floor just as the bathroom door opens.

“Was there a female here?” Hardy asks, a towel barely concealing his muscular, water-slicked body.

“No,” I reply. No one needs to know she’s here.

“Where’s Ash?” A subtle shift in Hardy's posture signals he’d heard something. He looks around the room, a question mark written across his features.

“He’s out for a walk. I don’t think he wanted to be alone with me.” I cross my arms and sit on the bed with the clothes in my arms.

“Can’t blame him,” Hardy says as he picks up his clothes from the floor. “Thanks for the shower. I called down to let them know my shower wasn’t working.”

I respond with a nod. A tiny prickle of guilt, like a barely felt pinprick, still stings.

“You can’t still be in love with him, Sasha? You fucking ended it.” Hardy casually tosses his towel onto the floor before slipping into his boxers.

“Can you do that in your room?” I turn away, not wanting to see more of him than I had to.

“It’s just a dick, Sasha.” Ignoring my presence, Hardy continues to get dressed, the fabric rustling against his skin as he casually exposes himself to me.

“I still don’t need to see it,” I say, my hands shielding my eyes.

“You didn’t answer my question.” With a grunt, Hardy wrestles his shirt over his head, muttering, "I'm decent again."

I get up from the bed, unsure if I want to answer him. I wasn’t sure of my feelings for Ash. I just knew how I felt when I was around him. Weakened with a wave of nostalgia, back when we were together. “He was my first love.”

“Yeah, and we all know how that ended.” Hardy stands next to the dresser, his wet towel still in his hand. “It’s better for the both of you to move on, Sash.”

He’s not wrong. But I couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't the end for Ash and me yet. And I sure as hell wouldn’t step aside for Eve.

33

ASH

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