Chapter 57 Kashton #2
“It wasn’t me,” she shouts desperately. “If you kill her, then it changes everything. It puts all of you on their radar. You become exactly what they’re trying to accuse me of.”
“I’ll take that chance,” Haidyn states, and she bares her teeth at him.
“I know I’m exhausted and all, but what if we’re looking at this the wrong way,” Ryat suggests. “What if she was planted?”
Adam opens his mouth but closes it just as quickly.
“Like a mole?” Haidyn questions.
Ryat nods. “Yeah. You were right when you said it’s odd that they’d leave one alive.
Doesn’t sit right. A body gets dumped and found by Eve and then they want to pin it on her?
Now you’ve got a woman who describes her perfectly?
” He looks Eve up and down. “Bullshit. The girl was either brainwashed or part of the plan.”
“You can’t take that chance,” Eve growls. “She could be innocent.”
“We’ve seen this before.” Adam ignores her. “A woman planted and the ones she was spying on had no clue until things went south.”
“Just furthers the point. She’s got to go,” Bill adds.
“How do you suggest we do it?” Haidyn asks.
“Gavin,” Sin and I answer in unison. Then I explain. “She’s in the hospital. Gavin has access. Just make it to where she never wakes up.” It doesn’t have to be gruesome or lengthy. Just quick and easy. Eliminate the problem.
“I can’t believe I’m hearing this.” Eve’s hands shake as she rubs them down her leggings.
“What if we kidnap her instead?” Sin shrugs.
“Absolutely not—”
“Just hear me out,” Sin interrupts Eve, looking at Adam to explain. “If she’s a mole. She’ll have information we could use.”
“If Evan is involved like we think, she could lead us to him.” Saint nods.
“It’s the only plausible explanation,” Adam agrees. “We know they administer drugs at Dollhouse; it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to think they take blood samples. Evan could have very easily planted Eve’s DNA on the dead body for the cops to find.”
“But this woman is in a coma right now,” Ryat reminds him. “What the fuck do we do with her until she wakes up? If she wakes up?” he corrects himself.
“Sounds no different from Laura,” I add. “We keep her alive until she’s coherent. We have Gavin remove her from the hospital and Devin monitor her at Carnage. When she wakes, we see what she knows. That determines whether we kill her or throw her in a cell.”
Either way, we won’t let her go free. The woman knows too much about Eve to identify her. So like Sin said, she’s got to go.
“You need to get the fuck out of town. I don’t care where you go, but go. Don’t pack a bag, don’t go to Carnage. I’ve got the jet fueled and ready for you at a private airfield. I’ll send you the information.” Adam checks his watch. “We’ll let you know once she’s been delivered to Carnage.”
Ryat is the first one to say goodbye, and Sin follows. Adam lingers over in the corner, talking to Bill, and Tyson has to stay until we’re all gone to lock up.
I grab Eve’s hand, pull her toward the elevator, and push the button, then I turn to her.
Green narrowed eyes burn into mine. She’s mad, but I really don’t give a shit.
This is her life, and I take that very seriously.
The door opens and I usher her into it, pushing the button for the top floor, and step out. “I’ll be right up.”
She huffs, leaning back against the wall, crossing her arms over her chest as the door slides shut.
I make my way back to the bar area, and Saint nods when he spots me over Haidyn’s shoulder. Haidyn turns to face me. “Where the fuck have you been these past few days?” he demands.
“Funny. You didn’t tell me where you were when you were hiding out.” I don’t point out that he was gone for weeks.
“I wasn’t with your sister,” he snaps. “Is this some kind of revenge? Trying to pay me back for leaving Carnage?”
I snort. “You’re the last thing on my mind, Haidyn.”
He huffs and then the anger leaves his face. I stiffen, knowing what he’s going to say next. “We received a video.”
“I’ve seen it,” I inform him, not needing him to explain what was on it. Watching it once was enough.
“Kash—”
“I would stay and help with the girl, but I’m leaving with Eve,” I interrupt him. “Adam will let me know when it’s done, and we’ll return.” With that, I turn, giving them my back, and make my way upstairs.
The one good thing about Haidyn being Eve’s brother is that he’ll do anything to protect her. I might be mad at him, but I trust him a hundred percent to do what needs to be done.
EVERETT
I’m pacing the living room of the apartment above Blackout when the door opens. I glance up to see Kashton enter. “I won’t let you—”
“Save your life?” he snaps, cutting me off.
I place my hands on my hips and arch a brow at his attitude.
But even I know that Sin was right. None of those Lords downstairs will see this situation how I see it.
I know I’m innocent. Killing another innocent woman who has been through so much trauma won’t protect me.
Her death will still be on my hands. Even if she is a mole.
I doubt she volunteered. She was most likely forced into it.
Blackmailed and groomed. I know firsthand how hard it is to try and find yourself when your mind has been altered for years.
Kashton sighs, running his hand down his face. “I’m tired, Eve.” Slowly, he walks over to me and cups my cheek. His blue eyes are hard when he adds, “Don’t fight me on this. You won’t win, angel.”
My teeth clench. All I’ve ever known is fight. I huff, “Kash.”
“I want to have a life with you.” His words make my breath come quicker. “As close to a real life as we can have in our world. But if you force my hand, I will do whatever needs to be done.”
I swallow nervously and whisper, “What does that mean?”
Running his tatted knuckles down my racing pulse, he answers, “It means that if I have to collar and lock you in a basement to keep you safe, I will. Either I kill those in my way, or I keep you hidden from the world. You can fight me if you choose to do so, but know my actions will depend on you.” Leaning in, he gently kisses my forehead.
“That decision is yours.” Then he pulls away, walking off to the bedroom.
I numbly follow after him, not sure what to do or think after his threat.
I love Kashton. We’ve made it to a point where we can never go back to life without one another. But one question remains. Do we have a future?
I have no schooling. No career. I have money, but he has his own.
After Bill saved me, he gave me my mother’s inheritance. All I have to offer Kashton is my body, and even that doesn’t work. I can’t give him an heir. The next generation. The Lords won’t allow that. He may think we’ve won, but it’s not over.
They will make sure to rip us apart when we least expect it.
Just when everything starts to settle down and they see us happy.
That’s when they’ll step in and take over.
Remind him of who he is—a Spade brother who must carry on the tradition and give them children to groom for when he’s no longer alive to do their bidding.
Stepping into the bedroom, I see him placing our toiletries in a bag, and I sit on the end of the bed. “I want to be your Lady,” I tell him. If I’m going to die, I’m going to die as his wife. It might sound sad, but it’ll be the biggest accomplishment I’ll ever achieve.
Fuck Garrett. Someone in this world does want me.
Kashton drops the bag at his feet and exits the bathroom to walk over to me. He gently brushes the hair off my shoulder and frowns, glancing down at me. “You will be.”
“When?” I ask, licking my lips.
He opens his mouth, but there’s a knock on the door.
Heading back down the hallway, I follow him to see Bill walk through the door when Kashton opens it.
“Right now,” Kashton says to me, and I frown.
“Right now what?”
My father lays some papers out on the kitchen counter and hands Kashton a pen. He signs it and then turns to me, holding out the pen.
“I don’t understand.” I look between them.
“Marriage license,” Bill states. “You passed your assignment. With everything going on with the police, you need to be legally married as soon as possible. I’m not saying it’ll help, but it can’t hurt.”
I look at the papers and then Kashton. He signed it like it was nothing. Not a doubt in his mind. I wasn’t lying to him. I do want to be his Lady, but why does he want me? I don’t understand…
“Don’t overthink it, angel.” Walking over to me, he places the pen in my hand and cups my face, like he can read my mind. “Trust me.” He leans in and kisses my forehead. When he pulls away, I walk over and sign my name.
“Thank you.” Kashton shakes my father’s hand and slaps his back.
“Take care of my girl,” Bill says, and tears sting my eyes.
My life would have been different had Bill been my biological father.
He turns to me and pulls me in for a hug and whispers, “Told you, princess. You’ll get everything you want.
” He kisses my cheek and then pulls away. “I’ll have these filed today.”
Kashton lets him out, and then he turns to face me.
That’s it. I’m officially Mrs. Pierce. The thought hits me like a fist to the chest, knocking the wind out of me.
“Breathe, Eve,” Kashton orders, his hands on my face once more. “Nice and slow. Just breathe, angel.”
I nod, sucking in a shaky breath.
“That’s it. Another one.”
I do it again, and a smile graces his gorgeous face, showing his dimples. He looks so happy, and I feel like I’m having a heart attack. I wrap my hands around his tatted arms. “I do trust you,” I tell him.
His eyes search mine, and then he leans in and presses his lips to mine. I moan into his mouth, my body leaning into him. He grips my ass and picks me up. I wrap my legs around his waist, and he carries me back to the bedroom.
We fall onto the bed, and I pull away, laughing. The range of emotions I’m feeling is making me lightheaded.
“There’s my girl.” He dots kisses along my neck.
“Kash.” I arch my back and grab his belt, unbuckling it, but he pulls away.
“We have to get out of town, Eve.”
“But I want my husband.” I bat my lashes at him.
He gives me a soft smile. “Don’t worry, angel. You’ll spend all night tied up, begging me to let you come. But right now, we’ve got to go.” With that, he stands up, grabs my hand, and yanks me to my feet, slapping my ass.