Chapter 16 #3
He might think so, but that wasn’t going to happen.
Her actions had already led to so much misery, she would not allow Ash to sack him.
When the cab stopped behind Raven House, she jumped down, and rushed through the back door.
She marched straight to Ash’s office, prepared to do battle, but he spoke before she got the chance.
“Were you hurt last night, as well?” His brow was furrowed as he assessed her injured cheek.
It took her a moment to process the question, but then she nodded. “Yes.”
“No,” Brennan said from behind her. “She wasn’t.”
Ash’s eyes traveled between them twice before he spoke. “It would seem you both need to come in. Close the door, Brennan.”
Christina scowled at Brennan, and hissed, “I told you I would take care of it.” He merely stared back silently.
She looked at Ash, and with a huff, settled into one of the chairs across from him. “He didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t give him any choice but to take me. Please, please don’t punish him. I cannot have one more thing on my conscience.” Tears flowed down her cheeks, her voice stolen by a sob.
It all went back to that night, when she’d selfishly lured Giles into that study.
Because of that decision, he’d lost his freedom, the keys to his club, and even his eye.
And now Brennan was in danger of losing his job, and her father, his life.
All because of her. She wanted to make demands, but she barely managed to gasp in a breath.
Ash crouched before her. “Just breathe, Christina.” He drew in a deep breath to model it, blowing it out slowly through his mouth. He repeated the exercise, and on the third one, she did it with him, even if hers was shaky. He nodded, encouraging her to do it with him again.
“That’s it. I know everything is scary right now, but it’s going to be alright.” Ash returned to his seat. “Do you think you can tell me the story? Or would you rather Brennan did?”
“I can tell you.” She looked down at her lap and wiped her tears, feeling two pairs of eyes on her. “The attack on Giles wasn’t random. The man was sent by my father. I’m guessing you already know that?”
Ash inclined his head in answer.
“I needed to confront him. Brennan wouldn’t allow me to leave on my own, so I made him accompany me. I didn’t give him a choice. Please don’t punish him for it.”
“And how did you sustain the injury?”
“My father hit me.”
Ash turned his eyes on Brennan. “Did you not accompany her inside?”
“I did. I should have secured him, though. Should have realized that he might turn violent.”
“How could you possibly have realized that?” Christina said, facing him. “He’s never struck me before. Never even threatened to. So how could you have predicted that he suddenly would? You reacted with incredible speed, catching me before I hit the floor.”
“Is he still alive?” Ash asked simply.
“Yes. Unconscious but breathing when we left him.”
“It sounds like you did the best you could, Brennan. Go back to your post. We’ll talk more later.”
He hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Yes, boss.”
“Does that mean he won’t be punished?” Christina asked when the door closed behind him.
“I don’t see any reason he should be.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
“What else is weighing so heavily on you right now, Christina?”
She huffed a cynical laugh. What wasn’t weighing heavily on her?
“Other than the fact that Giles lost his eye last night, because of me?” She met Ash’s gaze, and he sighed heavily.
She wasn’t supposed to know about his eye.
“My father. I don’t want you to kill him.
I know he’s done some terrible things, but he’s the only family I have. ”
“What makes you think I’d kill him?”
“Well, maybe not you personally. But I know that you are protective of the people in your circle.” She looked him in the eye, but he said nothing. “I’m not naive enough to think there won’t be consequences for this. Apparently, his thumbs were already broken, so I assume, after this….”
Ash sighed. “I’m going to speak plainly with you. Perhaps more than I ought to, but this is a difficult situation, and I want you to understand.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
“You’re part of this family now, Christina. With that comes some chaos.” He gestured around them. “But also, unflinching protection. Every one of us here takes your safety seriously, and personally.”
Why did her father have to make these people angry?
“That being said, your welfare also includes your happiness, and losing your father would hurt you.”
She nodded. “It would.”
“Because of that, I will do everything I can to prevent it. However, there will be consequences for what he’s done to you and Giles.”
“An eye for an eye,” she said, rolling her own. Her father was a bloody fool.
“Possibly,” Ash said with a shrug. “And if his threat to you continues, I will do whatever is necessary to keep my family safe. But none of that is your fault, Christina. You can’t force your father to make better choices.”
“Are you going to tell Giles it was my father?”
“Yes. We don’t keep secrets around here.”
“Except when you sent me that money?”
His mouth turned up slowly and he chuckled. “I believe I’ve just been called a liar.”