Page 36

Chapter thirty-six

Ashia

The rumble of the engine stirs me awake, and it takes me a moment to register where I am. Everything fades together for a moment before I realize I’m staring out of the windshield in Damien’s car. We’re traveling a long windy road, both sides covered by tall trees. The sun hasn’t set quite yet, but the number of trees makes it appear much darker than it is. I’m not sure when we got out of the city, but I think we’re up in the mountains now. The air is clearer up here, and I can’t see much of anything past the little bit of road ahead of us due to the hills and bumps. I move to adjust myself in the seat, and I look down to see his large hand resting on my thigh. Those big, thick digits curl around my leg in a protective manner.

Entangling my fingers in his, I hold his hand. Feeling much better after my power nap. Even after the memories of the day come flying back. I'm not shaky, and I don’t feel my heart pounding through my ears anymore. The shock must have worn off, because there’s not really any guilt left for killing that man. Damien was right, he was going to kill us. All of us, and Serena doesn’t deserve that, she hasn’t done or even been associated with anything pertaining to Cooper or Devil’s Hands. She was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. I hate that I took a life, but I'm not sorry. The two people I care about most in the world were threatened, I couldn’t let anything happen to them.

After a few minutes, Damien turns off the main mountain road and starts up another hill.

“We’re home, baby.” Damien says to me, squeezing my hand, and I look over at him with squinted eyes and cocked head. Home? What does he mean by that? Is this where he lives?

“Holy shit.” Serena says under her breath from the back seat. I look forward again to see a huge double gate, connected to high fencing, stretching out on both sides. I try to look up the rest of the windy driveway when I notice head lights approaching behind us in the right side mirror. I halfway expect Damien to step on the gas and turn out of here, but he doesn’t.

“Don’t worry, it’s just Carter.” He presses a button on the top of his rear view mirror, and the gate opens. Both cars make their way up the curved, and well-constructed driveway to a beautiful tan brick house. At least two stories, if not a third one in the back, and massive windows that should show the entire inside, but they reflect instead like a mirror. Columns outline the front and surround the house, as does a wrap-around porch, on both stories.

One set of three garage doors lifts, and we pull into the vast garage. I bet it fits five cars at least, plus his bike is already present at the end. There’s tools everywhere, tires, and some guns on the wall. A tool bench with car parts laid out on top, and two doors to my right, and I’m assuming at least one of those leads inside the house. Damien gets out of the car, comes around, and opens both doors for Serena and I. Grabbing my hand and helping me up before wrapping his arm around me and pressing his lips to mine in a soft, sweet kiss.

He then entangles our fingers and unlocks the door to the inside. The four of us walk in to see this beautiful, dark house, and my eyes widen so big I’m afraid they’ll pop out. The ceiling must be at least thirty feet high, and I can see through to a railed balcony on top of the stairs. This main level is an open floor plan, with continued dark hardwood up to the living area which steps down into the dark grey carpeted seating area. A forest green is painted on the walls which compliments the dark wooden beams and accents on the walls. Ser walks a little ahead of me and gawks at the place.

“Ash, why the fuck haven’t you been staying here instead of your run-down apartment?”

Damien laughs at her comment.

“I hadn’t brought her here yet. I wanted her to be comfortable.” He really does know me. As beautiful as this house is, I would’ve felt awkward here before. I still slightly do. I'll be afraid to touch and break something for at least a month. “I was going to bring her here tonight anyway. We can stay here from now on if that’s what she wants.” He reaches down and kisses my cheek as he grabs me from behind. He then looks up at Carter and nudges his head in Ser’s direction. “Carter, this is Serena. Ashia’s best friend.”

“Oh, right, the nurse.” He reaches his hand out to her, and something inside her clicks. She stands up a little straighter, and I watch as her eyes begin scouring his body. She’s clearly attracted to him and is not being subtle in the slightest. Carter isn’t bad looking, and more like Serena’s type. He has dirty blonde hair, dark blue eyes, stands about six foot three inches, and while he’s not near as muscular or toned as Damien, he still has some muscles. No visible tattoos. Not my type, but perfect for her. She steps forward and takes his hand.

“Oh, so you’re Carter. By the way, I’m more than a nurse.” She grins and winks at him. He looks a little taken aback but tries to compose himself.

“I-I know. I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend.” Carter stutters.

“Not near as smooth as you are, is he?” I whisper to Damien.

“I can only teach him so much.” He whispers back to me. “He’s a virgin.” I snap my head towards him in disbelief.

“Oh God, don’t tell Serena, you'll give her a new life mission.” I look back over to them, and she must be giving him a hard time, because he keeps cutting eyes at Damien to help him out. His stance shouts nervousness as he clearly doesn’t know how to take her forward glares and body language.

“Alright you two, let’s talk business.” Damien says before leading us over to the couches in the living area. Damien and I sit on the black leather love seat together, while Serena tries to sit in the middle of the matching sofa, but poor Carter sits all the way at the end to give her space. He either can’t take a hint, or he doesn’t want to entertain her. “Carter, give me the run down.”

“Both trucks were delivered to the PD Auto shop. Normally after we drop off goods to the PD they send someone out to collect it, but there was nothing on the police coms about a pick up. Chris stayed behind to watch, and two people came and took it no problem, even though they weren’t in uniform. The clean-up crew at Cut Me Down said they had to dip after PD arrived, but there was no chatter on that either. There were at least twenty reports of shots fired called into 911 dispatch, but no one was sent out. That Aiden kid was streaming on the truck chase, but nothing about the barber shop, so they must have kept it really quiet.”

“So, the officers that showed up to both locations either weren’t cops, or they were bad cops.” Damien states angrily.

“Exactly.”

“What does that mean?” I ask.

“The city isn’t safe. For anyone. Dust is obviously receiving help from the police. We need to be careful with what we do from now on.” Damien says to me. “Dranan is doing everything he can to make sure he can operate how he wants.” I feel my phone buzz and it surprised me for a second. I completely forgot I even had it. I look down at my phone to see a text from Tony.

Tony:

Ashia, I hope to God your alright. If you can see this, do not come to the station, some weird shit is going on. If you're hiding, stay where you are.

“Babe, look at this.” I look up at him to hand him my phone and something flashes across his eyes. I can’t quite place it, and he doesn’t give me much time to decipher it before he looks down and stares at the message.

“You can’t trust him, baby girl. We don’t know who’s being paid.” He says sympathetically.

“Is that Tony?” Serena asks and I nod my head at her. “Oh, you can trust Tony. That pansy-ass momma’s boy is by the book. That’s why we didn’t call him when you started stalking her. If anyone on the police force is still straight, it’s him.” She tells Damien.

“Why else would he text me that?” I ask him, and he looks at me curiously. “He might be able to help you get some answers.” He looks over at Carter, who just shrugs his shoulders. I would be a fool to assume that they haven’t done their research on Tony. It seems that Damien has looked up anyone I’ve ever come into contact with, and I’m sure that my male, cop friend wasn’t excluded from that list. He presses the call button, places it on speakerphone, and lays it on the table so we can all hear. Pressing his finger to his lips, he shakes his head lightly. Telling us not to speak. It takes a few rings, but then Tony picks up.

“Ash? Oh my God, are you okay?” Tony answers in a hushed, worried tone. Clearly trying to keep anyone around him from hearing him. Damien remains silent, and it’s only a few seconds before we hear a loud thud, like a door closing, on Tony’s end of the phone. “Who is this?”

“Are you alone?” Damien says menacingly. Almost like a phone call from the horror movies we watch. Though, Tony doesn’t hesitate to answer.

“Yes. Who is this?”

“You know who this is.” There’s a moment of silence again.

“Are her and Serena safe?” Tony asks, his tone filled with concern.

“Yes, they’re both safe.” More silence, followed by what sounds like Tony swallowing a rock.

“I need your help.” Tony asks.

“You're an officer, what could you need from me?”

“Something is going on here, and everyone is acting weird. The Chief won’t speak to anyone unless he calls them in himself, most of the dispatch won’t speak to me, and there’s a lot of shit going unchecked. Something is wrong, very wrong. I don’t know who to turn to. The Mayor has been here for an hour talking to him, and still nothing.” I watch Damien as his thinking face takes over.

“Can you meet up?”

“Not at least for another hour. The station is crazy right now. Half of the force was pulled out by the Chief. I'm trying to reroute who’s left to help cover the calls they don’t want us to respond to without anyone knowing. I didn’t even know about Cut Me Down until my friend in dispatch called my cell.”

“Alright. Two hours. South Park Drive. Take your personal vehicle.”

“Got it.” Damien hangs up the phone and wraps his arm around my shoulders as he sits back on the couch.

“Are you sure about this, D?” Carter asks.

“No, but we have to work with what we got right now. Who has the bodies?”

“Duke, Aaron, and Graham.”

“Tell them to meet me with them and Cooper’s body at entry point C. Find out what you can on Tony and contact the moles. Get me footage on Dranan’s home.” Damien gives the order, leaving no room for argument.

“On it.” Carter briefly looks at me before he stands up and walks into the garage.

“Carter will stay here with you while I'm out. You'll be safe here.” I snap my head and look at him. He’s thinking about going out in this crazy shit?

“I don’t want you going.” I tell him sternly. The words fly out before I can stop them. His face sinks, and I know that he doesn’t really have a choice, but it doesn’t make this any easier.

“Ashia...”

“No!” I cut him off, standing up and turning to him as I point at the phone angrily. “You heard Tony, it’s crazy out there right now! Why can’t this wait!?”

“They’ll expect us to wait, baby, we have to do it now.” He retorts, trying to say it absolutely. Like there’s no room for an argument.

“No! You don’t! You can just stay here with me! Where I know you're safe!”

“Ash…” Serena cuts in, and I turn to look at her. I love her, but she needs to stay the hell out of my argument and not make me second guess myself when I voice how I feel.

“Don’t!” I yell at her and turn back to Damien. “Stay with me! Go when you've had more time to prepare, when you have more answers! What if something happens to you?” He stands up and pulls me close to him, holding me around the waist. I don’t push away, but I don’t melt into his embrace like I normally would. I’m so scared and worried about what could happen to him that I literally feel like I’m trying to claw out of my own body.

“They came after you, Ashia. I'm not waiting. I'll be okay.” He says reassuringly, but his words do anything but relieve my anxieties.

“You don’t know that!” I push away from him. Firmly planting my hands to his chest and shoving, but it doesn’t do any good. He doesn’t budge. “You were just in not one, but two car chases! One of your men just died! Your friend DIED last night! You're bruised and cut up from head to toe! Damien, please don’t go!” The emotional pain of what I just said explodes behind his eyes, and I grasp his face in my hands. “I don’t care if they came after me!”

“I do!” He yells back at me as he grabs my hands. “You have no idea what you mean to me, do you?” He shouts, and I can hear the slight crack in his voice. Breaking my heart along with it. “Not making it clear that I was the one that killed Cooper got you into this mess! I did that! I put you in harms way!” Does he really think this is his fault? I’d be dead if he didn’t save me. In more ways than one. “Now I'm going to fix it! And God dammit, Ashia, you are not going to do anything stupid! You’re going to stay here! Where I know YOU’RE safe! This is what I do!”

He leans closer to me and gently grabs my chin. Positioning our faces so they’re only an inch apart. Telling me that this is not negotiable. “I told you, I'm not a good man, and I'm not going to be, or stop what I do, just because you bat your pretty little eyes at me. They came for you, pointed a gun at your fucking head, and then threatened worse! You are my life, and they threatened you! You are every breath in my body. I live for you and they were going to take you from me. Now they’re going to get a taste of this war they started.”

He forcefully lets go of my chin, turns, walks to the garage door, and slams the door on his way out. Causing the walls to rattle with the power. His eyes were filled with rage. Murderous rage, but I’ve never felt so loved and needed before. Because I understand that his anger isn’t towards me, it's over me. A part of me wants to run after him. Shove him back inside and make him hold me, but I can’t. I just stand here, trying to breathe, trying to hold back my tears, but all to no avail.

“Ash? Are you okay?” Serena asks quietly, and I turn to watch Damien speed down the driveway on his bike. My heart is pounding in my chest so loudly I can feel it in my temples, and my body feels shaky. I'm scared, terrified even, but not of him. I'm scared for him.