Max clapped Leyton on the back. “You’ve got a job, but more than that, you’re part of this family. Don’t doubt that for one second. If you think you can handle Ashlynn, more power to you. If you hurt her…”

Leyton smiled. Max knew he didn’t need to complete that thought.

“Is that why you came over here? To ask me if you could date my sister?”

The smirk on Leyton’s face widened. “Partially, yes.” His expression turned serious. “But also to let you know that I’m meetin’ with Moroso tomorrow. I told him it was his last chance.”

“What’d he say?”

“He agreed, but I’m not sure what I’m gonna walk into. If for some reason this doesn’t go well, I…” Leyton’s eyes dropped to the floor. “I wanna know that you’ll make sure Ashlynn’s safe.”

Okay, so if there had been any doubt in his mind that Leyton loved Ashlynn, there wasn’t now.

“You have nothin’ to worry about,” Max assured him. “On either front. Let me reach out to Moroso. It’s time to put an end to this shit. I’m not waitin’ till tomorrow. We’ll meet with him tonight.”

“I’m not sayin’ I can’t handle it,” Leyton protested. “It’s just… Remember how you felt when I told you Samuel put a contract out on Courtney?”

Max didn’t want to remember that day. He’d never felt so much hatred for a single person as he had that day. His own father had threatened the life of the woman he loved. It was a feeling he would never forget. Rather than answer, he nodded.

“I’m not sure I can look him in the eye without putting a bullet in his head.”

“Understood.” Max turned away from Leyton. “Which is why I’m gonna settle this once and for all. And if a bullet needs to be delivered”—Max turned back—“then I’ll make sure you get to do the honors.”

Leyton’s somber expression didn’t change as he said, “I’d appreciate that.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Enough is enough.

One year ago

Jase glanced over at Ashlynn, watching as she offered the dickhead she was talking to a cheeky grin. He wanted to punch the asshole, to lay him out and kick the shit out of him until he was a squirming bloody mess.

The emotions she evoked in him were excessive. But he had to think he’d done a damn fine job of holding them at bay for the past two fucking years, watching her, waiting for her to come around, only to find her indulging in some other prick rather than coming to him. He knew she was interested, had seen the way she looked at him when she thought he wasn’t watching. But Ashlynn was nothing if not stubborn. Since that one night they’d spent together, she’d made sure to keep a considerable distance between them.

He downed what was left of his water, still eyeing her when he saw the man she’d been talking to walk away, saying something in her ear before he did.

Unable to resist, Jase was at her side as soon as the guy had slipped down the hall that led to the bathrooms.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yep,” she said with a brilliant smile. She cocked her head slightly. “His name’s Carlos. He’s comin’ back.”

Jase wasn’t sure he could stand to see her with another guy, no matter what his fucking name was. He was tired of watching her try to soothe her soul with sex, using random men to avoid having to feel anything at all.

“Are you jealous?” Ashlynn blurted, surprising him.

He hadn’t realized he’d been glaring back at her until she called him on it. Figuring it didn’t matter what he said, she wouldn’t believe him either way, he kept his mouth shut.

“You are.” She laughed. “Would you prefer to be the one fucking me tonight?”

Jase didn’t think she expected a response, but he gave her one anyway. “Yeah. I’d prefer I’m the one fucking you every night.”

Her eyes widened, and he could tell she didn’t know what to say to that. Instead of letting her come back with some biting retort, he stepped closer, crowding her against the wall. He leaned down, his mouth hovering directly above hers.

There were people everywhere, all around them. Dancing, laughing, having a good time, and Jase was thinking about nothing other than sliding her skirt up and burying his dick in the tight warmth of her body.

If she’d let him.

“It was good,” he told her. “And you know it was.”

For the past two years, Ashlynn had pretended that nothing had happened between them, and Jase hadn’t confronted her about it. He’d gone about his business, doing his job and acting as though it didn’t bother him. But it did.

That night with her… It’d been the best sex of his entire fucking life. And he was pretty sure it’d been the same for her. During the twenty-four months since, he’d had the displeasure of watching her from time to time, stumbling upon her when he didn’t mean to only to find some bastard burying his dick in her. It was a wonder he hadn’t killed anyone at this point.

“It’s been awhile,” Ashlynn said, her gaze hard. “I can’t seem to remember.”

A possessive growl rumbled up from his chest, and he leaned into her, letting his lips caress hers. “I call bullshit. You remember exactly what it was like when I was buried balls deep in you. When I was pounding your pussy and when I was nailing your ass.”

A shiver raced through her, and Jase knew she was lying. She remembered it, all right.

“So what’d’ya say? Wanna go again?” He wasn’t sure quite why he was pushing the issue, other than the fact he didn’t want Carlos to be the one between her sweet thighs tonight.

“Under one condition,” she said, setting her glass down on the table beside her.

“What’s that?”

“You have to fuck me right here.” Her eyes trailed over to the people around them. “With all these people here.”

“You think I won’t?” he asked, pushing up against her, allowing her to feel the rock-hard length of his dick against her abdomen.

“I never figured you for being an exhibitionist.”

“If it means I get to drive my dick into that sweet pussy, I’m all for it,” he whispered, his eyes still locked with hers.

“Do you have a condom?”

“Of course.”

“Then what’re you waitin’ for?”

Jase didn’t waste any more time talking. Crushing his mouth to hers, he inhaled her moan. Her fingers yanked his shirt out from his jeans, her hands then sliding up under it to caress his back. They were smooth and cool against his overheated skin.

“You sure you want this?” he asked when he pulled back for air.

“Scared?” she taunted.

He narrowed his eyes on her. “Take my dick out.”

Keeping their bodies close, Jase knew that people couldn’t see exactly what they were doing, although they’d likely have an idea if they looked close enough. But he honestly didn’t give a shit about that. Hell, he’d be happy to prop her up on the fucking bar and bury his tongue in her pussy if that was what she wanted. He wasn’t shy.

Ashlynn’s fingers fumbled with his jeans while he retrieved the condom from his wallet. By the time she had him in her hand, he was rolling the latex over the head of his dick with her help. Less than a minute later, he had her panties pushed to the side and was sliding into the slick depths of her body.

Heaven. Pure fucking heaven.

She groaned, her fingernails once again slicing into his skin as she raked them over his back. With his mouth against her ear, he rolled his hips forward, going deeper into her.

“I know you remember,” he mumbled against her ear. “You remember how fucking good it felt when I was buried inside you just like this. Tell me, Ash.”