Heavenly Virtues

Part 52

The morning came faster then Ashley thought it would with the sun peaking through the shut curtains in Mary's apartment. The boys hadn't called, as Ashley looked at the answering machine with no messages on it, that became apparent. "Coffee?" She heard from the kitchen, sitting up and rubbing her eyes she nodded, hoping it would do something for the slight nausea that was hitting her this morning. Although, she didn't know where it came from. Either the little one in her tummy or the nerves that wracked her whole body with the lack of knowledge about where the boys were.

Mary handed her the hot cup and smiled. "We're heading out soon." Ashley took a hurried sip of coffee and took to the bathroom to change back into her clothes from yesterday, she'd have to go back to the apartment and put together a long term bag for Mary's place.

After not too long, the two were packed up for their separate days ahead and off to Rocco's. He would walk mary to work, and if the boys weren't there, he'd help Ashley look for them. Ashley and Mary had slept in after their late night, and it was nearing lunch soon when the two got to Rocco's apartment. They entered through the back door that was always left ajar and headed for the elevator.

The twos conversation was quickly forgotten as the elevator doors opened to Rocco's floor, and his voice boomed through the hallways. They looked at each other in shock before hurrying down the hall to his apartment where the door sat wide open.

"I CANT BUY A PACK OF SMOKES WITHOUT RUNNIN INTO NINE GUYS YOU'VE FUCKED!" Ashley felt her breath catch in her throat as she took in the scene. Donna and some woman crying on the couch as Rocco fumbled with a gun he had just had pointed at the woman's head.

It wasn't long til Ashley's eyes wandered to her boys, standing there just watching as Rocco scared the poor woman half to death. Ashley opened her mouth to say something, anything about what she had just seen from one of her best friends, but Mary beat her to it.

"Roc?" Her voice was weak and confused, much like Ashley thought hers would sound like if she had been the one talking. Rocco turned quick, gun still cocked but not pointed at the anyone. Ashley saw the crazed look in his eye before he saw Mary. Ashley could see in his face when he recognized Mary as his features softened. "Mary?"

Ashley watched as Mary took in the scene. Donna, sitting in Rocco's apartment like that's where she belonged, the gun still firmly held by Rocco, the apartment torn apart. Rocco stumbled over his words, desperately trying to find a way to explain away what she had just seen but fell short and then there was a silence that came over the room, only interrupted by the sobs of the high women on the couch.

"W—who are you?" Mary asked with hurt in her voice. "Love?" Ashley pulled her eyes from the two to look at Murphy and Connor, stood there with wide eyes. Ashley couldn't deal with them now, not yet. She quickly pulled her attention from the boys and back to Mary who was backing away from Rocco and headed back toward the door.

"If you just let me explain." Rocco pleaded with worried eyes. "No. Rocco. No" Mary shook her head frantically before turning for the door. Ashley let her pass but took up the entirety of the doorway after so Rocco couldn't get past and talk to her. Mary needed to absorb what she saw, process it without Rocco's input yet. Rocco gave her a look that questioned what she was doing, Ashley wondered for only a split second if Rocco would hurt her but quickly dismissed the thought as Rocco backed down.

Ashley heard the elevator doors shut and moved into the apartment, shutting the door behind her. Silence came over the apartment again before she turned to the two women on the couch, still traumatized by Rocco's actions. "Donna. Get out of here." Ashley sighed and watched the two scramble to their feet and make a hasty get away.

When the door slammed behind them Ashley turned back to the three men in front of her. And through her hands up from her sides. "What the fuck?" "Lass–" "No." Ashley held up her hand. "First, you two didn't call. You have to run this weird last minute, out of the blue errand, and then your gone? You just disappear?" She didn't let them start before she turned to Rocco "and why the fuck do you have a gun? Better question. Why the fuck were you pointing a gun at them." She gestured to the door where the women had just left from. She again, didn't let him answer before she continued.