Page 157 of Ash and Poison

I clenched my fists, breathing through my teeth.

These sick assholes.

The door above creaked, making my body rigid.

I stilled, my breath coming out in rage and relief. She was here. She stepped down the ladder like she owned the dark.

The bitch came here looking for a show, and I’d give her something worth clapping for.

“Holland, are you…” Ellis came to a halt when she saw the macabre art I had left for her. Her husband sprawled on his own blood, naked, bleeding from his male organs—well, minced organs, spiders moving in a frenzied line all over him.

It was glorious to see that look on her face.

He wailed, pathetically low, like a wounded animal when he saw her.

I laughed, shaking my head.

“Hi there, Ellis. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Her eyes narrowed as she took a step back from me, her body tensing.

“You’re good,” she said, her smile vacant. There was no anger in her voice, no fear. She looked like a perfect statue.

“You poisoned the girls. You kept him safe.”

Holland would’ve been caught a lot sooner if it weren’t for this bitch.

“Well…” she trailed off. “I love him.”

She gave a soft tut, and the disgust in her eyes when she looked at him now… said everything.

“You don’t. He loves you, but I don’t think you love him.”

“Is that the psychiatrist talking?” she asked, studying her green nails.

“Yes, but it doesn’t matter whether you love him or not. You’ll both pay for your sins.”

I gripped the knife tighter as she took another step back.

“Well… what do they say? Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight, you--”

Before she could finish, the trap door above the room creaked open again, and Layne jumped in, tackling Ellis to the floor with a shout.

“You fucking bitch.” She pulled Ellis’s blonde hair out of her perfect bun with a snarl. “I’ll make you fucking bald.”

Asher climbed down the rickety ladder, his eyes never leaving mine. I ran to him, and he pulled me in a hug, his body hard and warm around me, and I was finally home.

I sighed, taking in his scent. Warm and soothing. Home-baked cookies.

There would be no home for me without him, either. Even with Layne and Trina… I needed this man.

“Holy fuck, what did you do to him?” Asher whispered, his hands tightening around me.

“Nothing he didn’t deserve. Do you think Riley would love this?”

“She would. She would, Diya. I don’t know how to thank you.” His voice was hoarse. “Thank you.”

He pulled back and pressed a kiss to my lips.