Chapter 26 Kashton
TWENTY-SIX
KASHTON
“What was that about?” I bark at Adam once her door closes behind me.
“I have to go. Three bodies were found dumped by Barrington. All match the same MO—”
“I’m talking about Eve moving,” I interrupt him. “You’re going to tell her no. That you can’t do it.”
He stops and turns to face me. His eyes focus on her front door and then on mine.
“Look.” He steps forward and lowers his voice.
“I love Eve like a sister.” I don’t like how he says it, because I’ve seen how he’s treated Ashtyn and because I know that he’s fucked my girl.
“I really do, but you’re not going to win this.
She’s going to do whatever she wants. Just like you’re going to do whatever the fuck you want. ”
“You told me that I had to help protect her, and I think tonight proves that I need to protect her from you as well.”
He’s giving her these jobs all on her own.
All they have to do is drug her drink or overpower her for a second, and she’s dead.
I pinned her down to the couch in the office at the cathedral and ripped her fishnet tights.
So I know that it can easily be done. She’s tough but not physically as strong as a man.
The only reason she’s made it this far is because she has them at a disadvantage.
She catches them off guard. They’re vulnerable, thinking that they’re paying a hooker for sex.
Eventually, they’re going to start talking and wondering where these guys are disappearing to.
Adam’s phone starts ringing, and he sighs heavily. “I have to go. Keep an eye on her, and I’ll check back tomorrow.” With that, he turns, answering his phone as he dips into the driver’s side of his car.
I enter her house and don’t see her in the living room or kitchen, so I go to her bedroom. The sound of running water has me walking into her bathroom.
She sits in the tub with that bottle of whiskey in her hand. Her head is back on the pillow, eyes closed.
I rip the Jack from her hands and place it on the counter by her sink. Then I turn back to face her. She’s staring up at me with her heavy eyes. “I don’t want a lecture,” she whispers.
My girl looks exhausted. “I don’t plan on giving you one.” Adam is right. She’s going to do whatever she wants to do unless I stop her. Words aren’t going to change her mind, but actions will keep her here.
I sit on the side of the tub and order, “Sit up.”
She slowly gets to a sitting position and pulls her knees to her chest. The tub is filled about halfway and there are no bubbles, so I can see her tan skin through the water.
She’s got bruises on her knees and around her arms and neck.
They’re from me and the belts I used on her. What I did to her the past two days.
The one on her cheek is new. And I notice she’s got a large one on her thigh. Also not from my hands.
“I’m going to wash you, then tuck you into bed,” I inform her. “Your body needs to rest.”
“Not going to make me sleep on the floor like a dog?” She snorts. “How thoughtful of you.”
Ignoring that, I grab a cup that she has sitting on the side of the tub and fill it with water and begin to wash her hair. She sighs, running her hands down her face.
Less than twenty minutes later, as I pull the plug to her bathwater, she can’t keep her eyes open. I help her out, wipe her off, and wrap her in a towel. She allows me to pick her up and carry her to her bed, where I place her under the covers.
“This is your fault, you know.”
I frown. “How so?”
“Doesn’t matter.” She rolls over, but I sit down next to her, turning her onto her back so she has to face me.
“It does,” I assure her. “Tell me what I did.”
She licks her lips. “It’s what you didn’t do.” My frown deepens and she yawns. “It’s your fault I was off my game tonight. I was weak and distracted.”
“I’m still not understanding how you putting yourself in danger is my fault.
You should have called me.” I know she’s seen my number saved in her phone.
“I would have gone with you.” Haidyn used to pay for his sex all the time.
I know that some have bodyguards. The smart ones do anyway.
I don’t give a fuck what a woman chooses to do with her body, but she should always protect herself.
Anything can happen. I could have pretended to be that for her.
She blinks, her heavy eyes having trouble staying open. “You didn’t let me get off.”
“You didn’t get yourself off when you got home?”
Her brows pull down at my question. “Was that what you wanted?” she asks, though I don’t answer. “Were…were you testing me?”
“If I was, it sounds like you failed.”
“Unbelievable,” she mumbles.
I reach out and push a few strands of wet hair behind her ear and search her heated eyes. “Why didn’t you get yourself off, angel?”
She looks away, refusing to answer me.
“When was the last time you allowed yourself to come?” I ask instead.
“That’s…none of your business.”
I cup her warm face and run my thumb over her lips.
I helped her wash her face clear of her makeup, and she looks just as gorgeous without it.
Her skin is soft and her lips pouty. Her big green eyes seem brighter than they were the night on the yacht all those years ago.
“You’re my business, Everett. Everything you do is my business. That includes touching yourself.”
She licks her lips. “So what? You’re going to deny me orgasms now?”
“Sounds to me like you’re denying yourself of them.” That grants me an eye roll. I was setting her up to see if she would get herself off. I know how she feels about sex with men, but to not even please herself? “Why?”
Her pretty green eyes fall to the bed, and she takes a long breath, but she doesn’t answer.
She was a doll. Maybe they used orgasms as a punishment? Or made her beg for a release that she was never allowed to have? “There’s nothing wrong with getting off, angel.” I go on. “To feel good.”
Meeting my stare once more, she whispers, “You make me feel good.”
I lean in and gently kiss her lips, unable to stop myself. She surprises me by kissing me back.
“Come on. You need to rest.” I’ve got a big day planned for her tomorrow.
She closes her eyes, and I crawl in next to her, letting mine wander her body as she sleeps on her side, facing me. I run the pad of my fingers gently over her upper arm, caressing the bruises the belts left.
Her eyes flutter open before they fall closed once more and she yawns.
“Get some sleep, angel. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“Why?” she asks sleepily, her dark lashes fanning her cheeks.
“To take care of you,” I say simply.
“I can take care of myself,” she mumbles. “I’d rather you just fuck me.”
I smirk at that and promise, “I’ll do that too. Just not tonight.”
Moments later, her breathing evens out and her body relaxes into the mattress. She’s sound asleep.
I get up, find the remote, and turn her TV on, making sure to put the volume on low so it doesn’t wake her. Then I get undressed and climb back into bed, pull her body flush with mine and close my eyes.
It feels good to be needed. For someone to depend on me. It’s been a long time since I took care of someone.
EVERETT
I wake up with a groan. Rolling over onto my side, I open my eyes to look around and see I’m alone.
Finally. A little peace and quiet.
My head is pounding, and my body hurts. The guy I killed last night put up a fight.
“Fucking bitch.” He scowls, grabs my hair, and yanks my head back. “I’m on to you.”
As he shoves my face into the dirty comforter, his voice is muffled from the blood rushing in my ears.
When he pulls my head up, I twist my body around, feeling his hand tighten in my hair in the process, and I slam my fist into his throat. “Bastard,” I growl.
Coughing and sputtering, he lets go and stumbles back. I take the opportunity and jump off the bed, barreling into him, and the momentum pushes him back so he hits the glass wall, and it shatters before we fall to the floor.
I get up on my hands and knees, crawling to my bag, but he grabs my ankle and yanks me back. “Not this time.”
I slam my free foot into his face over and over until he lets go of my ankle. I’m gasping for breath as I reach into my bag and pull out my knife. He jumps on me as I spin around and stab him, splattering myself with his blood.
“Fuck,” I growl, shoving his dead weight off me, trying to catch my breath.
I ended up stabbing him in the chest twice. I made sure he was dead before I left him there.
Entering my bathroom, I use the restroom, wash my hands, and then splash my face with cold water to wake up. I need some Advil, a drink, and a nap. In that order.
I’m naked, so I grab an oversized T-shirt and slide the soft fabric over my head before placing my hair up in a messy bun to get it out of my face. I swear I’m losing hair from all the men who fist it.
Why is it the first thing any man grabs a hold of when they are trying to rape or kill you?
Deciding I can’t do anything else with myself, I make my way to the kitchen but come to a stop when I see the back of a man. “I knew it was too good to be true,” I mumble.
Kashton turns around and gives me a smile. “Good morning, angel. How did you sleep?”
I don’t answer because I was hoping today would be better than yesterday. It won’t be.
The doorbell rings and he smiles. “Perfect timing.”
Walking over to my front door, he opens it for who I assume to be Adam, but it’s Gavin. They greet one another and then Kashton points him to me for my follow-up appointment.
Fuck this day.
“Here.” Kashton walks over to me in the living room, grabs my hand, and helps me sit at the dining room table as if I’m incapable of doing so on my own.
Did he not hear Gavin? I’m fine. Passed whatever test he gave me with flying colors. I, of course, didn’t tell him about my headache or the fact that I’m feeling a little dizzy. I’ve been through this before. It’ll pass. Just has to run its course.