Dedicated to my only motivation 

Esme's POV

"Esme, can you help with a little planning?" Asher asked, referring to our next mission.

After preventing my head from colliding with the table from dozing off, I answer, "Yeah. Sure. Just give me five minutes after dinner. I'll be there."

"You sure you can do it, sweetheart? You seem too sleepy," Alaric intervened. "Yeah. I'm fine... this happens whenever I am stuffed with food, especially when it's dinner. I'll be fine," I replied, straightening up and feeling the sleepiness wearing off already.

After dinner, I insist on helping with the dishes, but Val pins me with one glare that has me running to the hills...

The lady can be scary when she wants...

We met up in Asher's office for the planning, but as I was walking down the hallway, I felt myself being pulled into a supply closet.

A sharp gasp left my mouth at the same time I tried to turn around to throw a punch, but they had my hands pinned to my body and my body was pinned against a wall...

It was Asher...

"Jesus Christ. You gave me a heart attack," I whispered. He laughed, amusement flowing through him, as one of his hands rested on my hip and the other on my thigh.

"I'm sorry fire. I didn't mean to scare you," he said, and I raised my eyebrow at the lack of sincerity in it.

This fucker was joking...

I narrow my eyes at him and try to push off of the wall, and he slammed me back against it with his hand on my hip.

My eyes widened as I looked up at him, surprised at seeing this side of him...

"Cat got your tongue fire? You always have so much to say," he mused, his thumb running along my bottom lip.

"Asher, we have a meeting," I say, but to my bad luck it comes out breathlessly. "Yes, and what about it?" he asks with a smile as his hand on my hip moves higher.

I shift under his grip and try to push off his hand.

He frowns at it and pins my hands above my head in one swift move...

His other hand tugs my waist, pulling me closer to him, to the point where our chests almost touch.

A gasp falls from my mouth, and his eyes flick to my lips.

He leans down, his mouth near my ear, as his breath tickles my neck. "Do you even realize what you're doing to me?" his voice comes out low and deep, sending tingles across my body.

Oh god...

"Asher," his name falls from my mouth. "You just have to exist fire, and I'd already be on my knees. You're so beautiful," his thumb brushes against my cheek.

Before we could say or do anything, we heard a knock on the closet door. "Asher, stop fucking and come out. There's only so many excuses I can give dad," he says, in a dry tone, although I can practically see the smirk on his face.

I blush in Asher's hold, and he groans, dropping his head to my shoulder, and the action causes a shudder to go through my body. "I'll be there in five," he says to Micah, before turning his gaze on me.

"The things you do to me fire," he says, one of his hands moving to my thigh and resting on the inside of it.

I can't help the gasp I let out as he trails it up higher. "Asher," I warn him... "Scared fire?" he asks, mock amusement swimming in his gaze. "No," I shake my head...

"Good," he says, before stepping back completely, and I feel the lack of warmth all over me...

It seems like I can finally breathe, and I take in a huge breath of air... "We should go," I softly say looking at him.

"Yeah, we should," comes his gruff reply, before he pushes open the door and steps into the hallway.

Micah is smirking as we enter Asher's office, and Alaric is on his phone. We all sit down and I take a sip of water from the glass on the table and glare at Micah. "Chill sis... I'm joking," he laughs. "If you don't shut your mouth, I'll shove my foot up your ass Micah. And I'm not fucking joking," I warn. "And I'll help her," Asher chimes in.

"This is child abuse," Micah complains with wide eyes, having the audacity to be offended...

I roll my eyes and Alaric rejoins the discussion, pulling out a few papers.

"Who are we attacking? And when is it happening?" I ask, shifting forward in my chair, my brain completely into work mode.

"Lincoln Davidson and all the Davisons... We usually hit the business side or the mafia side, but this time, we're hitting both. It's time we ended their shitshow. We'll start off by hitting their trafficking rings first. Then the shipments, warehouses, bases, and if they get killed in the process, it's a bonus," he says, but my mind is still whirring with the fact that we're going up against Lincoln.

Something stirred in my chest and my unease showed on my face for a split second, before I masked it up. Clearing my throat, I shake my head and focus. "When are we starting?" I asked. "Two months from from now. That is a month after you and Asher get married," Alaric said. "Okay... and where are we starting? And how are we starting?" I ask.

"We start by infiltrating his main house. The place where he stays most of the time. We snoop in, gather any useful documents, bug the place, and leave," Asher said, steepling his hands in front of him.

"Alright. So I'm assuming you wanted opinions and ideas with the planning?" I ask. "Yes," Asher affirmed.

"So what are we looking at? Which house are we talking about?" I ask, and Alric pulls out another set of stuff. A long rolled-up paper and a few photos and lays them out on the table.

Shock fills me at the sight in front, but just to be sure I ask again.

"The one in DC?" I ask, although I recognize it. "Yes... Three floors and plenty of rooms to work with," Alaric said, spreading out the rolled paper, revealing the blueprint of the house.

"We have an approximate of at least twenty rooms and plenty of other places to work," Asher says, getting up to point out stuff on the blueprint laid out.

"And who was your source?" I ask skeptically because I knew that it was wrong...

"Just an inside help from a maid. Why?" Asher asked.

"Because it's wrong. Let me assume, you sent her in as a new employee?" I asked.

"Yeah, how'd you know?" Alaric asked.

"Only the old staff get to go into the very ends of that house. Lincoln doesn't let the newbies go that far. Smart move on his part. But it doesn't have twenty-plus rooms. The whole house is of three floors, ten rooms, a basement which is the parking and a storage of extra weapons, hidden weapons throughout the house, and cameras covering every square millimeter. Getting in isn't easy, but not impossible at the same time. I can hack into the cameras. The first floor would be the most compromised. There's a mini arcade, theatre, gaming room, and an indoor pool there, so he leaves it kinda unguarded," I was saying and Micah interrupted me.

"Woah woah woah. How do you know all of this?" he gaped.

"Inside source that I'd planted a long time ago, plus, I have my own field experience," before diverting my eyes to the blueprint again.

"So like I was saying," I continue looking around the room and notice three pairs of eyes still stuck on me.

Oh shit...

"What mission?"

"Stealing stuff"

"What stuff?"

"Intel"

"How long ago?"

"Three years"

"How long was it for?"

"How long was what for?"

"The mission"

"Three years"

"What intel did you so badly need?"

"Confidential"

"Did you sleep with him?"

"What? Who?"

"Lincoln"

"The fuck. No."

"Feelings?"

"Non existent"

"Good," Asher remarked as he had asked the last question.

We were all still looking at each other, and my fingers absentmindedly started tracing the little scars on my fingers on both hands, something I do when I'm nervous and fidgety.

Asher's eyes flicked down to my movements, halting them.

I held my breath, and Alaric broke the silence.

"Can you give us more intel by tomorrow?"

"Sure. What kind do you need?"

"Security systems, weaponry, any hidden booby traps for intruders, where the important papers and documents are stored, and secret passageways if any," he listed.

I knew the answers to ALL his questions. I had them on my fingertips.

But I didn't dare tell them right now...

"Sure. Will tomorrow evening be a good time?" I asked.

"Evening is good," Asher nodded.

"Okay, so, um, I'll continue?" I asked, gesturing to the plans, but Alaric dismissed me with a shake of his head.

"Okay then," I mumbled and stood there twisting my fingers, feeling suddenly so out of place.

Like a fish out of water...

"Alright. Good night then. I'm hitting the hay," I spoke and speed walked out of the office.

Entering the guest room, I locked the door, slowly stripped out of my clothes in the bathroom, and stepped into the shower, the hot scalding water soothing my muscles and mind.

I had laid down after making sure my gun and knife were within reach and almost dozed off when my phone rang.

It was my father.

Bold- Esme Italicized- Esme's father

Hello father

Where are you?

Out.

Spreading your legs already? Just like your mother. This isn't how i raised you.

Exactly. I raised myself.

I had summoned you to be present.

And I'm currently busy. I'll attend to it tomorrow.

Careful Esme. Or the little shits you care about might suffer

Is that a threat father?

No little dove. It's a warning. You would remember well what happened the last time, don't you?

The line went dead, and so did my sleep.

Sitting up on the bed, I picked up a book and pushed open the balcony doors, getting comfortable on the hanging chair outside. Propping up the pillows and wrapping the blanket around me tighter, I fell into the book.

But my relief was short-lived. My mind kept oscillating between my father and Asher. Between Lincoln and work. Between the sudden turn of events and everything I'd once wanted for myself.

I sighed and felt a tear run down my face. With everything that was happening, I didn't know if I was doing the right thing in life anymore.

Feeling the breeze on my face, and the music flowing through my ears, I let the tears run out silently. Not sobbing, not weeping, but letting it out... Just like I've always done...

Ten minutes later, I sniffled, blew my nose, and went inside.

It was 3 am. But I couldn't sleep anymore.

I showered and quietly went to the gym, hoping to take my mind off of everything.

A/N: Hey lovelies... I know I disappeared from the face of the earth, and I'm back again, and I promise you guys that I'll update more...

Otherwise, my friend dearest will chop me up and send me to Antarctica...

So, yeah. No more disappearing...

Love,

Jeff ❤❤