Page 10 of Bound in Ashes

Failing, like always.

It was actually kind of impressive.

All the things that I had seen.

All the things that I had done.

And Hayes could still get to me.

I told myself I was just tired. That his crap didn’t matter.

I’d gotten us to safety.

That was what mattered. Hayes would be gone soon.

I stayed silent, waiting until Hayes finally got enough of his power play.

“You folks take care,” he said.

He punctuated his words with a tip of his hat that made me want to punch his teeth out.

And then he and his trucks and his men were gone.

Jack’s hand was still on me, possessive, impossible to ignore. I should have stepped away, but I didn’t. And this time when I glanced at him, I saw that same consuming look that reminded me he wasn’t done with yet.

I looked away and watched as the trucks rolled down the dirt and gravel driveway kicking up clouds of dust until they were completely gone.

I was glad Hayes was gone, but I didn’t feel the relief I hoped for.

Not when Uncle Levi had yet to speak.

I couldn’t put this off forever, so I shifted and looked at my uncle, who stared back at me intently, though I couldn’t read his expression.

Then, he finally spoke.

“Been a long time, girl. What do you have to say for yourself?”

THREE

Asia

I stared at Uncle Levi, blinked, then, before I realized what I was doing, I had turned to look at Jack.

He stared back at me, unreadable, but I got his message anyway.

The ball was in my court.

I glanced at Uncle Levi again.

Really stopped to look at him. That same tough glint I always saw was there lit his eyes. But his usually rich brown skin looked ashen now. He also had new lines around his eyes, and his canvas work jacket practically swallowed his frame. I wondered when all those changes had come.

Was it after my aunt?

After all this started?

I couldn’t know for sure, but no matter when it started, I wasn’t there for him.

Was only here now because I needed him, again taking advantage of the fact that he was the only person who’d ever given a shit about me.