I am highly acquainted with this gesture from having witnessed it many times. Abe was reaching for his gun.
I glanced toward Ashton in desperation. He seemed to be looking for someone. His haughty expression kept people from approaching him.
“Mr. Abe, you…”
“Shut up!” He glared at me.
I was frightened into silence. Why is Ashton here? I thought. What is he doing here?
Was he looking for me?
No one would know about my disappearance from the country if Savini did not speak. Even if he did know and was out to look for me, how did he end up here?
Query after query raced through my mind, but the most pressing one was Abe’s intentions towards Ashton.
Abe grabbed my wrist and brought my attention back to the present. I was here as bait.
“Don’t startle him,” Abe muttered into his earpiece. “Let’s see how many men he has with him.”
After giving the order, he was dragging me along toward Ashton’s table.
“Mr. Fuller, what a coincidence!” he said with feigned surprise.
We locked eyes. I was at a loss for words with the sudden twist of events.
Joseph looked as stunned as I felt. For as long as I’ve known him, I have never seen him like this before. His eyes widened in shock at the sight of me.
“How are you?” I blurted, as I leaned forward to shake his hand.
Joseph shot a glance at Ashton and composed himself in an instant. “I’m well, how do you do.” He took my hand.
“Long time no see, Mr. Abe!” Ashton said, with an inscrutably calm gaze at Abe.
The two men were of similar height. One had a calm and stable aura that hid an unpredictable nature, while the other looked calm and mild-mannered, but had ferocious rage just bubbling beneath the surface.
They sat down; I meekly next to Abe. I began to grasp faintly at Abe’s master plan for the night.
It’s obvious that he intended to leave no survivors.
I had thought that his purpose in bringing me along was to use me as a human shield if things got ugly. But it didn’t seem as simple as that.
What grudge does Abe have with Ashton?
“Mr. Fuller, did you bring it?” Abe asked briskly. He detested small talk.
Ashton frowned. His weariness was well hidden within his rugged brows. Traveling to this part of the world had taken its toll on him.
“Mr. Abe, why don’t you introduce the lady?” Ashton said with a casually unrecognizing glance at me.
“My companion.” Abe leered at Ashton.
Ashton nodded but didn’t seem interested in an elaboration regarding me.
I shot a glance at Joseph, who placed the black briefcase on the table.
“Mr. Abe, do you want to inspect the goods here?”
Abe grinned. “Mr. Fuller and I are old friends. I trust that the goods are in order.”
Abe turned to me and gave me a meaningful look. I understood immediately.
Before we came, Dante had told me to seize the briefcase at the first available opportunity.
I hesitated for a fraction of a second and reached out to grab it.
As soon as I touched it, a hand slammed down on top of mine. The familiar touch and warmth of it shook me.
“What’s the rush? Mr. Abe should allow us to inspect the goods in return, shouldn’t he?” Ashton said as he loosened his grasp on my hand but did not let go, as if he stole the opportunity to hold my hand.
I was on the verge of panicking and tried to withdraw my hand but Ashton kept the pressure down.
“Mr. Fuller, you’re always cautious.” Abe smiled.
As he spoke, he threw me back into my seat, pressed himself against me, and pressed his lips onto mine.
It was so sudden; I did not manage to react.
It must have been several seconds later when I felt a warm stiffness against my body, and he released his hold on me.
I had the necklace in my grasp. As I came to my senses, I glanced at Ashton instinctively.
His face was frozen in a look of cold fury. Hatred and rage emanated from his entire body.
“Mr. Fuller, why are you looking so grim?” Abe teased. “The necklace is lovely. I just wanted to see how it would look on my companion; I meant no harm. If it belongs to you, I will gladly oblige you.”
He handed the necklace over to Ashton.
I frowned in puzzlement. That necklace was originally given to me by Dante for safekeeping.
Was Ashton here just for the necklace?
Ashton said nothing but shot an indifferent glance at Joseph.
Joseph received the necklace, examined it closely, and nodded at Ashton.
“So, Mr. Fuller. This is an even trade, is it not?” Abe chuckled.
“Leave her here!” Ashton said coldly as he pointed a long finger at me.
“Why, Mr. Fuller, do you like the girl?” Abe raised his eyebrows. “Are you so lacking in the company of women?”
“No, I’m not,” Ashton said with a scowl.
