Текст книги "Beautifully Loyal"

Автор книги: Nicole Edwards

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Текущая страница: 13 (всего у книги 25 страниц)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Without loyalty, what else is there?

Present day

Saturday, November 7th

“Did you hear from Marco yet?” Jase asked as soon as Leyton appeared in Ashlynn’s kitchen several hours later. The sun was peeking in through the wood blinds, brightening the room.

“No.” At least he didn’t think he had, but before he could do much more than exist, he needed coffee. He’d slept for shit last night, lying in Jase’s bed, using Jase’s pillow, thinking about Jase.

And Ashlynn.

And how they’d been in the next room and he wasn’t.

Rather than following his gut and going into her room to join them, Leyton had battled his needs for most of the night, tossing and turning while he ached to be with them. It was the right thing to do, he knew, but he still felt like shit after getting very little sleep. And Jase’s appearance, what they’d done … although fucking spectacular, it hadn’t helped Leyton’s exhaustion any.

He hadn’t expected Jase to come to him, but Leyton had welcomed him with open arms, never once second-guessing the opportunity that had presented itself. His mind still whirled when he thought about their encounter. Hell, he wanted a replay right there in the fucking kitchen, but he also knew that wouldn’t happen. Not yet.

“If you’re lookin’ for coffee, it’s over there.” Jase nodded to the far side of the kitchen.

“Thanks.” Sparing a quick glance in Jase’s direction, Leyton took him in from head to toe. He was wearing jeans and a faded, navy blue Henley, his hair still wet from his shower. He immediately thought about Jase on his knees, peering up at him while he’d sucked Leyton’s dick like a pro last night in the garage, followed closely by the memory of being lodged deep in Jase’s ass, fucking him until the pleasure had been more than he could bear.

Pouring coffee into a mug that was conveniently sitting on the counter, Leyton tried to scrub the mental images from his brain by thinking about Moroso and the fact that Leyton had to reach out to him again if he hadn’t already returned his call. Cup in hand, Leyton turned and leaned against the granite counter. “Where’s Ashlynn?”

“Getting ready. She’ll be down in a minute.”

“I’m here,” she announced as she stepped into the room.

Leyton glanced over at her.

Lord. Help. Him.

She was wearing a red dress that looked as though it were painted on. She was covered from neck to wrist and down to mid-thigh, but her long legs were the first thing his gaze strayed to. Another image popped into his head, this one of those long legs wrapped around Jase’s lean hips as the two of them made love in Ashlynn’s bed. He’d been mesmerized by the sight, watching Jase’s ass as he thrust into her over and over and… Leyton had wanted to be Jase, to have the pleasure of being buried deep inside Ashlynn. So deep.

“Will you be ready?”

Leyton snapped out of it, only to find Ashlynn looking at him. Her eyes reflected amusement, but she wasn’t smiling. Yep, she’d busted him.

“Ready?” he questioned.

“To talk to Max? We need to get this figured out. I’ve got another meeting to get to this afternoon.”

“With who?” he asked, sipping his coffee and stepping out of the way as she approached.

His eyes slid down to her ass, and he wondered whether or not she was wearing panties beneath that sexy dress.

“Erik Roberts. Not that it’s any of your business.” She poured coffee into another mug, then turned to Jase. “We’re meeting with him at two.”

“Not sure that’s a wise idea,” Jase said, drawing Leyton’s attention.

“It’s nonnegotiable.” Ashlynn regarded them both warily. “I’m not puttin’ my life on hold for this. If I show any fear whatsoever, I’ll be as good as dead, anyway. That’s why I suggest we go to Moroso, get this shit handled once and for all.”

Leyton didn’t want to argue with her. Not now. Max had a way of persuading Ashlynn to do what he wanted her to do, so he’d leave it up to the boss to talk to her. But first, he needed to have something to relay to Max before he called him with an update.

“We’re not goin’ to visit Moroso,” he stated firmly.

“Then I’m ready when you are,” Jase said, getting to his feet.

“For what?” Leyton peered between the two of them. “I just said—”

“We’re goin’ to your place, remember? Or that’s what you said last night, anyway.”

Right. His place. To figure this shit out.

“Or did you forget?” Ashlynn asked, her tone sweet. “I can see how that could happen. Fucking Jase’s ass and all. Throws you off course, doesn’t it?”

At the sink, Leyton rinsed his coffee mug and placed it in the dish drainer, his dick hardening at those words. Ashlynn didn’t move from her position, and he didn’t bother to answer her. She was toying with him again. Had she watched them together? Or had Jase told her what had happened?

Either way, she didn’t sound upset, which he was grateful for.

When he looked up, he noticed she was eyeing him speculatively. “Somethin’ wrong?” he asked.

She smiled, but this grin put Leyton on edge. “Not at all.”

Great. Just what he didn’t need … Ashlynn in a mischievous mood.

After last night, he hadn’t expected her to simply pretend that nothing had happened between them, but he was hoping they’d go about their business and not make a big deal out of it. It had been a moment of weakness, one he didn’t intend to repeat. Not until he could work through what they wanted from one another and how he was going to broach the subject with Max. If it came to that.

Which reminded him… “One thing,” Leyton said, glancing between the two of them. “What happened last night… It’d be best if Max never knew that happened.”

“Which part?” Ashlynn’s eyes glittered with mischief. “You licking me? Or you fucking Jase?”

Leyton narrowed his eyes at her. He didn’t think he needed to dignify that with an answer.

The corner of Ashlynn’s mouth tipped up, her eyes narrowing. “Fine. He won’t hear it from me.”

Ashlynn rinsed her cup in the sink, then proceeded to move past him. When she reached the door, she tossed him a glance over her shoulder. “But don’t think it won’t happen again. You’ll be wastin’ your time if you do.”

With that, she left them both in the kitchen.

“I agree with her.”

Leyton flinched when Jase’s voice sounded so close to his ear. The man was standing directly behind him, and Leyton hadn’t even seen him move. When Jase’s hands landed on Leyton’s hips, he sucked in a breath. There was something about the man’s touch, something that unhinged him. It had been unexpected earlier, when they’d been together. It stirred something deep inside him, and it wasn’t mere lust, either.

“We’ll be doin’ that again real soon.” Jase pressed up against Leyton’s back. “Only next time, my dick will be in your ass.”

Leyton didn’t respond as Jase shuffled past, going in the same direction Ashlynn had gone.

“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath as he resigned himself to being tormented by these two.

He smiled to himself. He guessed it could be worse.

Although he wasn’t exactly sure how.

An hour and a half later, Leyton was in his home office, perched on the corner of his desk. Ashlynn was sitting on the sofa, Aidan and Madison each in the matching chairs, Jase and Rock standing at the door, while Max, Brent, and Victor joined them via telephone. For the first time in a long time, everyone was intently interested in the topic, concerned as to how they were going to handle this.

“We can’t ignore this,” Brent stated, his disembodied voice echoing in the room.

“Moroso’s bein’ stupid,” Max groused, his voice rumbling through the phone. “No matter how I spin it, I don’t see him putting out a hit on Ash because of Tony. He knows how this works. There has to be more to it than that.”

“It makes sense if Tony’s really his brother,” Leyton offered. Leyton had thought the same thing as Max, had tossed it around so many times. However, the reaction suited the crime. Tony had been busted, something Moroso should’ve seen coming. Moroso had to understand the cost of doing business. Hell, Tony was a thief, not to mention a fucking rat, and that was an unspoken sin in their world. So why would Moroso counter with this? Related or not.

“Have we located that shipment?” Brent inquired.

Ashlynn shook her head, then followed with a “no” since her brother couldn’t see her.

“Snarly was able to get Tony to tell him that Moroso was behind the disappearance, but we’ve yet to confirm it,” Leyton provided.

“He has to have it,” Victor added. “Maybe this is his way of throwing us off.”

“Not for five hundred grand,” Max remarked. “That’s pocket change.”

For Max, maybe. Leyton didn’t know Moroso’s financial status.

“When do you meet with him?” Madison asked Leyton.

“The meeting’s officially set for four,” Rock chimed in.

Glancing at his watch, Leyton took a deep breath. “But we’re meetin’ with him in two hours.”

It was always safer to set the official meetings at a time and place they didn’t intend to be. That way, if the Feds showed up, they wouldn’t be there.

“Who’s goin’ with you?” Max inquired.

Leyton didn’t have many options considering they were divided at the moment with Victor, Brent, and Max in Vegas, along with their enforcers. That left Leyton, Aidan, and Ashlynn to handle things on this side, along with Rock, Sal, and Jase. Madison hadn’t yet been pulled into the fold for two reasons. One, she was still in school and Max didn’t want anything to interfere with that, and two, because Max was even more protective of Madison than he was of Ashlynn. And that was saying something.

Leyton peered at Aidan. “I thought I’d take you along for the ride. You up for it?”

“I assume you’re talkin’ to Aidan,” Max inserted.

“Yeah.” Leyton wanted to tell Max that the whole thing could go sideways easily since he was far too vested in the outcome. No matter how Max felt on the matter, Leyton wasn’t sure he could stand to look into the eyes of the man who’d threatened Ashlynn’s life. At least not without putting a bullet between them.

“I’m game,” Aidan offered, though he didn’t look happy about it.

“Good.”

While Max’s end of the line remained silent, Leyton glanced at Jase. He had to hand it to him; he was handling the situation well. Last night, when he’d relayed the details to Jase and Ashlynn, Leyton had been somewhat surprised by Jase’s unfiltered reaction. He understood it, but he was still surprised. Considering Leyton’s rank in the organization, questioning him wasn’t the way to do things.

However, questioning Max would likely result in some physical damage, so he was glad Jase chose to stand there and listen.

“I’ve got a meeting with Erik Roberts,” Ashlynn informed them.

Her brother spoke up again. “Shit. I forgot about that. You need to keep that meeting, Ash. Now more than ever.”

Leyton saw Jase move out of the corner of his eye. He turned toward him and shook his head. Jase could not confront Max, no matter how much he disagreed. As it was, Leyton didn’t agree that she needed to go meet with Roberts, but informing Max—especially in front of this particular group—was simply not going to happen.

“I want more security on you, though,” Max added. “More than just Jase, Teddy, and Leo.”

“Who do you suggest?” Ashlynn asked.

“Leyton,” Max stated. “Which means you’ll have Sal and Rock as well.”

“What about—?”

Before Leyton could get the question out, Max said, “Shit. Moroso.”

Exactly. Leyton didn’t speak the word aloud, though.

“Why is that meeting important?” Victor asked.

“With Roberts?” Ashlynn got to her feet and moved closer to the phone.

“Yeah,” Victor confirmed.

“Erik Roberts is the presiding judge for the Court of Criminal Appeals for Dallas County,” Madison explained.

“He’s under our thumb?” Victor didn’t seem to be speaking to anyone in particular.

“For the past three years, yeah,” Ashlynn noted. “With this visit, I mean to ensure he’s not havin’ any concerns in understanding where we stand on a few issues.”

Max spoke again. “Judge Roberts has been known to battle with his conscience from time to time.”

“I think it’s in the water,” Ashlynn muttered.

Leyton coughed when Ashlynn’s amused gaze slid to him, and he was suddenly grateful that Max wasn’t there in the room with them.

Holy fuck. The woman was going to be the death of him.

Max either ignored the comment or didn’t get it, because he continued, “Following up with Roberts, especially now, is critical. Moroso’s younger brother has an upcoming appeal. We’ll use it to our advantage. Ensure Roberts knows it’s denied.”

“I’m goin’ with you,” Leyton told Ashlynn. There was no way he was going to allow her to go without him. Not at this point. “We’ll head over now.”

And that way, Leyton could still follow through with the meeting with Moroso. Provided the asshole actually showed, since he hadn’t been too thrilled that he had to deal with Leyton instead of Max.

Not that Leyton could blame him. There was a good chance that meeting wasn’t going to end well. Especially not for Moroso.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Could it get any worse than this?

Bored—not to mention irritated beyond belief—didn’t even begin to describe Jase’s current mood. For the past hour, he had stood at the back of the overly decorated room in Judge Erik Roberts’s gaudy mansion, pretending not to pay attention to the conversation taking place in front of him while he fingered the trigger on his Sig, keeping his eye on every way in and out of that single room.

Usually he didn’t mind listening to Ashlynn handle her business, as this was par for the course, but this guy had officially gotten on Jase’s last nerve. Roberts—sixty-five if he was a day—had spent half the time whining and bitching like a petulant child, complaining to Ashlynn that he couldn’t do this anymore. Whatever this was.

“I can’t keep doin’ this, Ms. Adorite,” Roberts repeated, sounding like one of those used vinyl records his mother had favored when he was small, including the irritating crackling of his voice.

Fucking hell. He was doing it again, and Jase wanted to pick up the vase sitting on the table beside him and chunk it across the room, aiming directly for Roberts’s head.

Ashlynn crossed one long leg over the other. “As I said, Erik, we need you.”

Roberts didn’t appear convinced. “This is too much,” he reiterated. “You’ve screwed up my life.”

Ashlynn didn’t seem at all happy about that statement. “I think you handled that part all on your own.”

The judge got to his feet and started pacing the room. Leyton went for his gun at the same time Jase lifted his.

That earned them both a glare from Ashlynn.

“But I’m clean,” Roberts insisted, wearing away the thick Berber carpet as he moved back and forth, back and forth.

Ashlynn reached for her purse, then retrieved her phone. She tapped the screen a few times, then held it up for Roberts to see. “I’d have to disagree, Erik. I think you’d like me to believe that, but the pictures don’t lie. That sure looks like coke you’re snortin’ up your nose.”

“Shit.” The judge glanced into the next room, seemingly worried that someone would hear. Made Jase wonder who was there.

Jase had seen the pictures of Roberts, knew that they showed him snorting to his heart’s content, so he understood the man’s reaction.

“It’s just…” Roberts spun on his heel, went in the opposite direction. “Someone’s gonna…”

Jesus.

Could the guy just spit it out already?

“Sit,” Ashlynn commanded. “My boys have itchy trigger fingers, and it makes ’em nervous when you do that.”

The judge flopped down in the chair, running his fingers through his thinning gray hair. “I can’t do this,” he mumbled again.

Not once since they’d been there had the judge stated what he had an actual problem with, but Jase could fill in the blanks. Four years ago, by a pure stroke of luck, it was brought to Ashlynn’s attention that the Place Six judge for the Court of Criminal Appeals had a slight drug problem. Always looking for a stronghold, it’d been Ashlynn’s idea to set Roberts up, bust him with a rather impressive purchase of cocaine, but only once he’d snorted the shit. Using his drug habit as leverage had only been the tip of the iceberg, though.

After doing some digging, they’d learned of the judge’s shady past, one he’d thought he had hidden well. Unfortunately for Roberts, it wasn’t that easy. So, using him to their advantage, the Adorites had started blackmailing Roberts. To hear Ashlynn tell it, they had quite the need for a man in his position, especially when it came to the incarceration status of their enemies. Now, the Adorites merely exploited their relationship with the judge when it was necessary to get one of their adversaries to bend to their will.

But again, the judge had been working to find the straight and narrow path he’d clearly strayed from years ago—or so he wanted Ashlynn to believe.

“You can do this,” Ashlynn said reassuringly. “And you will.” Ashlynn was quite persuasive, but today, Jase wasn’t feeling it.

He wanted to get Ashlynn out of there. Now.

Although Leyton was within a few feet of Ashlynn, Jase didn’t like the itchy feeling he had about them being there. There were four enforcers outside, keeping an eye on things, and two more circling the area in the armored Escalades just as a precaution. Jase still wasn’t sure that was enough.

This meeting had been planned for at least two weeks, and they didn’t know who else might be aware of it. If Tony had been in the know, then it meant Moroso likely knew, as well, because the slimy weasel had apparently been divulging secrets. If Moroso really was after Ashlynn, what would stop him from having his hired guns show up there? They’d only changed the timeline by a little more than an hour, so it would be pretty damn easy to take her out, along with the judge, if they so chose. Which, in the end, would prove more beneficial to Moroso than he probably even realized.

A woman’s voice sounded from the other room, and the judge abruptly got to his feet. “That’s my wife. She can’t know about this.”

“I’ll take that as my cue to go then,” Ashlynn said with a smile as she got to her feet. “Am I gonna need to make any more house calls?”

Roberts shook his head, then peered over his shoulder.

“Good.”

Leyton placed his hand on the small of Ashlynn’s back and followed her toward the door.

“Oh, and one more thing,” Ashlynn said, turning to face Roberts.

“What’s that?”

“You’ve got an appeal coming up. Dennis Moroso.”

“Yeah?”

“It’s denied.”

“I c-can’t d-do that,” Roberts stuttered.

“You can and you will. Otherwise, they’ll be mourning your death and filling your vacant seat in the very near future.” Her tone was so matter-of-fact it sent a chill down Jase’s spine.

Ashlynn and Leyton passed Jase on their way to the door. He kept his eye on Roberts as he backed out of the room behind them. He scanned the foyer, up the stairs, everywhere someone could surprise them from, but thankfully, they didn’t encounter anyone else on their way out.

Rock was sitting in the idling Cadillac CTS-V just outside the front door, and within seconds, they had Ashlynn inside.

“Where to, boss?” Rock asked, looking back at them from the rearview mirror.

“Take the long way back to my place,” Ashlynn said, though the question had been directed at Leyton. “Oh, and Rock?”

“Yes?”

“Keep your eyes on the road. Anything you hear is of no concern to you. Understood?”

Jase couldn’t see Rock’s mouth in the mirror, but he could tell by the man’s eyes that he was smiling. “Absolutely.”

She had effectively piqued Leyton’s curiosity, because his eyes widened as he waited for her to explain. The smile she gifted them with was one Jase was very familiar with. She had a dark, devious side, and she enjoyed pushing people to do things they didn’t necessarily want to do. Or, in this case, they didn’t think they wanted to do.

Ashlynn reached for the button on Jase’s jeans, causing him to suck in a breath as she grazed his dick with the side of her hand. She was sitting between him and Leyton in the backseat, so she didn’t have far to reach. He wasn’t sure what she had in mind, but considering they didn’t have a lot of room to maneuver—as it was, his knees were damn near in his face—this was sure to get interesting if Leyton didn’t put a halt to it now.

Jase glanced at Leyton. As much as he wanted this to happen, one of them had to be vigilant. Ashlynn’s life was on the line, and allowing her naughty side loose right now—as tempting as that might be—wasn’t an option.

“No,” Leyton barked, his hand coming down to cover Ashlynn’s, both resting atop Jase’s now growing erection, causing his blood pressure to soar. “We’re not doin’ this.”

“Oh, but we are,” Ashlynn assured him.

“Not here,” Leyton added, his eyes hard.

“Fine,” Ashlynn conceded. “Rock, nix the scenic route, please.”

Leyton’s voice lowered so that only the three of them would hear him. “Ashlynn, you’re gonna get me killed.”

“Oh, quit bein’ so dramatic,” she mumbled, turning her attention to Leyton after giving Jase’s leg a pat.

Jase watched the interaction. A smile formed when Ashlynn stared at Leyton until he finally relented, his shoulders relaxing as he leaned back into the seat. But he didn’t get far before Ashlynn had Leyton’s face in her hands and her mouth crushed to his.

Just when Jase thought Leyton would panic, pull away, possibly pretend that the kiss hadn’t actually happened, the man surprised the hell out of him. Leyton’s arm slid around Ashlynn’s shoulders as he pulled her close, kissing her as though his life depended on it.

Jase had always known that the man would eventually reach his breaking point. He had to wonder if today was that day.

Realizing where they were and what his role was supposed to be, Jase immediately turned his attention back to the scenery outside the window, scanning their surroundings, making sure everything was kosher.

Once he was satisfied, he met Rock’s curious gaze in the rearview mirror, nodded once, and prayed like hell the man could get them back to Ashlynn’s as soon as fucking possible.