RESIDENT EVIL • Assignment Ashley: Rescue Condor One (RE4)

Wrecked

Leon's POV:

I watched them skid to a halt, their bike's front tire useless mess of rubber and metal. I stood there, my gun trained on the guy with Ashley, my heart pounding from the adrenaline of the chase.

"Step away from her," I called out to him, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. I glanced back at Ashely, to ensure she was safe and unharmed by the sudden stop. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she seemed alright.

Thank God.

"Leon?" Ashely's voice wavered, a mix of relief and confusion.

I glared at the guy with her, sizing him up. He was tall and lean, with a rugged, street-hardened look about him. His dark hair was tousled from the ride, and his piercing eyes flashed with defiance. Despite the rough exterior, there was a sharp intelligence in his gaze that suggested he was more than what he displayed. He was a fighter—no, he was a survivor. His clothes were practical, meant for blending into the cityscape, but the way he carried himself screamed military training or something similar.

I didn't like him one bit.

"Didn't you hear me the first time?" I unlocked the gun's safety, making my point clear.

He stood his ground, his hands clenched into fists. He was scrutinizing me, too. The scar on his lip twitched as he dared me to make a move. The atmosphere became tense as we braced for action.

Ashely stepped forward, placing herself between us before things could escalate. "Leon, it's not what you think. He's with me."

I kept my aim at him, but my focus shifted to her. Her blonde hair was tangled and matted, streaked with grime. Her clothes were dusty, evidence of a rough ordeal. A streak of dirt ran down her cheek, and her face was pale, framed by the look of exhaustion.

"Are you okay?" I asked her, taking in her disheveled appearance.

She nodded. "I am now." Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she quickly added, "Um, this is—"

"Screw introductions," the guy scoffed. "What you should be asking him is how he found us."

I shot him a cold glare. "I have my ways. Would you like a demonstration?"

"Yeah, well, your ways better not put us in more danger. We almost crashed, and fuck you for destroying the tire of my bike," he snapped.

A loud honk from a passing truck reminded me we were still in the middle of the intersection. The driver leaned out of the window, flipping us off and yelling for us to get out of the way.

Great, forever a victim of road rage.

Ashley squeezed the guy's arm to calm him down. "Let's move off the road. We can talk in the parking lot of that motel." She gestured toward a nearby sign.

My eyes flicked between the two. The way Ashely interacted with him suggested familiarity and trust that ruled out kidnapping. A pang of jealousy twisted in my gut, but I pushed it aside. Reluctantly, I lowered my gun, though the lingering sense of distrust toward him remained. Whoever he was, I wasn't letting my guard down.

Ashley glanced at the ruined bike. "Help me move it," she said, gesturing for the guy to help.

With a sigh, I bent down to grip the handlebars and dangled my keys in front of her face. "You take my bike to the lot. I've seen you handle a crane; I'm sure you can manage this. I'll handle the wrecked one."

Ashley hesitated before taking the keys, a small smile tugging at her lips despite the tension. "Just try not to kill each other," she said with a nod before heading towards my bike.

The guy cleared his throat loudly. "Done staring? We've got a bike to move."

I turned to him, giving a curt nod. He and I pushed the wrecked bike to the side of the road, the metal screeching against the gravel. As we worked, I could feel his cold glare on me. I met his stare head on.

He has jet black hair. Thinking back, the staff member I saw pursuing Ashely at the charity ball had the same dark hair and purposeful stride. At the time, it had sparked my suspicion. Now, I'm seeing him again with Ashley... What's his connection to her, and where did he take her tonight?

After we were done with the task, I asked, "Hey, you, what's your name?" as we walked toward the motel.

He didn't respond, just kept his eyes forward and his pace steady. His shoulders were tense; I knew he heard my question. Irritation prickled at me, but I held back for now.

His mime performance won't keep me from finding out what I need to know.

We reached the parking lot, the dim morning light casting long shadows around us. Ashely parked the bike and waited for us to join her, her eyes darting anxiously between Aaron and me.

"Cut to the chase," I said, breaking the silence. "What's your connection to Ashley, and where did you take her tonight?"

He crossed his arms, clearly annoyed. "That's none of your business."

Stubborn motherfucker.

"It is," I replied. "Give me one good reason I shouldn't put you behind bars for kidnapping the President's daughter in the middle of the night and dragging her to an unsafe location."

Ashely interjected again, her expression grim. "I came out here by choice. Leon, please—"

"No need to plead to him, Ash," the guy cut in, his tone sharp. "Your father's guard dogs will never understand that you are more than just a President's daughter. They'll never see you as anything but a girl wrapped in a political package."

Leave it to this son of a bitch to sidestep every question and take a cheap shot.

"That's not fair," Ashely said, shaking her head. "Leon may be doing his job, but it's not about some political agenda."

At least she sees me more than just a pawn in her father's world.

"You're right. I guess that makes me particularly well-trained for sniffing out assholes," I retorted. Grabbing his collar, I shoved him against the chain-linked fence. "I saw you follow her at the ball as well, if you were staff then, what role are you playing now?"

"Leon, let him go!"

The guy chuckled, his tone laced with mockery. "Not bad, Mr. Kennedy. But you might want to rethink your approach. You wouldn't want to make a scene in front of my girlfriend, would you?"

Girlfriend? What?

I froze, my grip on his collar loosening. "What are you talking about?"

I turned to Ashely, my thoughts racing. Her eyes widened, a mix of shock and disbelief.

The guy shifted his gaze to her, offering a reassuring smile. "It's okay, Ash. Let's stop pretending. Time to clear the air."

This was the last thing on my bingo card.

"You said you would give me a chance to explain myself," he continued. "So, why don't you let me go?"

I reluctantly released him. The guy straightened, brushing off his collar with an air of casual confidence. Extending his hand toward me, he said "Let me start by introducing myself, my name is Luis—Ashley's boyfriend."