Burn(73)
Jace flipped him off. “Fine, don’t listen to some friendly advice, but don’t come crying to me when you fuck things up.”
“Yeah, whatever,” Ash grumbled.
“Want to walk or take the car?”
“Walk,” Ash said. “I’ll call Josie on the way.”
• • •
Ash stared stonily down into the bloody face of Michael Cooper while the other men who’d accompanied Ash stood to the side, their gazes alert, watching for any sign of discovery.
Ash flexed his fingers, working the stiffness from his knuckles, the gloves he’d worn torn across one hand and smeared with the other man’s blood.
“You forget Josie Carlysle exists. Understand? If I hear of you coming within a mile of her, you’ll regret it.”
Michael nodded his head, spitting blood from the side of his mouth. “I understand. Jesus. She’s not worth it.”
“Wrong, asshole. She’s worth it. More than you could ever imagine. She’s mine now and I protect what’s mine. Furthermore, if you even think of going to the police like she should have done when you laid hands on her, I will make your life hell. I’ll be watching you, Cooper. Don’t ever forget it. If you try to start trouble over this, I’ll ruin you. You’ll have nothing left. And if you don’t think I have the money, power and connections to make it happen, just try me. When I’m finished with you, you’ll be living in a cardboard box begging for money so you can eat.”
Michael nodded again, fear and panic blazing in his eyes. He was a pathetic, ball-less worm.
Ash let go of Michael’s shirt and shoved him to the ground where he lay panting for breath, quiet moans of pain slipping from his battered mouth.
“This is what you did to her, you son of a bitch,” Ash said, fury lacing his every word. “You hit her and then held her down on the floor while you hit her again. Count yourself lucky that this is all I’m doing to you. Forget my warning, and I’ll come down on you so hard that you’ll feel me when you’re taking a piss. For that matter, I’m watching you, Cooper. If I ever hear of you hurting any woman again, you’ll go down.”
“Need to go,” one of the men said in a low voice. “Few minutes was all you said. It’s dangerous to be out here any longer.”
Ash nodded. “I’m done with this asshole.”
Ash and the others turned, leaving Michael along the side of the building where they’d ambushed him. It was a path he took every evening and, luckily for Ash, it was well out of sight of the main streets. Still, he was taking a huge risk. If the wrong person happened upon them, all hell would break lose. He couldn’t afford to be seen, couldn’t afford any witnesses that would counteract his alibi if Michael pulled a really dumb move and went to the police.
He pulled up the collar of his long coat, one that would be discarded and never used again, one he’d purchased specifically for tonight. Satisfied his face was shielded by the cap he’d pulled low over his hair and the lapels that covered his cheeks, he hurried off, leaving Michael lying on the ground, the victim of an apparent mugging. He’d been more than willing to let the other men take what they wanted.
Ash slipped the man on his right a wad of cash and muttered his thanks.
“No problem, McIntyre,” C.J. murmured. “If you need us, you know where to find us.”
Ash nodded and strode in the opposite direction from them when they reached the street. He was only a few blocks from the office building and he had to hurry to make it back before the cameras came back online. He grabbed his phone, the call still open, and brought it to his ear. He still had the mute button punched and left it so the sounds from the streets couldn’t be heard.