Page 95 of Consuming Logan

Ava’s skin crawled. Why would Logan’s former best friend take her and Monique?

Ash tilted his head, regarding her. “Do you believe in destiny, Ava? Or the power of competition allowing the best man to win?”

Ash glanced from her to a quivering Monique. In the corner of an expensive-looking cream sofa, she sat, knees pulled up to her chest. Music, low, but too loud for a place like this could be heard over Monique’s head. Terror shone in the teen’s watery brown eyes. There was a side door along the wall behind the sofa. Yes, the suite had the option of combining with the adjacent room to create a two-bedroom apartment. Who was next door? Could it be someone who could help them?

Ava tried to move, but a sharp pain shot through her abdomen and she froze. Had she somehow injured the babies?

“True destiny doesn’t involve hurting innocent people or harming children, Ash.”

He regarded Monique. “Even if it serves a greater purpose?”

Ava didn’t like the satisfied gleam in his eyes. Putting steel in her voice, she demanded, “Why did you take Monique?”

Ash started to grin. Seriously?

“You’re both safe, for now,” Ash said running a finger down Ava’s cheek. “I promised to wait until Logan arrives.”

Stillness encompassed the penthouse for a moment, Ava refused to let him see her fear. After the attack she’d been so afraid. Ava didn’t think it possible to be more frightened than the moment she recognized a blade was headed for her belly. She was wrong.

Ash drew his fist back again. Ava refused to flinch. He smiled.

“So, you’re a tough girl now? My Brooke was fearless too. Did Logan tell you how he took my woman and child from me?”

Ava’s breath caught. So, she’d guessed correctly. Ash was the father of Brooke’s child.

She shook her head. It wasn’t a lie. Ava would never give him any power over her or Logan. He would not weaponize their love.

“I knew Logan would keep his secrets. But.” Ash laughed. “I know your secret, Ava.”

She stared. The man who’d greeted her every morning was insane. The flash of madness colored his gray eyes a dark shade of billowy smoke, the plume widening with every action.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“What you did in college,” he taunted. “You’re a naughty girl.”

Ava’s eyes widened in shock, and then a ball of fear, hot and burning, deposited in her stomach. Steeling her spine, she shoved it away. She glanced at Monique not wanting her to witness what could happen next. Ash must have read the concern on Ava’s face because his lips twisted in delight.

“Ash,” she said, prepared to beg if she had to. Another blow landed on her cheek. With a snap, Ava’s head torqued at a sharp angle. Pain, explosive and paralyzing shot through her cheek. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.

“That’s what you like, isn’t it? You want a man to be rough.”

She felt the lid crack on her old fears. Images of Marcus’s large hand striking out, his fingers closing around her neck. Instinctively she wanted to curl in on herself, blocking out the pain. No, no, no. Something inside her rejected the urge to emotional flee. She had to fight. For herself. For her unborn babies. And for Monique. With the back of her hand, Ava wiped her lip. Blood covered her knuckles. The cut from her time with Marcus had burst opened.

“Don’t touch me,” she hissed.

Ash laughed. The sound, harsh with menace, sent a chill down her spine. A squeak from the opposite corner of the room drew her attention.

“I’d try not to upset him, stupid.” Kylie Rivers, the journalist from the Shell Cove Courier, called out from the executive chair behind a clear glass desk artfully placed in front of the high-arched windows. Ava had thought the chair empty.

Ash pointed a gun at Ava. His kindness had all been an act.

“Stand up and take your clothes off.”

Please, God, don’t let him do this. Not in front of Monique. Exhaling her fears, Ava pulled herself up to stand. Meeting Ash’s lust-filled gaze, she spit the blood from her mouth at his feet.

“No.”

His eye’s narrowed at her unexpected defiance. Oh, there was more in store. Ava had no doubt he’d kill her and Monique. In fact, she could see he looked forward to the moment when he ended her life.