chapter 21

ASHTON

Molly fainted in the car, which turned into sleeping. I let her be.

The plan had been to take her to my place and stash her there. No one, or very few, actually knew where I lived. I could name them on one hand, but when she passed out, I decided to go a different route. I was bringing her to a compound very, very few knew about. She’d be safe.

We met with two of my men.

While she was in the back, all bundled up, I went over the plan with Elijah.

Elijah’s phone buzzed. “Body’s been handled, and I checked with our men. There were no 911 calls from her neighbors. Police were not notified.”

Even better. “I want her place cleaned out within the hour.”

He was typing on his phone. “On it.”

“Relocate her stuff to storage.”

“What about the bowling alley?”

“Notify her cousin. Tell him we’ll double his pay if he keeps his mouth shut.”

“Got it.” He continued typing, but his gaze met mine over his phone. “You sure about this?”

No. “This has to be done.”

“And Trace and Jess?”

Jess was alrea