Chapter 39 Asher
ASHER
Iflick the lighter and give it a toss. The puddle of gas beneath the front door of the mansion bursts into flames.
Seconds later, a plume of fire engulfs the entirety of the lavish porch, and I watch with hollow satisfaction as the flames grow, trailing their way up and inside the house.
Consuming, raging. Much like the fury that now seems to permanently reside in my soul.
The fire and destruction before me only partially assuage it.
Maybe I might feel more satisfied if Henry and Charlotte were here so I could see not only the looks on their faces as their house goes up in flames, but their reactions to the fact that before I sparked those flames, I sent my men inside their house to loot and raid it like common thieves.
They removed everything of worth, and it’s all been donated or sold off.
An almost smile tugs at my mouth as I think of the profits I’ll make from his valuables and how I’m going to give them to the “poors” Henry so despises.
Not that he’ll ever know.
Henry realized I knew he was Sergei’s main accomplice within Langford Holdings and that he had been betraying my family for decades.
Alan was just Henry’s little bitch boy. He hadn’t known half of what Henry was up to; he’d just followed orders like a good little foot soldier.
Once Henry realized that I was onto him, he took Charlotte and ran to Europe.
But he didn’t get far.
I got the call an hour ago.
He and Charlotte were picked up by my men in Portugal.
Henry tried to run and was killed in the process.
Charlotte is currently pissing herself as she’s being flown back here.
I don’t have anything on her legally, and I haven’t ordered her death, even though I should.
Not only did she use me for information to put me in jeopardy with my own board, but she knew about the car chase that took place almost six weeks ago.
The night of the charity event, she didn’t come to speak to me out of a sense of nostalgia.
She was tailing me and heard me tell Robert that we were leaving early.
She only approached me to delay me so the cars could get into position.
It’s not sentimentality or kindness that keeps me from killing her, I simply think that what awaits will be far worse for her in the end.
The life insurance she should have received at Henry’s death has been collected and distributed to his and Charlotte’s least favored charitable causes.
Homelessness and drug addiction centers.
I also convinced the insurance company to drop the homeowner’s insurance on the house that’s burning in front of my eyes.
She has nothing left—and she won’t be able to get even a shred of it back.
I’ve blacklisted her from ever working in the state of New York or with any company that wants to remain in my favor.
And since there are so few companies that I don’t have the potential to use my influence over, she’ll never work for anything more than a small business again.
There will be no more high society lifestyle for her.
I’ve stripped her of every dime, every connection, and destroyed her home.
I can’t decide if she or Henry is the lucky one in this scenario.
No matter. They’ve both gotten what they deserve, along with Janet and Senator Sanders.
Janet was not directly involved with Henry, but with everything that happened, I convinced the rest of the board to vote her out, so she’s now one less thorn in my side.
Unfortunately, I could never prove that Conrad worked with her, so he and his idiot son are still kicking around Langford Holdings.
The good senator was arrested a week ago on multiple counts of fraud, espionage, and so many other charges that I can’t keep track of them.
He certainly got around. But fortunately, or unfortunately, someone in his circle decided he was better silenced than dragged through court, potentially outing accomplices, and he was murdered in his prison cell. His funeral is in two days.
“We’re almost done,” Declan says, stepping up behind me.
He’s been instrumental in all this. I couldn’t have accomplished everything I did these last weeks without him and without Sterling working his hacking skills from London.
“TDC Oil is all but finished. I just got a notification that their COO is considering our offer.”
I nod. “Good.”
It’s a shame that several of TDC’s oil sights and refineries have had such tragic accidents one after another of late.
It’s also a shame that the FBI is investigating them for their involvement with the Russian mafia.
Langford Holdings is now in negotiation to buy TDC Oil since its stock prices are at an all-time low, and funny enough, the sabotage to their refineries and oil sights won’t stop until we own them.
Irony is a real bitch.
“Any word on Yegor?” I ask.
“Nothing yet. He’s still a slippery bastard, and the Russian government is protecting him.”
“Sergei?”
“Rumor has it that he’s getting ready to jump ship. He’s spooked by the death of his friend Senator Sanders. His wife is already in the Caribbean, and Katrina is set to meet her there soon.”
“They can stay there, but I want Sergei dead.”
“We’ll make it happen.”
“I want it done as quickly as possible. Grandfather’s memorial is in a week. I’d like to bring everyone responsible for his death to justice by then.”
“And when it’s all over?” Declan asks, clapping his hand on my shoulder. “What then?”
I turn away from the inferno and head for my car. “Then it’s done, and I can move on.”
“And does moving on involve Ella?”
I stop at my car, my hand frozen on the handle.
These past weeks have been hell. I can hardly sleep, hardly eat since Ella ended things.
Again. The only thing that has given me any reprieve from my hell has been finally making headway in taking down my enemies.
I just wish I could have realized Henry’s involvement without the car accident.
That night may have spurred my memories, but it also showed me that no matter how much I plan, I will always be vulnerable.
Ella will always be vulnerable. The sight of her passed out and bleeding from her head still haunts me.
It’s why I can’t give in to her demands.
I want to. But . . . I just can’t. I can’t promise her that if her life is in danger that I won’t do questionable things to protect her.
“We both want things neither of us can give.” I hate the words as they leave my lips. I don’t want them to be real. But unfortunately, they are.
“Come on, man. Don’t do this.”
“Do what?”
“Punish yourself. Punish her. Your stubbornness is what makes you so goddamn successful, but sometimes it’s your downfall, Asher.
Don’t give up on the best thing that ever happened to you.
I’ve never seen you as happy as you were with Ella.
And you’ve been a miserable fuck ever since things ended.
You don’t want to spend the rest of your life like this.
And no one else wants you to, either. You’re a nightmare to be around. ”
I clench my jaw. “Thanks.”
“Just giving my loving, brotherly opinion.”
Declan reaches inside his jacket and pulls out a glossy magazine, then holds it out toward me.
I take it from him. “What’s this?”
“Just look at it.”
My chest pinches as I look at the cover.
It’s Ella. Her fall line shoot. She’s so fucking beautiful it takes my breath away.
But it’s not just her beauty that does me in.
It’s the happy, mischievous glint in her eye that does it.
Even posed for a cover shoot, Ella’s soul shines through.
Her goodness. Her optimism. Her carefree spirit. It’s so apparent, even in a photo.
She’s my opposite in so many ways, and I didn’t realize until now how good that was for me.
My rigid, domineering nature was balanced by her easy-going joyfulness.
And her spice—I loved watching her sassy, take no shit side come out and own my ass when she needed to.
I miss it. I miss her. It’s fucking killing me to be separated from her.
“Tell me you don’t want her back,” Declan says, his voice uncharacteristically soft.
“Of course I want her back.”
“Then when this is all over, you need to fight for her. Give her what she wants. What she’s asking for is not even unreasonable, you dumb fuck.” And there’s the normal Declan back.
“I want to, but you know I can’t promise that I won’t do something like this in the future if it’s necessary. And without that promise, I don’t know if she’ll have me.”
“Then convince her. She’s in love with you. If you can pull your head out of your ass, you can get her back.”
“I’ll try.”
Declan is halfway in his car but pauses to look at me. “And Asher? Go to therapy. I know this whole situation has brought up a lot of shit for you, but you need to get past it. Don’t hold your life hostage because of Grandpa’s death. He wouldn’t want that.”
His words pierce my chest. I stand frozen and can only watch as he shuts his door and starts his car. I’m still rooted to the spot as he drives off. I don’t look to Declan for wisdom often, but I can’t deny the truth in his words.
Grandpa wouldn’t want this.
He would be disappointed if he knew I was wasting my life because of my fears.
His death was tragic, but it shouldn’t be the thing that keeps me from happiness.
When I think of Ella’s absence and the hole in my life it’s caused, I think maybe I finally understand that.
But can I move beyond it? Can I breathe freely, knowing Ella will always be at risk?
I don’t know. I want to. But I’m still not sure if I can.
Maybe I am just a dumb fuck.