Ashlynn sometimes found it amusing that Max had ended up with Courtney. However, since Courtney’s family was in the business of protecting people, they really weren’t much different. From her point of view, Courtney’s family took on the business that came to them, while the Adorites went to the business where it was needed. The only significant difference was that Courtney’s family followed the letter of the law—mostly—and the Adorites didn’t know what that letter even was.
In the years that Ashlynn’s father had been holding the reins, they’d managed to maintain their position as the most ruthless organized crime family in the state of Texas, but when Max was old enough to step up, things had taken a drastic turn for the better. While Samuel had been interested in roughing people up in order to get them to do as he wanted, still old school in so many ways, Max had opted for a different perspective—although he was still known to fuck some people up when necessary. However, unlike Samuel, Max was a businessman, and they’d become quite profitable with the sales of guns, drugs, and yes, whores, all of which went on behind the front of the clubs. Honestly, Max was quite brilliant by choosing to handle his business that way.
Of course, they still had to keep a stronghold on their territory, which required a little blackmail and extortion, but seriously, it was business. Ashlynn didn’t have any preconceived notion when it came to what her family would do to maintain the power they’d worked hard to establish.
After all, she’d learned from the best.
Her father had been cruel with his teachings, forcing her to do things she would’ve otherwise never dreamed of, and only a couple of times, he’d attempted to make her do things she’d refused to do. Thankfully, Max had always been there to watch her back. Despite her out-and-out defiance on rare occasions, somewhere along the way, Ashlynn had convinced Samuel that she was capable of holding her own. And now that he was dead, it was as though a weight had been lifted, allowing her the opportunity to do things the way she wanted, not having to watch over her shoulder, wondering if she would be stabbed in the back by her own father.
That didn’t mean she could show any signs of weakness. She still had to prove to Max that she was worthy.
“Drink?” Jase asked as a waitress walked their way.
“Keep ’em comin’,” she told him.
When the waitress stopped in front of them, Jase ordered for her. Ashlynn was grateful because overindulgence on something was the number one thing on her to-do list for the evening. Unfortunately, she’d been hoping to overindulge on Leyton, but clearly he wasn’t going to show his face, though she knew he was aware she was there. Cameras lined the ceilings, were in every nook, every crevice. There wasn’t a single room—with the exception of Max’s office—that didn’t have a camera. Hell, even the restrooms were monitored, despite what went on in there. Her brother trusted no one, was always looking for leverage, and Ashlynn couldn’t blame him. She trusted a limited few, as well.
“When will Max be back?” Jase inquired as he leaned back on the sofa, his eyes scanning the place intently.
The waitress arrived, handing Ashlynn her drink and disappearing just as quickly. “He said probably two weeks,” she told Jase.
“He’s in Vegas?”
Ashlynn nodded, sipping her mojito and trying to relax. “He mentioned something about another casino. Some sort of financial issue, I think. You know Max, always lookin’ to exploit a weakness. He took Brent and Victor with him.”
“Brent’s actively involved now, huh?”
“Seems to be.” Ashlynn hadn’t expected Brent to ever get on board with the family business, but since their father’s death, he’d taken a keen interest. Max seemed to be relieved to have the help, and Ashlynn knew Brent would be a tremendous asset as long as he could stay focused.
“That’s why Leyton’s here?” Jase questioned.
“Yeah.” Leyton was the second-in-command, and he was responsible for stepping in when Max was out of pocket. The position had been reserved for Brent or Ashlynn, but Brent had made it clear he had no desire to be in charge. As for her, transferring into a role such as that one was not something she was interested in. Not now, not ever. Which was why she’d bypassed the opportunity and recommended Leyton.
“You plannin’ to talk to him?”
Ashlynn peered over at Jase, trying to read what he was thinking but not saying. As usual, his expression was blank. Did she plan to talk to Leyton? If she got the opportunity, she definitely would. What she would say to him, now that was another story.
“Looks like you might not have a choice,” Jase muttered.
Ashlynn scanned the room, looking for Leyton, but that wasn’t who Jase had been referring to. Leyton’s sexy-as-fuck right hand was making his way through the throng of people, his eyes narrowed on her as he approached.
“You’re lookin’ mighty fine tonight,” Rock said by way of greeting. The man was a charmer, and sometimes Ashlynn wondered why no woman had ever snatched him up.
“I could say the same about you,” she told him, allowing her eyes to rake over him slowly. It was no secret that Ashlynn appreciated a fine-looking man, and Rock damn sure didn’t disappoint. His mocha-colored skin covered a phenomenal amount of thick muscles, his ass looked as though you could bounce quarters off it, his smile was quick and sexy, and those dark eyes seemed to see right through her clothes. Oh, and his rough voice… Just hearing him speak made her think about hot, no-holds-barred sex.
Rock was hot, no doubt about it.
“Careful,” Rock said with a naughty grin. “You’ll make me blush. But that’s not why I’m here.” The way Rock’s eyebrows lowered told Ashlynn he was about to make a request and he hoped not to piss her off.
“So what brings you my way?” she asked kindly.
“Leyton wants to see you.”
“In Max’s office?” she inquired, not bothering to get up.
Rock shook his head. “Max’s penthouse.”
An intense flurry of sensation ignited in Ashlynn’s stomach. The idea of being alone with Leyton intrigued her, made her curious as to what he wanted. “Let him know I’ll be there soon,” Ashlynn informed Rock.
The other man knew better than to ask for specifics. Regardless of Leyton’s rank within the organization, Ashlynn had the respect of every person who worked for her family, and she took orders from no one other than Max.
“I’ll let him know.”
Ashlynn had no intention of running when Leyton snapped his fingers. As it was, she didn’t particularly care for the fact that she wanted to see him. She hated the feeling of wanting something she couldn’t have, didn’t want to want anyone. She should’ve been happy with what she had, but for whatever reason, there had always been something missing.
“You all right?” Jase asked, his voice low as he leaned in. “Need another drink?”
Glancing down at her glass, she realized it was empty. Nodding, she smiled at Jase, admiring how intensely attractive he was. With his slightly crooked nose—a result of too much fighting when he was younger—those crystal-blue eyes that glittered when he looked at her … oh, and yes, she couldn’t forget his naughty streak, he could melt the panties off a nun. Women’s heads always turned to Jase, especially when he was dressed like he was tonight—wearing a sexy black suit, crisp white shirt, and a stern expression that made men look away in fear. It didn’t hurt that he was armed and not making an attempt to hide it.
She suddenly wished they were the only two in the VIP room, because her body was craving his. Although getting him to fuck her senseless inside the club with so many people around wasn’t an option anymore due to heightened security, Ashlynn had every intention of taking advantage of him before the night was over.
And she figured her need for him would only be exacerbated once she had to face Leyton and whatever it was he wanted to talk about.
Chapter Ten
Ending it … once and for all.
Thirteen years ago