Chapter 30

CHAPTER THIRTY

ASHLEY

How many times am I going to be shocked into silence by how serious he is about what he's forcing me to do?

"Please, Zain." I try appealing to him once more. I really don't want to call Jessa-Mae. She'll want to know why I'm not going back, and I really don't want to tell her about the situation I've got myself into. "Jason wouldn't want you to do this."

"You have no fucking idea what Jason would want." He snarls the words at me. "Make the fucking call or I will."

It's the first time I've heard any emotion at all in his voice. In every interaction we've had until now, he's been calm and softly-spoken. His lack of emotion has been the one thing that makes everything so unbelievable to me.

But this. The unbridled fury in his voice. It reminds me of the other side of him. The side that made me believe wholeheartedly that he was guilty of the crime he was sent to prison for.

Apart from my witness statement, the other thing that came up a lot during the trial was Zain's temper. People he was at school with testified about his violent outbursts and why he had no friends other than Jason and Louisa. The reports contradicted everything Jason ever told me about him. But this … this proves that they were right.

While I'm processing his outburst, he reaches across the center console and picks up my cell and taps the screen.

"What's your lock code?"

"I …what? No, I'm not telling you that."

He mutters something beneath his breath and taps the screen again. To my horror, it unlocks on his second attempt.

"Should have guessed it'd be your birth year." He scrolls through my contacts until he finds Jessa-Mae's number, then hits the call icon. "Up to you what happens next, Ashley. Either I speak to her, or you do."

I snatch the cell from him just as the call connects.

"Ash? Is everything okay? Karla said you called her."

"Hi, yes." I glance over at Zain. "I … I need the number for the landlord."

"Oh? Why? Is something wrong in your room?"

"No. I-I … I'm moving back home."

There's a long silence, and I check twice to make sure the call hasn't disconnected. "Jessa?"

"I'm here. I'm just waiting for the punchline."

"There isn't one."

"I don't believe you. Something has happened. Is your mom okay?"

"Mom's fine. I just need to let the landlord know, and then arrange for my things to be collected." My voice shakes .

"Ash—"

"Can you please just give me the number?" Tears are burning my eyes. I'm not going to cry, but if she keeps pushing, I'm not sure I'll be able to keep myself from telling her.

She must hear something in my voice because she stops pushing. "Okay, alright. I'll text the number over to you."

"Thank you."

"Is this anything to do with your call to Karla earlier?"

"Hang up." Zain's voice holds a warning.

"I have to go."

"Ash, wait."

"I'll call you later. Don't forget to send the number to me." I cut the call, then turn to glare at the man beside me. "She isn't going to accept that I've just decided to come home and stay here."

He shrugs. "Tell her you're getting married."

"To the man I sent to prison?" I almost shriek the words. "Do you have any idea how ridiculous this is? No one is going to believe it. No one! "

"They will, if you play your part. And if you don't …" Another shrug. "I don't really care. You're locked in now, and will do as you're told."

My cell chimes with an incoming message. When I check, it's the promised number from Jessa-Mae, along with a warning that she intends on calling me to find out what is really going on.

I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose between my fingers and closing my eyes.

"What are you waiting for?" Zain demands.

"I have a headache. Can this wait until later? "

"No. I want it done now, where I can see you doing it."

My eyes snap open, and I toss my phone at him. It hits him in the chest, then falls onto his lap. "Then you do it, because I won't."

I throw open the door.

"Where are you going?"

"I need some air. Don't worry, I'm not going to run." My laugh verges on hysterical. "Where could I go so that you won't find me? Apparently you have sniffer dogs who can track everything about me." I slam the door before he can reply, and lean back against the side of the car.

Speaking to Jessa-Mae, and my workplace has really hammered home the position I'm in.

I'm an idiot. I shouldn't have signed the contract without someone checking it over first. What the hell was I thinking?

With every hour that passes, he's taking away something important to me. First my peace of mind, then my job, now my home. He's alienating me from everything, and I can't see any way to stop it. Not and keep my mom safe.

The car rocks slightly as he opens his door and steps out. "Done. They're emailing the final details to me later today."

"Am I supposed to thank you?"

"Not at all. If you're done with your dramatics, get in the car. The county clerk's office will be open now."

"My dramatics? You think I'm being dramatic ?"

I spin around, yank open the door and throw myself into the seat. He joins me a second later, and starts the engine.

"You have one more call to make. Do it on the way. "

He holds out my cell, keeping his other hand on the steering wheel. I stare at it like it's a snake, while my heart tries to break its way through my ribs. I know what he means. I know who he wants me to call.

I don't want to do it.

When I don't take the phone, he sighs. "Are you going to refuse to make this call as well?"

"Does it have to be done today?"

"Do you think your friends aren't going to tell him that you've moved out? Do you really think you can keep it a secret from him?"

"No, but he's going to ask why I'm breaking up with him. What am I supposed to say? I can't tell him I'm marrying the man who went to prison for murdering my brother!"

"He's going to find out eventually. Rip off the band-aid, Ashley, and just do it. Or do you need me to speak to him?"

"No!" I yell the word.

Just the thought of Zain speaking to Scott ramps up my anxiety levels.

Sucking in a deep breath, I take a minute to calm my racing heart, and an idea comes to me.

"I can't tell him yet."

"Why not?"

"Because he'll call my mom, and she doesn't know. I can't tell him until after she knows."

Please, please give me this. Don't make me tell him before my mom.