Without question, she picked up a fork and took a bite. As she heaved, I realized I hadn’t cooked the potatoes long enough.
“Shit. Fuck. Shit. Bastard. Cunts.” The control I’d been going for ended.
I grabbed her plate, picked it up, and launched it across the room. It smashed against the wall. Some of the peppers stuck to the wall but eventually fell down to the floor.
The skillet. The glasses. I tore the kitchen apart even as Ashley let out a scream and flinched away.
Nothing got near her.
I wasn’t going to hurt her. My anger was at how hurt she got.
Halfway through my rage, my kitchen was completely trashed, but the doorbell rang, alerting me that someone was joining us.
Running my hands down my chest, I smiled at Ashley before going to answer the door. The only way people could get to my apartment was through my men. They were all stationed at different points within the building. This way I knew, for the most part, everyone getting to my place had been vetted.
I expected the doctor. Emily came barreling into my apartment. I glared at the men who were supposed to be acting as guards.
Caleb, River, Gael, and Vadik were all with their woman.
This pissed me off.
“I’m waiting for the doctor to arrive.”
“We heard about the accident,” Caleb said.
“That’s funny. I don’t seem to recall making it to the news.” These men needed to die. I didn’t like them meddling.
I heard Emily and Ashley in the distance.
Stepping back from the door, I waited for them to enter before closing the door.
I wasn’t in the best of moods. I didn’t linger at the door. Heading back to the kitchen, Emily had Ashley’s face in her hands.
“What the hell did you do to her?” Emily asked.
“Em, stop it. Nothing has been done to me.” Ashley grabbed her friend’s hands, pushing them off her face. “I’m fine. I’m good.”
“For your own safety, I suggest you keep the suspicions to yourself.” The last thing I wanted to put up with was her fucking meddling, poking at me.
“Look at the mess!”
Emily’s four minions joined us as she put her hand on her waist. The heavy pregnancy was very clear.
“We’re waiting to hear from the doctor. You’re free to stay here until then. Afterward, you’re going to have to leave.”
“I’m not leaving her with you.” Emily advanced toward me, and she was an easy target. I reacted. I wrapped my fingers around her neck. She was the cause of so much shit and trouble.
At my back, I heard Caleb, River, Gael, and Vadik draw their weapons.
“We’re all friends here,” Ashley said, getting to her feet. She grabbed my arm. “I know you’re angry. They didn’t cause the crash. It was not their fault. Earl, please.”
Her fingers sank even tighter, and she let out a groan. The moment she started to sway, I let Emily go and grabbed Ashley, holding her in my arms.
“I don’t feel so good.”
I pushed some hair from the back of her face.
Nothing could happen to her. She was too precious for this world. No one deserved her.
“You’ve done too much.” Ignoring Emily and her men, I picked up Ashley in my arms and carried her back through to our bedroom.
I lowered her to the bed.
Ashley whimpered. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to look weak.”
“Shut up. You’re fine. You shouldn’t have been doing so much. It’s not good.” I wanted to touch her, to surround myself in her to make sure she was fine.
All that kept going off in my head was how many people died from head injuries. Was it a lot? A little? People died for no good reason, and the thought of Ashley dying, well, it filled me with an anger unlike any other.
She couldn’t die.
“Please, don’t hurt my friend. She’s been through enough.”
“What about you?”
“I’m still alive to talk about it.” She grabbed my hand where I held her cheek. Kisses filled my palm. “For me.”
“You keep asking so much of me.”
“And you do the same in my position. This isn’t Emily’s fault. They came here to be friends.”
The doorbell rang again, and I cursed. “That should be the doctor this time. I’ll be right back.”
I stood and found Emily in the doorway. “Stay with her.”
Without another word, I left the bedroom to go kill anyone else who was at the door who wasn’t a fucking doctor.
Chapter Fourteen
Ashley
I had a concussion.
Between Emily, Earl, Caleb, River, Gael, and Vadik, I was covered for company. I wasn’t allowed to sleep for too long, and I needed rest. Just by going into the kitchen to supervise the mess Earl had tried to call dinner, I’d done too much.
For three days, I stayed in bed.
Earl helped me to shower.
Each person took turns in keeping me company. The men were the most awkward, apart from Earl.
I had no idea what to say to Caleb, River, Gael, and Vadik. It wasn’t like we were ever really friends. I’d done what they asked of me. Seven years, I’d kept Emily safe and happy. Or as happy as I could.
When they sat with me, I ended up reading a book or taking a nap. I was allowed to nap, but had to be woken up every so many hours. It was exhausting.
After an entire weekend, the doctor returned and said I should be fine. I’d shown no other effects. Other than a few cuts and bruises, I was healthy.
This was good news.
“I was so worried,” Emily said, throwing herself at me after I’d dressed Monday morning.
I didn’t know where the men were.
Earl spent the nights with me, but he didn’t sleep beside me.
“I’m starving. How about I make us breakfast?” Emily asked.
I wrinkled my nose. “I don’t mean to be nasty, but you really can’t cook.”
Emily pouted. “That’s no way to treat me after all I do for you.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “I do love you. Don’t you want something you can eat?” I wasn’t going to try to put anything else inedible in my mouth. The food Earl had served me a few days ago had looked … okay. The moment the potato crunched, I thought I was going to be sick.
My reaction shouldn’t have pissed him off. Deep down, I knew it wasn’t about me. He’d been angry at what happened.
There was nothing I could do about that. This went deeper for Earl.
Each time he woke me up, or we spent time together over the past few days, I got a really bad feeling.
I didn’t completely understand it, but I felt like he was plotting something. Nothing too scary for me, I didn’t think.
My thoughts were all over the place. Nothing made any sense to me, not really. All I could do was sit and think about what might be.
“I’d love to eat something.”
I cupped Emily’s cheeks, brought her head to mine, and kissed her. “Good. I wasn’t going to allow you to cook.”
Taking Emily’s hand, I tugged her toward the kitchen, and I was so glad to see all the mess had been cleaned up. No remnants of Earl’s temper.
After going to the fridge, I began to take out onions, peppers, and potatoes. Earl was totally onto something. I thought he might have been going for a potato hash. I wasn’t completely sure since he’d appeared to be lost to his rage.