Staring out of the window at the passing streets and scenery, I smiled to myself. I didn’t think it was possible to be happy like this.
There was an easiness to it.
When I was around Earl, he was the one in control. He made me feel safe. The power he held came from sources I didn’t like, but again, I had to question his feelings about it.
He’d gone through with the dare.
“Oh, fuck!” the driver yelled. “Impact!”
The car suddenly spun out of control, and we were shoved forward. I was wearing my seatbelt, as was Earl. The windows smashed. Just when I thought we were over the worst, something hit us from the side.
I cried out as my head slammed against the side of the car.
There was so much pain, and then everything went black.
****
Earl
Several hours later
I paced the bedroom. So close to calling the doctor and ordering him back to my place to check on Ashley again. She still lay on the bed. I’d changed her out of the clothes that were cut up and coated in blood.
We’d been ambushed today in the middle of the fucking street.
I’d been so distracted by Ashley, I hadn’t noticed the guy tailing. I was angry that I was so careless. I never forgot how close I was to death, to my enemies. They were always watching.
I should have noticed we were being followed.
Now Ashley lay in bed. The doctor had promised she’d come to, but he’d gotten another call.
Just as I was about to lose my shit, Ashley started to moan.
We’d had such a good fucking day. I’d made the ultimate mistake of forgetting. I wouldn’t make that mistake again.
“Earl?”
I was at her side, holding her hand. “I’m here.”
She groaned, licking her dry lips.
I’d already gotten her some water, and I held out the glass, placing the straw against her lips. “Drink.”
She did as I told her, swallowing large gulps of water.
I was so fucking relieved she was alive.
This wasn’t what I had planned for the day.
Her face was heavily bruised. The doctor also had to remove shards of glass from her hair.
After the car had slammed into Ashley’s side, we’d been shot up. I’d gotten out free and took out two men. But I lost one of our own before I could help Ashley out of the car.
“What happened?” she asked.
“You were in a car accident.”
She frowned, opening her eyes. “I feel like I’m going to be sick.”
Grabbing the trash can, I held it beneath her, and she started to throw up. Gripping her hair, I kept one hand on her hair, the other on the trash can. Her hands shook. The doctor said she’d feel sick.
I held the water out to her as she finished with the bucket. Placing it on the floor but within easy reach.
“My head is killing me.”
“You were knocked unconscious from the impact. The doctor will be back to assess you.”
“I was out for a long time?”
“Yes.”
She rubbed at her temple. “What happened to the other people? Are they okay?”
I frowned. She didn’t even realize this was intentional.
“Ashley … no, they aren’t.”
“What?” she asked. “We killed them?”
Cupping her face, I tilted her head back, but she covered her mouth. “They weren’t good people, Ashley. They were my enemies.”
“Enemies?”
“I’ve got them all over. I’ve told you this before, and today, they started a war.”
It had been a long time since I’d been attacked this openly. With Ashley in the car, it guaranteed those behind it were going to suffer. I would never allow anything to happen to her.
I was known for my rage before, but this went beyond that. I was a cold-blooded killer. I struck without mercy.
With Ashley so close, the need to protect her overtook all other feelings. Those who had organized this hit would feel my wrath.
Tears filled her eyes. “Are you okay?” She put her hands on my body. “They didn’t hurt you, did they?”
Even now, she was more worried about me than herself.
It made me want to kill even harder.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’m not the one who banged my head.” I placed my palm against her head. “How do you feel?”
“Fine.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
Her lip wobbled as she smiled. “Like I’ve been run over time and time again.”
“The doctor is coming back to check on you.”
“I’ll be fine. People end up in car accidents all the time.”
Yes, but they didn’t end up nearly dead because they were the enemies of one of the passengers.
“Earl, you’re scaring me,” she said.
I didn’t mean to scare her. The truth was I was fucking enraged. Killing some of the men who’d been involved with the crash hadn’t stopped my thirst for blood, for revenge. Now, I needed to fucking drown in it.
“Are you hungry?” I asked.
It wasn’t like I could feed her. She was the best cook around. We both knew it.
She tried to pull the blanket off her body, but I took hold of her wrists and stopped her. “No. You’ve got to rest until the doctor gets back.”
I wished I hadn’t let him go now. Staring at Ashley, seeing how vulnerable and fragile she looked, it was hard for me to stay in control.
“Let me at least come and sit with you.”
“I’m fine.”
“And I feel fine. You can make me something to eat and this way it will at least taste good.” She tried to wink at me, but it fell flat.
Stroking my thumb across her cheek, I skimmed across her lips. So plump. The way she’d looked in the car. I hadn’t had time to panic as the bullets had been raining down on us. All I could do was react and deal with the problem at hand.
The minute it had all stopped, I hadn’t wasted any time. The doctor had been pissed at me for moving her, but I had to get her out of there.
Anyone could have seen her.
I couldn’t allow my enemies to know how I felt about her.
This went way beyond taking her virginity, as I knew it did back when I first took her.
“I’m right here,” she said, pressing her face against my palm.
It still didn’t help.
I felt I was on the edge of losing my mind. I needed distance. Getting to my feet, I eased off the blanket, and rather than allow her to walk, I slid my hands beneath her legs, supporting her back at the same time.
“Earl, what are you doing?” she asked, releasing a little giggle as I carried her all the way to the kitchen.
I made sure she sat in the most secured seat, high handles surrounding her, keeping her locked into place.
She touched my hand, and I kissed the top of her head.
After going to the fridge, I stared at everything and just began to grab stuff. I wasn’t paying attention. My only concern was the woman in front of me.
With all the food picked, I decided to chop everything up, throw it into a pan, and mix it around.
Ashley stayed silent.
I didn’t know what I was doing. Onions, peppers, even potatoes chopped up went into the pan.
Giving everything a turn, I felt Ashley’s eyes on me, but she made no comment as I seasoned it and then mounded a plate high, pushing it toward her.