CHAPTER 19

Brock

“Painless,” Ashton said, lifting the glass of bourbon to his lips. “Only one dipshit. I’d call this a successful night.”

Exactly as Ashton had hoped, the last drop of the night had been as painless as the first two. We’d finished distributing the money between the bags we’d brought in with us, to make it less obvious what we were carrying. On a normal night this would be our cue to leave, making it easier than dealing with the crowds, but not tonight. The night was just beginning.

“I’m gonna stay for the rest of the game. Elena’s working. No point in going home alone. You can get out of here if you want. I don’t foresee any more problems tonight.”

I moved from my seat behind him to the one next to him that I vacated earlier. “Actually, we need to talk first.”

He turned in his seat, giving me his full attention. “This have anything to do with your cageyness earlier?”

“You could say that. Honestly, I’m not exactly sure how you’re going to react.”

Ashton’s brows drew together. “React? React about what?”

I ran a hand over my face, trying to think of where to start. “Did I ever tell you how I ended up in that fighting ring where Miller and Malcolm found me?”

He shook his head. “No. You’ve never really talked about where you came from. I mean, I know about your parents, but that’s it.” His gaze bore into me. “What’s up with you? You’re not the open up and share kind of guy.”

“No. Normally, I’d rather leave that shit dead and buried where it ain’t gonna bother anybody. This time, though, the past snuck up and kicked me in the ass.”

“I have no idea what the hell you’re talking about.”

Without Ashton knowing my history with Amanda, the rest of the story would mean nothing to him. He wouldn’t give two shits that Isobel and Amanda were the same person, so I needed to go back to the beginning. The place where this whole damn mess began. “When I was in high school, you know I worked my ass off to help my dad with my mom’s medical expenses.”

“Yeah, and?”

I could understand his confusion. “That was only part of the reason I started fighting. I never planned on anything like this.” I gestured around the room.

That really caught Ashton’s attention. “You’re the best there is and you’re telling me you never planned on getting into this business?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. I was taking night classes in business and after my girlfriend graduated we were going to work for her father until we could eventually take over his business.”

“Girlfriend? Not once have you mentioned spending more than a night, maybe two, with the same woman.”

I thought about the woman currently taking up residence in my house and my head. “I met her in high school. Let’s just say my family came from the wrong side of the tracks for her father. He made a lot of money from his company and wanted the best for Amanda. And according to him, I wasn’t the best. She could find someone with money who could treat her better. Amanda didn’t care about his opinion and kept seeing me anyway. And we kept making plans.”

“So, what the fuck are you doing here?” I couldn’t blame him for the confusion. The life I was describing was nowhere near the man I now was.

“She was supposed to come home for winter break during her junior year, but somewhere between school and home she disappeared. No one heard a word from her. About a year later, her parents announced that Amanda had been killed. When I left her funeral, I walked away from any plans we had. Not long after that, I found my way to that underground fight ring and stayed there until Miller came in that night.”

“God, Brock. I’m sorry. I had no idea. Why did you think I’d have a problem with it? It sucks, but I’m glad you came to work for us.”

“Yeah, well, I learned a few nights ago that Amanda is alive and she’s been living here the entire time. Right in front of us.”

Ashton’s head snapped up. “Her parents lied about her death?”

I knew keeping her identity from Ashton may not be the best idea, but I wanted him to see how bad things had been before I told him who she was. “They did after basically selling her into slavery to save her father’s company.”

Ashton slammed his fist on the table. “What the fuck is wrong with people?” He stood and walked over to the windows overlooking the long-forgotten game. “You need to talk to my father. He’ll help get her out of there. You know how he feels about that bullshit.”

Oh, I knew. I’d seen him in action after he learned how his sister had been treated by her ex-husband. What I didn’t know was how he would react once he learned who she was, and there was no way I could keep that kind of information from him. It would come out sooner rather than later. Now, it was time to tell Ashton.

“We don’t need to get her out of the situation. She’s already out and staying at my house.”

Ashton looked over his shoulder at me and nodded. “Good.”

“I brought her back to my place to stay a few weeks ago, after Miller and I killed her husband.”

He froze and even though I couldn’t see his face, I knew the wheels were spinning in his head. He was smart enough to put two and two together. The instant he realized the truth, his head snapped around so fast, for a moment I thought of the exorcist. “Are you fucking kidding me? We’ve been waiting for the bitch to reappear and you’ve been hiding her in your fucking house.”

Then he was on the move, quickly wearing a hole in the floor.

“Ashton . . .”

He lifted a hand, making it clear that for the moment he didn’t want to hear anything else. It wasn’t a matter of him being my boss that I shut my mouth. It had to do with the amount of respect I had for the man. He was my friend, and I’d just dropped a load of bullshit in his lap that could ultimately affect his family. The least I could do was shut my mouth and give him a chance to process everything.

Every once in a while small murmurs reached my ears. He didn’t even react when the opposing team hit a home run in the top of the ninth. Something that would normally have him on the edge of his seat, shouting at the windows like someone could hear him. The bottom of the ninth just started when Ashton stopped in his tracks to face me.

“We’re more than friends, you’re part of the family, but I don’t get why you’d help her.” He pointed an accusing finger at me. If he were any other man, I’d grab hold and snap it backward. “She’s a vicious, ruthless little bitch. While she was hiding out in your place she could have been using it as a way to get to the rest of us. Fuck.” He ran a hand through his hair. “She could be screwing us over right now while she’s home alone.”

I jumped from my seat. “Goddammit. It’s not like that. Do you think for one minute I’d ever do something that would put any member of your family in danger? I’ve spent half of my adult life keeping you safe, not to mention the cost to my parents if I screwed you all over.” Blood roared through my ears at the accusation I heard in Ashton’s voice. I knew he was simply reacting to the information he’d been given. That didn’t stop my own temper from rising to the surface.

He stalked forward until he was toe to toe with me. “Then explain why you would help her.”

“Because she’s not who you think she is. Amanda is a woman who used to pass out or throw up at the sight of blood. This is a woman who volunteered at nursing homes and worked as a camp counselor in the summers. Being with Marcello changed her, but I’ll guarantee she didn’t do half of the things you think she did.”

Ashton scoffed. “Let me guess, she tell you that? What surprises me is that you believe that bullshit.”

“Fuck this.” I shoved the chair back and walked to the door. I wrapped my hand around the knob when Ashton called my name. “What?” I snapped, doing my best to keep my temper in check. I considered Ashton a friend, but the thought he was questioning my judgment pissed me off.

“Where are you going?” The tone of his voice was one he used with clients when he expected them to do as he said.

I looked over my shoulder at him, where he now stood in front of the chair he’d vacated. “Home. Job’s done for the night.”

“So you’re going to choose Isobel Marcello.”

Enough.

I whipped around, advancing on Ashton in the same way I stalked the little mouthy shit earlier. “Her name is Amanda. And fuck me for trying to help a woman who was sold to Nathan Marcello as payment to pull her father’s business out of bankruptcy.”

Ashton’s jaw clenched tight.

“In the space of two weeks she was forced to change her name, dye her hair, and marry that piece of shit. Then he beat her every time she tried to interfere in his games and save someone. Eventually, she had to put up the cold exterior to keep herself safe. But I guess helping a woman in trouble only extends to family.” I clenched my hands into fists, keeping them at my side.

Blood pounded through my ears, and a vein throbbed in my temple. Ashton was silent for a long moment, while I tried to rein in my temper.

He took a step back, shaking his head. “Why the fuck would she go through with that? Why wouldn’t she run? I can’t imagine wanting to save her bastard of a father.”

“Because Nathan had her younger brother, who was a senior in high school at the time.”

Ashton’s brows hit his hairline. What I’d said seemed to have hit a nerve. Ashton rubbed the back of his neck. “Jesus fucking Christ. How long did Marcello have the kid?”

I forced my fingers to relax. Ashton finally seemed to be listening. “Three weeks.”

“Hell, and he’s still alive?”

I nodded. “I sent him and her mother to a few contacts I have over the state border.”

Ashton dropped back into the chair. He was silent for so long, I worried he might want me to bring her to Malcolm, who could order us both dead. I also needed Miller on my side before that could happen. He looked up at me. “Why didn’t you send her too? Marcello’s men are going to be looking for her.”

“She wouldn’t go. Refused to leave me to fight her battle.”

“Fuck me, I need a drink.” Ashton walked over to the bar, foregoing the cup and drinking straight from the bottle. He dropped into a chair, his arms onto his knees, the bottle still held tightly between his hands. “She’s out of her goddamn mind.”

I went over to the bar and took the bottle from his fingers. “Tell me about it.” I lifted the bottle to my lips, the warm liquid sliding down my throat. “She’s always been like that.”

Ashton raised his head. “Have you told my father?”

“No. I wanted to talk to you and Miller first. I know how Malcolm feels about her and I’m not sure how to show him the truth.”

“I’m not sure how to prove it to him. Shit, even I’m struggling with the thought that a woman we’ve hated for years is actually a pawn. Does she have the paperwork where she changed her name?”

“Yeah, says it’s somewhere at the house, but I’m sure the records are in the court house.”

He snatched the bottle back, this time grabbing a glass from the bar. “Deal with Miller tonight, and tomorrow I’ll talk to him and we’ll come up with a plan, but I think the best option will be to tell Dad and then let him talk to her.”

“And would he guarantee not to hurt her on sight?”

“Once he hears the story, he’ll give her a chance, but if he thinks she’s lying, he’ll want her dead.”

I slammed my fist down on the bar. “She’s not lying.”

Ashton held his hand up. “I believe you. I should have believed you from the beginning. I know you always see through people’s lies. It just shocked me to hear you’ve had her in your home when everyone’s been wondering where the hell she is.”

“It was the only way to keep her safe.”

Ashton looked over at the clock. “Miller should be at Orbit. He had a private game there tonight.”

“I’ll call you after I talk to him.”

Ashton sighed. “Good luck.”

I knew what he meant. It was Marcello’s fault that Tess was attacked. Neither of us was sure how Miller would react. Considering Ashton’s reaction, I didn’t think it would be positive.