Chapter 31 – Asher
It’s killing me knowing that Chelcie is just next door and I’m not able to go see her. With all of the red tape we’ve been trying to fight through and meeting after meeting to brief each tactical team on everything I know, I feel like my mind is about to explode.
We have finally finished all of our meetings today. Dominic Murphy will be going down and there isn’t a damn thing that can stop it now. He has so much shit piled on the scales against him—all of the evidence I’m responsible for bringing to light. I expected to feel upset over losing my chance at vengeance, but I know that Chelcie is right. Coop would hate this, and what’s important is that I’m around for my family. If something would have gone wrong and I was taken from Chelcie—just the thought kills me.
After the last handshake from the suit from the FBI, I wait until he leaves my office—my official office—and breathe a sigh of relief.
It’s over.
In two short days, Dominic will go down. Even though Coop’s murder is my motivation in this, it feels good to know that someone as disgusting as him will be taken off the streets. The sense of pride that fills me when I think about how—or rather by whom—all of this was set in motion is all consuming.
I’m not even upset that I won’t be a part of the takedown. I don’t need to be there. I don’t need anything but the verification that he’s behind bars when it’s over. I’ve done my part, and in turning all my intel over, I’ve also guaranteed Chelcie’s and Zac’s safety.
There hasn’t been anything else threatening since that one letter. I instantly pulled back and stopped being so reckless in my hunt of Dom. I used the Internet to silently weave in and out of his life. Thank God, because his being clueless means that Chelcie is no long in danger.
It’s time to live our lives for the future we’re building, and I can’t wait.
“You getting ready to head out?”
I look up and take in Maddox’s casual stance. “I was thinking about it. Did you see the girls leave yet?”
“Yeah. Headed out about five minutes ago.”
“All right, so tell me why you’re standing there keeping me from getting home to my woman.”
One thing about Maddox is that, when he speaks, you listen, so I know he wouldn’t be here if he didn’t think this was worth it. He’s a man of few words, and I can respect that. And I owe him for waking my ass up when I’d needed it. I’m not sure if I would be where I am right now had it not been for him.
He walks into the room and shuts the door behind him. He takes a few slow steps before sitting in the chair across from me. Once he’s settled in, his arms rest against each armrest, his fingers laced in front of him. He doesn’t say anything for the longest time, just observes me in an eerie silence.
“I’m proud of you, brother,” he finally says.
“Thanks, Maddox. I owe it to you, you know. I’m not sure anyone could have knocked some sense into me quite like you did. You made me see the hell I was letting myself become consumed with.” I look away, getting ahold of my emotions. “I wouldn’t have any of this if you hadn’t reminded me that there were still things worth living for. I wouldn’t have one hell of a woman who is about to become my wife. A son on the way. And most importantly—with this shit we just finished up here this week—I wouldn’t have peace with Coop’s death.”
“I didn’t do anything but remind you what’s important. Far as I can see, you did all the hard work. Just remember, there are going to be days when that darkness starts creeping up on you. You can feel it starting to whisper against your skin, see it out of the corner of your eyes, and sometimes it’s right on your heels. It’s not easy, Ash. Sometimes it’s a daily war against no one but yourself. If you need me, I’m here.”
I clear my throat and nod. He’s so spot-on with how it feels when I have a bad day. When the grief and sadness of missing my brother become too much to bear.
“Congratulations, by the way. I noticed that rock on her hand the other day. You deserve this, Asher, and she’s one hell of a warrior to have in your corner.”
“That she is,” I reply with pride dripping from my words.
I wait a few moments and study Maddox. He looks exhausted. I can tell that the last few months have been hard for him. I know enough that he’s been fighting Emmy to come home, but as far as details—he’s been dead silent on those.
“How are things with Emmy?” I hedge.
His eyes flash, pain and exasperation in the forefront. “She’s back, so there’s something.”
He doesn’t say anything else, and judging by his tone, if I pressed it, he wouldn’t take that well. Whatever the hell is going on between them seems to just be getting worse.
“You were there when I needed you, Mad. Don’t go at this like you’re alone, okay?”
“It’s sometimes for the best that way. I’m happy for you and Chelcie—really, I am—but Emmy deserves better than anything I could ever give her.”
I open my mouth to lay into him like he did to just months before but stop and hold up my hand for him to wait when my cell starts ringing.
“Hey, Sunshine?”
The grin I’m sporting has Maddox pushing himself up to stand. I notice distractedly that he seems to be moving slower than normal today.
“Chelcie? Are you there?”
I wait, wondering why the hell she’s calling me if all I’m going to hear are some weird scuffling noises. It sounds like she dialed me from her purse or something.
“Chelcie?” I try one more time.
Maddox turns from where he’s about to walk out of the room. His eyes are narrowed in a way that has every hair on my body tingling with dread.
“Chelcie, please,” I mutter. “Please, Sunshine.”
My stomach feels like it’s full of lead. I don’t move the phone from my ear as I start moving papers from my desk, looking for my keys.
I look up when Maddox lets out a quick whistle. He holds his own keys up and nods his head towards the door. He doesn’t have to fucking tell me twice. With the phone to my ear, I make my way behind Maddox.
I’m praying over and over that my gut is wrong and that she just accidently forgot to lock her phone, but I stop dead just steps away from the front door to Corps Security. When I hear her ear-piercing scream break through the static in the line, my blood runs cold and I sprint into action.
I reach Maddox’s Charger ahead of him, waiting impatiently as he hurries to the driver’s seat. He doesn’t ask questions—he just throws the car in gear and speeds out of the parking lot. I keep the phone pressed tight to my ear, praying to hear something else that will give me a clue as to what we’re about to walk into.
Fuck me. An image of Dominic Murphy flashes through my mind and a sob bubbles out when I think that, by not killing that bastard when I could have, I could lose everything.
We’ve only been on the road for a minute at the most when I hear another voice, this one making a cold sweat break out across my skin. I can’t make out her words, but I would know that fucking nasally whine anywhere.
Sarah. Fucking. Jane.