Mafia Rules (Mafia King #1)

30. EVE

30

EVE

J ust as I’m about to leave Ash’s condo with all my things, Grace — his sister - arrives. She found me on his bedroom floor amidst a chaotic pile of clothes and belongings, frantically stuffing my overflowing bag. Ash left over an hour ago with Sasha.

“Eve?” Grace asks softly, her footsteps barely disturbing the quiet of the room as she slowly enters.

I glance up from my spot on the floor, her familiar face imprinted in my memory from photos around the condo. Not the way I wanted to meet her, but who was I kidding? Ash and I were over, a fact magnified by the emptiness of the condo. He’s with Sasha again or will be soon.

A sniffle escapes me as I wipe my nose on my sleeve and look up at her from the floor. "Yes, you must be Grace?" I force myself to my feet and wipe my hands on my sweater, offering it to her to shake.

Grace grabs me, her hands warm and strong, and holds me securely. Her hands are clasped firmly around me, a tightness that soothes my anxieties.

With gentle, steady strokes, Grace's hand rubs my back. “Let it all out. We all need a good cry now and then.”

Grace was stunning. Her long blonde hair was curled and bounced as she walked. Her large brown eyes, like Ash's, instantly reminded me of him.

“I’m sorry for this.” I lift my arms, gesturing to my general appearance and breakdown.

“What are you doing, Eve?” Grace surveys the disaster zone of my belongings strewn across the floor and my unsuccessful struggle to cram everything into a small bag.

“We broke up.” A sob wracks my body, and I snort in a choked laugh, my breath catching in my throat. I didn’t care what I looked like to Grace. My mind was consumed with thoughts of Ash and Sasha, wondering if they had already been intimate. The last look he gave me before leaving the bedroom was absolute rejection. Like I was something easily discarded.

“What happened?” With a reassuring grip on my arm, Grace leads me to the bed, the soft mattress bending as we sit together. My hands in hers. “This doesn’t sound like something Ash would let happen.”

“He left with Sasha.” I shake my head, disoriented, still struggling to accept this new reality.

“That can’t be. He hates Sasha, and with good reason.” With a slight sniffle, a nose wrinkle, and a look of utter confusion, Grace's expression clearly showed my comment made no sense to her.

“They did. Your father set them up in some hotel together.” I stare at the dark, waterlogged patches on my sweater sleeves.

“Our father.” With a firm voice and a roll of her eyes, Grace speaks. “Well, I know he wouldn’t choose to go there himself.”

“He left me. I asked him not to go.” Every time I close my eyes, I see that look on his face. I hear the slam of the door and the silence that followed, confirming he is done with me.

“He’d have to go, Eve. All of my brothers can’t say no to Daddy. It’s in their blood.” She drapes her arm around my shoulders. “Ash loves you.”

That might have been the case before I asked Ash to obey me. “We said some harsh words, and the look on his face…He hates me.”

“So things got a little heated. Let’s have some space to blow off some steam. Once you talk to him again, everything will get sorted.” Grace gets on the floor, carefully gathering the crumpled clothes into tops and pants. “Now, let’s put these all back.”

“Grace. It’s over. That much I’m sure of.” I let out the last of a sob, determined to not let myself fall apart until I was out of here.

“I don’t believe that. I know how much he cares for you. You’re special to him, and Ash doesn’t fall easily.” She continues folding my clothes neatly and unpacking my bag.

“Sasha wants him…”

“Sasha will never have him.” She interrupts me. “There’s a lot of grim history there.”

“They loved each other once. What if that rekindles?” I ask, my voice trembles with a desperation I hate, hoping Grace could shed some light on their history that Ash wouldn’t.

“Would never happen.” Grace shakes her head. “And she’d love to get under your skin because she can see how Ash cares for you.”

“Our argument…was bad.” Even if what she says is true, our fight was explosive. “I don’t think we can come back from it.”

“Couples fight all the time. That doesn’t mean it’s over. Has he called or texted since he left?”

“I blocked him.” Lowering my head, the heat rises in my face, the impact of my mistake to be determined. I hate how stubborn I can be.

“Unblock him. He’s probably worried sick.” Grace picks up my phone from the nightstand and hands it to me. “How will you work it out if he can’t reach you?”

“I’m sure Sasha has him busy.” I reached for my phone, half expecting to see his name despite blocking him.

“You’re being silly now,” Grace says, settling beside me on the floor. “Ask me. Anything about him and Sasha. It sounds like he explained nothing about them to you. If he did, you wouldn’t feel so insecure.”

“How long were they together for?” I twist the fabric of my sleeve, a million unanswered questions battling for attention in my mind.

“Four years. Next. And get some juicy ones in there, too.” She smiles, trying to make me feel more comfortable.

“Were they going to get married?” I knew the answer, but I hope Grace's explanation would be more detailed and insightful than Ash's.

“Yes, towards the end, of course. But I’m not even sure he gave her a ring. And if I remember rights, it was more the father’s planning it and not for love.”

I nod, not thinking about that aspect of it. “She has this power over him.” I pause, gathering the right words for my emotional state. “He’s a different person around her.”

“She hurt and humiliated him. I don’t think he knows how to be civil around her, and I know because he told me he doesn’t want Sasha around you because he doesn’t trust her.” Grace reaches for my arm. “Ash will always protect you.”

“I don’t know what to think. The look on his face when he left this room.” I shiver. There was an unfamiliar coldness in his eyes, like those of a stranger.

“Ash had a lot of trauma growing up. Our father wasn’t nice to the older boys – no, he terrorized them. And as men, they turn into those little boys when he’s around. All looking for his approval.” Grace plays with the corners of my t-shirt she folded. “You’re good for Ash, and he knows that. He’s smiling again.”

“I don’t know what to do…or think.” My legs ache as I shift my weight on them, gazing up at the photo Ash had of us on his wall.

“I know what you’re going to do.” A glint of mystery sparkles in Grace’s eyes.

“What?”

“I’m going to find out where Daddy sent them, and you’re going to go see him.” Grace stands up abruptly, phone clutched in her hand, fingers flying across the screen in a furious text. “I’ll help you pack, and I have a dress that would be a dream on you!”

“I don’t…” I mutter.

“You’re going to go get Ash. He can get mad at me, but I know he’ll melt when he sees you. That boy has a terrible temper, but it’s short-lived.” She giggles as if remembering something about him.

“I…I…I’m not sure…” I can’t get the right words out as I watch Grace packing my bag, adding my sexy lingerie and skimpy clothes.

“Bring your toys!” She looks at me, then opens the nightstand, expecting to find them. “I know my brother is kinky. Heck… they all are.”

My face turns a bright red, and my legs are frozen. He sure was kinky, and I hadn’t explored all of that yet. I was still finding out what I liked.

“Well, go get them.” She says, closing the drawer, her hands on her hips as if she’s not taking no for an answer.

I walk over to his closet, open the tall door, and pull out a few smaller toys we haven’t played with yet. I bring them over, hiding them in my hands. I place them in the side pouch of my bag.

“Now, go take a shower. Wash all those tears away. I’ll book a car for you. Daddy’s secretary sent me the address.” She reads a text on her phone, and I stand there watching her, unsure if I should go along. “Go!” She swooshes me away with her hand.

I grab some clean clothes and head to the shower. I guess I’m going after Ash – and Sasha.