The Bid

Chapter Four

"Ash get up. We have to go. It's time."

I hear my brothers voice calling me out of my deep sleep. I sit up, too fast, wincing in pain before I look at him.

He's holding my bag and wearing a somber expression. I know this is hard for him and I don't know what I'm going to do without him at all.

He's always been there for me when he could be.

"Let me get dressed and I'll meet you downstairs."

He nods and exits my room without another word but I can tell he's holding it all in. Just the same as I am.

I throw on some comfortable clothes, just a pair of black leggings and a hoodie I stole from Teagan. My long hair in lose French braids down the back of my head on each side, a style my mother used to put me in that seems to bring me comfort even now.

"Aisling!" I hear my father shout from the foyer.

Quickly I grab my blade and slip it into the holster on my upper thigh, secured in place under my leggings and I walk out. Not one final glance at the room that's been my personal hell.

With every ounce of strength I have, I straighten myself up and put on a mask to hide the pain I'm in. At no point today can I let it fall, no one can see.

I make haste down the steps and meet my brother at the door, not looking once at my father who is clearly pissed off.

"We will be late." He snaps.

"They will wait." I go out the front door and load into the all blacked out SUV, nodding to Declan who is our driver for the day.

Once everyone else is inside we head off towards the private airport that's about an hour away. The car enveloped in an eerie silence until my father decides to speak up.

"You best be minding your manners Aisling because if they send you back to me and you ruin this...well you should already know what will happen."

Yeah, he will kill me.

I see my brothers fist clench on the seat next to me and I just shake my head for him to let it go.

"I won't be sent back." I say firmly.

With that he goes back to silence towards me, typing on his phone or taking calls. I chat quietly with Teagan until we arrive and the jet comes into view.

Fully geared up armed guards line the tarmac next to the jet in traditional gangster style. Men and their power trips.

I roll my eyes as the car comes to a stop but I don't get out yet. I'm hit with a wave of nerves that makes my uneasiness turn into nausea.

So far the only people I see are the guards and what looks to be an air hostess at the top of the steps next to the entrance of the jet.

Very few times have I ever come in contact with the Sharpe brothers and it was never one on one. My interactions were strictly during the times they would rarely show up to an annual meeting or event my father was having.

Much like the other families, stand ins were sent in their place or no one at all in their case which my father took as a personal insult.

But despite all that, they have a reputation.

The sound of the car door opening pulls me from my thoughts. I look out to see Declan standing there with my bag and my brother off to his side with a half smile that I can tell is fake.

I slide out of the seat and plant my feet on the ground, holding in the groan that tries to escape as my side brushes against the seat and edge of the door.