Page 49 of Midnight Secrets

“As is Lucrezia. You had a choice and you didn’t make it. Instead, you sat on the fence like a coward, no doubt hoping to browbeat her when she arrived. You could have fulfilled the agreed order or sent an intent to cancel. You did neither. I hope you have a good solicitor and deep pockets because you and Mr. Billingham are going to need them.”

A large, muscular guy who worked in the back stomped forward. “This is our business. You can’t come in here and tell us what we can and can’t do.” He swung his clenched fist in a punch at Ash’s face.

My jaw dropped open as Ash moved with lithe precision. He grabbed the guy’s wrist and twisted his arm up his back until there was a sickening pop. Ash then dragged his assailant’s head down to his knee and there was a crunch. Blood spurted from his nose onto the floor as Ash pushed him away.

“Assaulting me wasn’t really the best option,” Ash said smoothly. “You have heard of Bartholomew, Blackwood, and Berkeley?”

“Of course,” Stefan replied, his gaze on his associate with the broken nose and dislocated shoulder.

“I’m the Blackwood. The Berkeley is the barrister who owns the courtroom and has the sphincter muscles of his adversaries tightening. The Bartholomew is Lucrezia’s cousin. Nigel was very foolish in involving you in his silly power games because she refused to buy his substandard stones.”

“You can’t prove anything.” Stefan sneered, crossing his arms across his chest. I thought he’d been my friend. Francis had helped me find him.

“Actually, I can,” Ash replied. “This entire meeting has been recorded. It was why I asked the specific questions I did. Have a pleasant day.”

Ash grabbed my elbow and ushered me out the door. His phone was to his ear before his ass hit the seat beside me. “Hey, Seth, I need another favour.” He was silent for a few seconds. “Fuck off, I already gave you the keys to a car for those diamonds. That debt is paid in full. I need a top-quality goldsmith as soon as possible. Nigel has been a busy boy.”

I sat stunned at the conversation. Ash paid for my stones with a car? What type of car paid for diamonds and sapphires?

“Great, thanks. Can you send the address to my phone? You’re a fucking maniac, Seth. I swear one of these days, karma is going to bite you in the ass. Yeah, I’ll have it delivered to you this afternoon.”

I groaned when he ended the call. “What did helping me cost you?”

He grinned at me and winked, shaking his head. He hit the green dial button on his phone and put it back to his ear. “Jay? Yeah, I need you to scare the shit out of someone with your legal prowess.” He continued to tell him what had happened and I heard Jordan swearing on the other end of the line. “No, I didn’t get any blood on my boots. You need therapy. Yeah, I’ll ask her to send you the relevant paperwork across.”

Ash’s gaze met mine. “Yeah, she arrived yesterday. The show is in a few weeks and she needed to sort shit out. Hold on.” He held the phone out to me. “Jay would like to reassure himself that I have not kidnapped you and held you hostage for sexual favours.”

He arched an eyebrow at me and a smile curved my lips. “Hey, Jay. What’s up?”

“What are you doing in the country without any of us knowing?” he demanded.

“Ash knew I was here. He’s been helping me with all the details for the IJS. Francis is with me as well as per Papa’s security protocol.” Ash’s hand landed on my thigh and I suppressed a giggle that wanted to emerge.

“Does Lucas know you’re here?”

“No, but neither does he know about my business and the IJS. Please, Jay, you said you’d help me. All I want to do is the same as the men in the family and have my own business and source of income. I don’t want to be married off to a man and live off his charity.”

Ash’s hand slipped up my leg and I briefly closed my eyes.

“Ash is supposed to be at home with a headache,” Jordan snapped.

“He arrived earlier and took some pills while I twittered on about this appointment. He offered to take me since he knows this part of London. Is something wrong?”

Two could play at Ash’s game. I crawled onto his lap and straddled his hips.

“No, but Lucas would be pissed to know you’re staying at a single man’s apartment.”

“What are you implying, Jay? That Francis and I are having an affair?” I mustered as much indignation as I could in my tone.

Ash’s lips twitched and his lips landed on my throat, his tongue tracing a trail up to the sensitive spot behind my ear.

“No, all Lucas’ security guards are vetted to ensure none of them would dare to lay a finger on any of his daughters.” Jordan sighed. “Fine, I know nothing about this. Send me over the contracts and I’ll deal with this asshole who’s trying to shake you down.”

“Thanks, Jay.”

“No worries, try to behave before Lucas arrives with his castration shears.”

I hung up and handed the phone back to Ash.

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