Chapter 176

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASHLEY’s POV What did I just watch and hear? A mafia just escaped from jail? Was this the reason why Uno was here? To safely guard me? My lips trembled, my eyes swimming with tears as my body started to shake because of fear. The vision of Ryan kidnapping me started to engulf me again. I don’t want it to happen again. Uno appeared at the door, and I snapped my head toward him. “Did you know about this?” I asked, stuttering. Worry crossed his expression as he strode toward me, and I shook my head in disbelief. “What do you know, Uno?” And the sadness in his eyes told me that he knew something. “Ashley—“ he whispered. “Is that why you’re here?” I asked, my chest tightening as I thought about the possibility of that mafia getting me. “Is that why Dad let you in?” I raised my voice, and I choked in tears as panic built up inside me. Now, I also knew why dad has decided to keep a gun. “They’re going to get me…” I stuttered, wrapping my shaking arms around my shoulders, pacing around. “They’re going to kill me like what they did to your sister… they’re going to get me…” “No!” Uno pulled me into a tight hug, and my face crashed on his chest. “I won’t let that happen,” he said firmly, anger in his voice. Being here in his embrace made me feel even more vulnerable than I already was. I felt like all the emotions inside me were being poured out as I cried against his chest. I don’t want Uno to suffer again because of what happened to Bella. That the history might repeat again because of those mafias. The mafia leader might just want to run away from the cops, to escape jail. But somehow, there was a part of me fearing that he won’t stop chasing after dad. What if he wanted to avenge to dad and get me or kill me as a payment? Uno pulled away to look at me, his arms still circling around my waist. There was so much emotion in his golden-brown orbs, stirring my already messed up feelings. “When Lucas told me about this, I was furious,” he said. “I’ve been keeping in touch with the cops too, but I was knocked the whole day yesterday. I just knew about it last night.” He was knocked out yesterday because I took advantage of his state. No, I knew he liked it, too. I listened to him attentively as he continued. “I went back to the house to pack my things up so that I could move here. Your dad wouldn’t want you to be alone while they’re working, but he already ordered his men to guard the house and ordered them to not let anyone get here except for me.” Uno stared into my eyes, determination was seen on his face. “What did your mom tell you about this?” I asked. “She knows everything but she didn’t tell me,” he whispered. “Dad explained to me what happened but I still can’t forgive him for what he did to Bella.” “Uno…” “You don’t have to worry about anything, Ashley. I’m here. Your dad and Lucas are here. The cops are chasing after that bastard. And your bodyguards are guarding your house carefully.” His jaw tightened. “I’m not going to let anybody hurt you.” with that vow, he pressed a hard kiss on my lips, and I closed my eyes. My hands found their way on his back as I hugged him too. I hated how weak I’ve become. I was not supposed to do this, but I just needed him so bad. Just like I always did. We pulled away when we heard footsteps outside dad’s room. I walked towards the door and I saw a maid holding a food tray. She must have prepared breakfast for me because I haven’t come down yet to eat. I took the tray from her and thanked her as I headed towards my room when Uno grabbed the tray out of my hold. “Let me help you,” he said and I lead the way to my room. He placed the tray on top of my desk and I sat and began to eat. I glanced at him, and he’s throwing a gaze at me that made me uncomfortable and made my cheeks turn crimson. “You want to eat?” “Only if you’ll feed me.” he teased and I rolled my eyes. “I won’t feed you. I’m sorry but you’re making me uncomfortable if you keep staring at me like that. You can get your own breakfast in the kitchen if you want.” I snapped. And continued eating. He finally looked away and sighed, raking his fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry,” he said. “It’s just… It’s a sight I haven’t seen for quite some time.” Right. Me eating breakfast in front of him. Things couldn’t be more awkward. I decided to throw some small talk to lighten the atmosphere. “What breakfast do you want? I’ll get it for you.” He turned to look at me again, his hands now on my sheets, gripping it. “You know what I like for breakfast.” I froze for a while from hearing that sentence. Every time he spoke about his favorite breakfast, he always meant something entirely different, something that always led me to moan his name while he ravished me against the kitchen counter. I suddenly choke, and it’s not because of the food I was eating. Silently, I cursed. When I glanced at him, I found that he was letting out a small chuckle. Fuck! There was actually nothing wrong with his answer. It was a completely fine sentence. It could be pancakes, ramen, cereal, or burger. I was so sinful to have such a dirty mind. “Is there something wrong?” his tone was teasing when he asked me, and I hate him! “You look like you’re feeling a sudden change in the temperature.” His sentence now made me automatically reach for the remote of the air conditioner and adjusted the temperature, and that’s silly. “Is it getting hot?” he kept teasing me. Indeed, I felt my cheeks heating up and the air getting hot, just from hearing him say about his favorite breakfast. “It’s just…” I whispered. “When you put your answer like that, I can’t help but think about…what we did…” I faltered, my fingers grazing my neck as a soft sigh escaped my lips. I bet that he could see the crimson blushed on my cheeks now. “Fuck. You’re right. It’s getting hot in here.” He hissed surprising me. I turned my head toward him and saw him looking the other way, shaking his collar as if trying to loosen it, as if my words and gestures have affected him the same way. I quickly turned around and squeezed my eyes shut. Stupid me. I didn’t mean to turn him on. Deciding to finish my breakfast, I ate the last piece of bacon hurriedly and I choked again and this time it was because of the food. “Oh my God, Ashley!” Uno exclaimed, approaching me from behind. I felt his chest pressing my back as he reached for the glass of water and handed it to me. My heartbeat started to increase from feeling his body close to me again. He stayed in this position for a while until I finished drinking. I even thought that he was smelling my hair. It smelled like my favorite vanilla shampoo. I swallowed as I put down the glass, hating the fact that I was wearing a crop top that allowed him to have access to my bare neck and shoulder, not to mention that my hair was flipped to one side. His breath tickled my skin and my breath hitched when he pressed a soft kiss in between my neck and shoulder, sending electricity through my body and at the same time making it alarmed. “Uno…” I moaned with a warning. “Oh God, I’m sorry, Ashley.” He rasped and walked out of the room. I sighed and got up following him. Why did he just walk out like that? While I was on my way to the guest room, I heard the sound from the TV in dad’s room. I forgot to turn it off. I let out a small chuckle and stepped into his room before grabbing the remote and turning it off. I walked toward his window and opened the curtain, and roamed my eyes to check on dad’s men only to find them lying lifeless on the ground. My eyes widened and as I turned around to run, but the sight before me shocked me to the core. My heart seemed to stop, and fear consumed me that I could barely think clearly. My legs were shaking under me, and I didn’t know when they’re going to give up on me. There before my very eyes, I could see him. The man in the news earlier. The leader of the Mafia. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------