ASH'S LIFE

Who she is

Chapter 2

I drop to my butt and slide forward at the first man, kicking him in the groin. He goes down and I immediately snap him up as the second bullet hits him in the chest.

That's the problem with using a human as a bullet shield.

They become heavy when hit.

I'm practically dragging him as I lunge forward. I lift my gun and aim for the other man's face and fire. Once he falls down like a log of wood, I let go of the second man who's like dead weight, watching as he spasms, once, twice, then stops moving.

Satisfied, I walk away from him and towards the girl who recoils in fear as I approach. I follow the line of her eyes, realizing she's staring at the gun still in my hand. "You're scared of this?"

She nods and I put the safety of and put it back in the waistband of my jeans. Her hopeful eyes latch onto mine and she smiles tremulously. "Thank you."

"Uh huh!" I nod, then pick up the gag from the ground and push it right back into her mouth. Her eyes go big and round, right before I foist her onto my shoulders. She's light weight, barely weighs anything.

I feel her struggling but I don't break my stride as I begin walking away from the harbor. I get to my car and tap the boot. Walter, my driver, hops out immediately. He doesn't break his stride, neither does he look surprised when he sees me carrying a girl that's bound hand and foot, across my shoulder. He's paid to keep quiet, plus he knows if he squeals, he's a goner.

He opens the boot and I dump the girl unceremoniously inside. Her eyes can't get any larger as she stares up at me. Fear shines, like a beacon, in her big blue eyes. That's right, little girl, you should be very scared of me. "Enjoy the ride, kid." I wink at her and tap the bonnet, watching as it slides close. 

Once I get into the car, I press a button and the divider slides down. "Walter, take me to Stardust.

"Right away, sir." He replies immediately.

I sink back into the leather seat and close my eyes. It feels like sand is trapped inside them.

You're just tired, you son of a bitch.

I hear a thud come from the boot and smile grimly. As Walter drives, the thuds increase, coupled with muffled sounds. I close my eyes, needing something to distract me. Once I open them again, my eyes fall on the red wine still idling inside the ice bucket.

Wasting no time, I open it and take a glass. By the time we pull up in front of my club, I'm nicely buzzed. My chest swells when I take in Stardust's lit up sign on the two -story building. An investment that has turned out quite nicely. The car doesn't slow down, but passes a long line of people waiting to enter inside the club. Walter drives into an underground car park set aside for only me. I open the door and come down, same time as he does.

"Bring out the girl and follow me." He says nothing except to nod.

I walk to my private lift and press the button and it slides open immediately. Walter steps inside with the still-struggling girl and I ignore them both. I'm feeling the beginnings of a headache. All I want is some shut eye but I need to take care of business first. Unwarranted business. My eyes slide to the girl once more. She's deathly still now. So still, she looks deceptively dead with her hands hanging limply off Walter's shoulder.