Ashes to Ashes Read online

  She stopped in the dining room and crossed her arms over her massive tits, her tight leopard-print top almost splitting apart from being a size too small. “I don’t want to take this to the tenancy tribunal, Ash, but I will if you push me,” she said with a strong Croatian accent, something I had no problem understanding since my grandfather spoke the same way. Kara was full Croatian, while I was half, along with Māori and Romanian, the latter two from my father’s side. It was why people had a hard time telling what nationality I was. They usually thought I was either Italian, Spanish, or Brazilian even though I spoke with a strong Māori-New Zealand accent.

  “You destroyed my relationship,” I growled at Kara. “You don’t have any rights.”

  “Not according to the tenancy act,” she replied, wiggling her blonde head with attitude, “and Tiana destroyed your relationship, not me.”

  “Cos you kept filling her with lies ’bout me fucking L!” I boomed.

  She placed a finger to her full, lying, conniving lips. “Shush, you’ll wake Lily.”

  I gritted my teeth. “I wouldn’t be yelling if you weren’t ’ere, riling me up,” I all but hissed.

  She rolled her pale blue eyes as though I was a child throwing a tantrum, the woman having a bad habit of patronising people. “How about you stop letting your temper get the better of you and actually think. I did you a favour getting rid of Tiana. She never helped with Lily, and don’t get me started on the amount of times I heard you two argue. Love dies, Ash. Get over it, I have.”

  “Love hasn’t died, I still love Tiana.”

  “While I still love your brother, but he doesn’t want me, while you left Tiana. You could’ve worked it out with her, but you chose not to. Like myself, you had to move on.”

  I grunted, knowing she was right about that, but I still didn’t want the conniving bitch living under my roof. “Take me to tribunal, I don’t care, just leave,” I said, walking past her.

  She followed me into the kitchen. “Stop being so pig-headed, Ash. I’m good with Lily. You need me here. You can’t work without a babysitter and I have nowhere else to go. I also love looking after the little darling, unlike Tiana. I understand Lily’s not Tiana’s, but she isn’t mine either, and I treat her like she is.”

  I opened the fridge, searching for a bottle of water. “That’s cos you’re a crazy bitch, who’s tryna push herself into my life. I’m not a substitute for my brother.”

  “I know you’re not, Ash, and I’m not treating you like you are.”

  Still holding the fridge door open, I glanced back at her. “Stop lying, Kara, I’m not a fool. You only want me cos I look like my bro, but unlike Dante, I’m not attracted to you.”

  She scowled at me. “Of course you are,” she swept a hand over her body, “look at me, I’m hot.”

  I didn’t reply, the woman wrong about many things, just not that, because she was hot. She reminded me of a young Marilyn Monroe with her curvy figure and long blonde hair. Yet, unlike Norma Jean, she was far from innocent-looking. Her cold blue eyes were calculating, always assessing what she could get out of people, or who she could fuck as well as fuck over.

  “I still don’t have any interest in you, Kara,” I replied firmly, “so do right by me, like I did right by you. I took you in when no one else would help you, and all you’ve done is lose me the woman I love and my son. You’re lucky you ain’t six feet under for that.”

  She rolled her eyes again. “You wouldn’t hurt me, Ash, so don’t even pretend that you would. You forget I’ve known you for a while.”

  I grunted, annoyed she’d called my bluff. I turned back to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water, almost jumping out of my skin as she ran her long fingernails down my back.

  “Will you fuckin’ stop that?” I growled, pissed she wouldn’t give up.

  “I love it when you get angry,” she purred. “You’re so sexy when you lose your cool.”

  “While you’re a sadistic bitch.”

  “No, just horny,” she said, licking her lips like she wanted to suck me dry. And if I let her, she’d drop to her knees and have my cock in her mouth within seconds. I wondered what Tiana would think if she knew how Kara was treating me. Kara was like Janus, the two-faced god. She showed Tiana a nice, innocent side, pretending to be a mate, while coming onto me so strong that I’d had to literally push her away more than once. I’d met aggressive females before, but Kara made them all look like declawed kittens, the harpy a breed of her own.

  “I’ll only stop when you give me what I want, Ash,” she said, winking at me.

  “You ain’t ever riding my dick, so quit it, Kara, it’s gettin’ old and sad,” I said, taking a swig of water.

  “I’m not old!” she snapped, misinterpreting my words, her English not completely up to speed. “You know I’m younger than you. I’m not sad either, just horny. You made me that way, so fix it.”

  I sneered at her. “Go frig yourself to pictures of Dante cos it ain’t gonna happen.”

  Her face hardened. “Stop talking about that govno!” she snapped, calling my brother a shit in Croatian. “He abandoned me.”

  “What did’ja expect after you treated him like crap? You kept pushing and pushing until he’d had enough.”

  “It’s not my fault he’s a pussy who couldn’t handle me, whereas you...” She placed a hand on my chest. “You’re all man. You could handle me.”

  I removed her hand from my chest. “While you could never handle me, so keep your hands to yourself.”

  “Or you’ll do what precisely, dragi?”

  “Stop callin’ me that.”

  She stepped in closer. “But you are a dear, one that’s so fucking hot I want to lick you all over.” She pressed up against me.

  I put the bottle of water down on the bench and took hold of her shoulders, moving her to the side. “Not happening,” I said, heading out of the kitchen.

  “Why?” she barked. “You have no partner now.”

  I stopped in the sitting room, the woman one step behind me. “I have no interest in you, Kara. Never have and never will. Dante and I have completely different tastes in chicks.”

  “But I’m every man’s taste!” she said, both sounding and looking offended.

  “Not mine.”

  “I think you’re lying, you good for nothing man!”

  I laughed, the way she’d said it sounding funny.

  “Don’t laugh at me! I’m the only reason you can still work. I look after Lily, not your so-called taste in women. Where is Tiana?” She looked around the lounge theatrically. “I don’t see her.”

  “Which is hardly surprising since I split with her.”

  “I’m still a better option than her. I would pleasure you at night, while looking after your child during the day. I’ll also cook you good Croatian food. Tiana can’t do any of those. She was always whining she was tired, never lifting a finger to help you with Lily, and I know you didn’t like her cooking.”

  I grimaced, most of what she’d said true. Tiana had barely looked after Lily. I understood she didn’t want to raise another woman’s child, but if she wanted to be with me, she had little choice, because I wasn’t giving up my baby girl no matter how much I loved Tiana. I’d gotten Lily’s mother pregnant while Tiana and I weren’t together, Tiana having left me due to my drug dealing business. I’d eventually split up with Beth after I’d found out she’d cheated on me with my brother Dante, moving back with Tiana, giving up dealing to be with her and my now eleven-year-old son. So, when Beth had said she was pregnant, everyone had assumed it was Dante’s baby. We’d learned otherwise not long before Beth got hit by a car. Lily had survived, but Beth had died, leaving me with a new-born and very little help from my partner, who was now my ex.

  “You know it’s true,” Kara said, rubbing it in. “Tiana isn’t good for you. You two were constantly arguing. Worse, you haven’t fucked her since I moved in here.”

  I jerked my head back. “What the hell, Kara? How the fuck would ja know that?”

  “Tiana told me.”

  “Why would she tell you that?” I asked, annoyed that Tiana had spoken about our sex life, or lack thereof, to someone as lecherous as Kara.

  “I’m her friend, and she was upset that you stopped touching her.”

  “You’re not her friend, you’re a snake in the grass, while I wuz tired. That happens when I’m forced to work around the clock, then hafta come home to look after a baby, while she slept. What did she expect?”

  “See, she was bad for your health, while I’m good for it. I look after Lily well, allowing you to sleep.” She stepped in closer. “I can also remedy your sexual drought, because a man as sexy as you should have sex every day, multiple times.”

  I sneered at her. “Fuck off.”

  “Oh, no, I want to fuck all over you,” she said, giving me a wicked grin. “I masturbate to thoughts of you every night. I’d pay you to have sex.”

  “I’m not a fuckin’ whore,” I snapped. “If you want a ho, go pay my father. He’ll take your money.”

  Her cold blue eyes sparkled. “He may be able to make me come, but he’s not who I want.” She unzipped the front of her top and unhooked her bra, releasing her massive tits.

  “For fuck’s sake,” I snapped, turning away from her. “Put those things away.”

  She moved up behind me, pressing her tits against my back.

  I spun around fast. “Stop it, Kara,” I said, backing up.

  She followed me, reaching for my crotch.

  I smacked her hand away. “I’m warning you, Kara,” I growled.

  “You’re all talk, Ash,” she said, running her hand over my crotch.

  Having had more than enough of her shit, I grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her against the wall, getting a startled yelp out of her. I lowered my face to hers, the chick quite a bit shorter than me. “I’m not a nice man, Kara,” I growled low. “I’m more likely to fuck you up than fuck you.”

  She did a little shake, her pupils growing big. Before I knew what was happening, she grabbed my head and yanked it down, smashing her lips against mine. I put my hands in between us and pushed away from her, getting a handful of tits in the process. I instantly whipped my hands away, horrified I’d touched them.

  She laughed, looking pleased with herself. “Now that, Ash, is what I’m talking about.” Her eyes dropped to my crotch. “And it looks like it turned you on too, big boy.”

  I covered my crotch, disgusted that I was hard.

  She took a step towards me.

  I backed up fast, almost falling over the coffee table. “Keep the fuck away from me!”

  She placed a finger to her lips. “Shush, you’ll wake up Lily.”

  I quickly moved to the side as she went for me again. I didn’t want to touch her, but she wouldn’t stop. “My father wuz right, I should never have let you stay ’ere.”

  She shook her head. “He wasn’t right because I’m perfect for you, Ash. Unlike Tiana, I’m happy to help raise your child. I can’t have children, so this is a perfect setup.”

  I sneered at her. “So, you’re after my kid.”

  She shook her head again. “No, I’m after you, Lily is just a bonus. We can be a family.”

  “You’re delusional.”

  “No, I’m realistic. You need someone to help raise Lily, I need someone to care for me, and Lily needs two parents.”

  “You’ll never be Lily’s parent.”

  “Step parent.”

  “I know what you mean, and it’s not happening. Firstly, I’m never gettin’ married, and secondly, I don’t want you, Kara. End of story.”

  “Not until I say so.” She reached behind her back and unzipped her skirt, dropping it to the floor.

  “Stop doin’ that!”

  Smiling at me, she leaned forward and shimmied out of her barely there G-string, dropping it to the floor too. Now completely naked, she ran her hand over her clean-shaven pussy, dipping her finger between her slit. “You can’t tell me this doesn’t turn you on,” she said, licking her full lips, looking like she wanted to wrap them around my cock. My cock twitched at the sight, but my mind didn’t want anything to do with the barracuda.

  “Take your loose cunt and fuck off,” I growled. “Cos I’m never gonna fuck it.”

  Her eyes widened, then her hand whipped out, slapping me across the face.

  I grabbed her wrist. “That’s the only time I’ll let you hit me, Kara. Do it again, and I won’t be so nice.”

  “Nice?” she hissed. “You aren’t fucking nice, Ash. You’re a nasty, bitter man who refuses to see what’s good for him.”

  “You’re not good for anyone, Kara, you’re poison,” I said, letting go of her wrist.

  She shoved my chest.

  I sneered at her and took a step closer, making her stumble back. “I ain’t Dante. I won’t let you push me around.”

  She sneered right back. “Don’t delude yourself, you’re just like your brother. Even when I pushed him, he never raised a hand to me, like you won’t. You’re too noble, Ash. You’re not your father, you wouldn’t hurt a woman.”

  I glared at her. “I can still toss you out on your fat arse.”

  Her eyes widened. “You didn’t just say that!”

  I grinned. “You bet I did.”

  Her hand whipped out again. I caught it before it could connect with my face and shunted her back, pushing her against the wall again. I pressed my body against hers, causing her to inhale sharply.

  “There you go,” I sneered. “You’ve got my body against yours. Enjoy it, cos it’s all you’re gonna get.” My sneer turned into a smile. “And here’s sumpthin’ for you to mull over, draga. I may not be able to kill you, but I’m fine with setting Killer onto you,” I said, mentioning my father’s ex, a hitman with multiple personalities, three to be precise. Killer was deadly, Murderer even deadlier, a true psychopath without a shred of empathy, while the third personality was a teenage girl with masochistic tendencies, her name Pain.

  Kara inhaled sharply. “You wouldn’t!”

  She was right, but she didn’t need to know that. “He’s already asked to put a bullet in your head, so don’t tempt fate.”

  Her face dropped, Kara clearly believing me.

  I sniggered, amused that I’d stunned her into silence, not something that happened often. She was hard to shock, especially with her rough background, my brother’s ex having survived the Bosnian War.

  I let go of her and turned to the front door, now in a good mood, getting one over Kara better than downing some uppers. Plus, it was about time I put her in her place, something that was long overdue.

  “Get dressed and leave,” I said, reaching for the door handle, hoping there was a cheque in the mail. “I want you out by the end of the day.”

  I opened the door, jumping at the sight of one of my best mates standing on my front step. L had her hand raised, looking like she was about to knock. A stunning smile lit up her beautiful face, the chick the complete opposite of Kara. She was so sweet, a sex kitten who had no idea how hot she looked, and today was no different. Her perky tits were on full display, the sunlight making her white blouse see-through, her lacy bra visible underneath. It was why I was finding it incredibly hard to keep my eyes on her face, even though it was a face I adored. She had stunning hazel-green eyes and fine porcelain features, the woman a right doll, her gorgeous ginger and blonde hair framing everything perfectly. Ever since she’d returned from Wales, I found it hard to think of her as the kid I was friends with back in high school. Twelve years ago, she’d looked like a pretty boy, with bright orange hair and a less curvy figure, if you could even call it curvy now, because she was so slim.

  “Hello, L!” Kara chimed behind me, making me stiffen. I’d forgotten Kara was there, L like a breath of fresh air in a cave filled with choking smoke.

  L’s gaze moved past me, her eyes going big at the sight of the naked bitch at my back. “No, no, no,” L said, shaking her head, her expression horrified. Then she was spinning around, looking like she was about to bolt.

  I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her inside, causing her to squeal. I let go of her and shut the door so she couldn’t escape. “It’s not what it looks like,” I said, wanting to strangle Kara.

  L took a step away from me. “What it looks like,” she said, her voice trembling, “is that you had sex with Kara.”

  I grimaced, insulted that she thought I’d stoop that low. “I have no interest in doin’ that barracuda. Never have and never will.”

  “Then why is she naked!” L yelled, thrusting a finger in Kara’s direction.

  “She’s sexually harassing me, won’t take no for a bloody answer. She thinks if she walks around naked I’ll fuck her like Dante did. Screw that, I don’t like nasty women.” I looked back at Kara, wanting to piss her off. “Especially ones with fat arses and fake tits.”

  Kara’s eyes widened. “My tits are real!” she said, not defending her arse, the chick getting a bit too comfortable with eating my food. Still, I’d only said it because I knew it would rile her, like she was riling me, because I didn’t care if she was fat or thin. I liked women of all sizes. Small arses, big arses, I had no type in that regard, only that they were sweet-natured, like Tiana used to be and L had always been.

  Kara’s sulky expression disappeared. A sly smile replaced it, not boding well for me. She made a ticking sound, like a snake with a forked tongue, her cold blue eyes moving to L. “He’s lying, L. He pushed me against the wall and pressed his body against mine. Mmm, it felt sooo good. Ash baby has one enormous cock, so big when it’s hard.”

  I stiffened. “Did you forget what I said ’bout Killer?” I snapped, sick of her manipulating people.

  She ran a finger over her lower lip, giving me a smug smile. “Don’t fool yourself, Ash, you would never put Killer on me. Despite Dante dumping me, he still loves me. If you got me killed, he’d never forgive you, and I know you love your brother too much to do that.” She licked her finger and lowered it to her pussy, biting her lip, looking at me like she’d experienced my cock inside of her. She had no shame, sex not meaning the same to her as it did to me—or anyone else. She’d worked as both a porn star and a hooker, the woman used to exposing herself to others.