Traded(30)

I was worth more.





CHAPTER 9





Ashton




I left the room knowing that Elena had no idea what she was in for. Miller and Dad had been briefed and I was confident they would get the hint and leave the room, probably with Samuel in tow. Aunt Veronica did not pull any punches when it came to abusive men. Once she’d pushed David from her life and found herself again, she used her time and energy helping women in the same position she’d been in. If anyone could get through to Elena, it was Aunt Veronica.

I pushed through the double doors and found Mom at the stove, wooden spoon in her hand, glasses perched on top of her head. “Hey, sweetheart.” She smiled over her shoulder. “What are you doing in here?”

I shrugged off my jacket, tossing over one of the chairs. “Helping you while Aunt Veronica talks to Elena.” I lifted the lid on one of the pans, only to have my hand swatted away.

“What the hell?”

“Don’t use that language on me.” She waved the spoon and I ducked. “No touching. I’m almost done. Go hang out with your brother and father.”

“But I can’t go out there while they’re talking. Besides, I like helping.”

“I know, but tonight let me do this. Make sure you’re there for that poor girl. Veronica won’t go easy on her.”

I sighed. “She needs to hear it, Mom.”

She put her hand on my arm. “And she’ll need someone’s shoulder to cry on when she understands how wrong it all is.”

I rubbed at my hand and rested my hip against the cupboard, watching her work her magic. The woman really was a genius in the kitchen. The smells coming from whatever it was she was cooking made my mouth water but I kept my distance. I didn’t need another knock. We chatted back and forth for a while before I fell silent. My mom stopped what she was doing and stared at me, waiting for me to offload.

“You think Aunt Veronica can work miracles?

My mom was honest to a fault. “No. You’re probably going to have to help, but Veronica will make her see the truth. Overcoming it will take time.” She pointed to the door with the spoon. “Now go.”

Laughing, I placed a kiss on her cheek, moving quickly before she swatted me away, grabbing my coat and throwing it over my shoulder. For a brief second I thought about heading to the living room, then I realized I needed to let Aunt Veronica do what she could. Not wanting to interrupt the conversation, I turned away from the living room and walked toward my father’s office.

Miller’s voice drifted down the hall. When I opened the door, they were all sitting around, drinking. Dad passed a glass to me the minute the door closed behind me.

“Figure you could use it.”

Taking a seat on the couch next to Miller, I took a sip of the whiskey, letting it burn its way down. “Why do you say that?”

He scoffed. “After what Ronnie’s going to say and do, you’re going to have a crying woman on your hands.”

My eyes darted to the door and back. The urge to go out there and listen was almost overpowering, but I fought it back and changed the subject. “Dad, why in the hell did you want me to take Elena to the game with me last Thursday?”

He took a seat at his desk and leaned over the top. “For the same reason you want to run out of here and check on Elena.”

“I don’t want—”

“For fuck’s sake, Ashton, do not blow smoke up my ass. I could tell when you showed up that first day to tell me about her. You want her.”

“Hell, I want her. She’s fucking gorgeous.” The vein at my temple throbbed at Miller’s words, images of him taking advantage of Elena running through my head.

Oh hell no!

Dad pointed his finger at Miller. “You, knock it off. I know you wouldn’t do anything, but right now your brother’s thinking about beating your ass into the ground.”

Miller held his hands up in surrender. “Dude, can you blame me for noticing her. Holy hell, I’ve never seen her equal.”

I had enough of Miller’s mouth and threw a punch to his arm, making him spill his drink on his pants.

“Watch it, asshole.”

Dad shook his head. “I warned you, Miller. Now go dry yourself off in the bathroom.”

Grumbling, he stood and left the room. With his smart mouth gone, the tension finally flowed from my shoulders. “That still doesn’t answer my question. If you want me with her, then why send her with me to see what it is we do? I think she got enough of that when she ended up here with me, and Derrick Reynolds showing up the same night didn’t help.” I leaned forward, rolling the glass back and forth in my palms.