Ashlynn nodded to Snarly.

“No! Wait!”

“I’m sorry,” Ashlynn said, her tone lacking any remorse. “You had your chance. I thought you had more respect for me than that, Tony.”

Ashlynn walked toward Leyton, taking his arm as he opened the door for her. Without a single glance back, they walked out of the room together, leaving Tony behind, screaming at the top of his lungs, but the sound was quickly cut off even before the door closed on the soundproofed room once again.

Call him a glutton for punishment or whatever, but Leyton didn’t pull away from Ashlynn even as they joined Jase and Rock, heading back to the main entrance. From the outside looking in, she appeared confident and completely unfazed by the incident, but Leyton could feel her hand tremble as she gently squeezed his arm, and he wasn’t sure he could’ve let her go even if Max had been there.

He knew what her actions cost her every time she had to endure another encounter with some asshole who thought he could railroad her. Unlike Leyton, Ashlynn did have some compassion deep inside. But Ashlynn was the type of woman who made sure her business associates knew not to fuck with her, a quality he’d come to respect over the years.

Leyton was almost grateful that Tony hadn’t spilled his guts, because taking off a finger wasn’t a pleasant sight, but it was something Ashlynn insisted on doing herself. At least this way, she could walk away and leave the dirty work to Snarly, who would no doubt get the information and take care of Tony, without ever batting an eyelash.

As they approached the armored Escalades parked out front, Leyton remained beside Ashlynn until they reached the passenger door. Rock and Jase were right behind them, neither man deviating from his post at their back.

“You okay?” Leyton asked softly, opening the door for her as she passed her knife over to Jase.

Ashlynn nodded, then looked up at him. For a second, he was lost in her beauty, mesmerized by the vulnerability he detected beneath that tough outer shell. She was, without a doubt, the only woman Leyton had ever allowed himself to love. It was a stupid emotion, something he didn’t particularly agree with, but he’d never been able to deny it.

“I’ll be fine,” she said, but her shaky hand belied her words. “Where are you headed now?”

“Devil’s Playground,” he told her. He had business to attend to there, more so now that Max was out of pocket.

“Thank you,” she whispered, easing into the seat.

“I didn’t do anything,” he said with a smirk. “You get all the credit for this one.”

“I’m still grateful you were there. I always feel safer when you are.”

Leyton wasn’t sure what to do with that information. Rather than ask, he pulled back and waited for her to get situated. Once she was, he closed the door behind her, turning to Jase.

“Take care of her,” he told the other man.

“I will. Always.”

That familiar spark of jealousy ignited in his gut. He wasn’t sure if he was jealous that Jase was the one who took care of Ashlynn or that Ashlynn was the one Jase turned to. Leyton had been torn for so long about what he felt for these two, but never more than he was now.

Locking eyes with Jase momentarily, Leyton studied him, then nodded before walking away.

He had no other choice, because anything else would likely get him killed.

Chapter Sixteen

No, I don’t want to think right now.

After leaving the warehouse, Ashlynn didn’t bother to tell Jase where to take her. He already knew that she would need some time to herself. So when they pulled into her garage, then allowed the door to close behind them, she let out a sigh of relief.

It was good to be home.

Visiting the warehouse—which was nothing more than a metal building centered on ten acres of land and guarded by two local cops who Max paid handsomely to look the other way—was something she never looked forward to. Regardless of the reason, it never turned out well and only put a dent in her mood. Not that she cared one way or the other what happened to Tony. Truth was, she had never liked him. The little fat bastard had always treated her as though she were beneath him, usually insisting that he talk to Max if he didn’t agree with something she’d said. Fortunately, Max didn’t play that way. He backed her regardless, and through the years, Tony had been forced to deal with her.

Despite her distaste for him, it was rather unfortunate that Tony had to die today. It meant more work for her, because she would have to find someone else to handle the shipments he’d been moving for the past three years. But she’d had to make an example out of him. For the last few months, he’d started running his mouth, insisting that he was moving up in the organization. Not true at all, but Ashlynn had managed to overlook it.

Until the last shipment had disappeared.

Five hundred grand was now twisting in the wind somewhere. She could only hope that Snarly would manage to get the information from Tony before he did whatever it was he did.

When Jase opened the door for her, Ashlynn climbed down and went directly into the house, greeted by Derrick Malone, Jase’s older brother, who was responsible for keeping an eye on the house while they were away.

“All good here?” she asked, stopping to smile up at him.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Ashlynn liked Derrick, although she didn’t know him all that well. He’d started working for her nearly six months ago—after Jase had mentioned his brother was seeking employment after being laid off from a mechanic shop in the area. Still single at thirty-two, with no personal attachments other than their mother, Ashlynn hadn’t seen any reason not to hire him. If Jase vouched for him, she considered him worthy. Sure, Derrick had quite the troubled past, but in her line of work, that wasn’t shocking. Rap sheets were long within their organization.

“Have you eaten yet?” she asked when Jase joined them.

“No, ma’am.”

“Good. I’ll have Cowboy make enough for everyone. Can you let Leo and Teddy know?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Ashlynn had long since asked Derrick not to call her ma’am, but apparently his appreciation for the job wouldn’t allow him to call her anything else, so she had learned to let it go.

Jase placed his hand at the small of her back, and Ashlynn continued into the house. The slight touch soothed her in a way she needed at the moment. Still shaken up from dealing with Tony, Ashlynn would’ve preferred Jase wrap his arms around her and hold her tight, but for now, this would have to do.

Her thoughts drifted to Leyton.

What she wouldn’t give for Leyton to let go of his denial and simply hold her, to chase away some of the ice that filled her veins. As it was, Leyton had seen through her tough façade, noticed the slight slip of her composure back at the warehouse. She’d been shaken up, and though it was usually fairly easy to mask that reaction, it was clear Leyton had been concerned about her. She’d seen it in his eyes earlier, he’d wanted to take her in his arms, but his loyalty wouldn’t allow him to cross that line.

When Ashlynn entered the kitchen, Cowboy greeted her in that thick Texas drawl that she found highly entertaining, “Hey, sugar.” His smile revealed a chipped front tooth and a missing upper lateral incisor, making him look sinister. She allowed him to plant a kiss on her cheek as he moved around with ease, never stopping his preparations.

Simon “Cowboy” Rhodes had been working for Ashlynn since she’d moved out of her parents’ house at sixteen, shortly after Max and Leyton had moved out. Cowboy had started out as an enforcer, but after she’d learned that he was quite adept in the kitchen and preferred to be there, they’d agreed that would be his place. At thirty-nine and divorced, with a bitchy ex-wife and two children still in high school, Cowboy spent most of his time there. He had his own room, came and went as he pleased, but more often than not, Ashlynn knew she could find him right there at the cutting board, working on something that would make her mouth water.