Indefinite (Salvation #6)(67)

I scoot around, trying to feel if my phone is in my pocket, but they must have taken it. I had it in my hand . . . thinking about getting back to Ashton.

Ashton. She’s never going to forgive me for this. She called me upset, and instead of going home to her, I followed the son of a bitch.

I start to berate myself, hating that whatever had her upset, I’m not there for. Of all the times I’ve failed her, this is one I’ll regret most.

Before I can get too far in my head, I hear someone at the back.

“And what do you want to do with him?”

The voice is muffled.

“Just tie him up?”

Again the response is too low for me to hear the answer. They’re either trying to hide themselves or are on the phone.

“Look, I’m not comfortable with all that . . .” The guy trails off, and I close my eyes to focus on the sounds around me. “I’ll leave him for you then.”

I revert back to my training. I need to leave my own head and focus only on the things I can control. I have to put Ashton out of my mind because she’s the only thing that can break me. If I want to get back to her, I can’t allow myself any mistakes.

The trunk flies open, and light spills in, making it impossible to see anything. A large man looms over me, he’s so backlit that I can’t make out a single feature on his face.

His hand lifts, and I feel the stab of a needle into my arm.

“What? No hello?” I manage to get out before my world goes black once again.





35


Ashton





My hands rest on my stomach as we make our way through the traffic. My cab driver must sense my panic because he’s been extra aggressive since we entered Manhattan. There’s no control over my body right now. No amount of breathing can calm me.

Everything feels as if it’s going in slow motion. Maybe this is a good thing because Quinn explained stressful situations as almost like fast forward. The fact that I can dissect each thought surely means it must not be as life-threatening, right?

I check my phone again for anything from Quinn, but nothing.

I close my eyes, and it rings.

Mark.

“Where is he?”

“I don’t know yet. We’re doing everything we can to find out. I have each member of my staff trying to track him, but he could’ve dropped his phone, Ash.”

The thing is, in the depths of my heart, I don’t think that’s true. “Find him, Mark.”

“I will. What’s going on?”

I don’t want to tell anyone before Quinn, but my breathing hastens and I start to hyperventilate. “I can’t . . . I can’t . . . breathe.”

“Easy, Red. Easy. Listen to me, he’ll be fine. Quinn is a smart guy, and he would never do anything stupid. Now, just breathe.”

I try my best. He’s right, Quinn is all of that, but he’s not invincible. None of them are, regardless of what they think.

Another cramp hits, and I start to cry harder. “I’m losing everything.”

“No. You’re not losing anything. Where are you?”

“I am!” I cry out. “I’m going to lose the baby.” I choke on the words.

“Ashton, you’re just upset, okay? I know it’s stressful, but you have to stay calm. Tell me where you are.”

“In the cab.”

On my way to find out if, once again, my body has failed me.

I hear him cover the phone but I know he’s barking out orders to find me. Then another voice shouts back, and then the voice on the call isn’t Mark’s anymore.

“Ashton?” Natalie’s says. “Are you bleeding?”

I nod with tears streaming. “There was a spot, but I . . . I don’t know now.”

“Okay. Are you on your way to the doctor?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Is anyone with you?” Natalie’s soothing tone puts me at ease, just slightly.

“No, I’m alone.”

The line goes quiet for a moment, but then she’s back, asking, “Is it the doctor you work for?”

“Yeah, and where the fuck is Quinn?”

Natalie understands more than anyone what I’m feeling. She went through hell with her first husband, and Liam has had a few moments that would turn anyone’s hair gray.

“I know you’re worried, but Mark, Jackson, Ben, and the rest of the guys are working on it.”

My voice is trembling, and I try to get it under control. “I’m here. I have to go inside and . . . and pray.”

“Trust me, Ashton, no one in this group is going to let this rest. We’ll find Quinn and get him to you as soon as we can.”

I believe her, so I put a bit of my faith in her words.

After exiting the cab, I can’t help but look back at the seat and thank every God, angel, and my mother because I’m pretty sure she’s a saint that there’s no blood there.

Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it was some spotting like Clara said. Oh, I pray that’s the truth.

Okay, I can do this. I just need to get some answers and figure out if there’s anything wrong. For the first time, my chest doesn’t feel as though someone is sitting on it, and I walk to the entrance of the clinic.