My arms wrap around her waist, and she nestles into me, not giving a damn about the apparently long line of men fantasizing about her.
“It makes sense why she went after Bity at the wedding now,” Wren adds. “He’s the only one who ever devoted her any real attention, and then he showed up with Ash on his arm. She was just trying to keep her one admirer.”
Bity shudders, and then he looks toward Wren.
“Please, don’t ever mention any feelings I had toward her ever again. I’m about to be sick as it is. I fucking chased a psychopath. I’m lucky she wasn’t interested.”
“Damn straight you're lucky,” Shannon shivers out. “She would have probably tried killing you, too.”
Ash whimpers lightly, but she clears her throat, trying her best to be strong.
“Is there anything else?” I ask, ready to dismiss the detective and hold my girl.
“Yes, actually. The lab confirmed that Dyllan Mathews was killed by the same gun that shot Ms. Branderwood.”
“Rene killed him?” Ash gasps. “Why?”
“I don’t know. From our observation, it seems he was desperate to get a hold of you in the weeks before his death. It’s possible he spotted her following you. We found pictures of you in his storage facility. For some reason, he had it under a false name. When we found his keys, we tracked down where each one belonged. He was following you, too, but we never found any pictures of Rene.”
“Can I see these pictures?” I ask.
“I’m sorry, I thought it would be too much for Ms. Branderwood so I didn’t bother to bring them. You’re welcome to come down to the station tomorrow, if you like.”
I nod, not certain if it’s worth my time now that this is over.
Russell walks in, ready to secure the perimeter as the detective starts walking toward the door.
“You should be able to relax for a while. We’re still comparing the DNA results, but I’m sure Rene is your girl. I’ll let you know when it’s confirmed.”
I nod, and then I scoop Ash’s trembling body into my arms.
“Tag, can you just hold me?” she whispers, her voice needy, making me feel like the most important man in the world.
“All night, baby,” I murmur. “As long as you want me to.”
We head into the room, and she curls against me the moment we’re in bed. Our celebration has ended, but so has our hell.
Chapter Seventeen
Misled
Ashiara
It feels like I’m moving, and I’m worried my abundant tears have forced me to feel seasick. I open my eyes and gasp loudly when I see and feel my hands bound.
“What the hell?” I screech as I jump up in the back seat of a car.
“Just sit still, Ms. Branderwood, or your son dies,” a familiar, deep voice releases.
“Russell?” I gasp. “What the fuck?”
Panic sets in. Why does he have me? My son? Where’s Trip?
“We’re going to meet someone, Ms. Branderwood. She has your child, and if you’re wise, you’ll let her do as she wants—if you want him to live.”
My heart races as a sick, sinking feeling attacks my stomach. I feel dizzy, nauseated, and so fucking terrified for my son.
We pull up to a stoplight, and a group of guys in a car look in at me. I want to scream, hold up my restrained hands, beg someone for help, but I know I can’t, not without risking the life of my son.
We drive off, leaving my one chance of rescue behind.
“Why are you doing this?” I whimper. “You’re supposed to be protecting me - protecting Trip. He’s just a baby.”
His cold stature doesn’t waver as he looks ahead.
“If you do as you’re told, your son will live.”
“But not me?” I ask, a knowing tone in my voice.
He doesn’t say anything, but he answers me with his silence. This will be the last night I live.
The car slows to a stop on the quiet, private beach, and he hops out to drag me from the car. I don’t fight him, scream, or make a move as we head down to the deserted section of the beach.
Only one house stands alone for several miles from what I can see. I’ve never even been here, and I have no idea where we are. I shouldn’t have drank so much, and then I wouldn’t have slept through my kidnapping.
“Is Tag alive?” I worry as the sudden realization he would have never let someone take me hits me.
“He’s still asleep,” Russell’s gruffly answers. “I happen to be damn good with stealth.”
He sounds proud of himself—too proud. I regret telling Tag to let the security slack with Rene supposedly dead. It’s obvious now she’s not, and the fucking detective was in on it all along.