Page 84 of Racing Dirty Trilogy Box Set

Nolan

I have no idea why Wrath and Switch took me to The Circle tonight.

Maybe they thought they could control me in that setting like they used to in the past. But as my fingers dig into Ashley’s hips, keeping me in the present, I know I’ve made the right decision.

I almost turned back toward Wrath and left with her, but my girl saved me again.

Her gentle touch brought me back to her, and she didn’t give up.

She kept the demon tamped down. I’m slowly regaining control of myself, but I still feel threatened by all these men around what’s mine and a low growl escapes my throat.

Ashley turns toward me, resting her hand against my chest and I recognize what she’s touching as her angelic voice floats through the city night and straight to my heart.

“Nolan,” she whispers. I trail my eyes up from her bloody palm wrapped in tape, gently caressing my scars through my hoodie, up her slender, sun-kissed arm until I look into her soft brown eyes.

“Come back to me, please. I need you here.” Her body is trembling with fear.

The evil lurking below wants to surface and taunt her fear, but my head realizes she isn’t afraid of me, she’s afraid it’s too late to reach me.

I open and close my mouth several times, trying to find the words I need to say.

Nothing seems sufficient enough for what she’s done for me, to me.

So, I do the only thing I can at the moment.

I close the distance between us and rest my forehead against hers.

She’s my lifeline, the air I breathe. Without her, I would be lost in a sea of darkness.

I need to feel her soft curves in my hands, touch her heart, taste her.

Ashley wraps a slender arm around my neck, her other hand still resting against my beating heart and her lips finally meet mine.

A surge of protectiveness wraps around my mind as her soft kiss penetrates through my body.

My lips trembling against hers, I inhale her strawberry scent, but it’s tainted with blood.

Realizing she must be freezing in the little shorts and sports bra she has on, I pull back and remove the sweatshirt I’m wearing, oblivious to what Switch has done to my body while I was unconscious.

A loud gasp flows from her lips and I frown.

“Nolan, what did they do to you?” Her sweet voice is full of concern as her eyes scan my bare chest. Fresh bruising and dried blood are still coating my skin.

“It’s OK, Ash,” I finally say. I haven’t spoken in what seems like days and my voice is raspy. I hand her my hoodie and she shakes her head at me. “You’re freezing, you need it.”

“Thank you, Nolan. Rush has my clothes. Can I have him come back and give me my stuff?”

I glance up and look around. We’re in a dark alley and the bustle of the city night is ahead of us.

I don’t see Rush anywhere. I close my eyes and channel the inner strength she gives me.

Having myself under control, I give her a slight nod.

I sense someone moving from the brick building to the right of me and my eyes snap open, narrowing in their direction.

Ashton steps out of the shadows with his hands raised.

I recognize the gesture and release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

“Ashton,” I say. He stares at me, concern etched across his face. “Thank you for taking care of her.” He flinches at my words and Ashley stiffens under my hands. Something happened between them while I was gone.

“I’ll go get Rush and Ace,” he grumbles, ignoring my thanks, and walks quickly toward the end of the alley. I look at Ashley and she shakes her head.

“It’s a long story, I’ll explain later. Is it OK if Ace comes too? He saved my ass down there tonight. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have survived.”

“Yes,” I answer.

The shuffling of feet down the alley coming toward us gets louder and I tighten my grip on Ashley.

She rests her head against my chest and I stifle a groan.

My body is aching all over, but I push the pain away and revel in the feel of her against my bruised and beaten skin.

I didn’t think it would happen again, I didn’t think I’d get to hold her against me, ever again.

I didn’t think I’d get to see her sweet smile, her beautiful face, have her body wrapped around mine.

An urge to get her alone fills my mind and she giggles. It’s music to my ears.

“Nolan,” she whispers against my bare chest. “I’ve missed you and I love you.

” She tightens her hold around my waist, and neither one of us wants to let go.

My heart beats hard against my chest when she says those words.

How could she love me after everything she’s been through?

Everything I’ve put her through? But she does and it’s clear in her voice and her touch.

“Nolan, bro. Are you OK?” Rush asks when he’s close enough.

“I will be,” I answer, not letting Ashley go just yet.

A shiver wracks her body and I feel like a selfish bastard for not letting her get more clothes on.

I take the hoodie Rush is offering with one hand and give it to Ashley.

She reluctantly lets me go long enough to put it on, while I put mine back on, covering the bruises.

We stay wrapped around each other for several more moments before Ace speaks. “We need to get out of here. I have a place we can go to for now. Nolan, I want to help. Will you finally let me help take these bastards down?” I nod my head. “Thank you,” he responds.

We follow Ace out into the bustle of the city.

The bright lights and loud noises have my senses on high alert as Ace hails a taxi.

I look at the man who saved my woman. His arm muscles ripple under his black hoodie and his full lips are thin as his eyes dart around, looking for a threat.

I’m thankful he was there looking out for her.

A taxi stops in front of us and we all pile in.

Ace takes the front seat, while Ashton, Rush and I squeeze our big bodies into the back.

Ashley sits on my lap, her arms wrapped around my neck, her head resting against my chest. I tune everything and everyone out, focusing on Ashley’s soft body resting against mine.

I rub my hands up and down her back as the taxi takes off at breakneck speed, swerving in and out of traffic.

The tension in the cab is unbearable and I feel like I’m going to lose my mind.

Twenty minutes later, the driver pulls up to a brownstone and Ace pays him.

We all get out and Ashley doesn’t let me go.

She has her arms around my waist, her head resting against my chest while we wait to see where Ace is taking us.

He approaches us, and I see him differently. Before it was our gang against his, now it’s us against them. His brown eyes look tired and stressed, his stance is stiff and unsure. The hair on the back of my neck stands on end, my senses on high alert. He’s hesitating for some reason.

“Ace,” I say getting his attention. “What’s going on? Why are we here? Where are we?” I rapid-fire questions at him.

He hesitates before answering, “This is my home. My mom and kid are inside.”

My jaw drops, and my eyes grow wide. I had no idea he had a family and now I understand his hesitancy in letting us in. We’re not exactly innocent citizens.

“It’s OK, we won’t harm them in any way,” I promise him. “I understand if you don’t want to let us in. We can go back to the apartment.”

“No, it’s not that at all. My mom understands this life. Hell, she was raised in it. It’s just, my kid doesn’t. I haven’t let that part of me touch her and it never will if I have my way. She’s my angel in this dark world,” Ace says with a hint of anger in his voice.

“How old is she?” Ashley asks.

“Four,” Ace answers with a smile. “And she tests my patience every minute of every day.” There’s pride in his voice.

“Come on, let’s go inside. Get you two cleaned up and then we’ll go over a game plan.

” He turns on his heels and walks up the concrete steps to the beautiful brownstone in front of us.

He inserts a key into several locks running down the solid oak door and pushes the door open.

“She might be sleeping so try to stay quiet.”

We follow him inside and stay as quiet as possible.

I haven’t let Ashley go the whole time. She’s tucked under my arm, her fingers splayed across my chest. Feeling safe for the first time in a couple of days, I relax against her grip and want nothing more than to bury my face in her bare breasts, lick and suck every inch of her body, bury myself so deep inside of her, that I don’t know where I start and she stops.

My breathing picks up and Ashley gently slaps my chest.

“Not now,” she whispers against my chest.

“Hmm, kind of hard not to think about that right now with your body pressed against mine,” I whisper in her ear. She lets out a soft giggle and it’s music to my ears. I didn’t think I’d get to hear that giggle ever again.

Ace turns toward us and narrows his eyes. “Remember, my kid is sleeping in here. I’m going to put you two far, far away from her.”

We walk out of the foyer and into a living room.

Ace turns on a light and the brightness hurts my eyes.

There’s hardwood flooring throughout the house with a plush maroon carpet in the living room.

A brown couch and matching chair with a big screen T.V.

are against the wall. Heavy maroon curtains cover the windows, blocking the street lights outside.

A noise from behind me makes me jump and I turn around, holding Ashley behind me.