“Where does Ashley fit into all of this?” River asked.
“She’s my reward.”
“Do you hurt her?” Caleb asked.
“You’ve seen her for yourself. Does she look hurt?”
“I know there are a great deal of bruises that don’t show up.”
Earl snorted. “I don’t hit my women.”
“Don’t treat us like fools. We know what you’re capable of. The bodies that mount up from women you can’t control,” I said.
“Actually, that is business, and I have nothing to do with their deaths. To put your minds at rest, I can order Ashley in here to strip and you can see every single inch of her if you’d like, and while you’re checking over my woman, I’ll go to a room, and let’s see what would happen if I was left alone with her for as long as you check mine.”
Vadik charged forward and all of a sudden, Earl had a blade within his grip.
“I take my protection seriously. You think I won’t protect what is mine? Ashley is mine. Try to take her from me, and I will make you all suffer in ways you’ve only ever imagined.”
We stayed perfectly still.
Earl was a threat. One we didn’t need, at least not now. I waited for Caleb to give the order. Killing Earl would be a mistake. We don’t know the kind of power he held. If what he said was true, there was a great deal we didn’t know. I hated those odds. Emily’s life was too damn precious to all of us to waste it.
I waited.
Finally, Caleb cleared his throat. “I think it’s time we get down to business and allow our women to catch up.”
One. Two. Three. Four. Five.
Slowly, I made the first move in putting my gun away. Emily didn’t need this tonight, and Ashley, well, we’d find a way to protect her, if she even needed it from us.
Chapter Fifteen
Emily
The moment we were far away from our men, I pulled Ashley into my arms. In the past seven years, Ashley had turned me into a hugger. I hadn’t been one to show too much emotion.
Living with my dad and brother, as well as my driver, to survive, I’d learned to be cold, almost wooden in feeling and movement.
Ashely had not had the same troubles that I had. She felt so much and loved a great deal. She’d never been afraid to show it either. If we watched a sad movie, she’d sob her heart out and sniffle all the way through. When someone made her mad, she’d growl, scream, and even hit a pillow. I’d seen it. The person who had done the aggravation was never around when she let go.
“Are you okay? Did he hurt you? I’m so sorry for not being there. I’ve been trying to get you back. Are you okay?” I kept repeating the same questions over and over.
Ashley chuckled. “Stop, Em, stop.”
I hugged her close, feeling so much guilt at what I nearly caused her.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay, Em. I’m right here, and I’m fine.”
I pulled away and started to lift the arms of the dress she wore. I didn’t see any signs, but all of a sudden, she pulled away.
“You’ve got to stop.” Ashley held her hands up.
“Does he hit you? Beat you? Rape you?”
“No!” Ashley yelled the word. “You’ve got to stop and calm down. Get your shit together or something.”
“I’d say,” Drake said.
I glared at him. “You get to be quiet. You don’t have a single say in this.”
“Thank God. You’re acting like a crazy person. We don’t know how long they’re going to be, or how this is going to end. So shut up and let her speak.”
I opened my mouth, closed it, and opened it again. I was a little taken aback by the sheer force of his words, but I couldn’t deny it. I wasn’t letting Ashley get a chance to speak and that was on me.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Shut up, Emily,” Drake said.
I placed a hand on my mouth and smiled up at my best friend. “I’m sorry.”
She chuckled. “It’s good to know that since I’ve been away you’ve found your voice.”
“You’d be surprised.” This from Drake again.
“I remember you being a lot more childish,” Ashley said.
“I don’t remember you at all,” Drake said, winking at her. “But I’d like to get to know you.”
“Stop it,” I said, taking Ashley’s hands and walking her all the way back to the sofa. Caleb’s office wasn’t exactly comfortable. Even the chairs left a lot to be desired in the comfort corner. “Tell me. Talk to me about everything. Is he good to you? Are you happy? Don’t leave anything out.”
Ashley sighed and looked toward Drake.
“I’ll stand outside but I’m not going anywhere else.”
“If you need us to take care of you, we will. I know my guys, they’ll protect you.”
“Emily, stop it. Okay. Yes, in the beginning, I was terrified. One moment I’d been asked to deal with a client who wanted to talk to me, and the next, I wake up on a boat or a yacht. I think it was more of a yacht. Anyway, Earl, he told me about the deal he made. Saving you, bringing you back here, and in return, he got me, or more importantly, my virginity.”