(PAYTONS POV)My heart pounded painfully in my chest as i slowly recognized the Dainty woman sitting across the room. My hands started to shake and my lungs felt heavy as my breath came out quick and shallow with panic.How could this even be possible? My mother was sitting live and well not even five feet away from me. After all this time, after my fathers death and living on my own for so long.. my mother was here.My shock and momentary happiness morphed into a boiling rage. My own mother was here alive and well while the only parent i had who loved and raised me was six feet under. How dare she, where was she my whole life? was i not good enough for her?Pain, that's all i felt as i watched her face pale through my blurry eyes. Fury crushing my heart with its iron grip. Wiping away my tears furiously i began to laugh, not the cute and happy kind of laugh, a laugh that said "screw you world" and let insanity slowly sink in. Everyone around the room watched my reactions carefully ga
(PAYTONS POV)I knew she was my mother the moment i followed Ashton down the hall, i could tell from our similar features and stature that our similarities were too uncanny for her to be a distant relative. Now however i wished she were, the pain in my heart would be a lot more bearable then watching my mothers face twist with confusion and then eyes fill with dread as she realized exactly who i was. My mothers eyes shifted to Aiden with growing panic, pleading for him to understand why she did what she did. She looked over to me unsure of the right words to say"Payton, your father and i.. I grew up in a very small town, where i met a man who would beat me until i was inches from dying. I Ran away, and ended up meeting your father at a local pub one night. We fell in love over the next few months and rather quickly i became pregnant with your brother, at the time it was wonderful and life was looking up for the both of us, now I realize though were were kids just playing pretend.A
(Paytons POV) 1,2,3,4 Punch, jab, duck repeat. I followed the same methodical pattern given out by Ashton as I took out my escalating frustration on the punching bag in front of me. I had only been out of commission for a couple of weeks and already I could tell the difference in my strength. Stupid hitman in the ring, stupid shitty deck of cards life had handed me, stupid gangs, stupid mother. The list of people to blame went on and on in my head right down the guy selling greasy hotdogs on the street corner. I wanted my strength back, I wanted that feeling of power when you see defeat in your opponents' eyes as you take them down. I wanted an outlet for the raging wildfire my anger ignited. The thoughts rolled around in my head, blurring my vision, making me beat the punching bag faster and harder until Ashtons voice yelled at me to calm down. A simple command that cut clear through the red haze in my mind. I looked up at Ashton with wide red rimmed eyes, could he tell I was
Paytons POV There was a clash of lips and teeth, Hands wildly groping skin and heavy panting as Ashton and I sunk into our wild frenzy. In this moment of gratification, I felt on top of the world like all the previous stress and trauma had been building up for this rewarding moment. I shifted my hips to comfortably sit on Ashtons lap as he sat us down in the leather computer chair. Groaning with impatience I shifted my hips purposly grinding my core on the stiffness in his grey sweatpants, earning a low growl from Ashton who was nipping at my swollen lips. Smirking softly I shifted and pressed even harder on the ridged length earning a streak of pleasure to zip through me. This time I was a groaning mess as Ashton licked and nibbled my neck while holding my hips firmly down on him and rocking me back and forth. “Ashton” I whined softly unsure if I was ready for the building climax that came and left like a tide. “Kitten, if you say my name again you will end up against this desk”
Ashtons POV "Bye Ashley" i smirked, slamming the mahogany front door shut before the tiny blonde could turn around to protest. I didn't give a shit about her, fuck I didn't even know if her name was Ashley if i was being honest. She was just another nightly hook up in my long list of contacts to put it nicely .... then again remorse and guilt didn't affect me like it would other people. I used people and things to my advantage and when i was done with it, i dropped it faster then you could say hot, to me Ashley was just another girl, just another conquest. I chuckled slightly turning back at the sight of my bedroom all torn up, flashbacks of the previous night foggy in my head. I must of drank too much again Shrugging carelessly, I rummaged through some drawers before getting dressed in black ripped jeans and and a grey pull over hoodie. My head was pounding with a dull pain as i idlily shoved my head through the sweater. why did i even bother getting up? Groaning and gr
Ashton POVLater that night I stepped down the stained concrete stairs to an illegal underground ring, winking as a brassy blonde ring girl checked me out shamelessly in passing."Women were too easy."Plastering on a dispassionate mask I walked further into the dark and dingy fighting arena, scanning the room for undercover police and informants or anyone who may recognize me.I had to keep a low profile, if the club owners found out their enemy was within their walls ...I'd be dead in moments and it wouldn't matter who else they took out along side me."My fathers words rung in my ears from this mornings emergency meeting. The Russian gang HD6 were stealing our turf and setting up an underground fight club operation right by one of our biggest weapons warehouses. Infiltrating our clientele."Yet again another headache my father left me to deal with."I'm gonna need to consider disposing of him soon, his antics were getting old and he was becoming sloppy with his work".Eyeing the
Matthew Black's POV:Heading away from the brunette beauty i flicked open my phone."Yo Ashton, we might have a situation. Its about the Rivers deal, meet me out back.""Fuck sakes" a deep voice hissed on the other side before disconnecting his line.Marching towards the tree line i pulled out a smoke and lit it "Rivers huh?...this could end up bad... or it could be a strange coincidence"Snorting i shook that thought from my head knowing damn well there was no such thing as a coincidence only well planned manipulations or down right bad luck.My mind kept going back to the little brunette with blazing blue eyes and plump lips. What kind of trouble would she stir up being here? Is she possibly related to James?"What the fuck is it dude?" Ashtons shouts out as he storms towards me meeting under the mix of pine trees. "Jeez who pissed in your fruit loops this morning" i asked raising an eye brow at his shitty mood."Some bitch mouthed me off in the hallway this morning, making me look
Paytons POVWho ever came up with my schedule was going to hell... who schedules someone kick boxing first thing in the morning? and a Co-ed Kick boxing training class at that!I wasn't scared of sweating in front of some guys, hell i'd dare them to say something to me especially before I've had a coffee. I hated mornings and i knew after my run in earlier this morning with that asshole, i was gonna be the new topic on campus.So much for laying lowPushing open the door to the girls locker room, a clusters of girls giggled and gossiped about anything and everything, evening mentioning me once or twice under their breath before my glare shut them up. Rolling my eyes i moved to the back of the room, flinging my duffle bag onto a bench and quickly stripping out of my clothes. "If there was anything i hated more than being the new kid it was a bunch of gossiping barbies.""Hey your the new girl who stood up to Ashton Whyte right?" A curious voice questioned behind me.Rolling my eyes
Paytons POV There was a clash of lips and teeth, Hands wildly groping skin and heavy panting as Ashton and I sunk into our wild frenzy. In this moment of gratification, I felt on top of the world like all the previous stress and trauma had been building up for this rewarding moment. I shifted my hips to comfortably sit on Ashtons lap as he sat us down in the leather computer chair. Groaning with impatience I shifted my hips purposly grinding my core on the stiffness in his grey sweatpants, earning a low growl from Ashton who was nipping at my swollen lips. Smirking softly I shifted and pressed even harder on the ridged length earning a streak of pleasure to zip through me. This time I was a groaning mess as Ashton licked and nibbled my neck while holding my hips firmly down on him and rocking me back and forth. “Ashton” I whined softly unsure if I was ready for the building climax that came and left like a tide. “Kitten, if you say my name again you will end up against this desk”
(Paytons POV) 1,2,3,4 Punch, jab, duck repeat. I followed the same methodical pattern given out by Ashton as I took out my escalating frustration on the punching bag in front of me. I had only been out of commission for a couple of weeks and already I could tell the difference in my strength. Stupid hitman in the ring, stupid shitty deck of cards life had handed me, stupid gangs, stupid mother. The list of people to blame went on and on in my head right down the guy selling greasy hotdogs on the street corner. I wanted my strength back, I wanted that feeling of power when you see defeat in your opponents' eyes as you take them down. I wanted an outlet for the raging wildfire my anger ignited. The thoughts rolled around in my head, blurring my vision, making me beat the punching bag faster and harder until Ashtons voice yelled at me to calm down. A simple command that cut clear through the red haze in my mind. I looked up at Ashton with wide red rimmed eyes, could he tell I was
(PAYTONS POV)I knew she was my mother the moment i followed Ashton down the hall, i could tell from our similar features and stature that our similarities were too uncanny for her to be a distant relative. Now however i wished she were, the pain in my heart would be a lot more bearable then watching my mothers face twist with confusion and then eyes fill with dread as she realized exactly who i was. My mothers eyes shifted to Aiden with growing panic, pleading for him to understand why she did what she did. She looked over to me unsure of the right words to say"Payton, your father and i.. I grew up in a very small town, where i met a man who would beat me until i was inches from dying. I Ran away, and ended up meeting your father at a local pub one night. We fell in love over the next few months and rather quickly i became pregnant with your brother, at the time it was wonderful and life was looking up for the both of us, now I realize though were were kids just playing pretend.A
(PAYTONS POV)My heart pounded painfully in my chest as i slowly recognized the Dainty woman sitting across the room. My hands started to shake and my lungs felt heavy as my breath came out quick and shallow with panic.How could this even be possible? My mother was sitting live and well not even five feet away from me. After all this time, after my fathers death and living on my own for so long.. my mother was here.My shock and momentary happiness morphed into a boiling rage. My own mother was here alive and well while the only parent i had who loved and raised me was six feet under. How dare she, where was she my whole life? was i not good enough for her?Pain, that's all i felt as i watched her face pale through my blurry eyes. Fury crushing my heart with its iron grip. Wiping away my tears furiously i began to laugh, not the cute and happy kind of laugh, a laugh that said "screw you world" and let insanity slowly sink in. Everyone around the room watched my reactions carefully ga
(ASHTONS POV) I glanced around the office at the men and women sitting like soldiers wherever they could fit. This was my inner circle, the only six people I could trust to do their job and get it done right. Between you and me i would only trust half of them with my own life though. We started off with the weekly reports, updates on how sales were going, recent influxes on the black market and what was popular for stock and demand with our alliances. Once all that was dealt with i headed into the more explicit part of gang dealings- who's been killed, regathering information from informants and last but not least the news I had uncovered while at Payton's house."Alright men, I'm about to tell you guys something that is absolutely classified and I won't be repeating it a second time, I need to know that whatever I am going to say will not leave this room and will be treated with complete discretion.. especially from my father" I ordered not allowing my strong exterior to slip fro
(Paytons POV)I drove 80 kilometres over the legal speed limit in a rush to get Ashton back to the apartment so he could get stitched up. My mind was a cluster of thoughts, I was angry and hopeful all at once. I couldn't seem to find the words to say after Ashton had shared his suspicions with me, not entirely sure if I wanted to meet someone who could potentially be my blood relative, after all where were they after my father had been killed?I pulled off the freeway and neared the heart of downtown, feeling the familiar shake of anxiety rattle my nerves. With every passing minute we were coming up closer and closer to the apartment, I glanced over at Ashton who was too half out of it to notice the blood starting to stain his Italian leather seats.I peeled towards the elevator door once we had entered the parkade, not caring about the shoddy parking job. I hopped out of the drivers seat and ran to the passenger side, helping Ashton out of the car as he kept pressure on his wound. S
Paytons POV "ASHTON" his name ripped from my throat as I watched the guy behind him get up from the pavement and slowly raised a gun to the back of Ashtons head.Before I even knew what was happening my body moved on its own accord, I remember reaching for the gun tucked under my sweater but pulling the trigger and shooting the threat square in the left eye seemed like a faint memory, the only indication I had actually done it was the loud bang that reverberated up my arm leaving me blinking in shock.Had I actually just killed someone?Bile rose in my throat, but I quickly shoved it down. This Is what my life has become or rather what it was always about, I was just to blind to see it. It started with my father and now with me, an endless cycle with no reprieve in sight.Tucking the gun back under my sweater I just stared at Ashton. If he was surprised or impressed, he didn't show it, in fact his face tensed up as though he were in were secretly in pain. Looking down at Ashtons side
(Ashtons pov)After finding the pictures hidden in the drawer, and finding nothing in the dresser or en suite I scavenged the closet. So far, I hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary apart from a few questionably funky dress shirts some worn loafers and a pair of edible underwear pushed to the back of the drawers.I moved around and investigated a few boxes on the top shelf of the closet and checked all the jacket pockets and soles of his shoes but nothing i found was of was of any use to us.We were so close! Were would James hide something he didn't want to be found?Frustrated i sat down at the edge of the bed, my mind wandering to the photo of James and Aiden's mom. They looked like long lost friends or lovers.Did they date previously or was there something more between the two of them? Rubbing my eyes in frustration I let out huff, letting my eyes wander my gaze settled at the custom Harley David mirror hanging across the room from me. The sun shone off of it but didn't
Ashtons POVWe cleaned in silence, allowing Payton some space to collect herself. My eyes kept wandering to the random photos scattered of Payton and her dad. How could we know this man for years and never know he had a daughter this whole time?I took to putting the shelves back in their upright position and threw some miscellaneous trash into the large garbage bag we had set out."Hey Payton is there anything they could of been looking for specifically?" I questioned, as i pulled the couch back over onto its legs and the recliners back into their upright position.I want to know why they thought destroying her home would of been a good idea."Not that I can think of" she mumbled, pulling the dustpan out of a closet and began sweeping up the broken glass littering the floor.We tidied the rest of the main floor in silence. I knew her mind was somewhere far away as i watch her face contort with anger and resentment then sadness and resign."You look a lot like your dad you know" i