Page 88 of The Billionaire's Assistant

“My laundry service can make these smell like new,” Miles said.

“I…I don’t know what I’d do without you helping me.”

“I don’t know what I’d do if you’d been harmed. If you’d been home….”

I squeezed his hand. “I wasn’t, and it’s going to be okay.”

He got a call from one of his directors in LA, and I encouraged him to take it. While he was talking, I decided to take out the kitchen trash. The place smelled bad enough, I didn’t need rotten food and bugs to deal with when I came back for the rest of my things.

I signaled to Miles that I was going to take the trash downstairs, he frowned but didn’t protest. I mouthed that I would be right back.

I tossed the bag into the dumpster, but when I turned around, Jesse was there in front of me, pointing a gun at my chest. “It’s so nice to see you again.”

He looked rough, like he hadn’t slept in days. His clothes were torn, and he smelled like he’d been rolling around inside the dumpster.

“Are you happy to see me?” he asked.

“Jesse, what are you doing here?”

“I’m here to kill you, you fucking traitor.”

“Dad won’t like it if—”

“Dear old dad kicked me out, so I don’t give a fuck what he thinks. This is all your fault. You just had to be a slut and sleep with Montgomery, didn’t you?”

My mind raced as I tried to think of anything I could say to stall for time. Miles would worry when I didn’t return. “Jesse, I—”

“Shut up.”

“Please. I can help you.”

He stomped his foot and yelled louder. “I said to shut the fuck up.”

“Ben!” It was Miles. He burst from the back door and started to rush Jesse, but Jesse grabbed me, yanking me against him as he raised his gun, aiming at Miles.

No. This wasn’t going to happen. My family had done enough to hurt me. I wasn’t going to watch Jesse kill the man I loved. I slammed my elbow into his gut.

When he doubled over, I kicked his arm. The gun hit the ground.

Jesse recovered quickly and grabbed me in a chokehold. I dug my nails into his arm, fighting to keep him from cutting off my air.

“Let him go.” Miles had the gun now. It was pointed at Jesse’s head. “I said, let him go.”

Jesse tightened his arm around me. I kicked back at him, trying to force him to loosen his grip.

His body jerked before I registered the pop. I only realized what had happened when his grip on me relaxed. I stared at Miles. “You shot him.”

I started to turn around, but Miles pulled me to him. “Don’t look. It’s messy.”

“Is he….”

“He’s dead.”

“I….” My knees felt weak. The world was starting to go dark.

“Ben? Are you all right.”

“I…I think—” Miles helped me sit down on the pavement.

---