When There Is Nothing Left But Love

I am highly acquainted with this gesture from having witnessed it many times. Abe was reaching for his gun.

I glanced toward Ashton in desperation. He seemed to be looking for someone. His haughty expression kept people from approaching him.

“Mr. Abe, you…”

“Shut up!” He glared at me.

I was frightened into silence. Why is Ashton here? I thought. What is he doing here?

Was he looking for me?

No one would know about my disappearance from the country if Savini did not speak. Even if he did know and was out to look for me, how did he end up here?

Query after query raced through my mind, but the most pressing one was Abe’s intentions towards Ashton.

Abe grabbed my wrist and brought my attention back to the present. I was here as bait.

“Don’t startle him,” Abe muttered into his earpiece. “Let’s see how many men he has with him.”

After giving the order, he was dragging me along toward Ashton’s table.

“Mr. Fuller, what a coincidence!” he said with feigned surprise.

We locked eyes. I was at a loss for words with the sudden twist of events.

Joseph looked as stunned as I felt. For as long as I’ve known him, I have never seen him like this before. His eyes widened in shock at the sight of me.

as I

Ashton and composed himself in an instant. “I’m well, how do you do.”

Ashton said, with an inscrutably calm

an unpredictable nature, while the other looked calm and mild-mannered, but had ferocious

I began to grasp

intended to

his purpose in bringing me along was to use me as a human shield if things got ugly. But it didn’t

Abe

Abe asked briskly. He detested

Traveling to this part of the world had taken its toll on

Abe, why don’t you introduce the lady?” Ashton said with a

Abe leered at

didn’t seem interested in an elaboration regarding

shot a glance at Joseph, who placed the

do you want

I are old friends. I trust that the goods

and gave me a meaningful look. I understood

had told me to

a fraction of a

down on top of mine. The familiar touch and warmth of it shook

in return, shouldn’t he?” Ashton said as he loosened his grasp on my hand but

tried to withdraw my hand but Ashton kept the

you’re always cautious.” Abe