Page 52 of Protecting Chaos

“What is your destination?” the lady asked, with her hands poised above the keyboard.

“My destination is wherever your next departing flight is headed,” Stella said, swallowing around the lump forming in her throat.

26

Ashton

I grabbed a beer from the fridge and sat at the computer, ignoring my sister’s call for the third time. I had nothing more to say. No matter the amount of prodding into my life, I was still pissed she hadn’t warned me about Conrad. How unimportant she must have thought it was to warn me that Stella was going to walk away, regardless of what I had to say. She hadn’t even hinted that I, too, would be hurt. Not by a bullet but by the empty spots in my heart. The places that only Stella could fill.

The phone rang again, only this time it was Grant, and I turned it off. I checked my email and found the one I was looking for. Taking a swig, I opened it and smiled.

Two months and I finally knew where Stella Michaels had ended up. I could never let her walk away without worrying that she’d be okay, so I did what I’d never planned to do. I found her location and had been keeping a covert eye on what she’d been up to.

“Two months, Stella. It’s now or never.” I grinned and bought my plane ticket online before closing down the computer.

I was headed for my room when my doorbell rang, stopping me in my tracks. I pulled it open to find Grant and Clara standing on my step.

“If I wanted to talk to either of you, I would have answered your calls.” I tried to shut the door, but Grant shoved his hand in the way, stopping my retreat.

“Let us in.”

“You can’t stay mad forever,” Clara added.

“Want to bet?” I asked, stepping back and letting them in.

“If anyone should be mad, it’s me,” Grant said grandiosely, the only way he knew how to be. “You were seeing my baby sister behind my back when we were younger, and you never told me. Hell, I practically sent you to seduce her. If it weren’t for you—”

“Watch it,” I growled. “You made your own bed when you were paying people to buy her paintings. If anyone should be mad, it should be me because you didn’t tell me what you were doing. Had I known, I would have gotten her out of town sooner.”

“Actually, if anyone should be mad, it’s Stella,” Clara added. “Stella should be pissed at both of you, actually.”

My good mood from buying my plane ticket started to dissipate.

“You tried to control her life,” Clara said, pointing to Grant, and then she looked over at me. “And you let her walk out of yours.” Clara raised her brow and folded her arms beneath her chest. “She deserves better from both of you.”

“You’re right. I love her, and I was too stupid to admit it until it was too late. We both screwed up,” I said, heading to the door. “Now, if you two will excuse me, I have things to do.”

“You’ve got to fix this. Find her and make her talk to me again, Ash. I’m going out of my mind with worry,” Grant said.

“Wish I could.” Ashton gestured to the door.

Grant growled as he walked out, leaving Clara to slowly follow behind.

She rested her hand over my heart, like Stella used to do. “You’ve got this.”

I winked at her. “I don’t need your help, so just stay out of this.”

She grinned. “With pleasure.”

She stepped out the door and paused. “Oh, I almost forgot.”

She dug through her purse and pulled out a box and tossed it at my chest. “This is the one you’ve been looking for.”

I caught it and opened it. The engagement ring was perfectly Stella. Now all I had to do was get her to agree to marry me.

27

Stella

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