Page 33 of Malicious Wedding

“No. I shouldn’t.” I hold my hips against him. The phone stops ringing. “See, there, it’s all fine. You can continue biting me now, please.”

He chuckles, leans in like he’s going to fulfill my request, but my phone starts ringing again.

I curse, livid. Who the hell is trying to interrupt this gorgeous monster’s meal?

“Answer,” he commands, pulling away.

I groan, wanting him closer again. But I fumble with my back pocket until I find my phone. “It’s Bernie,” I say, worry suddenly clearing some of the sex-cloud hanging over my skull.

“Go ahead.” He gives me enough space to breathe, but clearly plans on eavesdropping.

Prick.

“Hey, Bernie,” I say, answering the phone. “Is everything—”

“Oh my god, Ash, you have to come back to Smoke, they just came in with these freaking guns and started yelling and asking where you were and ripped through everything and broke bottles and—”

“Bernie,” I say, feeling cold all over. The fear in her tone does more to terrify me than even her awful words. Bernie never,evergets scared. “Bern, please, slow down. What’s happening?”

She takes big, shuddering breaths. I can hear the tears in her voice. They’re like a knife into my throat. “Four guys. Big guys with guns. They showed up and started trashing the place. One of them hit Fulco really hard in the face, made him bleed—”

“Is he okay?” I ask, jaw clenched down so hard I think my teeth might crack. Carson’s watching, eyes narrowed. I can’t tell if that’s concern or anger. Maybe a bit of both.

“He’s okay. It’s just a shallow cut on his eyebrow. But, Ash, they kept asking about you, and everyone is absolutelyfreakingoutright now.”

“I’ll be there in a minute. Are they gone?”

“They left like ten seconds before I called.”

“All right. Stay put. Keep everyone inside.” I hesitate, looking at Carson. “And Bernie? Don’t call the cops.”

Silence. I can hear someone talking in the background. Someone else crying. I feel Bernie’s stunned quiet like an anvil on my head.

Carson’s lips curl into an approving smile.

What did he do to me? Is he really corrupting me already?

I feel sick as Bernie bursts out, “What do you mean, don’t call the cops? They had guns! You’re in danger, Ash, we have to do something!”

“They’re not going to help at all. I went to them earlier, remember?”

“That was about your brother, this is aboutyou. Ash, you gotta go to the police.”

“Just stay put, okay? Keep everyone inside. I’ll be there soon.”

“Ash! What the fu—”

I hang up then look at Carson. He doesn’t move. I feel like I can’t breathe.

I should be running away, screaming my head off. I should be calling the police, the FBI, the freaking CIA, anyone that might be able to help me, except all I can do is stand as a wave of horror rolls down my spine.

They showed up at Smoke.

They found me.

They broke my bar, scared my employees, and hurt Fulco.

The guys that killed my father, my uncles. That tried to murder my brother.

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