Chapter 18
Ashley
It’s Saturday afternoon, a few days after the fiasco at the lake house.
Three days. That’s exactly how much time Ryker gave me to decompress after the recent events. Not that he knew I needed that time to gather my thoughts. Ignoring him and his phone calls bored him, and on the third day, he showed up at my door.
I can’t believe I was so close to my father, and he slipped away from me again.
That one moment, his stare is burned into my memory. He saw me, I’m sure of it. And I’m also sure that his little brother—my dearest uncle David—passed on my message. My father knows I’m coming for him.
Everything’s getting so damn complicated. Being Ryker’s partner gives me control over his actions, and I had to accept his offer. Otherwise, if he got to Charles Baker before me... we know how that would end.
There’s another reason I had to accept his offer. One that absolutely no one knows about.
It was no accident that I met Ryker.
He fell straight into my trap and ended up exactly where I wanted him.
On the other hand, Ryker is gradually getting under my skin. He’s in my thoughts and fantasies. I can’t control it. And that scares me like hell.
How would he react if he knew the whole truth? Would he kill me on the spot? Would he torture me?
Why is this secret bothering me? Why do I have this internal struggle?
I shouldn’t bother me. Business is business. And yet...
Something has melted inside me over the last few days. The surrounding wall is juddering, its base threatening to give way.
My original desire to prove to myself and others that I’m the best has faded. Even more, somewhere along the way, I completely stopped caring about it. Ryker Elliot turned my world upside down.
And now I’m standing in front of the mirror thinking about him, trying to look divine for him.
“Knock, knock. Can I come in?” Zoe chirps, already in my bedroom. I make a mental note to talk to her about it again.
I wrinkle my nose and look at myself once more.
“My God. You look...” She continues to babble, but my thoughts are elsewhere.
Asking me to go to a charity ball while he’s pleasuring me is unfair. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I’d just turned him down earlier.
You don’t ask a woman those kinds of questions when she’s having an orgasm. It’s only natural that she’ll scream “yes” then.
That’s how I find myself here, in such a sneaky way. Wearing a knee-length pastel blue dress, I feel light. The luxurious chiffon hugs me in all the right places. The top is tied at the neck. The evening promises to be warm, so I’m not worried about the lack of sleeves.
“...like a Disney princess. Ryker’s knees will go weak as soon as he sees you. By the way, your knight is waiting for you in the living room.”
Zoe’s words set me in motion. I turn to her, put my hands on my hips, and give her a stern look.
“Since when have you been a fan of Ryker? A few days ago, you wanted to scratch everyone’s eyes out. Rightfully so, I might add, for how they treated you the other night.”
“I’m not stupid, Ash, you know? I see a lot of things even if I don’t say.
I don’t have to be a fan of his, but I see how he challenges you as the Jackal, and I notice the smile on your face when you get a text from him.
That guy does what no one else has done.
” Her eyes glisten. “You’re coming alive.
You’re finally blossoming. I’m grateful for that.
Happiness is finally painting your days. ”
My mouth falls open in shock, then snaps shut. I had no idea Zoe was watching me so closely, and I certainly didn’t know she could see the change this man was having on me.
“Zoe—”
“Calm down, Ash. I’m just happy to see you like this. No matter what the future holds. Now let’s go, because I’m dying to see his face when he sees you.”
In two steps, I’m next to Zoe. I hug her. “I love you,” I whisper in her ear, then kiss her cheek.
In response, she laughs and pushes me toward the living room door.
I resist. “Wait. Tell me first if you found out anything valuable about the Pact.”
In my spare time, I tried to find out everything I could. However, I’m not as good at digging as Zoe. I let her work her magic on the web.
“Nothing specific that I haven’t already told you. Most of it’s just legends circulating. Personally, I think someone is watching over the information that’s coming out. Controlling it. Now, stop thinking about work and let’s go.”
When I enter the living room, Ryker is standing in the middle wearing a charcoal gray suit.
The top button on his white shirt is undone at the neck.
His hands are in his pants pockets. His black hair is elegantly slicked back—I feel like messing it up a little.
And the cologne I’ve been smelling since I walked in.
It’s seductive, masculine, intoxicating.
My mouth waters, and I’m tempted to fall to my knees.
Meanwhile, he’s watching me with those big eyes of his, his gaze intense. He doesn’t even try to hide his desire as he looks up and down my body.
Goosebumps appear on my skin.
Does he like what he sees?
“Wow,” he says in a hoarse voice, pulling his fist out of his pocket and biting it. “Just fucking wow.”
“He may not be eloquent, but he looks delicious,” Zoe whispers loud enough for him to hear. I can barely contain my giggles.
“You look beautiful, Ash,” he adds. “I’m lucky to be by your side.”
He finally approaches me. His kiss on my cheek and the touch of his hand are so warm, and his scent makes me feel dizzy.
My sister can’t resist commenting, “That’s a little better.”
“You look very handsome too.” Why do I say these few words with a trembling voice?
I just want to eat him up. Ryker is like a cookie that no woman can resist. Of course, I keep these thoughts to myself.
“Just for you, my Little Killer.” He winks with a smile.
I can officially say that high society gatherings aren’t my favorite. All anyone cares about is money, business, or free exposure. I won’t say it’s not beautiful, but I’m so bored I can’t stop yawning.
“Do you know what it would take to make Mrs. Rise look stunning in that white dress?” Ryker’s whisper directly into my ear.
I’m almost certain he’s doing it on purpose.
A gentle touch of his fingers here, hot breath there, a light laugh with a kiss on the cheek.
It drives me crazy and ignites the darkest corners of my soul.
“What?” I look at the mean woman we exchanged a few words with. Every gesture she makes shows everyone around her how inferior they are.
“Some blood stains.”
I glance around quickly to see if anyone can overhear us. I’m relieved to discover we’re somewhat isolated.
Amused, I look into Ryker’s eyes, where cheerful sparks dance. My laughter bursts out in a way that is unbecoming of a lady, and this amuses him even more.
“You’re incorrigible,” I say.
“I’m romantic,” he corrects me. “And don’t tell me you haven’t felt like killing someone here, even for a second.”
“Maybe I have, maybe I haven’t.”
This evening is only bearable because I’m with him.
“Why are we even here?” It only occurs to me to ask now.
“I wanted to surprise you,” he answers, looking around the room. His lack of focus is compensated by his hand on my waist when he pulls me close to him.
This piques my interest. “What kind of surprise?”
“You’re not the only one with your secret sources, baby, and one of those sources tells me that our old friend Charles is invited to this gala.”
My heart speeds up. I subtly pull away from Ryker, standing face to face with him. “Are you kidding me? And you’re telling me this now?”
“By definition, a surprise is...” He tries to defuse the tension, but it’s too late.
“Don’t quote the dictionary now. We’re partners, and you pull a stunt like this?”
His stone face doesn’t change, but I can feel him getting annoyed as he wrinkles his nose.
“I smell some hypocrisy in the air. Wasn’t it you who found out about the lake house under mysterious circumstances?”
“That’s not the same thing,” I hiss.
“Oh, really? Listen, don’t get mad. I thought you’d like the surprise when I gave you Charles Baker on a silver platter.”
“What makes you think someone in hiding would suddenly show up at a place like this?”
“They say it’s darkest under the lamppost.”
“So what? He’ll just drop in at the gala to donate some money and socialize? That doesn’t make sense.”
I take a few deep breaths. Maybe Ryker is right. My reaction isn’t appropriate. My instinct is always to suspect deception and betrayal, whereas if he wanted Charles for himself, he wouldn’t have to mention it to me at all.
All of a sudden, I feel unprepared to outsmart Ryker and get to my father first.
My palms become sweaty. I press my lips into a thin line and search my mind for a way out of this situation.
Damn. This can’t be true.
“Trouble in paradise?” asks a low voice.
I turn towards the sound and see a man I wasn’t expecting. He’s much older than I am, but he’s in very good shape for his age. He could give many a young man a complex. Familiar gray eyes stare intently at Ryker.
Ryker tenses up as soon as he hears that voice. Somehow, my soul senses the change in his soul. The tension and icy aura are undeniable.
My body synchronizes with his, and I’m tense as well. My heart races. The temperature drops. I sense danger, and my territorial defense system kicks in.
Ryker, on the other hand... is like a lion waiting for a second lion to attack. That’s what he’s expecting.
I shift my gaze from one man to the other, seeing slight similarities between them.
My lips tighten. And my fists.
“Did you bring one of your club girls?” A wicked smile spreads across the older man’s face.
My partner gives him an icy stare, pausing for a moment. Finally, he says, “Could you act like a real man for once? Don’t insult the lady I’m with.”