Page 117 of Ash Storm

“Noted. I’ll put that in the 19th-century-conflict-resolution-tips-for-ladies manual I’m writing.”

Thorne barked out a laugh, loud enough that the other two men stared at him. Reka used the distraction to slip under Thorne’s arm and approach the two men.

“Stop, Uncle. Let him go.”

“Stay out of this, Reka. This man hurt you and he’s going to—“

Reka wanted to stay calm. She was a trained psychologist—she knew calm and cool was the best way to resolve conflicts. But she was done with calm, and she was done with being treated like an object, even by a man who obviously loved her.

“No,” she said, not caring if her voice sounded strident. “Stop right there, Uncle. I adore you, and I respect you, but you need to stop and think.”

“You’ve been through a lot, Reka—“ her uncle began.

She raised her hand until he stopped talking again. “You need to stop and think, because you know me well enough to know better. You’re right in that I’ve been through a lot. What you don’t know is that I would go through it multiple times if that’s what it took to meet Ash. So stay out of our relationship, unless you’re going to be supportive.” She paused for a long-overdue breath. “Which I hope you will be, because I love him.”

All three men stared at her for a long instant, as if she were speaking a different language.

Reka glared at them in irritation.

Behind them, somebody began clapping. Reka turned to see Chloe, who’d obviously been drawn out of her own room by the commotion. Her friend was smiling widely.

Finally, her uncle lowered his arm and took a step back from Ash.

“I … Reka, I was just trying to protect—“

“I know you were, Uncle,” Reka said, not letting him finish. “I know you were. And I’m grateful for your support. I’m grateful for your love … but you’re wrong about Ash.”

“I would never hurt her, Sir,” Ash said. He looked like he was in pain.

“Come, Reynolds,” Thorne said. “Let’s go grab a drink downstairs. We can continue this discussion calmly over dinner.”

Her uncle grumbled something, but followed Thorne down the hallway and into the elevator.

Her expression gleeful, Chloe also mumbled something about being tired and went back into her own room.

Reka breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to Ash. “So. Are we going to talk now?”