~~Carson's POV~~
It took a ton of self-control to keep my cool from flying out the window. Coupled with the snug scene I was met with, the impudence his reaction brimmed with was enough to turn my composure into dust.
I broke free from our heated glare exchange with a dart before I could finally release my fists and relax my shoulders. I then veered to the sitting figure and walked toward her before stooping to her eye level. If Ashley was here, then something must have happened. Finding that out was paramount.
"You okay?" I asked warmly, trying to catch her averting eyes.
"I'm good," she replied in a faint whisper.
"What happened?" I needed to know just what landed them both here. Together. And in the stance I'd seen them.
Raising my eyes – turned somber – to him while crouching, I redirected the question to Daniil when Ashley wouldn't reply. "What happened here?"
His eyes drifted paths, shifting to Ashley for a second before snidely reverting to me. "Her lips aren't gagged," he returned.
"I see you have a thing for gags, huh?" I stressed the last part with a scoff, raising an eyebrow.
His eyes went stoic as we affixed each other's for a brief moment in silence. I then heard a puff sound followed by the lifting of his undereye. Apparent he just smiled, smirked, or whatever, beneath that horrible mask of his.
'Relish this all you want, you bastard. As none of it exists behind bars.'
"Well…" I paused, languidly getting on my feet. "I'm afraid you'll have to excuse us," I proceeded to say with hands tucked comfortably in my pockets, and elevated shoulders. He wasn't the only one who could get all brassy.
"The last time I checked, you're the third party here. If there's anyone to leave then it's got to be you," he stated nonchalantly.
"I wish to speak to Ashley alone."
"Bold of you to assume I'll leave simply because you tell me to."
God, his tenacity was upsetting!
"Carson."
I only realized I was slowly approaching him when I heard my name in a faint whisper from behind me. What was I going to do? Punch him? Because my hands were balled into hard fists again by the time I realized it. I exhaled briskly before turning around to Ashley whose dull eyes were already inclined upward.
"I need to speak to you, Ashley."
"What about?"
"In private," I pointed, still stressing the fact that I wanted us to be left alone. I wanted him out of the room and our lives if possible.
With a soft exhale, her eyes wandered a bit before locating Daniil. "It's fine. I believe we have a lot to talk about," she told him concerning me.
I reverted an interrogative gaze to him who in turn raised his brows shruggingly. I could easily tell from the increasing depth around his undereye, how well he relished making me feel like the oddball here. What more could I say when Ashley's precise statement – "it's fine" – was sort of egging him on? Almost as if I was the intruder here when we both knew the rightful owner of that place.
With eyes still adhering to mine, he said to her: "I'll leave you two then," and then like the lunatic he was, winked at me. I listed briefly to Ashley who immediately diverted her gaze elsewhere.
I heaved a sigh at a loss for words. Daniil was the one being asked to leave but I felt like the unwanted folk in their midst. Since when were they so cozy with each other?
I threw my eyes out the window until I heard a smooth gliding sound signaling his exit.
"Ashley, what's going on?" I asked with a compelled calmness, my eyes dawdling out the window before leisurely roving to her. At this point, I had tons of questions.
"I'm sure you didn't come all the way to know that," she returned with staunch eyes. From the look in them, I could tell she wasn't gonna say shit no matter how much I asked. So I figured it was pointless for now.
"Amelia," still holding on to her eyes, I mumbled audibly.
"You said that before." Leaning back with her palms on the space behind her, she adjusted herself, getting comfier on the bed.
"I need you to speak with her." Like the Daniil frenzy was suddenly wiped off my head, I glided the seat avidly across the floor to sit directly in front of her. "I need you," I repeated, now seated.
"Need me for what?"
"She's in an abysmal shape, Ashley. I need someone who could get through to her."
"Do I look like a certified talker, a therapist, or a psychologist to you?"
"Huh?" I let out impulsively with brows creased slightly in disarray. But then, it occurred to me that it was "Ashley" being requested of here. It was never meant to be a smooth sail.
"Did you think I'd jump on the idea the moment you mentioned it?" Of course, not.
"Relax, Ashley. I just need you to speak with her and get something we cannot."
She pressed her lips in a snarky gesture, rolling her eyes away briefly before returning them to focus. "And I ask again, Carson. How are you in the right place?"
"I feel she'd be better inclined to open up to you…" She cut me short with a scoff.
"Why? Because I'm just as she is?"
"C'mon Ashley," I accentuated with frustration slowly seeping into my voice. Did she always have to be difficult? "I just need your help, okay? It's for the sake of the investigation!"
"Don't raise your voice at me," she deadpanned.
A shallow sigh parted my lips in response. I'd never acted this way before. First, it was Ashley getting dolled up on a date with him, then the kiss, and now the compromising stance I caught them in. I guess I was still snarled in the Daniil frenzy.
"I'm sorry," I finally apologized, fighting my hardest to remain collected.
"And if I cannot get anything from her?" she posed, affixing our eyes again.
"Let's save the solution for then."