Velvet Fire - Ashby Crime Family Romance

“What do you need Maisie?”

“Here’s an ice pack for her ankle.” A tall, well-dressed man appeared in the doorway. His shock of black hair had a dusting of silver at the temples. Of course, it did. His eyes fell to Sadie’s automatically before taking a quick glance around the room and handing me the ice pack, which I immediately placed on my ankle

“Thank you, Thomas,” Sadie said, with a bit more warmth in her voice than you would expect from an employer to her butler.

“I’ll warm up some food,” he said and walked off just as a woman with hair dark as night rushed in with a harried smile on her face. Was this Grand Central Station?

“I’ve got clothes for you,” she said as if she knew me. “Lingerie, sleepwear, casual wear and a few options for lounging. Toiletries too, the good stuff.”

Her blue eyes bounced around the room giving disapproving looks to the family. “Let the woman take a shower, would you please? Relax. Process in private for fuck’s sake.”

I decided I liked this woman immediately.

She turned those penetrating eyes on me. “Kat Ashby, the girl Ashby,” she said and smiled as though she meant it.

“Maisie,” I accepted her offered hand. “The hot mess.” As I attempted to return her smile, I froze at the sight of Virgil looming in the doorway, big, intimidating. Beautiful. As fuck.

“Hey,” I managed to get out.

“Hey,” he said back as though he owned the room. Thick arms folded over his chest made him look pissed off, and I wondered if I’d been too hopeful earlier. “Everybody out,” he growled and a beat later the room started to clear out.

Kat dropped the bags from one of Glitz’s high-end boutiques on the floor and turned to Virgil with a smile and a pat on the shoulder. Sadie cupped both sides of his face, a tender maternal move I found unexpected for some reason. Both women left, waiting at the door for the lone holdout.

Virgil glared at Bonnie, but he never moved and when he spoke, his voice was gentle. “Please.”

I turned to Bonnie and put my hands on her shoulders, looking her right in the eyes.

“I need a hot shower and to ice my foot. After that I promise to find you.”

Bonnie blinked away tears, determined to be as strong as she could for me. She hugged me tight and stepped back with an overexaggerated nod.

“I’m glad you’re all right Maisie. I love you.”

“Love you too, Bonnie.”

As soon as we were alone, Virgil kicked the door shut and locked it, the heat and weight of his stare exactly what I needed despite the anger simmering just beneath the surface. He stalked over to me and I stayed where I was, perched on the edge of the bed when he yanked me up against his chest and hugged the breath out of me.

“I’m so fucking sorry Maisie. So. So. Sorry.”

I enjoyed the hug for a long moment, savoring the way his big arms and warm chest made me feel a little bit less like crap. But I pulled back because his words didn’t make sense.

“Why? You didn’t do this. That crazy fucker Brendan did and his sidekick, the baldheaded fuck. What a headcase that Brendan fucker is.”

That guy needed a long stay on a psych ward but I didn’t want to think about him, not when I had Virgil right here, staring at me like I was something really good. I pressed my lips against his with a moan.

“I don’t need you to apologize Virgil.”

“Because your family is MC?”

He didn’t sound angry but he also didn’t sound like it was no big deal.

“Because I don’t think this is your fault. And yeah I’ve been in danger a time or two because of the Reckless Bastards.”

I waited for him to continue because it was obvious he wanted to talk about it.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

He sounded hurt, and I hated that so I did my best to explain.

“I don’t know. I guess I just got used to not telling people. I’m not ashamed but, well there are usually two responses when guys hear the news. They’re scared as hell and run away or they’re just a little too interested.” It was just easier to say nothing. “Most college boys don’t really care about a girl’s family anyway.”

He tried for a laugh but it was bitter. Unamused. “Yeah that’s true. Why didn’t you ask me about my family?”

“I figured you’d tell me if you wanted me to know. Same as Gunnar and the club back home. You upset I didn’t tell you?”

“Would you have ever told me?”

“I’d like to think I would, but I was waiting for us to actually finish a few dates before making a decision.”

Damn, did I really just say that to him? I must really be losing my shit.