Page 62 of Ashes

I heard the screech of the SUV behind us and looked through the rear windshield to see them trying to get into the alley, but it was too small for them to fit. So theyreversed and sped away, most likely trying to catch us on the other side.

“Kai, you have to go faster,” I shouted.

“That’s what I’m trying to do,” he said before pulling a hard left. The cop car was now barreling down on us and Kai raced toward them. “Hold on,” he ordered.

We were about to crash when the SUV turned to the side at the last minute to avoid us. Kai drove even faster now and finally lost them. You could still hear the sirens but couldn’t see the car following us anymore.

“You almost got us killed.” I laughed, the pressure on my side returning.

“Good thing I didn’t,” Kai teased.

The pressure kept increasing and I pressed a hand to my side, thinking I’d pulled something, when my hand met something warm. I pulled my hand away and rubbed my fingers together, finally figuring out what it was.

Blood.

Fuck.

Valentina looked down and came to the same conclusion. “You’re bleeding.”

“Accurate conclusion.”

Kai looked at me horrified through the rearview mirror. “You’re what?”

Ignoring his panic, Valentina said, “Put pressure on it.”

“As you can see, I already was,” I deadpanned. I shifted in my seat and winced at the searing pain that was slowlygrowing. “And I’m fine, Kai. It’s just a little blood. Concentrate on getting us home. “

It wasn’t for another forty-five minutes until Kai parked into our driveaway. He then barged out of the car and helped me out with Valentina.

I kept pressure on my side, but my fingers were going numb. My other arm went around Kai’s shoulder while Valentina went ahead to open the door.

I stopped Kai midway to the door and said, “We have to be quiet. I don’t want to alarm Sienna.”

My wife might not have been oblivious that I wasn’t just a security company owner, considering how we’d met, but I didn’t want to drag her into this.

CHAPTER 16

SIENNA

You’re my wife.You’ll never have to thank me for taking care of you.

Jamal’s words kept replaying in my mind on a constant loop.

Last night was different.Gooddifferent. I discovered another side of him, one without furrowed brows and angry frown lines and it was… nice.

From him makingsancochofor me to caring enough to ask me questions. He wanted to get to knowmeand I couldn’t remember the last time someone other than my best friends had ever wanted to do that.

I’d expected him to leave when I’d asked him to stay, but he not only came in, but hewantedto spend time with me.

It was an unsettling thought to realize that I was starting to like my husband when not even three weeks ago, all I’dwanted to do was get rid of him. There was still so much I didn’t know about him, but my initial judgment was unfortunately wrong.

To my demise, Kai had been right. Jamal did put up a front to the world, but when you dug deeper, the man underneath was worth knowing.

I just hoped he felt the same.

I shook the thought away and returned my attention to my laptop. It was my day off, but I needed to occupy myself, so I decided to work on my case presentation that I had to present in a few days.

I was almost done when I heard a commotion downstairs. The sound of something crashing on the floor put me on high alert since Jamal had mentioned that he, Kai, and Valentina wouldn’t be home until much later tonight.