Twenty.
Ashlee
I was laying on the sofa when the doorbell suddenly rang. I frowned, glancing at the clock. Who the hell would be knocking at six in the evening?
“Ashlee!”
I sat up, grinning when I saw Hannah and Grace entering the room.
“What are you doing here?”
"Your husband invited us. Didn't you know?”
“No, he didn't tell me.” I raised an eyebrow as Ethan appeared.
“Thought you girls could have some fun. There's wine in the kitchen alongside a pizza menu.”
“But why?”
"Mags and I need to pop out and I thought you could do with some company.”
I grinned, getting to my feet. "Sounds perfect.”
“Good.” Ethan closed the gap, sliding his arms around my waist. "Now be good. I’ll be home before you know it.”
“Okay.”
His lips brushed against mine. "Love you, baby.”
"Love you too.”
After Ethan left, we grabbed a glass of wine and ordered some pizza before settling on the sofas. "So, how have things been since the other night?”
“Fine I guess. Ethan was angry and we had an argument, but we’re good now.”
“Mario was pissed as well.”
I raised an eyebrow at Hannah. "Mario?”
“Yeah, in the car while we were trying to get you back.”
"His anger was directed more at her actually. It was weird,” Grace said.
“What's going on between you two?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Nothing,” she said quickly.
A little too quickly.
“Han...”
“Nothing. He's an ass.”
I didn't believe her.
“Right,” I mumbled. "At least we know Hooligans is out of the question in future.”
“It’s not that great anyway,” Grace said. "We only picked it because it’s cheap.”
“Mario said that we should go to Raptors in the future.”
I raised an eyebrow again.
“He said it to Grace as well,” she quickly justified. “He said we can get VIP treatment whenever we want, we just have to call him before we get there.”
I shook my head. There was something going on there.
“Hey girl, you can’t deny that it's a good club.”
“Yeah, okay, it is good there.” I rolled my eyes.
“Anyway, we need a top up of wine.”
I chuckled. "Fine, I’ll bring the bottle in.”
We had a laugh while drinking and stuffing our faces with pizza. Then I put on some music while we danced around the sitting room like idiots. It was fun just being this carefree for an evening.
But bliss like this never lasted long.
The door burst open late into the night drawing all three of our attentions.
I stepped into the hallway just as Mags and Mario were carrying in Ethan.
“Ethan?” I whispered.
My heart felt as though it had stopped.
“He’s fine, Red. A little graze.”
"Then why is he unconscious?” I asked. I couldn’t lose him.
“And a whack around the head.”
They carried him into the sitting room, laying him down on the sofa.
“What the fuck happened?” Hannah asked.
“A raid, bella,” Mario replied.
“What?” I frowned, dropping to my knees beside Ethan.
“Don’t worry, princess.”
I stood and stepped up to Mags. "Don’t tell me not to worry when my husband is unconscious and bleeding on the sofa,” I snapped.
“Red-”
“Don’t Red me.” I shoved him in the chest. "What the fuck happened?” I shoved him again.” Why is he bleeding?”
“We raided the Volkov’s drug shipment. We blew up the whole fucking ship. There was more of them than we anticipated and they fought back. Ethan had his sights set on Dmitry, shot were exchanged and Ethan got hit. When he fell to the ground, one of their men kicked him in the head. Stefan killed them and we got the fuck out of there. We needed to move fast because of the cops. The explosion caused enough attention.”
“What the fuck were you thinking?” I practically screamed.
"Stefan wanted to hit them where it hurts. They’ve lost at least two hundred thousand dollars worth.”
“Why didn't you tell me?” My blood was boiling.
“We didn't want you to worry, Red.”
“And this is better?” I shoved him in the chest hard, although his muscles where like slapping stone.
I released a sigh, turning to look at my unmoving husband.
“He’ll be fine, Ash.”
"You could have told me.” My voice deflated.
"Told you she’d be pissed,” Mario said.
“Oh, shut up. It was Ethan’s decision.”
I huffed. "We’ll be having words.”
I fell to my knees beside him, pulling his shirt up to look at the bleeding wound on the side of his stomach. It really was only a graze, but it was still bleeding.
"I’ll grab a first-aid kit,” Mags said.
I released a sigh as I brushed my hand down Ethan’s cheek. He didn't look in pain or anything.
“Ash, we better head off and leave you to it,” Grace said.
“I’ll drive you back,” Mario said.
I stood. "Thanks for coming tonight. It was fun until this.”
Grace wrapped her arms around me. "Text us how he is.”
I nodded.
Hannah hugged me next. "He’ll be fine.”
Mags returned with a first-aid kit, and I started unbuttoning Ethan’s shirt while Mario led Hannah and Grace out.
“I’m still mad at you,” I mumbled as I wiped his wound clean with a wipe.
“Ash, you know who we are.”
"It’s the fact that you didn't tell me.”
He released a sigh and knelt beside me. "I’m sorry, Red. We just wanted you to have a carefree evening without worrying about us. We know you don't like the violence involved in our work.”
I turned at stared into his eyes. "Don’t you get it, Mags? I love you both. I accept your jobs, but keeping me in dark isn't protecting me. It just makes me think that I can’t trust you and that you can’t trust me.” My eyes watered. “Shouldn’t we be past that by now?
He sighed again. "A bit like you running off to Hooligans without telling us.”
I was about to argue when he carried on.
“I guess we all need to be more open. From my point of view, it won’t happen again. I love you, Red, and I'm sorry.”
I gave him a tight smile. "I guess you’re right. I’m not much better.”
I placed a dressing over Ethan’s wound after Mags cleaned it, and then brushed his messy hair out of his face. "Are you sure he’s okay?”
"He will be. He got kicked hard, but there's no bleeding to his head. He’ll wake up soon.”
Mags cuddled me as we sat leaning against the sofa beside Ethan waiting for him to wake. I was still feeling a little tipsy which helped with my concern somewhat.
“Ash, you know that Ethan just wants to protect you. Don't be too mad at him when he wakes up.”
I sighed. "It's like you said, we all need to be more open. I don't like him hiding things.”
“He blames himself for Dmitry getting to you.”
"But why? I was the idiot who went to that club.”
“He wouldn't have taken you if it wasn't for Ethan though. Ethan thinks that Dmitry is targeting him because he's an easy target.”
“Dmitry mentioned something alone those lines. He thinks that Ethan is reckless and dangerous. He remembers him shooting Alexis back when they got him. Said that his family are protective over Ethan because he's the youngest. He thinks that by taking out the weakest link, it’ll distract the family long enough for him to attack the others.”
Mags released a sigh. "It won’t happen, Red. I won’t let any harm come to Ethan.”
I stared up into his eyes. "You might not want to, but Ethan isn’t careful. Tonight is proof of that. I’m scared that I’ll loose him.”
"Ash, I won’t let that happen, I promise.” He brushed his lips against mine and held me tight while we waited.