Burn (Breathless #3)(49)

“No word from your family? How are things with Brittany?”

Ash sighed. “Nothing this week, and that makes me nervous, because it’s not like them to just give up and sit back. Brittany’s happy in her job. She hasn’t done much more than work and go home, but she’ll get there. I want her to meet Mia and Josie and hook up with Mia’s girls. They’d be good for her. Josie is more Brittany’s age, so maybe the two of them will hit it off.”

“You sound positively domesticated with all the girlfriend-arranging you’re trying to do,” Jace teased.

“Fuck you, man.”

Jace’s expression grew serious. “So nothing from the Wicked Bitch of the East? She laying low? And what about the old man? Can’t believe he wouldn’t have anything to say about Brittany’s defection. Not when he’s so high on family bonds, no matter how fake they may be.”

Ash sighed. “Yeah. Nothing this week. But I don’t expect that to last.”

“Well, when the shit hits the fan, I expect you to let me know. No way I’m letting you into that viper’s nest without backup.”

Ash chuckled. “You make it sound like a sting operation.”

“Hell, an evening with your family qualifies.”

Ash checked his watch. “Want to grab a bite to eat before our conference call? I want to call and check in with Josie. Make sure everything’s all right with her and remind her that I’ll be late.”

“Yeah. Want to hit the Grill again?”

Ash nodded. “Thanks again, Jace. Know I don’t say it enough, but you and Gabe always having my back . . . Don’t have words.”

Jace grinned. “After tonight, how about you let your lady off the leash and let her mingle with the rest of us?”

Ash laughed. “Yeah, I know, I’ve kept her to myself this week. It’s been nice. But yeah, I want her to meet you and Bethany. Gabe and Mia will be back by Sunday. Would be nice to get together with them too.”

“A year ago would you have ever thought that the three of us would be so tangled up with women? Gabe married, me engaged and you head over ass for a woman you only just met?”

Ash shot him a glare. “You’re one to talk about being head over ass for a woman after only just meeting.”

Jace’s grin was unrepentant. “Only takes one time, man. When it’s the right woman, you just know. I would have never thought it would go down like that, but then when I saw Bethany, I just knew.”

“Yeah, I hear you. I wasn’t much of a believer myself, but then I met Josie and something just clicked. Can’t even explain it.”

“Don’t need to. I get it,” Jace said as they walked out of Ash’s office. He stopped outside the door and turned to Ash, his eyes serious. “Just remember this, man, and it’s applicable and so true on so many levels. Take it from me, because I did my best to f**k it up. Falling in love is the easy part. It’s everything else that happens afterward that’s hard and takes work.”

“Christ. You’ve turned into a pyschobabbling pu**y,” Ash said in disgust.

Jace flipped him off. “Fine, don’t listen to some friendly advice, but don’t come crying to me when you f**k things up.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Ash grumbled.

“Want to walk or take the car?”

“Walk,” Ash said. “I’ll call Josie on the way.”

• • •

Ash stared stonily down into the bloody face of Michael Cooper while the other men who’d accompanied Ash stood to the side, their gazes alert, watching for any sign of discovery.

Ash flexed his fingers, working the stiffness from his knuckles, the gloves he’d worn torn across one hand and smeared with the other man’s blood.

“You forget Josie Carlysle exists. Understand? If I hear of you coming within a mile of her, you’ll regret it.”

Michael nodded his head, spitting blood from the side of his mouth. “I understand. Jesus. She’s not worth it.”

“Wrong, ass**le. She’s worth it. More than you could ever imagine. She’s mine now and I protect what’s mine. Furthermore, if you even think of going to the police like she should have done when you laid hands on her, I will make your life hell. I’ll be watching you, Cooper. Don’t ever forget it. If you try to start trouble over this, I’ll ruin you. You’ll have nothing left. And if you don’t think I have the money, power and connections to make it happen, just try me. When I’m finished with you, you’ll be living in a cardboard box begging for money so you can eat.”

Michael nodded again, fear and panic blazing in his eyes. He was a pathetic, ball-less worm.

Ash let go of Michael’s shirt and shoved him to the ground where he lay panting for breath, quiet moans of pain slipping from his battered mouth.

“This is what you did to her, you son of a bitch,” Ash said, fury lacing his every word. “You hit her and then held her down on the floor while you hit her again. Count yourself lucky that this is all I’m doing to you. Forget my warning, and I’ll come down on you so hard that you’ll feel me when you’re taking a piss. For that matter, I’m watching you, Cooper. If I ever hear of you hurting any woman again, you’ll go down.”

“Need to go,” one of the men said in a low voice. “Few minutes was all you said. It’s dangerous to be out here any longer.”