Chapter Fourteen
Ashen
My phone was off during the long drive to Maplebridge for two reasons.
One, I didn’t want my parents to be able to track my location.
Two, in the early morning light, while holding a naked and snoring Sara in my arms, I’d realized my presence in her life might put her in danger—especially once my family learned I intended to break free from them.
If there was one thing I knew to be true, it was that there were no depths my parents wouldn’t sink to in order to keep me under their control.
Because I’m a danger?
I don’t believe that.
If I were, I’d kill them with my bare hands—but I refuse to become the monster they’ve always told me I am.
Still, alone and without money of my own, I didn’t stand a chance against my family. They weren’t the type to talk things out. They paid people well to handle things for them.
When it was just me, death was an acceptable risk. But Sara needed me. I told her I’d never let anything happen to her and that vow meant more to me than anything else ever had.
Not just because the sex had been great. Emotion cementing great. She’d already been impossible to shake from my thoughts, but now that I knew the taste of her . . . now that I’d heard her cry out in pleasure . . . I didn’t want to imagine starting my life over without her.
I parked in front of a two-story farmhouse that boasted a huge wraparound porch with beds of flowers lining the path that led to it. The circle of Adirondack chairs supported my choice.
A moment later I was standing in the driveway gathering my courage to walk up the steps and knock on the door when a young male golden retriever bounded out of the woods and nearly slammed me off my feet. I steadied myself with a laugh. “Easy there.”
“Stanley, come here,” an older man said, stepping out from around the corner of the house. The dog continued to jump up and try to lick my face. “Sorry. Damn dog doesn’t listen to anyone. That’s why Dylan asked Mark to watch him while he’s away.”
It was difficult to believe Sparkles and Stanley were the same breed, but I couldn’t help but smile at Stanley’s enthusiasm. As he jumped, I gently pushed him down to sit next to me and said, “Who’s a good boy?”
Me. Me. Me. Was all I saw in his wild, happy eyes, but he sat.
The older man came to a stop next to us. “If you’re looking for Mark, he’s running an errand, but he’ll be back soon.” He held out his hand. “Gene. I’m Mark’s father.”
His grip was strong—honest. I held his gaze. “En—Ashen. And yes, I’m hoping to speak to Mark.”
Gene took out his phone. “Mark. I’m at your house and there’s someone here who wants to talk to you. Who? His name is Ashen.”
In a low tone, I said, “Enimton.”
“Ashen Ebbington,” Gene said.
“Enimton,” I corrected. Gene’s eyebrows rose and I muttered, “It’s complicated.”
“Eflington?”
I shrugged. “Good enough.”
Gene held his phone out to me. “Mark wants to talk to you.”
I took a deep breath. “Hello.”
“Enimton Gravestone?”
“Yes.”
“What are you doing at my house?”
“There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
He made a pained sound. “We had an understanding. If you’re back for the journals—”
“I’m not.”
“Listen, I’ll talk to you, but I want you to stay the hell away from my family. Get in your car and head into town. There’s a breakfast place called Sally’s. I’ll meet you there.”
Gene grabbed his phone back. “Mark Thomas Walker, I did not raise you to talk to people that way. Asheggton looks tired and hungry. I’m going to take him to our house and feed him. Show up with a better attitude and we might feed you too.”
“That’s not necessary, sir,” I said hastily.
Gene waved my protest off. “Leslie and I love meeting new people. Do you like maple syrup?”
“Yes?” I answered in confusion.
“It’s not a trick question. Yes or no.”
“Yes.”
“Then drive Stanley and me over to my house and I’ll show you how it’s made.”
“Okay.”
Gene gave me a long look. “You don’t mind Stanley getting hair all over your car?”
“I’m in the process of adopting a much older version of him. Sparkles. So, he’ll be breaking in the backseat for her.”
With a nod, Gene said, “Good answer. Let’s go.”
“Dad—” Mark said from the phone.
“See you at the house,” Gene said. “Naggleton, how do you feel about fresh bread? Leslie was making some when I left the house this morning.”
“Love it.” I shot him a hesitant smile. “And you can call me Ashen.”
Gene nodded. “Ashen, because Effleton is so hard to say.”
“Exactly.”
With Gene in the passenger seat of my car and Stanley drooling all over the back, I turned around in Mark’s driveway and told myself this was a better start than it could have been.
Mark was one of the twins I’d tried to scare into not looking for more people who’d been involved in Simmons’s experiments.
Before reading the journals, I’d wanted to protect my family from being connected to that scandal in any way.
It was Mark’s twin, Dylan, I’d put into a coma and nearly killed.
Even though he was fine now, that wasn’t something I normally would have asked someone to forgive.
And Mark? I tried to scare him by buzzing him with my car.
The last time I saw Mark, Dylan warned me that none of them wanted to ever see me again. And they meant it.
The problem?
They’re the only ones who know what is at stake and what my family might be capable of.
They’re also the only people I know who have the resources to stand up to my family.
I don’t care what it takes to protect Sara.
I’ll beg if I have to.
Promise them anything.
No one will ever hurt Sara again.