Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
A thousand things go through my mind, but above all, I have to go be with my brother. Yes, we haven’t been close in the last few years, but he’s still important to me. If these are his last moments, the least I can do is show up and sit in the waiting room on the off chance I get to see him one last time.
Carson’s jaw sets. His hands ball into fists. It’d be straight up terrifying if I didn’t hate him to much right now. He’s the reason Iain’s nearly gone—Carson and his organization are the reason I don’t talk to anyone in my family anymore. I hate the Crowleys, hate them so much it makes me want to bleed just to get them out of my system.
“There’s more,” he says, voice like concrete. “I know this is hard, but you’ve got to hear it.”
“There’s more? My brother’s in surgery. What else could you possibly say? Just go away, Carson.”
“Ash.” He comes closer. I try to push past, try to get into the Smoke, but he grabs my arm.
“Get the fuck off me,” I hiss, yanking away.
He doesn’t release. His grip is iron and flame. It burns, being so close to this man. I hate him so much, and I still can’t get over the way he looks at me and this strange, horrifying, simmering attraction that lurks between us. It disgusts me now more than ever, and I wish I could purge it from my brain, but being touched by Carson sends a jolt of yearning deep between my legs, an atavistic and primal need to be taken, to be fucked, to be slammed against the ground and ravished.
Maybe it’s the grief, or maybe it’s something more. All I know is, I want to get away from him, because I hate the way he makes me feel.
“Your father and your uncles, they were hit too” he says, and I almost don’t hear him. “Ash, your father’s dead. Your uncles too. Owen, Kent, Morris. They’re all gone.”
I go still. I can barely process his words. “Who? What? I don’t… they’re… what?”
“Your aunts survived. Your cousins Anthony and Tracy and Mary are still alive, and I’ve got guys watching them—”
I rip my arm away from him, staggering back against the wall. “My family’s dead?”
He stares liquid fire at me and nods. “I’m so sorry. Iain might pull through, but I’m not—” He stops, gathering into himself. “I didn’t know it was happening until it was too late. I tried… I tried to stop it. But, Ash, you have to listen to me. You’re next, do you understand? They’re going to come for you next. The only reason you’re still here is because you’ve been estranged, but they’ll find you soon.”
“Stop,” I choke out, shaking my head. This is crazy. This makes no sense. My father, all of my uncles, killed at once? I knew something like this could happen, but this is too much. “I don’t believe you. All of them? Everyone? I mean… I can’t…”
“I know this is hard to hear. I understand it’s going to take a while to process and to grieve what you’ve lost. But Ash, I will not let them have you too. I will die before they touch you.” He steps closer, all heat and need. So big and terrifying.
I shove him away. “Fuck you, Carson. Fuck you.”
“Ash—”
“Do you hear me? Are you even listening, you sick monster? Fuck. You. Go away.”
“You don’t understand.”
I yank the back door to Bottle of Smoke open and stand on the threshold. My home and my safety. I stare at Carson and jab a finger at him. “I’m going to the hospital,” I say, tears streaming down my face. “I’ll see what they have to say. And if you made this shit up…”
He stills. “That’s a bad idea.”
“Why? Because you’re a sick psychopath and a liar?”
“No. Because they’re watching the hospital. The second you show up there, they’ll know where you are. They’ll follow you.”
“Then I’ll go to the police first.” My voice cracks. “My family, they’re all dead.”
“The cops can’t keep you safe. I know this is harsh, but you’re all that’s left, and I won’t let them take you too.”
I laugh, an ugly and angry sound. “Oh, and you can protect me? Like you protected Iain?”
“Better than the cops, yes.”
“Fuck. You.” I turn my back to him. “You told me what happened. Your job’s done. I don’t ever want to see you again.”
“Ash, please listen. I can help. I can—”
I slam the door in his face and jam the lock shut.
Then I collapse down to the floor, crying into my hands.
Chapter 5
Ash
It takes a lot of crying, a little whiskey, and a lot of talking before Bernie understands what’s going on. We’re in my tiny back office next to the bathrooms jam-packed with my desk, the security camera equipment, and my pathetic excuse for a filing system. “I’ll drive you to the hospital,” she says, pacing back and forth. “We’ll find your brother. I’m sure someone there can tell you more about what’s going on.” She looks pale and terrified, like me.