Page 36 of Twisted Truth

“Isn’t that, like, a big legal problem?”

“For anyone else, yes. But not for Asher. That’s what he was just explaining. Olsen is the Chief of Police. Asher will inform him of what he’s doing and make sure the police look the other way, and then he’ll buy the department some equipment they need.”

Matthew says it all so nonchalantly that I just sit, blinking in disbelief.

“Do things like this go on a lot?” I finally ask.

“No. Asher isn’t one for law breaking. But he knows Olsen very well.”

“Let’s go,” Asher says. He walks toward me and holds out his hand. I take it, and he helps me stand. “You stay next to me or Robert the entire time, understood? The others will pack your things.”

“Asher, we don’t have to do this.”

“Everyone out,” Asher says. His voice is barely louder than a whisper, but it doesn’t matter. Within seconds, the office is cleared.

Asher looks down at me. “I know I just told you that I wanted you to make the decision and that I didn’t want to force your hand, but it looks as though fate has made up its own mind. Every minute more people around the world are seeing your face, reading your name, and connecting you with me. Your life is already in upheaval without us meaning for it to happen. And the best person to protect you from that upheaval is me. And that starts now. Because now that I have it in my mind that you’re almost guaranteed to say yes, I won’t back down. When I want something, I get it. Always.”

My stomach flutters at his words. Then it leaps into a frenzy as he steps even closer until there isn’t an inch of space between us and he brushes his thumb reassuringly over the back of my hand. His blue eyes pierce me with an intensity I’ve never experienced before.

“I take care of the things that are mine, Ella. No one fucks with me or mine.”

11

ELLA

We pull up to Kyle’s building, and I’m a mess of nerves.

“You are not to leave my side,” Asher says for probably the fourth time. “And Robert will stay near the two of us. The rest of the team will pack.”

“If there’s anything left to pack.”

His eyes blaze. “There’d better be, or I will destroy his life.”

I swallow hard. I may not have known Asher for very long, but I know that wasn’t an empty threat. His brothers, Declan and Sterling, are with us in the car and have been not so subtly looking back and forth between Asher and me the whole way here. I can’t tell if they’re concerned or curious. But they stay silent.

The four of us wait in the car while the rest of the security team works to get inside the building since I don’t have my keys with me. How they do it, I don’t know, but soon the doors open and the team files inside. Then the four of us, plus Robert, follow them in.

Asher calls Chief Olsen as we ride the elevator up and explains what he’s doing.

“That is breaking and entering,” Chief Olsen grumbles over the speaker. Asher’s keeping him on speaker so he can hear firsthand everything that’s going on.

“Ella lived here. Her ex didn’t allow her to put her name on the lease, but she lived here for nearly two years. He’s locked her out for over a month and denied her the ability to pack her things. That’s theft.”

They argue back and forth before Asher finally throws down the gauntlet. “I’m not asking permission,” he growls. “I’m alerting you to the situation out of respect. I can pull my funding from your stations if you’d rather that.”

“Fucking hell, Langford. You can’t just do whatever you want.”

“Today, I am.”

Chief Olsen grumbles something else unintelligible.

“This is hardly major criminal activity. Plus, I’ll sweeten the deal. You make sure we’re clear on everything, and not only will I not pull my funding, but I’ll also throw in some cars. At the last police gala, you let me know that three of your stations needed cars. How does a dozen sound?”

“Fine,” Chief Olsen snaps. “But you’d better do this straight. Not one fucking mistake!”

“I have my best security officers with me. They don’t make mistakes.”

The elevatordings, and we step out. My throat tightens immediately as I think about the last time I was here. How Kyle was threatening and violent. The realization hits me of how bad it could have been and how lucky I am that I got away before his mood shifted again and he hurt me even further. I start to shake. It’s ridiculous, irrational. I’m here with plenty of help and protection. And yet, I can’t force my mind to push away the fear.