The expression on his face and the tone of his voice leave no room for argument.
“Ashland, you have to?—”
“I saidno.”
The room goes completely still.
I blow out a breath. “Oh, you can't be so fucking stubborn about this.” Declan whistles under his breath.
“Watchme.” His eyes hold mine, unyielding. I feel like we're on the verge of our first real fight.
“How long could it take, waiting him out?” I say, my hands on my hips.
“Days. Weeks. Months. However long it takes, I'm here. I'm not letting you out of my sight.”
“Listen to me, Ashland?—”
“No, you listen tome.” His voice drops to something deadly. “I will lock you up in that room and throw away the fucking key if I have to.”
“I'm not the only one hearing this,” I say, gesturing to Declan. “Right?”
Declan shrugs. “I'm on his side, lass.”
Even Erin goes quiet, and I realize I'm alone in this.
“Are youkiddingme?” I say.
“Listen,” Declan says, moving toward the door. “We can have the security detail doubled around the property, make sure nobody gets in or out without us knowing.”
“Right,” Ashland says. “Declan, I want eyes on Francesca. If Marcus contacts her, if either of the Crownings contacts her, I want to know about it.”
“Already on it,” Declan says. “The woman's phone is being tracked as we speak.”
The old me would have felt guilty about spying on my own mother, but after what just happened, I can't bring myself to care.
“Fine. I'll give you a week,” I say.
“You're not in charge of this,” Ashland says flatly.
“I think a week is a good amount of time,” Declan says with a shrug. “A man like him can't wait that long. If you don't see him by then—I think using Bianca as bait is a good idea.”
“I said no.” Ashland's voice is ice.
I lean forward, meeting his eyes. “I'm not the one you're in charge of, am I?” I say softly. “Just saying, Ashland—maybe I have a choice in this.”
“Fuck's sake,” he mutters, but his eyes meet mine, and I see the promise there, dark and absolute.
“We'll keep you safe until the bastard shows himself,” he says. “Then I'll finish what I should have done the moment he first looked at you.”
I should be horrified by the violence in his tone, but I'm not. Because this scarred, tattooed, dangerous man is the only one who's ever truly protected me.
“Fine,” I whisper. “I trust you.”
His arms tighten around me. “You're safe with me. I promise that. Snake or no snake, he'll never fucking touch you again.”
Declan clears his throat. “Right then. I'll update Seamus, let him know we're on lockdown until further notice. And you won't be fighting?—”
Ashland's eyes cut to his. “You do that. And Declan, tell him to put the word out on the street. I want every one of our associates looking for Marcus Crowning. I want to know the moment he so much as breathes in our city. Understood?”
