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The woman heaved a sigh, and to me, it seemed one of relief. Then she turned and practically ran out of the room, moving so fast that I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it myself. And it made me wonder how unpleasant Ashmore’s “incentives” were that they could inspire such stealth. Made me want to give Ashmore a few of my own.
Ashmore looked back toward me, his eyes narrowing briefly before his features softened into that slimy expression that seemed his default.
“It wouldn’t have been a problem,” he said, seeming to feel compelled to not let the point go.
I stayed silent, not interested in explaining that being here was a concession I’d only given out of respect to his father and mine, but that discussing my business in front of an outsider, a woman no less, would never happen.
“One hundred per week, correct?” I said, turning back to the matter at hand.
He nodded rapidly, head bobbing like one of those dolls. “Same for you as the other clans. Drop it off Friday, and I’ll have the clean cash to you by Monday, minus my cut of course.”
“Of course,” I said and then went silent, waiting. It didn’t take long for Ashmore to continue his pitch.
“And that doesn’t have to be the only element of our relationship. I can clean as much cash as you need, and if the volume increases, I’d be happy to give you a discount.”
He paused, expression expectant like I should be excited about the opportunity to let him get his tentacles further into my affairs. Unlikely. I didn’t want to work with him at all, but for peace and for honor, I would.
He nodded again, his brown hair flopping against his forehead with the vehemence of the motion. “Like I said, whatever you need. I like to think of myself as full-service, a lifestyle provider if you will, and I’ll go that extra mile for important clients like you. Drugs. Women. Men. Problems you need taken care of. I can handle any of that for you. I know a man of your…status is in the spotlight, but if you need some discreet personal attention, I’m one call away.”
He smiled again and the anger that had been simmering in my gut rose into my throat. I wouldn’t entrust one cent more of my money than was necessary to keep peace on the streets. And his offer? The very suggestion that there was something he could give me that I couldn’t get myself was laughable.
“So whatever you need,” he repeated.
Then a devious gleam lit his eye, and he smiled bright.
“Get your ass back in here,” he called over his shoulder.
The woman materialized in a split second, which stoked my anger even higher. The purpose of sending her away was so that she wouldn’t be privy to our conversation, yet she’d shown up in an instant, proof she’d heard every word. She walked to Ashmore, stood meekly at his side.
“You like her?” he asked, resting his hand on the woman’s wide hip and then stroking her lewdly. “She’s not much to look at, but she does okay when she’s dressed up. Lots of padding, especially on that ass”—he punctuated his words with a slap on said ass—“but she can take a pounding. And her pussy stays tight.”
He stood then, and the woman lowered her eyes, but she didn’t shrink away or otherwise show the disgust I knew she must have felt. She even remained still when Ashmore roughly grabbed her chin and put his thumb between her full, pillowy lips.
“And she sucks cock better than anyone I’ve ever had.”
He regarded the woman with a glare that was both dismissive and possessive, one even I found somewhat unnerving. But she stayed stock-still. I did too, but only barely. I tried to remind myself I was here for peace, that this woman wasn’t mine or one of my clan’s, wasn’t worth the trouble that interfering would cause.
“Hey, if you want, she can suck you off.” Ashmore brightened as if he’d just come up with the most brilliant idea. “Yeah,” he said, nodding enthusiastically, “you should let her. She’ll swallow every drop. Or you can come on her tits if you want. Not on her face, though.”
I stood, somehow managing to move slowly even though the anger in my throat now pounded at my temple, testing my control. The woman looked at me then, her eyes widening ever so slightly when she did, though her body stayed rigid. She was afraid. Of Ashmore, of me probably, and that had the corners of my vision going white with rage.
“Of course,” he continued, voice turning coy, “I’d have to watch. Make sure you don’t try to take things too far.”
As if he could stop me if I wanted to. As if I had to take things from women when they were freely offered. As if I were a victimizing piece of garbage like him.
I stared at him, not moving, though the urge to knock all of the teeth out of his mouth boiled inside me. I couldn’t place the source of my rage, had seen women treated worse. But something about her roused my sympathy. Or maybe it wasn’t her. Maybe it was the fact that Ashmore had control over anyone, let alone someone who was powerless against him. Someone who couldn’t fight back, who didn’t have the ability to end him without thought or consequence, something the rage that had my vision clouded almost compelled me to do.
I had no illusions about who I was, where I stood, which was why men like him bothered me so. He was scum. I’d known him for less than twenty minutes and I knew that. He was lower than dirt, and he had no idea. Thought that his ties elevated him. Thought that whatever power he had over defenseless women like her made him something.
In that instant, I decided I was going to disabuse him of that notion, end his life if it came to that.
“Wait a second. I’m treating you like some banger off the corner. But I know you’re an important man, a powerful one, and I’d like us to be friends.”
The rage that sparked at that suggestion had me taking a step toward him. She flinched, the movement slight but enough that I noticed. Ashmore did not, and instead he stared at me, his eyes gleaming conspiratorially. “I’ve never offered this, but if you want, you can fuck her.”
The woman reacted even more strongly then, inhaling sharply, but just as quickly going placid. It seemed Ashmore still didn’t notice, for he watched me, his eyes gleaming even brighter. I exhaled, a sense of purpose beating back the rage, pulled myself to my full height, and then walked to where they stood, towering over him and the woman both. A glance at her showed that she watched me, but I turned my attention to him and stared down at him until he blinked.
“I keep her,” I said after a long moment.
