Page 44 of Rebellion of a Kingdom

Marcus scrutinizes it closely, “yeah that’s definitely my dad’s handwriting, but I have no idea who he’s talking about. I don’t remember anyone named Beth.”

“Beth?” Ash questions with a gasp holding his hand out for the note. Marcus reaches out passing it to him and he snatches it up, reading and rereading it multiple times.

“Ash do you know who the note is talking about? Do you know Beth.”

He drags his gaze up to mine and exhales, “Yeah, I know Beth.”

Chapter 26

ELLE

Ihave no idea where we are going. Ash is driving, I’m sitting next to him and Marcus is in the back. Max and Elijah are following in the car behind us for extra security, but none of us have a clue where we are heading. Asher has been cagey ever since he read the note from Michael last night. He said he knew who Beth was and then he got up and left the room. None of us knew what to do and I didn’t see him again until this morning when he walked in the kitchen with Max and Eli saying it was time to go. It’s the first time we have left Cassie and I didn’t want to go, but I could tell from the look in his eyes he needed me. So here we are.

We drive for about two hours and when we pull into a gated community, I sit up straight, knowing we must be close. Asher shoves a wad of cash into the hand of the security guard, and he waves us right in. Money really can buy fucking anything. We stop in front of a beautiful white house lined with trees and a big blue front door. I turn to ask Ash more questions now we have finally arrived, but he is already getting out of the car. I look to Marcus who mouths ‘what the fuck’ before we both get out and follow him.

We have to rush to catch up to him and by the time we make it to him the door is already swinging open. It’s a woman who looks to be in her early forties. Beautiful and blonde, dressed in a casual pair of linen pants and a denim shirt. She’s got a pair of oven gloves folded in her hands like she just took them off and when her gaze lands on Asher her face falls.

She looks like she has seen a ghost. “Asher?” Her voice is barely audible as she chokes out his name.

“Hi, Mom.” He replies.

My eyes nearly pop out of my head. Beth is Elizabeth Donovan, Asher’s mom. She has never been in the picture and I didn’t dig up anything about her, I just presumed she was dead. Nobody ever spoke about her, especially Ash, yet here she stands. I have never been more confused and when she swings her gaze to me and Marcus, I see recognition flow through her.

“My god, you look just like them.” She looks between us, “you both do.” That’s when it hits me that she means our parents. She must have known Michael and Sarah.

“We’re not here for a trip down memory lane, we need something. Can we come in?” Asher snaps and his shortness is even sharper than usual. The tension between them is thick.The bitterness in his voice cuts me deep.

She looks at him hesitantly, before looking over our shoulders and no doubt eyeing the guards we came with. “Where is your father? Does he know you’re here?” She asks and I can hear the undercurrent of panic in her tone.

“Elliot knows nothing about where I am.” He bites back and she softens slightly and nods. She steps back and welcomes us into her home.

I look over my shoulder and offer a nod to Max and follow the guys inside. She leads us to a living room and gestures for us to sit on the sofa there. The room is decorated in soft creams and golds with plants giving it a pop of color. I notice there are no pictures or personal effects anywhere, and when I bring my gaze back to her, she is staring intently at Asher. He is still standing and gazing around the room with a scowl. I can’t imagine what is going through his head right now. All I can think is why did he never talk about her? Has she been here all this time? Why did she leave? And more importantly why didn’t she take Asher with her when she left?

“Can I get anyone a drink, some iced tea? Coffee maybe?” She's standing in the entrance which I guess leads into the kitchen, looking like she would rather be anywhere but here.

“How did you know Michael Riviera?” Asher barks at her, not wasting any time to get to the point and she sighs, coming into the room fully and sitting down. She looks at him until he sighs too and comes to sit next to me and Marcus.

“Michael and I grew up together, before my family left Black Hallows. We lost touch for a while, but he was always there for me and Sarah.” She looks at Marcus, “how is he?”

Marcus grimaces slightly, looking at Asher before admitting solemnly, “he’s dead. Almost four years ago now.”

“Elliot murdered him. Shot him right in the head in the foyer of his own home. Leaving Marcus to find his body.” Asher bites out in disgust, and I see her thick swallow as she fights against her emotions. A lone tear tracking down her cheek.

“I’m so sorry. He was a good man. The best man.” She whispers.

I reach into my bag for the note, “He left this behind, we only just found it.”

She takes it and inhales a deep breath as she reads it. She stands on shaky legs leaving the room and then returning a few minutes later with a big brown box. It’s slightly worn, like it has been used or touched multiple times. She sets it on the coffee table in front of us.

She puts her hands on top of it, gripping it like it’s a lifeline before she locks eyes with Asher. “I know I should have taken you with me, I regret that decision every day.”

“I’m not here to cry about why Mommy left me,” he spits bitterly, “I’m here to protect my best friend and our daughter.”

The words cut right through her and she stutters out, “you have a daughter?” She looks between me and Ash and then takes in Marcus’ arm around me and I see the confusion. She has no idea of the dynamic here.

When Asher doesn’t respond I jump in, “her name is Cassie, she’s three.” I pull my phone out and show her a picture.

“She’s beautiful.” She hesitates and I can practically hear the questions she wants to ask so I answer them before she has to ask.

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