Page 70 of From the Ashes
CARTER
I passed by the kitchen a few times, and my girl was laughing and joking with the other women. Mia is going all out to make her feel welcome and I really appreciate it. They’ve been in there for an hour, and their voices and laughter keep getting louder, which I guess is a good sign. Passing by a bookshelf in the hallway, I notice a small frame on it. It would go unnoticed for most people, but details are important, and I like to be aware of all my surroundings. It looks like a handwritten note from Ares to Mia.
“Your lunch is set on the terrace.
I’ll be there at eleven.
I cannot wait to see you, my little tornado.
A.M”
Before Mia came into his life, I wouldn’t have bet on my boss leaving handwritten notes to any woman, but right now it doesn’t surprise me one bit. Turns out he’s a psycho in our world, but once he’s around Mia, there’s not much left of hisarmor. Kind of like me with Lana. Voices behind the walls catch my attention. Ash's distinctive familiar tone reaches my ears. I stay put where I am, looking at the books while listening to Ash’s banter. I’m so used to being around him, I know what face he’s making even without seeing him.
“Sorry I’m late, there was so much traffic I got stuck in a fucking jam,” he complains, and I hear the sound of a beer opening. “Just got it from the fridge, by the way, did you guys see that woman in the kitchen? The brown hair one?”
I hold my breath.
“What about her?” chuckles Shadow with his deep voice. Ash didn’t see Lana arrive with me; he must think she’s a friend of Mia. And the guys are playing with him like a canary in the lion's den. They know anyone glancing at her is as good as a dead man walking.
“She’s super hot.”
“Did you talk to her?” asks Tank, and I’m fucking sure he’s smiling from ear to ear.
“Fuck yeah, told her I was available if she wanted a tour of the house.”
“And what did she say?”
“Nothing, it’s weird, she stared at me, and all the girls burst into laughter, women, go figure.” Shadow clears his throat as I freeze behind the wall, wondering what the fuck else he said to my woman. Ash is the only motherfucker that could get away with it, only if he truly didn’t know who she was.
“We better tell him now before he finds out and runs for his life,” Shadows says with a restrained laugh, aligning with the other guys.
“You can’t hit on her,” says Bones, his footsteps joining the group.
“Why? She’s hot, I’m available, what’s the matter?”
“You can't hit on her ‘cause she’s Carter’s girl,” Shadow deadpans, and I hear a slap, which I guess is him on Ash’s head.
“No way. Carter’s girl is a mom?” He saysMomlike the word doesn’t belong anywhere near a stunning woman like Lana. My fist clenches before I even think about it. Silence drops. And I’m pretty sure everyone’s staring at him, waiting for his brain to catch up and do the damn math.
“Noway!” shouts Ash. “No fuckin’ way,” he realizes his mistake, “and I fucking hit on her I’m so fucked.” I hear his tall body fall on the leather couch.
“If Carter had seen you, you’d be in trouble, kid,” says Shadow, his twenty years above Ash talking from experience of watching me as the enforcer of the club for years.
“No shit,” groans Ash, his voice faltering. I grin behind the wall. It was an honest mistake. He’ll learn.
“I didn’t know, I swear,” he pleads as I come into the room, watching him hold both hands in the air.
“I know, ” I smile and walk toward him, disheveling his hair, “but from now on, I hear you hit on my woman, you'd better run fast.” Ash chuckles and his shoulders relax as if he had been ready to run for his life a few seconds ago.
“Well, congrats then, you’re a lucky guy,” he says, and I nod back, taking a gulp of my beer.
The luckiest on earth indeed.
20
CARTER
I don’t wantto say goodbye.
