“You did?”
“Yeah, he said we should wait a few days before dealing with Isabella to see where her loyalties lie. I’m not unhappy about that. Don’t think I can take any more revelations right now.”
Ash had been through a lot. I didn’t blame her. And I approved of Viktor’s plan. Isabella might run back to Frank so biding our time before Ash saw her would be the safer option.
“And… he also said he’s watching all of you.”
I raised an eyebrow. Viktor keeping an eye on us didn’t come as a surprise. The man was nothing if not thorough. He conducted business with ruthless efficiency. It’s what made him a powerful and rich man. He didn’t suffer fools lightly as far as I was aware. And we were all involved with his daughter.
“All of us?”
“I think he knows about us.”
I wasn’t sure how he would know, but he was a shrewd man. Perhaps he put two and two together. As long as he kept out of it, it wouldn’t be a problem. It had been his daughter’s decision to pursue all four of us. It’d been very empowering for her to make a decision that was solely her own when she’d had so little choice in her life. Besides, we all needed each other. That much had become clear over the past few months.
“Did he ask you about it?”
“No, just implied he knew… I get the feeling he genuinely cares about me, you know, not like Frank who only cares about how he can use me. I feel respected like he knows I’m an adult and can make my own choices. I guess I’ll have to see how it goes, but I would like a relationship with him. Like a real one. Maybe when everything is settled and we’re no longer fighting against Frank, I can have a real dad who isn’t trying to control my life.”
Her optimism over Viktor made my heart ache. The girl hadn’t really had a good parental figure in her life. I hoped as much as she did Viktor would be the father she deserved.
“I hope we can trust him.”
“Me too.”
She looked down at her hands as if she didn’t feel as though she could hope for anything good in her life. Ash had suffered as much as shit as we had despite coming from privilege. Just goes to show even when you have money and power, it doesn’t mean you have it easy. Not when behind closed doors, you live with a monster.
She didn’t have to worry about going back to that life. She had the four of us now and we’d keep her safe. We’d give her happiness and a future. I hoped anyway. If we won the war, then we could stop watching our backs so much. We could just live. Ash could be free. I was pretty sure deep down that’s all she wanted.
I reached out and took her arm, pulling her towards me. Leaning down, my lips brushed against the shell of her ear.
“Thank you, little girl,” I whispered.
“For what?”
“How patient you’ve been with Rory. How you’re helping him. I didn’t see it before, but you’re exactly what he needs. One of the things I admire the most about you is your capacity to love and care for those around you.”
My eyes flicked to Rory who was watching us, but I knew he couldn’t hear what I was saying to her.
“We’re all so lucky to have you.”
And I meant that from the bottom of my heart. Ash was worth all the shit we’d gone through since taking her.
“Take care of my best friend for me. He deserves to be loved even if he thinks he doesn’t. Even if he tries to push you away, don’t stop trying to get through to him. He’s worth the effort.”
Her hand slid up my chest, pressing against my heart.
“Never stop being you, little girl.”
I ran my fingers over the necklace I’d given her.
“I love you.”
She let out a breath, pressing her face into mine.
“I love you too, Quinn.”
I stepped back, giving Rory a significant look before I stroked her face and smiled. She went up on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I’ll always take care of him.”
I knew she would, which is why I felt safe walking away and leaving the two of them alone. Ash knew what she was doing when it came to him. I’d been worried before but seeing the way Rory’s eyes shone when he looked at Ash made me realise just how much they needed each other. And I would never stand in the way of the girl I loved and my best friend’s happiness.
Chapter 7
Despite Quinn having calmed down about the Julian situation this morning, we were still no closer to a resolution. I felt responsible for putting us in this position and I completely understood why Quinn had been so annoyed yesterday. He’d literally been fighting his whole life to keep us safe. He’d asked us to do one thing. Keep Ash safe at the hospital. We hadn’t done that. And then I’d put her in even more danger by having to submit to Julian’s fucking blackmail. That man was the bane of my life. Yet if I cut him off now, I could risk everything. So yeah, I felt like complete crap as I trudged upstairs to my room with Eric on my heels.
I’d spent last night with my face smashed against his chest because I couldn’t stand the thought of
