I’m almost there, little sis.
After three weeks of being stuck up in Asher’s penthouse with only a few outings for charity work, Declan and I are finally enacting our plan. Thank the lord. It’s been a long three weeks, and with the hefty security protocols in place, I’ve been practically climbing the walls the last few days. But today, Asher is busy with back-to-back meetings, so Declan and I are going rogue.
Asher will probably have an aneurysm when he finds out, but I can live with that if it means I get to do something productive for a change.
“Asher’s going to have my balls in a vice,” Declan says as he strolls through the front door of the penthouse.
“I won’t let him.” I saywith a wink.
He chuckles. “If anyone can keep him from killing me, it’s you. I’ll just use you as a human shield.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
After what happened at the office and hospital, Asher completely pivoted on the idea of showcasing Greenspan. No matter how much I’ve pestered him, he’s vehemently turned down my involvement in sharing Greenspan with the world. Not because he doesn’t like the idea, but because he’s paranoid about my safety. And I get it. But no one has made a move in the last three weeks, so if we’re going to do this, it needs to be now. I can’t stay locked up in the penthouse forever, and putting Greenspan on the public map can go a long way to protecting it. Asher’s just being unreasonable.
Jenkins and Marie Flores, my new female bodyguard, look like they’re going to puke when I tell them the news that we’re leaving with Declan. They know they can’t say no to me, not unless Asher has specifically given them orders to, and he hasn’t. So I’m using that loophole and making a jail break.
Declan’s security joins mine, and the lot of us makes our way down to the garage. As I look around at the group of people, it hits me how strange it is that any time I go anywhere now I have at least two people with me, if not more. There is no longer such a thing as running a quick errand by myself, and I still can’t wrap my mind around it most of the time.
The drive to Greenspan is quiet and tense, as far as the security officers are concerned. Jenkins informed Robert that we left the penthouse, but we timed our departure with a very important meeting of Asher’s so that we could make it to Greenspan before he would be informed.
As soon as we pull up to Greenspan’s research facility on the outskirts of the city, Declan pulls out his phone and types out a text.
“It’s better if I let Asher know what we did directly, rather than having Robert deliver the news.”
I snort. “You’re acting like we broke the law.”
“Well, in the eyes of Asher’s law, we did.”
“He doesn’t own me; I can go where I want to.”
Declan’s face vacillates between amusement and hesitation. “Yeah, sure. We’ll go with that.”
“Just text him. If he has a problem, he can take it up with me.”
“Oh I know, and I’m counting on that. You’re the only one who can calm his wrath.”
I roll my eyes.
“Okay, I’ve got the text ready to go. Hold my hand while I send it, Ella.” Declan reaches out, and I laugh again as I take his hand. He presses send on his phone. When he’s done, he slips his phone in the inner breast pocket of his suit jacket just as security opens the car door. “Well, let’s get this over with. If he does kill me, it was fun knowing you.”
“Just get out of the car, you big baby.”
It’s hilarious to watch a six-foot-five-man squirm with unease, but I get it. Asher’s wrath is not something most people fuck around with. For instance, Kyle is realizing just how much he fucked up by threatening me with a gun. I already knew he’d been denied bail to get out of jail while he awaits trial, but I just learned this morning that he’s been moved to a more secure facility than what his crimes justify, and he’s been given a state-appointed attorney whose case wins number at zero—all while the prosecutor and the judge are friends of Asher’s. It’s looking more and more like it will be a miracle if Kyle makes it out of prison by the time he’s fifty. Asher may not be quick to anger, but once he’s angered, he’s ruthless, cunning, and carries so much power and influence it’s almost scary.
I pat Declan on the shoulder to give him a little boost. “Don’t worry, Asher won’t hurt you, you’re his brother. Plus, you have two inches on him. Who would win in a fight?”
Declan smirks. “It would probably be a draw, because while I’m bigger and more athletic, Asher’s meaner and a sneaky fucker when he wants to be.”
“Okay, but he wouldn’t actually hurt you.”
“You obviously haven’t heard many tales from our childhood if you think that. The number of brawls that happened in the Langford home is ridiculously high. My mom finally put a doctor on retainer to come to our house for stitches and minor wounds so she could stop taking us into the ER and attracting attention.”
“But you were kids then. You’re all grown up now.”
“Since when does that stop men from hitting each other?”
