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.

you?” I blurted, as I leaned forward to

at Ashton and composed himself in an instant. “I’m

Ashton said, with an inscrutably calm

two men were of similar height. One had a calm and stable aura that hid an unpredictable nature, while

sat down; I meekly next to Abe. I began to grasp faintly at Abe’s master

obvious that he intended

along was to use me as a human shield if things got ugly. But it didn’t seem as simple as

Abe

did you bring it?” Abe asked

hidden within his rugged brows. Traveling to this part of the world had taken

Ashton said with a

Abe

but didn’t seem interested in an

at Joseph, who placed the black briefcase on

you want to inspect the goods

are old friends. I

to me and gave me

Dante had told me to seize

fraction of a second and reached out to grab

slammed down on top of mine. The familiar touch

rush? Mr. Abe should allow us to inspect the goods in return, shouldn’t he?” Ashton said as he loosened his grasp on my hand but did not let go, as if he stole the opportunity

tried to withdraw my hand but Ashton kept the

Fuller, you’re always cautious.”