Into The Fire - E. L. Todd Page 0,89
going to drop it. Now spill it.”
“How would you feel if I made you talk about the things you’ve seen overseas?”
That only soured his mood. “I’ll tell you if you really want to know but it’s going to hurt you. It doesn’t affect me in the least.”
“Well, that’s how I feel about this.”
“This is different.” He was getting red in the face. “My life in the military is over. You’re still doing this god-awful job. Now tell me what happened or I’ll march down to Beautiful Entourage and pester your colleagues until someone fesses up.”
“Why would I tell you when you’re being so insensitive about it?”
“I’m not,” he said quietly. “But I need to know. You’re my woman.”
“I’m not even your girlfriend,” I reminded him. “I’m just some girl you see exclusively.”
He clenched his jaw in irritation.
“So why should I tell you anything? I’m not obligated to do anything.”
“You are my girlfriend.” He held my gaze as he said it. “I don’t like labels or words of commitment, but that’s what you are. The other night, some girl came on to me and I told her I had a girlfriend. There. Are you happy now?”
Actually, yes.
“Now tell me, Alessandra. I’ve got all night.”
He was never going to let this go. “Fine…but you aren’t going to like it.”
“I figured.”
“I was escorting this guy and he seemed perfectly nice. He was a little…unusual. When I asked what the purpose of hiring me was, he didn’t really have an answer. And he never introduced me to friends or family. He just took me out to dinner and the movies.”
Ash bowed his head like he couldn’t handle anything else I might say.
“Do you want me to stop?” I whispered.
“No.”
“He walked me to Beautiful Entourage one evening, and instead of saying goodbye like usual, he tried to kiss me.” I remembered that night vividly. “I pushed him away and told him to back off. Just when I thought he did, he shoved me inside the office and tried to…you know.”
Ash closed his eyes like he was in pain.
I grabbed a stapler off a desk then crushed it against his skull.
“Tell me you killed him,” he blurted.
I shook my head. “I just knocked him out and called the cops.”
“So, nothing else happened?”
“No,” I answered. “But it really shook me up. I’m constantly on my guard and distrustful of every client. You’re the first one that I felt one hundred percent comfortable with.”
He continued to stare at the floor, his lips pressed tightly and his knuckles white. He didn’t say anything but the hostility and rage erupting from him said everything I needed to know.
“Nothing happened so it’s really not a big deal,” I whispered. “I have mace in my purse as well as a taser. I’m always prepared. But I’ve never had a client like that since.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” he asked coldly.
“Yes, actually.”
“Well, it doesn’t,” he snapped. “And I don’t want you working there anymore.”
This was going to lead to another fight. We were finally together but the tension was rising. “I understand your concern, but it’s really fine. I’m not quitting my job.”
He turned to me, his eyes black. “I don’t think you understood me.” His voice was colder than a winter morning. “You. Are. Quitting.”
“You don’t tell me what to do.”
“That’s funny because I think I just did.” He was too far gone to come back. “Not only is this job disrespectful to me, but it’s dangerous for you. What kind of boyfriend would be okay with this? I can promise you none would. Do any of the girls you work with have boyfriends or husbands?”
I hated that my answer was no.
“You needed the money and I understand that but you don’t need it anymore.”
“Actually, I do,” I argued. “How else am I supposed to make rent and buy groceries?”
He waved his hand in front of my face like a jackass. “Hello? Remember me?”
“I’m not taking anything from you.”
“Why the hell not?” he demanded. “I have money. And I’m going to have even more money when the shop is running. I can support you.”
“First, you couldn’t figure out if you wanted to be my boyfriend but now you want me to move in and live off you?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “That doesn’t make any sense, Ash.”
Steam blew out of his nostrils. “I guess all of this is making me realize how much I care about you. I can’t stand the idea of something happening to