Ash: Love Me Harder - Alien Paranormal Romance (14 page)

They were riding in a jeep today. He decided to take the road as he headed towards downtown once again.

“Why downtown?”

“Lots of open areas as well as places and buildings to throw attackers off our scent.”

“Did I choose the right thing?”

“I think so. It’s time to stop being on the defensive. Soon someone innocent will get hurt if we just sat around and did nothing.”

Her frequency buzzed in her ear. She answered it, crinkling her brow.  “Such a shame to hear about your friend.”

Her hand gripped Ash’s forearm before she spoke. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Of course you do. There are no secrets between friends.”

“What do you want?”

“I want you, Brook. A life for a life. “I will call off the order granting your friend a small reprieve, and you will turn yourself over to me.”

“So you can what? Kill me like you ordered your trained assassins to do when I went to the mall or downtown to the point.”

“Those were mistakes that I have since taken care of. Your life will be easy. I have a large mansion over rolling hills. You will live there in comfort, anything you want will be brought in for you. You will live there until you die of old age.”

“As tempting as that sounds, I am going to have to refuse your offer.”

“It is your life and you should really take better care of it, Brook. You do think that man and his friends can really keep you alive, do you?”

She went to disconnect, but Ash made a rolling symbol telling her to keep him talking.

“I’d rather die with him than live with you.” There was a large crash in the background then shouts followed by painful screams.

“You really did not think it would be that easy to capture me, did you? Your wish is my command, Brook. I might not get your money but you will die!” The frequency was cut.

“Lucca was able to pinpoint his position by keying in on you and the call coming in. They called in the human armed forces. They caught the ones with him but he and another managed to get away,” Ash explained.

“First point to him?”

“No, first point to us. We took out several of his men, destroyed one of the places he hides in and he’s on the run.”

They continued on to town. Ash kept his eyes peeled looking for any indication of movement. When he parked, he went to the back of the jeep and pulled out a bag.

“Can you use a gun?”

She shook her head. “That’s what body guards are for.”

He gave her an understanding smile. “When all of this is over I’ll teach you.”

“Really?”

“Really. Don’t you want to learn how to do more than wash dishes, take care of a house, and exit a hover like a pro?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Then next lesson is how to hold a gun.”

She truly was happy, a ball of giddiness jumped around inside of her. If Jaz were here they would jump all over this deserted stretch of road.

He pulled a handle out of his bag there was nothing attached to it. “Come here, Brook.” He took her thumb and pressed it into the handle.

“I just keyed this to your thumb print, you hold it like this.” He wrapped his hand around hers and showed her how to hold it. Then he pressed her thumb down and light poured out of it.

“The person you’re fighting has to be close for this to work but you can cut a man in half with this so be careful. Treat it like a gun. Never turn it on unless you are going to use it.” She nodded her head before she started to practice turning it off and on.

“I don’t think I could kill someone.”

“I don’t want you to get close enough to anyone to even have to consider it, but you’re Created now and that means you have to take care of yourself and the rest of the family. You can’t do that without a weapon.”

She accepted and put the weapon behind the waistband of her jeans. He pulled out weapons and placed them in strategic places in the pants he was wearing. A weapon like the one he gave her went into the waistband of his pants as well as several knives, one in each boot along with a couple in holsters placed on his body.

He was hot. She wanted to strip him down and make love to him. She blushed. She never made love outside. If she came through this, she was going to take him outside of his house and pour honey on his skin. Mmm, honey on honey, she would lick him clean before she rode him like a bull.

“You can kill, if your life depends on it. Remember that.”

She nodded. “Are we leaving the hover here?”

“No, were going to hide it in that crop of trees. I’d rather not lose another vehicle. Dante hasn’t said anything yet about his car being used as a bar-b-cue pit, but someone will be paying for it.”

They got back in the hover. Ash drove into the trees. He placed branches and debris on the hover hiding it from any prying eyes.

“This is the best I can do. If they get to close, they will see it. We walk from here.”

They moved to the side of the road making sure they could be seen but the trees were close at hand to melt into.

“Maybe he won’t come.” The shot of laser fire that swooshed over her head made her words a lie.”

They ran into the woods evading a second blast. Ash pulled her behind a thick tree, one that had to be hundreds of years old maybe even a thousand but she didn’t remember old trees in town.

There was a rustle of leaves on the ground almost inaudible unless you were listening for it. Ash held up a finger to indicate one person. She held her breath afraid to breathe in case she gave away their position.

The assassin walked past them never seeing them. Ash waited until he turned around. A cry of surprise left the assassin’s mouth as he raised his laser gun. Ash threw himself on him, knocking the gun out of his hands. They fought, turning on the ground. The assassin reached for a knife to gut Ash. Ash turned the knife against him causing him to slit his own throat.

Brook threw up her breakfast next to the tree. Without a thought, she reached for the canteen Ash had insisted she wear and rinsed out her mouth.

Ash leaned over to make sure he was dead before he pulled the frequency generator out.

“Ready?” She stood tall and indicated yes.

They left the fallen man and began walking to town. The terrain under the trees was tougher than she thought it would be. It became obvious that this section used to be a part of town. There was no way for her to tell which section, but she could see parts of old buildings crumpled against the ground. Several pieces they ran into were still solidly planted as if wear and weather couldn’t touch the footing which secured them.

Ash helped her scramble up a large hillside. She looked around in awe of the trees as well as the buildings off in the distance.

“I remember when this place was thriving businesses, a school and high rise penthouses. Now its trees and debris. I would never have thought.”

“Places change, Brook and so do people. Not all changes are for the best.”

The sound of bullets hitting the hill in front of them had them sliding down on their rears as fast as they could go.

“Bullets!”

“From that range they have better accuracy than hand held lasers.”

“Will they set down?”

“Only if they have a hover that can touch the ground. I doubt that, but it doesn’t mean that one or two of them won’t repel down. Let’s get going.”

They hadn’t even gotten to downtown proper yet and already they had been tracked and fired on several times. The Patron was determined to kill her. Brook thought of her narrow escape in her first life. If her parents had waited she would have died a long time ago. Now she was here facing the same thing. Maybe she had been meant to die with them. She had delayed her death but not put it off forever. Shrugging off those thoughts, she focused on following Ash and her desire to live.

Ash’s hand on her arm stopped her cold. He placed his finger to his lips before lifting two fingers for her to see and pointing ahead. Two of them had repelled down or there had already been two more on the ground, either way they were ahead of them.

He went down on his stomach and began to crawl slowly, across the ground. She followed him thankful for the jacket she wore. He looked back to make sure she was following. She gave him a quick smile and went back to making her way toward him.

He lifted a hand to halt them and she stopped, feeling tired as she worked muscles she was sure she didn’t possess. He told her to stay still, as he crept to his feet in a lowered position and silently approached the next tree.

“Where are they?” A frustrated voice reached her ears.

“Quiet. You’ll give our position away.” Another voice came her way. This one was more difficult to hear.

“It doesn’t matter, they’re both dead and you know it,” the first voice said in a much lower tone.

“Maybe, but until I see her cold lifeless eyes I don’t want to take chances. Besides I get a vibe from her man that I don’t like.”

Ash pulled out a weapon and got to his knees. He carefully aimed and pulled the trigger. There was a scream, then silence. After that a shocked yell of “Son of a…!” Then nothing.

“I know you’re out there and you’re going to die for that.”

Ash came back to her and helped her to her feet. He pointed to the right which would take them around behind the man who was still living. They crouched low to the ground and moved as silently as possible. She flinched with every footstep she made, wondering why she never practiced walking quietly as a child.

The man was up looking for them. He had a weapon in his hand as he surveyed the land. They were standing behind a huge tree, having moved into place when he turned his back to them to search for a rock Ash had thrown.

She was beginning to realize they had the advantage. These assassins weren’t used to hunting on the ground and the way they acted showed it. This one wasn’t comfortable in the trees; he jumped at the things that didn’t even bother her like the whistling of the wind through the branches.

“Come out!” he screamed. “I know you’re there.”

Ash came into the open holding his weapon high.

“I have a wife, you know.” the assassin said looking at Ash.

“Brook is my mate,” was Ash’s reply.

“I have to kill her or you. The Patron will kill me if I don’t.”

There was no reply from Ash as he waited on the man. The assassin aimed his gun his finger pulling on the trigger. Ash dropped to the ground, raising his laser a stream of red came from the man dropping him to his knees.

“No one touches my mate.”

He turned to look at her and Brook saw the weapon the Created were meant to be.

They walked in silence. No one else jumped out of the silent trees. It wasn’t long before they stood at the edge of the trees looking at downtown proper.

You’re quiet,” she finally said, unable to bear the uncomfortable silence that stretched between them.

“Are you scared?”

“Of you? You’re my big bad Created that would destroy the world to keep me safe, and would do everything in your power to keep me from breaking a nail. No, Ash, I’m not scared, I simply know why your world was sorry to see you go.”

His laughter came out big and booming despite the fact she thought they were supposed to be in stealth mode.

“Quiet.” She brought a finger up to her mouth while whispering furiously.

“No worries, Brook. We are surrounded and compromised, there’s no reason for silence.

He took her hand and they walked further into town. They made it to the middle of the street before Josiah came out. His thick form was the worse for wear. Someone had pushed him around leaving bruises on his body. His clothes were coated with sweat and blood. Those storm grey eyes promised retribution as they swirled with the intensity of the sea.

Brook shook. The Patron wasn’t playing and he didn’t care who he threatened.

“Ash, they want your mate. If you turn her over they are willing to spare everyone else and the Patron will forget the money, they just want her.” He shoved his thumb out in her direction.

“And if I don’t?”

“Nothing goes down easy and everyone is fair game.”

Ash nodded his understanding and met Josiah’s eye’s. Brook watched as they communicated unable to understand what was being said.

“I won’t give her up.”

“I never thought you would. Good luck.”

Josiah threw a quick smile at Brook before he turned smartly on one heel and walked away.

He walked away whistling the tune for the battle at the OK Corral. Brook found she liked Josiah more each time she met him.

“Where do we go now?” she asked when Josiah disappeared into a building.

“We walk away. Maybe scout out a place to take a stand before we are converged upon.”

Ash took her hand, but Brook could already hear the rumbles of people moving in. Closing ranks. Her stomach dropped as she wondered if she was going to make it through this. She looked over at Ash. In the end it mattered but it didn’t, she wouldn’t give up the time she had with him.

He picked up his pace running to the end of the street where there was a half wall they might be able to use for protection.

“I don’t want us trapped in a building, I also don’t want us standing out in the open. This is our best option for now,” he explained as the dived behind the flimsy barrier.

Two men dropped behind them. Ash turned and ran to the fight. They circled him. He used his laser as a sword swinging out. One jumped back, the other lifted a gun behind him. Brook whipped out her weapon without thinking.

Her thumb pressed on the trigger, a white light pouring out of it. She shoved it into the back of the man causing him to fall silently to the ground as Ash took care of the one in front of him.

An angry cry came from in front of their barrier. They were surrounded; there were at least one hundred men out there, all coming for them. Her eyes widened and she hastily said goodbye to Ash.

“I love you, Ash. Always remember that.”

“Tell me tonight, Love. Get behind me.”

They stormed towards them before a scream was heard.

“What’s happening?”

“Reinforcements.”

She could hear the smile in his voice and she knew Dante and his brothers were out there fighting for them.

Twenty men surrounded them.

“You should have taken the deal.”

Brook backed up until her back was close enough to feel the heat rolling off Ash. They weren’t going to make it. She took a deep breath as she accepted her fate. They attacked moving in. No one touched her; they concentrated on Ash. More men joined them seeming to come from nowhere. He lifted his weapons one in each hand cutting through the men in front of him. A shot was fired going through the men and hitting Ash square in the chest.  He went down with a grunt of surprise.

There was a cheer as he hit the ground. Brook screamed running to his side. One of the men gave her an evil smile as he yanked her up and stabbed her in the stomach. She went down with a scream of pain.

Ash roared as his body changed and he stood on powerful legs. His beast went berserk taking on each man. His claws caught and impaled them throwing them into each other. When he was done, no one breathed.

He dropped to his knees by Brook’s side in his beast form reaching for her. His beast receded as he pulled her to him.

“Brook.” Tears fell on her.

“Don’t cry,” she whispered as blood pooled at her lips.

“Don’t talk.”

“I’m not sorry. I just wish I didn’t have to leave you.”

Her breath wheezed in her chest while her eyes closed. She opened them her vision fading. It was a dream after all. The aches and pains she lived a lifetime with were coming back. It had been such a lovely dream.

“Brook.” Dante’s voice tickled her mind.

“I’m dying,” she told him.

“I know, but you don’t have to. I can send you back. Back to your parents, your people, you may be able to escape death there.”

“What does that mean? Will I forget this time with Ash?”

“It will be like you never met him.”

“No.”

“Brook, you could live.”

“I. Don’t. Care. I may as well die, if I won’t have Ash.

“I understand.” Dante took his hand and stopped her heart.

*~*~*~*

“Move it! Move it!” Jazlyn’s voice whipped out.

“You have no authority here.”

“I have twelve days left which means my job is not over until that time is up. I run this department and always have. Get Brook into the regenerator now!”

She had no idea what came over her, all she knew for sure was that her friend wasn’t dying, not on her watch.

Her frequency had gone off. Dante the male that offered her the candy said that Brook was dying. She needed Jaz to help her. They were taking her to the A’rouk medical facility. There wasn’t even a thought; she jumped up, dressed, and called a transport using Brook’s name when they balked at picking up someone like her.

When she got there they were debating on whether to try and save Brook. Debating! She flailed them with her tongue. She worked to control herself as she programed the regenerator. Brook had a fortunate stroke of luck; her heart slowed to the point of almost not beating. It’s what saved her life
.
She slumped against the wall as she waited for the musical beep of the regenerator to let her know that it had done all that was possible.

The sound came, shaking her out of the dark thoughts going through her head. Jerking to stand straight, she began to enter the code that only she knew. Once the door popped slightly open, she swung it wide. Placing special gloves on her hands that came up to her shoulders—the regenerator would destroy healthy skin if it didn’t have a wound to repair—she reached in to pull Brook out. Now it was a waiting game.

She barked out an order to have Brook taken to the room she originally used when she was in the facility. It always amazed her that the room was actually called the Brook room.

Squaring her shoulders, she walked out into the waiting room. She wasn’t looking forward to seeing Ash’s face and telling him it was still touch and go. Shaking her head, she wondered what was going on with her. Maybe this is what happened when the two-week bell was sounded and everything was just about to fade to black. The Jazlyn she bottled up was determined to come out and live—too little, too late.

Look at them, they loved Brook. Ash was standing in front of a window but he was facing the door. Hunched over, every emotion crossed his face for display. There was sorrow and intense grief, then for a moment his face would brighten and his eyes glowed, hope. Not that it lasted long, his face tightened now and his fist clenched, determination.

Being faced with such emotions made her wonder what her life could have been like if things had been different for her. Ash stood as she stepped out from behind the door.

“Brook?” he asked as he crossed the room to her.

“No way to tell. I did everything for her I could, now it’s up to her. As she would say, she has to decide to stay or leave.”

He nodded and ran his hands through his hair. That look was back, the one that tightened his face.

“She’ll stay; I know she will.”

Jaz nodded and looked around the room. The man she met earlier was there. Dante, she repeated his name and shivered. There was something about him that both calmed her and made her feel uneasy at the same time. His very demeanor cried out for a respect she didn’t understand. Those deserving respect in her life were usually evil.

Shaking herself out of her thoughts, she focused on Ash again. “You can go see her if you’d like to.”

He nodded his head and politely held the door open for her. Dante followed also as she led them through the corridors. Sadness swamped her as she realized she had spent her life walking these corridors and it was all about to come to an end.

She stopped in front of the room Brook was in and took a breath before pushing the door open. She looked like she was simply sleeping, if not for the all the equipment hooked up to her and the fact that her beautiful dark skin had no color to it.

“I’ll leave you alone.” She reached out and gave Ash a quick hug, her face flooding with red as she did it. “I know she will decide to stay also.”

She looked back quickly before she swiftly left the room.

*~*~*~*

“I just found her. I can’t lose her.” Ash sat on the side of her bed slipping his hand into hers. He kicked off his shoes and eased his body close to Brook.

“Hold on for a little while longer. This facility is the best in the world. If she can

be helped, the equipment they used will do it. Remember they brought her out of her Cryo sleep, it’s in their best interest to prove their Cyro’s can handle being regenerated and still live up to being tested physically. They want to show the world she is strong in order to be able to bring others out of Cyro sleep.”

Dante gave him a smile and turned the lights off as he left the room.