Page 73 of Midnight Revelations

“You’re impossible,” I muttered.

His smile made my poor pussy cat panties feel too tight. “Yeah, but you’re the one who agreed to marry me. You can’t take it back now.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck and tugged his head down. “Never.”

His lips met mine and I closed my eyes. Ash was all I’d ever wanted. He filled all my adolescent fantasises, then he created a few more as he led me on a journey of sexual discovery. His tongue found mine, his lips coaxing me into surrender. This was where I belonged.

When we finally arrived at Seth’s, I let the guys chat and chose what I needed for the collection, selecting stones for an engagement set of ring, necklace, bracelet, and earrings. I set them on a different tray and included a few stones for Ash for cufflinks and something a little special. I would make them all together since they would be a unique collection just for two people.

He studied the separate tray for a heartbeat. “Can you have these stones delivered to me personally and put them on a different account?” he asked Seth. “I commissioned a private piece from Lucrezia.”

Seth chuckled and slapped Ash on the back. “I will send you my bill, old friend.”

“I’m sure you will,” Ash replied dryly.

When we were outside, I texted Papa.

Me:Your demands have been met. You can start whatever plans you have in your head.

My phone pinged a few moments later.

Papa:Excellent. I will speak to our priest back home.

Xavier was married in England on Papa’s estate, but the only place in the world that I would ever say ‘I do’ was the small chapel where my parents spoke their vows. They were later married in a formal ceremony that friends and family attended, but they spoke their vows before God alone first.

“Ready?” Ash asked, smiling down at me.

“Hmmm. Let’s go get dinner.”

His phone gave one of its many alert tones and he opened it. His expression told me that something was very wrong. He stabbed the phone and put it to his ear.

“You need to get to Aaron right fucking now.” He hung up and almost ran to his bike.

I held on tight, but this was a rollercoaster of a ride that left my stomach somewhere far behind the bike. He didn’t stop for anything, the bike canting low to the ground as he rallied around corners. My heartbeat pounded in my ears and my knees clamped around him hard.

Ash took the stairs two at a time, his hand gripping mine in a grasp that would leave me bruised tomorrow.

The apartment door had been decimated and lay in splinters on the floor. There was blood everywhere, the ceiling and walls painted in huge arcs of red. Pools of blood were on the floor.

I held my hand over my mouth as Ash opened a wall safe and took a gun out, pushing me behind him and holding his finger to his mouth. I held onto his waist, my feet following his. The scene that met me in the living room would forever live in my memory. A man lay on his back, his body a bloody mess, his face swollen. His dark blond hair the only contrast to the pool of red he lay in. His breath rattled as he tried to breathe.

The other inhabitant wasn’t so lucky. She was dead because no one survived when their head was lying beside them. There were multiple lacerations over her body. Ash had mentioned Aaron earlier, and since he was in a relationship with Poppy, then this must be the vibrant blonde who had been hanging on Ash’s arm a few weeks ago.

My knees tried to buckle but I locked them into position.

A noise at the door made me squeak and hide behind Ash.

“What the fuck?” Jordan demanded, striding into the room. “What happened?”

“My alarm triggered as Marlow destroyed the door. I tried to get here as quickly as I could.” Ash’s face was pale. She was the decoy to take attention from me.

I wrapped my arms around his waist because for once, he needed my strength.

Jordan knelt beside Aaron, his fingers pressed to the side of his neck. He dialled his phone with his other hand. “I need an emergency ambulance and a clean-up crew.” His eyes moved to Poppy. “No, only one survivor. I’ll send you the location now.”

“Talk to me,” I whispered to Ash.

“This is why I tried to avoid relationships,” he replied in a low tone. “This is my apartment, and Marlow’s message to me.”

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