Chapter 25: Chapter 25
ASHLEY
She fixed a smile on her face, as she shook the woman's outstretched hand. Maybe she was overthinking things. The woman might be harmless but then again Ashley would have known about it if she was.
" I'm Elena, it's nice to meet you." Ashley dropped her hand back to her side but the smile on her face was there.
" Hmm. Jake was telling me earlier that you are his bodyguard. How long have you been working for him?"
" Just a couple of months." She replied, shifting uneasily on her feet. Ashley couldn't read the woman and it irked her. The only other person who ever made her feel that uncomfortable was the master.
"And was what I witnessed in the kitchen earlier part of the job description?" Darla asked as she adjusted herself on the sofa she was now sitting on. Her eyes still piercing through her.
Ashley on the other hand prayed silently that her face wasn't red from embarrassment. She threw a pleading glance at Jake, willing him to help her before she dissolved from how hot she felt.
"That's none of your business aunt Darla. Please focus on the problem at hand." Jake and Darla stared at each other for a while, having a silent conversation before Darla nodded and sat back.
"Fine. If that's how you want it, I won't ask her anything, for now. Now tell me the reason you've been searching for me." Darla asked, the mood in the room turning serious.
Jake cleared his throat and gestured for them to take their seat. Ashley was still in the dark about some things and she was going to interrogate Jake later but for now, she was going to go along with whatever it was that was going on.
Jake quickly filled Darla in on what was going on, deliberately leaving some things out. Maybe they weren't as close as she thought they were, she thought.
" Are you trying to tell me you've been looking into your sister's disappearance and that you think she was kidnapped by a shady organization? And you've been keeping all these from me?" Darla sat up straighter glaring at Jake who was trying to avoid eye contact with her.
" Yes, and I didn't want to bother you with it since I was handling it on my own," Jake replied daring to match his gaze with hers.
" And I can see what a fine job you've done on your own." She mocked him, still giving him the death glare before sighing, freeing the poor man from squirming on his seat.
"How can I help you then and what is this organization you've been yapping about?" Elena's ears perked up at the question, hoping desperately not to hear the words that came out of Jake's mouth next.
" They call themselves the Canary and that's where you come in. I need to know everything you know about them, who they work with or for, and who they are, Darla." Jake scooted forward on his seat, becoming serious while Ashley completely froze up.
He knew! How much did he know? Does he know about the master? About her? Thoughts swirled in her head, her palms becoming sweaty.
She glanced at Jake and when she didn't notice anything strange with him, she relaxed a little bit but then, she felt another pair of eyes at the side of her head and she turned her head, locking gazes with Mike. His brows furrowed slightly, studying her for a moment and she willed her expression to be blank. She couldn't afford to let anyone know how much she was panicking.
" Are you okay Elena?" Mike asked causing the others to pause their conversation to glance her way.
" Is something wrong Elena?" Jake asked with worry in his voice.
" I'm fine. The arm was bothering me a little that's all." Ashley replied with a shaky smile trying to divert everyone from paying attention to her. There was so much pressure she could take and her heart couldn't take it when Jake looked at her that way.
Thankfully, they continued their conversation and Ashely sighed in relief oblivious to Darla's lingering gaze on her.
" Why would you think I know anything about the Canary?" Darla questioned resuming the conversation.
" Aunt please, we both know you have connections to every crime unit in the country." Jake berated calling his aunt's bluff.
" Not all. I don't deal with the likes of the Canary. Their acts are too brutal for me." Drama replied scrunching her nose in distaste.
" What do you classify as brutal Aunt? We both know your side of business can't exactly be placed under the law so explain please? " If it were another subject they were discussing, she would have found their banter hilarious but Ashley was dying to know what the woman knew, knowing a lot was at stake over it.
" Well genius, the Canary deals with human trafficking and smuggling arms as we all know but what you don't know is that they're also an organization of assassins," Darla revealed.
Jake and Mike exchanged confused glances while Ashley closed her eyes in defeat. If she knew that much then she must surely know about her. At least she got to spend a little time with him, she thought.
Ashley opened her eyes and braced herself for Darla to expose her.
" I mean that the Carnary kidnaps children and trains them to become hired killers." Darla explained leaving the two guys' jaws to slacken.
" You mean Audrey was.." Jake whispered brokenly. Ashley forced herself to sit still as he held his head with both hands his shoulders shaking slightly and it was all she could do not to fall at his knees to beg for forgiveness.
Mike stood up and stormed into the kitchen, sounds of glass shattering reverberated throughout the room. Ashley stood up to go after him when Jake held her back.
" Let him be Elena, his sister too was taken and all this while all efforts made to search for her were made only to find out she might not even be alive. Just give him a second alone."
Ashley took a step back as those words hit her. Mike's sister was kidnapped too? Did she know her? Beat her when she tried to escape? Ashley's mind reeled with those thoughts.
She couldn't take it anymore. Her hands were shaking violently as she tried to blink back the tears that were threatening to fall. How much more would she have to bear? She had to stop keeping things from then. There was no way she could stay happy with Jake while her sins stayed uncovered. Why did she have to fall in love? She didn't deserve it. She didn't deserve anything.
" E-Excuse me. I-I have to use the restroom." Ashley ran, escaping into her room.
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