Page 50 of Between Steel and Secrets
I’ve got a bit of trouble written under my skin.
Ashton finishes his lunch and scoots his chair back. I grab my bag and follow him, tossing our trash out on the way out of the dining hall. “Your dad has it out for me.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, walking alongside Ashton as he escorts me to my next class.
“I’m dating his daughter. If I fuck up anything in your life, he’ll kill me.”
I grab his hand and stop walking. We still have plenty of time until the next class. “Has he threatened you?”
“He doesn’t like me, Nova. That’s threat enough.”
“Maybe he just hasn’t gotten the opportunity to know you like I do,” I say, trying to reason with Ashton.
“I’m fucking his daughter.” Ashton stares at me seriously. “He’s an overbearing, protective father who worries about his daughter. I don’t blame him, but I’m certainly not having family dinners at your parents’ house.”
What he isn’t saying aloud is that my father is mafia. That’s the reason he’s most afraid.
“Never?” I ask, surprised. “You’ll never have dinner at my parents’ house?”
I wish I’d known Dad was aware of my relationship with Ashton. I would have invited Ashton to stay for dinner and get to know my parents better.
Why had he kept it from me? Not only Ashton, but my father as well?
“When was the last time you had dinner with your parents?” he asks.
It’s been months.
He tugs my hand to keep walking so we’re not late.
“That’s beside the point. I’m not having dinner there because Harper and Zeke aren’t invited. I’m boycotting their family dinners. Luca is also my family, and if they can’t accept Harper and Zeke, then I’m not showing up.”
As I approach the old stone building, Ashton grabs my other hand, pulling me against him. His breath teases my lips apart.
I lean in, wanting to kiss him when he asks, “Do you think Harper would betray the family again?”
My brow pinches, curious why he’s asking me that question.
I pull back slightly, stunned. “I don’t know. I’m surprised she went to the police in the first place. You’d have to ask Luca that question. Why?”
“Come on, you’re one of her best friends. She doesn’t talk to you about this stuff?” Ashton’s question makes my heart turn to ice.
He’s not asking out of concern for her.
A breezy gust of autumn air whips past me and I shiver. Dropping Ashton’s hands, I take a step back. “Dante asked you to spy on Harper, didn’t he?”
Twelve
Ashton
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to Nova that I’m tasked with keeping a close eye on Harper. It’s been that way since she stumbled into the basement nearly a year ago.
I haven’t exactly announced that I’m keeping tabs on her for Dante.
Why would I do that?
It’s easier to gain her trust and report back to him anything problematic, which hadn’t been much until the recent incident with her running off to the police station.
She hasn’t spoken about it to me, and Luca seems to have forgiven her.
