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We walked back to the Range Rover, and all I thought about was if Co
“Do you think Co
“No. There’s no way Co
We climbed into the vehicle, and I put my forehead on the steering wheel.
“Now what, Elle?”
“Now, we go to Ashlyn’s apartment.”
I heard Peyton gasp when I said that. I didn’t care if it was wrong or not. I was going to see her one way or the other.
“Do you even know where she lives?”
“Of course I do. Remember, Co
We drove an hour back to the city and headed straight to Ashlyn’s apartment. I was furious that she was out on bail, and I couldn’t wrap my head around it.
“FUCK!” I screamed. “How the hell did she get out on bail? I yelled as we pulled into a parking space.”
“Calm down, Ellery.”
As Peyton and I took the elevator up to the floor that her apartment was on, my body was shaking with anger. The fact that she could burn down a building, admit it, then change her plea, and get out on bail was too much for me to handle. We stood in front of her door, and I gently knocked. A few seconds later, the door opened and Ashlyn stood there. Her eyes grew wide as she stared at me.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
“I want to talk to you,” I replied.
“Get the hell out of here!” she exclaimed as she tried to shut the door.
“Oh, no, you don’t,” Peyton said as she threw her body against the door to stop it from shutting.
The two of them struggled while Ashlyn tried to shut the door and Peyton tried to keep it open.
“Please, Ashlyn. I just want to talk to you,” I pleaded.
Peyton managed to push the door all the way open and knock Ashlyn back a few steps. We walked inside and Peyton shut the door.
“You better make it quick or I’m calling the police,” she said.
My pulse was racing, and my skin was on fire as I stood in front of the woman who was ruining my family.
“Why, Ashlyn? Just tell me why you want to ruin my family.”
As she looked at me, her eyes grew even darker. “You ruined my life.”
“How did I ruin your life?” I asked.
“You took the only person I ever loved away from me. You walked into his life, and he completely ignored me. He was the only person that ever paid attention to me.”
Standing there, I could see how unstable this woman really was.
“You burned down Co
“I wouldn’t have gotten caught if that weasel wouldn’t have said anything.”
“Ashlyn, do you have any regrets about what you did?”
“No, I don’t. Co
A fire burned through my body like never before and an anger I never knew I had emerged from deep within my soul. She threatened my daughter. To threaten me was one thing, but to threaten my child was another. She had just crossed a dangerous line. I felt like my body was out of control as I lunged at her and knocked her ass to the ground. I sat on top of her as I clutched her face with both my hands.
“Don’t you ever threaten my daughter. Do you understand me, you psychotic bitch?”
Ashlyn struggled and managed to break from my grip as she pushed me off of her.
“I’m going to fucking kill you, bitch! It’s something I should have done instead of burning down that building!” she screamed.
She came at me and grabbed my hair, knocking me down as I hit my forehead on the table. I heard Peyton scream as she tried to grab her. Suddenly, the door flew open and two men came ru
“Ellery, you’re bleeding,” Co
“She threatened Julia,” I said.
“What?!” Co
Peyton went and got a cloth from the bathroom and handed it to Co
“You’re in big trouble,” Co
“How did you know I was here?” I asked.
“We aren’t talking about that now.”
“Believe me, we’re talking about it, Co
Two police officers walked into Ashlyn’s apartment and took her from De
One of the officers walked over and asked me what had happened.
“She just went crazy and came after me. She knocked me down, and I hit my head on the table,” I said i
“Would you like to press charges for assault and battery, ma’am?”
“No, I don’t think that’ll be necessary,” Co
I glared at him in disbelief at what he just said. “Yes, I do want to press charges,” I said.
Suddenly, Ashlyn yelled. “She came after me first. It was self-defense!”
The officer looked at Peyton. “Were you a witness, miss?”
“Yes, I was, and that woman made a clear threat to kill her and then she came at her and pushed her into that table. I was so scared, I couldn’t move.”
As Ashlyn was screaming in her defense, the officer handcuffed her and escorted her out of the apartment. De
“Are you okay?” he asked as he took my hand.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Co
“Save it, Co
“Henry’s at the hospital. I just talked to him, and he’s waiting for us. I’ll drive the Range Rover and meet you there,” Peyton said.
I looked at her and nodded my head as I asked, “Did you get it all?”
“I sure did.” She smiled as she held up the little device she had in her hand.
As Peyton walked out of the apartment, Co
“It seems to me I’ve done this with you before.” De
“What did Peyton get?” Co
“Evidence.” I smiled.
Chapter 21
Co
“What the hell did you think you were doing?” he asked through gritted teeth.
“Trying to save our family.”
“I told you to stay away from her and you disobeyed me. You know how unstable she is. She could have killed you, Ellery.”
“Co
“Lay off, Co
Co
“Don’t touch me,” I snapped as I sat down in the chair.
Peyton looked at him and then at me. She wheeled me to the registration desk and the nurse took me back into a room right away. She took the cloth from my head and looked at me.
“Dr. Henry can fix that up for you.” She smiled as she patted my hand.
After she walked out of the room, Co