Velvet Fire - Ashby Crime Family Romance

“I have to take care of a few things but I’ll be back by morning.”

I wanted to argue but I didn’t have the right to and even if I did, I knew the drill. So when Virgil smashed his lips to mine and kissed me like I mattered to him, I leaned into it. I wrapped my arms tight around him and slid a little tongue between his lips.

“I promise,” he growled and pressed his forehead to mine before leaving me with a shaky smile on my face. I smiled because this interlude meant something.

His night wasn’t over but he came home to see me. Because he had to see me.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Virgil

“I got out as many girls as I could without alerting anyone to our presence but it wasn’t enough.” It was never enough but that was the nature of the beast.

Sadie sighed and shook her head, nodding for me to follow her into her office once I got back to the manor for the second or third time tonight.

“Don’t beat yourself up about it, Virgil. You did more for those girls in trying to save them than they ever did for each other. Junkies have almost no self-preservation instinct. Take the win.”

She nodded for me to close the door behind us and I did while Ma headed to the bar.

“I’d rather a junkie overdose Ma, than die in a horrific explosion that had nothing to do with them.” I wasn’t squeamish about killing, it was too fucking late to develop those kinds of sensibilities. “Fucking Crusaders.”

“Your brother is still there?”

I nodded. “When I left, he was talking to a cluster of cops and forensic people.” No doubt passing around cash and other favors to make sure nothing at the crime scene would lead back to any Ashby. It was a business expense that was always worth paying.

“Jasper will take care of things. He always does.” Ma wore an angelic smile as she handed me a crystal tumbler with four fingers of amber liquid in it. “For all my shit luck in the man department, I lucked out with you kids.”

“Thanks, Ma.” This was a family business, and we all had our strengths, ways in which we contributed to help keep shit running like a well-oiled machine.

“I stopped by the parsonage. It’s clean,” I told her, not to brag, but because she was a leader who liked to know everything, even the most mundane details. It’s how she kept the family safe.

Sadie nodded as nimble fingers rolled in an up and down motion until there was a perfectly rolled joint positioned between her fingers.

“Thanks. I know you don’t approve, but it can’t be helped.”

It damn well could but that was an argument I wasn’t prepared to have at the moment.

“Anyway, it’s done, and I submitted an anonymous donation to have a crime scene crew come in and clean the place up.”

“You continue to impress me.” Her words were slightly muffled as she clamped down on the joint in an attempt to light it. Sadie let out an exhale and flashed a serious look at me.

“Your girlfriend is sleeping upstairs, has been since about an hour after you left, minus a few nightmares. Her friend hasn’t left her side all evening.”

I nodded my thanks, unsure what else to say for everything she’d done to make Maisie feel comfortable and safe.

“Are you cool with the Reckless Bastards thing?”

I’d just started getting used to the idea that I wouldn’t have to walk away from Maisie when this was all over, but if there was another obstacle, I wanted to know now before I crawled up the steps and fell into bed beside her.

She nodded slowly and held the joint out to me.

“The Reckless Bastards pose no threat to us. Cross and your father go way back. Before you were even born. And if the time ever comes and we need an ally or muscle, they could be useful. Our swords, as they say, don’t cross so don’t use it as an excuse to run away from her.”

I frowned and shook my head, the denial on the tip of my tongue before I swallowed it down. “I’m not looking for an excuse.”

“Bullshit, Virgil. I know you better than you think. I know that you think you have more of your father in you than me, and you’re wrong. Everyone knows you do what needs to be done, but I know you get no joy from it.”

“I don’t hate my job, Ma.”

“Of course not, just don’t go thinking you’re like him. You’re not. You spend a little too much time fucking and no time at all getting know women and we both know why. We know who’s to blame.”

“Ma.”

“Yes. Fine. All right. Just don’t rush to kick this one out of bed is all I’m saying.” Ma accepted the joint and took a long pull, leaning back in her desk chair with her eyes almost completely closed. “Anything else to report?”