Page 93 of Ash Storm

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Ash

Ash lay in bed beside Reka, listening to her soft breaths and those cute, gentle snores that she probably didn’t realize she was making.

Watching her sleep was quickly becoming a favorite activity of his.

Not that Ash was going to be getting any sleep tonight. His mind was busy turning around everything that had happened.

When he’d walked in and seen Reka staring at his laptop, his whole world had collapsed on him. He’d never expected he’d get the chance to tell her everything, that she would listen, and that she would stand by him.

But she had.

She’d stood by him and asked nothing in return.

He turned to the second issue keeping him awake.

Afsan.

Ash hadn’t missed the look in Reka’s eyes or the quiver in her mouth when Rogue had mentioned the tycoon. And he wanted to kill Afsan with his bare fists, for putting that fear in her eyes.

Maybe you’ll get your chance.

His hands tingled as he thought of smashing his fists in Afsan’s face. It’d been a long time since he’d looked forward to something this much.

Moving slowly, so as not to wake Reka, Ash stood up. He was already wearing his jeans and T-shirt, so all he had to do was grab his boots, which he put on out in the hallway, on his way to the staircase.

He needed some air, and there was one door that wasn’t alarmed at night, because nobody could get in that way—the door to the rooftop terrace.

He pushed the door open and breathed deep. The cool night air was tinged with a harsher smell.

Cigarette smoke.

Rogue stood with his back to him, facing the city of Zurich. The red tip of a cigarette glowed in his hand.

Ash was about to retreat when Rogue turned around to look at him.

“You couldn’t sleep either, Ash?”

Of the whole team, Ash had always felt closest to Rogue.

Because he’s almost as fucked up as you.

“What are you doing up here, Rogue?”

“I couldn’t sleep,” Rogue said.

Ash waved his hand in the direction of the glowing red tip. “Smoking helps you sleep?”

“No. But there are worse things I could be doing with my free time.”

Ash didn’t inquire. If Rogue wanted him to know more, he would tell him.

“I know why you can’t sleep, though,” Rogue continued.

“Really?”

“You’re still feeling responsible for leaving the woman behind.”

“I am responsible.” It had been his choice to leave Chloe behind. And he’d thought about it a hundred times since then. He couldn’t think of any scenario where he might have gotten to Chloe in time and still been able to get Reka out. But it had still been his choice.

“You’re not, actually.” Rogue turned to look at him. “We all are. Even if you and Griffin were the ones there, we all worked on the op together.”

“If her friend dies, it will kill Reka,” Ash breathed out.

“Maybe you should think of what it would do to her, if she lost you as well, before you go in against Afsan half-cocked, as you seem to want to do.”

Ash struggled against the urge to pound the man’s smug face.

“I’m not going in half-cocked. In fact, I’ve had an idea.”

Rogue chuckled, putting the cigarette out with his boot. He crouched, picking up the cigarette butt and placing it in a Ziploc baggie and in his pocket.

“Why do I get the feeling the rest of us are not going to like this idea of yours?”