The movie was wonderful, but his nearness distracted Hayley right from the beginning. The kiss had her yearning for more. She wanted to say so many things to him instead of wasting the time watching a movie. If she didn’t stop him now, she never could. Eventually, she would have to leave to attend Sienna’s wedding. What if she didn’t see him again?
After some time, she sighed and turned towards him only to find him staring back at her. “Enjoying yourself?” he asked her, leaning a little towards her.
“No. And you?” He smiled at her honest reply, but slowly shook his head.
“Wanna go somewhere else?” he stretched, eager to get going.
“Yes.” They wrapped up the blanket and closed the trunk space. Climbing back into the car, they drove off, unaware of a pair of jealous eyes following them everywhere they went. This time, Ashton didn’t go anywhere in particular. He turned into a blind lane off the main street and parked his car.
“So, don’t you like movies anymore? You girls were crazy about them once upon a time.” He turned to focus his attention on her.
“We still are, but right now, I’m not in the mood.” Ashton smiled, reaching out to tuck a stray curl behind her ear. The tender touch caused goosebumps to erupt on her skin.
“So what are you in the mood for?” he asked, his gaze dropping to her lips. Hayley licked them nervously, noting the unmistakable desire in his tone. She was sure that he, too, was dying to kiss her again.
“I think you know,” she murmured, holding his gaze.
“I want to hear you say it.” Hayley blushed crimson and looked away from his probing gaze. Within the small confines of the car, she could feel the electrifying attraction mounting between them. Her heart thumped faster to match its level, as if it would burst out of her rib cage. Ashton caught hold of her chin and forced her to look at him.
“Tell me what I’m dying to hear,” he said, unable to hide the desperation in his voice. Yes, he was desperate.
“Don’t go, Ashton. I can’t live without you.” Ashton couldn’t hold himself back any longer. The urge to brand his name on her lips drove him wild. He dipped his head and claimed her lips in another passionate kiss that took her breath away. It was hotter and hungrier than the one they had shared earlier. He bit her lower lip possessively, restless to deepen the kiss.
Hayley opened her mouth to him, feeling his tongue glide into her mouth. It plundered her sweetness, yet it wasn’t enough. His fingers clamped at her nape, holding her head in place while he kissed her like it was his last.
“Kiss me, Hayley,” he ordered against her lips, reclaiming them with an intensity that bowled her mind off. She kissed him with equal fervor, grabbing his cheeks and taking what was rightfully hers. Yes, she had always dreamed of this. Now that she had laid her heart bare before him, she felt a desperate need to brand her touch on his lips. He should feel her love through this kiss. It should be enough to stop him from leaving her.
The kiss turned into a lingering one, as both had no control over themselves. If possible, they could fuse their lips together forever.
Ashton’s phone buzzed with an incoming message, and he grunted with annoyance. Breaking the kiss, they tried to catch their breaths but his phone kept on buzzing with back-to-back messages.
“What the f*ck!” he swore, switching the phone off.
“It could be important, Ashton.” He shook his head, not wanting to deal with anything right now. The sound of tyres screeching around them alerted them.
“F*ck!” swore Ashton, looking through the rear-view mirror to see a car turning into the blind alley they were in. It wasn’t just any car. It was Antonio’s Maserati!
Hayley’s eyes widened with confusion. What was happening? Ashton swerved the car into action, his face tense with fear. She had never seen him so scared in her entire life.
“Tighten your seat belt and grab onto something, Hayley,” he yelled like a maniac. Panicking, Hayley tightened her seat belt and grabbed onto the handle with all her might, petrified by everything happening around her.
Before the car from the opposite could reach them, Ashton sped at breakneck speed, startling them. Taking advantage of the chaos, he sped as fast as he could with the car tailing them.
“Let’s go to the police station, Ashton,” yelled Hayley, her face pale with fear. A traffic patrol car started following them and Ashton drove straight to the police station and stopped right in front of it.
Ashton grabbed her hand and pulled her into the police station just in time to see Antonio’s car rush past them.
They were safe now. The traffic patrol car too stopped and a grim officer emerged to give them a ticket for speeding. For the next few minutes, they filed an FIR against Antonio’s car. It was the same Maserati, and they had no problem convincing the cops. A police patrol car guided them all the way to Hayley’s house, but Hayley didn’t want to leave him and go. She remembered the last time she had left, and he was abducted.
“Don’t worry. This time, the cops are there to protect me. Go home, Hayley. I’ll see you again.”
Hayley leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
“I’ll wait for your call forever, Ashton. Stay safe, please, for my sake.” Ashton smiled, touching her cheek tenderly.
“I will. You too take care. Don’t go anywhere alone, not even to work.” Hayley nodded and left while Ashton drove all the way home. With the cops giving him protection, Antonio’s car was nowhere to be seen. He thanked the officer and went inside his house. Thankfully, his parents had no clue about the incident and he didn’t mention it to even Alexander. Reaching his room, he switched on his mobile phone to find that the messages were from Madison.
Why would she message him?
How could you f*cking play with my feelings?-Madison.
I can’t believe this. How can you go out with her when I love you so much?Madison.
Ashton’s eyes widened with disbelief. He was right about Madison all along. She was indeed obsessed with him. She sent the rest of the messages later. So, he had indeed seen her at Impulse. It wasn’t a hallucination. Madison was stalking him all the time.
Stop kissing the bit*h, you fu*king as*hole!Madison.
I won’t let this go, you son of a bi*ch.Madison
You will pay for breaking my heart. I will make you pay with your life!Madison.
The last message made his jaws drop with horror. It was sent seven minutes before Antonio’s car started chasing them. Were they planning to kill him and Hayley? But why would they do that? Was Madison’s threat and Antonio’s pursuit a coincidence?
He closed his eyes as a feeling of dread clutched at his heart. He wasn’t sure, but it seemed Madison was linked with Antonio in some way. Every time she threatened him, Antonio tried to harm him in some way or the other.
His phone buzzed with an incoming call from Antonio, and Ashton went pale with fright. What could he want now? Maybe it was time for another payment, or maybe he was furious that he went to the cops. Nevertheless, there was no escape from Antonio since his dad was with him. He accepted the call reluctantly.
“The stunt you pulled today can’t be overlooked, Pierce. You led us to the cops. You will have to pay the price.” Ashton trembled with fear at his solemn threat.
“I panicked, Antonio. I was paying you. Why did you have to tail me?” Antonio scoffed, as if he had said something ridiculous.
“I warned you to stay away from that Barclay woman, didn’t I? I had strict instructions to shoot the two of you tonight.” Ashton sat down on his bed in shock. He did the right thing by going to the police station.
“Strict instructions from whom, Antonio?”
“From Don, who else? Come over tomorrow and pay the rest of the money.”
“No, first tell me why Don wants to kill me?” he demanded anxiously. He wouldn’t go over to see Gambino tomorrow. What if he killed him?
“Come over tomorrow if you wish to know. And one more thing. Get the cops off my tail, right now.” After he disconnected the call, Ashton threw the mobile phone on the bed and massaged his temples with worry. Why would Don suddenly want him killed? Did Francesca have anything to do with this? Was Madison related to Francesca?
He showered and changed for bed, unable to find the answers to his questions. There was only one way to find out, and that was to go over to see Gambino. But he couldn’t risk his life. He had promised Hayley he would take care of himself.
“God, please help me out of this mess.” He prayed with all his heart and soul for the first time in his twenty-eight years of life.