Page 131 of Power of Shadow

This time, instead of dirty words, she heard my declarations of love, devotion, and vows of loyalty. Our whispers mingled together like our breaths.

When I gave Ash an orgasm that night, I saw in her eyes how her world was falling apart into a million pieces. I saw everything in them. All of her.

I love you more than anything, my Little Killer.

I can’t fix what happened to her father. But I swear to myself that I’ll find out the truth, and the person responsible will pay for it.

I have to find out if James—my father—is the man.

Chapter 31

Ashley

Ididn’t tell Ryker the whole truth, and I can’t stop thinking about it. Why on earth didn’t I do it? Why was I such a coward?

Guilt is flooding me from within. With every passing hour, it gets harder and harder.

I feel like everything is about to shatter into a million pieces. My intuition never fails me, and today it’s screaming louder than usual.

It’s almost over, it tells me.

All this time, I suspected Rykers of having bad intentions. I was suspicious. I looked for all his flaws. Today I know that he’s not the villain in our story. I am.

Before I leave the apartment, I knock on Zoe’s door. She doesn’t answer, so I open it.

Zoe’s lying on the bed, covered with a blanket. She looks so peaceful, with no sadness on her face and no problems in her heart.

Without making a sound, I sit on the edge of the bed.

Memories from childhood flash through my mind, when I would often stare at her as she slept. She was my whole world. Nothing else mattered.

“I love you, little sister, and I’ll make sure you’re always safe,” I whisper.

Since my father’s death, Alex’s words from the beginning of this story have haunted me. “But Ash, remember, if you fuck this up, blood will be spilled. I’m not just talking about your head, but mine too. Everyone close to you, everyone you care about, everyone you love, will be in danger. Zoe won’t be safe either. Don’t fuck this up.”

I fucked it up.

What will happen now? Should I hide Zoe somewhere? How much danger is she in?

I don’t even know who I’m fighting, who the threat is. I don’t know who the client is, and Alex isn’t answering his phone.

This is my fault. And I’m really scared.

I’ll protect you, sis. I promise.

My hand reaches out to stroke Zoe’s hair, but I stop myself at the last moment. Her ignorance of what will happen today is her blessing right now.

Withdrawing my hand, I get up. Just as quietly, I leave her room and the apartment.

Not knowing all the details of the meeting, I spend almost three hours in front of Feather. Sitting and waiting in the car is annoying but necessary.

Finally, I see Eli’s black Escalade and know that the time has come.

I get out of my car at the same moment Ryker leaves the club. He doesn’t see me, and that gives me an opportunity I’m not going to miss.

Ryker gets into the front passenger seat, and before his door closes, I grab the rear door handle. I jump in as if I belong there.

Immediately, three pairs of eyes are pinned on me. Eli is behind the wheel; Theo is sitting on the back seat next to me.