“We will. That’s a promise.” He moves to start the car when a noise from the back seat startles both of us. Butterflies swoop into my chest as adrenaline instantly courses through my body. Chad and I share a look as I slowly move my hand toward the glove box, where I stow my gun.
“Don’t do that,” a man with a gruff voice commands in a sharp tone from behind. “And don’t turn around.”
My heart slams against my rib cage as fear surges through my veins.
“Start the car and drive as you normally would.” His voice is vaguely familiar, but I can’t place him over the blood rushing to my head and the panic sounding like alarm bells in my ears. “We need to talk.”
ChapterEighteen
Ashley
“You don’t need your gun, Ashley,” the man says as I inch closer to the glove compartment. “I’m not going to hurt either of you. I’m the guy who trained you over at the facility in Grenlow. I’m Harlow’s friend. I promise you can trust me.”
Chad and I share another look. I don’t trust any man who sneaks into the back seat of my car and scares the living daylights out of me. But I trust my friend. Lo said this guy was one of the good guys, so I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt. Retracting my hand, I sit back in my seat, willing my heart rate to slow down before I give myself a coronary.
“Drive, Chad,” he says. “Take the longer route home.”
“Why should we do anything you say?” Chad replies, not moving a muscle to start the engine. “This is some legit crazy shit. Give me one reason I shouldn’t call the cops.”
“Call them if you like, but I won’t be arrested. It’ll be a waste of all our time. I’m sorry for creeping up on you like this, but it’s necessary. I need to speak with Ashley, but no one can know I’m here.”
I nod at my boyfriend because I want to find out what’s so important this dude needed to resort to such measures. Chad starts the engine and reverses the car. “Why me?” I ask as Chad navigates his way out of the parking lot.
“You’re in danger,” he somberly replies.
All the fine hairs lift on the back of my neck, and acid churns in my gut. “From who?” I ask, working hard to keep calm as I instinctively turn around.
“Face forward,” he commands. “Make it look like you’re talking to Chad.”
This is weird as fuck, but whatever. I face the front and stare straight ahead.
“Answer the question,” Chad barks. “How is Ash in danger and why?”
“I can’t get into specifics.”
Chad curses. “Why the fuck not?”
“I don’t have all the details, and even if I did, I couldn’t divulge them. The people who own the organization I work for are some of the most powerful people in the world. There are several anonymous investors and vested partners who sit on the board that I’m not privy to, and I run the organization. Imagine godlike authority. Power and control beyond anything you have ever seen. Way beyond governments and governmental bodies. After I ran your details through our system the other night, I had an unwelcome late-night visit. I was told, in no uncertain terms, to cut you two loose. To forget I’d ever met you. I could be killed for even telling you this.”
“Then why are you?” I ask, wondering if he’s being a tad overdramatic even though he really doesn’t seem the type.
“Because you’re Lo’s friend and you deserve to know something is going down. I couldn’t risk doing any snooping, but I have a hacker friend on the outside who did me a favor. His digging didn’t yield much because we couldn’t risk delving too deep. But we did discover something suspicious connected to your parents’ business. They are involved in this, Ashley. You need to talk to them.”
“Involved in what?” He’s talking in riddles, and this is starting to stink.
“I have already said too much.”
“Really?” Chad says, glaring out the windshield. “It sounds to me like you’ve told us a whole lot of nothing. Did someone put you up to this?” Chad grinds his teeth, and a muscle pops in his jaw. “Because this sounds like some next-level bullshit.”
“I assure you it’s the truth, but I’m aware of how it sounds. I didn’t have to tell you anything, but it was the right thing to do. Whether you heed my warning is on you now.” A shuffling sound emits from the back. “Pull over to the sidewalk behind that black van,” he instructs.
“Gladly,” Chad snaps, rapidly losing his patience with the dude.
“One more thing,” the man says as Chad pulls up alongside the curb and kills the engine. “It’s even more important you know how to fully defend yourself. I can’t train you, but I know a guy who can. He’ll reach out to you in the next few days. Name’s Sebastien. I strongly advise you to work with him. He’ll equip you with the skills you need. Take care of yourself, Ashley,” he adds just before the door opens and closes in quick succession.
“What the actual fuck is going on?” Chad asks as we watch a black-covered figure slip quickly around the hood of my SUV and jump into the back of the van. It takes off instantly, speeding up the road and taking the corner at a sharp angle.
“Drive.” I glance left and right, creeped out by the dark, isolated road and thoroughly fucking spooked after that exchange.
