Chapter 17
Ryker
As soon as I open my eyes, I know it’s not going to be a good day.
Something tells me it’s going to be a disaster.
Sweaty, I sit up, torn from my sleep, ready to fight
It was just a dream, I tell myself. But am I sure?
Little Aisling runs around the living room of our family home pretending to ride a pony. She looks so innocent and funny at the same time. Her smile is contagious, and I smile too.
She’s wearing a pink dress that bounces with every step she takes. Her blond hair, just like our mother’s, flies around her head. Her rosy cheeks are adorable.
That laughter... Her laughter...
Warmth and sweetness, like honey, fill my heart. For the first time in a long time, I can breathe easily. Everything feels light.
But all good things must come to an end.
Our father walks into the room. He has his usual scowl on his face, unhappy to see my little sister’s joy. I’m sure he hates the joy that came into our home with Aisling’s arrival.
I want to protect her from that scowl and from him. His darkness should not corrupt her brightness.
I clear my throat, and my father’s laser gaze finds me.
And then I know...
In an instant, darkness creeps through the living room windows, and the sun hides in the corners.
But my little sister doesn’t notice it at all. She rides away on her pony with the same energy.
As darkness enters our home, blood seeps from the highest points of the walls. Every single wall is turning red.
Where is this blood coming from?
I have to move. I can’t stand looking at this, and don’t want Aisling to see it.
I approach her slowly at first, so as not to startle her. Rather than getting closer, I’m moving farther away. So I run, giving it everything I’ve got. My muscles are burning. My goal is to catch up with her, but...
But she just keeps getting out of reach.
This is pointless!
Pain floods the pit of my stomach. What have I done? Instead of helping her, I’m creating more and more distance between us!
I grab my hair and pull. Hard. I want to replace the internal pain with physical pain!
It hurts so damn much!
Out of nowhere, my father appears. He stands right next to me. I don’t have to look to know that he’s happier than ever.
“You’ll never learn?” he asks “I warned you I would destroy everything you hold dear. I told you I would find your every weakness. And then crush it.”
When I wake up, it’s not Aisling’s name on my lips. It’s Ash’s.
Guilt follows me around all day, as does the feeling that my cursed existence might also catch up with the first woman who means something to me.
I’m doomed.
The curse is only lifted when I see her. My gaze meets Ash’s.
I decided right then and there: I wouldn’t let my father fulfill the prophecy. Never!
I may be selfish, but only she can be my redemption.
My foul mood doesn’t leave me long after my sleep goes away. Father sits in my head like a thorn.
Focus on work!
I can say two things with certainty.
Vlad Petrowski knows fucking nothing. It’s such a load of crap that it’s a waste of our time. The only information we get from him is that he heard a friend say that his friend’s friend mentioned that the senator is staying at a house by the lake.
Great.
Second, during our meeting, I’m so bored that talking to an old lady in the supermarket checkout line seems like prime entertainment. When Vlad swears at Ash, I’m about to deal with him, but my girl stops me with a wave of her hand.
With fascination, I leave the scene, giving her my full attention. Watching Ash work is mesmerizing. She’s simply dazzling. With a smile on my face, I watch her every move, and my cock never stops being hard.
I’m the kind of guy who leaves a mess behind, and that’s my style. She likes quick, simple, deadly cuts, without wasting time. At least usually. I think she’s a little crazy when someone tries to get under her skin.
My Little Killer.
I love calling her that, and I know she likes it too. Every time those words leave my mouth, I see a twinkle in her eye.
But back to Vlad. All he gives us is information about the house by the lake. Not much. I have a feeling we’ve reached a dead end. We’re running out of informants, and the senator is still nowhere to be found
Ash’s stoic face doesn’t change, though I see a spark in her eyes when I try to figure out our next steps with her.
“What are you not telling me?” I rest my hands on my hips.
She gasps and blinks several times. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Not a word do I say about having already figured out that her blinking gives her away. It may seem like a minor detail, but I know.
“Don’t mess with me, baby girl, or you might not like the consequences,” I threaten, taking a step closer.
She immediately stands up straight in a defiant gesture. “Let’s get something straight, Ryker. You’re not my boss. Is that clear?”
I love the fire she shows every time she stands her ground. She doesn’t buy my bullshit, and I like that too.
We’re a twisted couple.
The corners of my mouth curl into a smile. “I hope I see those same claws when you’re in my bed.”
Her response is prompt. “I hope you’re not attached to the skin I’m going to scratch with these claws.”
“My back is begging for your attention.”
Ash snorts and shakes her head. “You’re a master of manipulation.”
“Right after you, love. Getting back to work, I treat you as an equal, not a sub. The question is, do you see me in the same way? If you have secrets you’re keeping from me, how am I supposed to take that?” I raise my head, watching her reaction closely.
“You don’t tell me everything either, and do you see me jumping to your throat? No, I have a hunch about that lake house, but when I get more information, I’ll tell you about it. That’s all you need to know for now,” she blurts out and turns away.
My stomach twists. I don’t like it when she walks away from me. My obsession kicks in.
I grab her arm, turn her to face me, and step forward, guiding her until her back hits the wall. Pressing her against it with my hips, I form a cage with my arms so that my little bird can’t fly away.
“I trust you. If you’re going to ask Alex for help behind my back, you’d better think again.”
Ash’s eyes widen and her mouth opens. “Are you jealous?” she asks softly, clearly not believing her own ears. Even as a deadly assassin, Ash is adorable. How is that even possible?
“You have no idea. Don’t take this lightly, or blood will spill in the streets.”
Ash contemplates my words for a moment. Her hard expression softens and she smiles lazily. “I’m not planning on meeting Alex. I have someone else who can help me with that.” A warning growl escapes my throat, so she quickly adds, “Relax. It’s a woman.”
At times, I don’t recognize who I’m becoming around this woman. This is fresh territory for me.
Our lips collide in a crushing kiss. Ash’s hands wander and grab the back of my head.
Meanwhile, I slide my tongue into her mouth, craving the taste of her, the softness of her tongue.
Grabbing her hips, I lift her up, and she wraps her legs around my waist. It’s no secret that I’m constantly hard for her, and she must feel me getting harder with every second because she moans.
My teenage years are long behind me, yet that’s how I feel when I get a hard-on every day at the mere thought of this woman.
Ash’s lips break away from mine and travel to my neck. She loves to bite, and that turns her on even more. God, the urge to slide into her and fuck her until we’re both too exhausted to move is overwhelming.
Why am I denying us this? Because I want a relationship with her, not a quick fuck against a musty wall. I want to keep her. And after today’s dream, my determination has grown even stronger.
Pulling away, I let her feet touch the ground. I make sure she’s standing steady. Ash’s dilated pupils show how high she is; her cheeks are rosy, her lips swollen and bright red. Jesus Christ.
“I hate you,” she whispers and for a moment, I share her loathing for myself.
“That’s not true. And even if it were, I’d fuck that hatred out of you.”
“Yeah, right. Will you do that before I get gray hair? Or are you one of those who tease because they have little to offer? Size isn’t everything if you can last a whole thirty seconds—”
Speed is my advantage as I turn her around and pin her against the wall a second time. Kicking her ankles, I spread her legs and stand between them. Let her feel my hard cock pressing against her.
“You really like testing my patience, my Little Killer,” I hiss into her ear, and she shivers.
Her rapid breathing is like music. “Think what you want, but know that you’ll take it all back and beg me for more.
I’m not saying this to sound confident. This is a promise.
This is a warning. It’s inevitable. Be prepared. ”
The next day, Ash comes back to me with the address of the house by the lake. She wouldn’t be herself if she revealed where she got this detail. She doesn’t say a word, and I have no choice but to accept what she throws at my feet. After all, it’s our only lead.
We take three hours to reach the place Ash entered into the navigation system.
“Autumn Camp?” I ask as we pass a wooden sign that is barely hanging on. “What is this place?”
“It’s a resort that used to be very popular.
People booked their visits here a year in advance.
When the owner died and his son took over, he didn’t know what a treasure he had in his hands.
With a gambling problem, he neglected to make any improvements and thought that this source of revenue would never dry up.
But over time, people started looking for something more modern, more comfortable, more luxurious. This place died out.”
We drive between the trees for a while until we pass abandoned summer houses. Broken windows, graffiti-covered walls, and smashed doors are the new standard here.
“It looks like a graveyard of good times,” I mutter under my breath.