CHAPTER SIX|| BLAST FROM THE PAST

tw:
- Mentions of toxic relationships/domestic abuse

*****

The contents of the box was sickening. Sending a trail of goosebumps across Jays body as he peered inside; The hoodie Ash had left Jay's apartment in folded neatly inside the box, followed by more photos.. from inside Ash's apartment, Photos of her getting ready for work, Cooking, Watching Tv.

Jay swallowed the lump in his throat as his Eyes darted between the box and Kelly before his eyes fell on a note. he pulled the note from the box, trying to keep his hands steady he unfolded the crumpled iece of paprer catching a glimpse of the scruffy handwriting as he read it:

if you're reading this i'm having a lot of fun. ashley is safe for now, or is she? there's another family out there wanting her. not just me, not just you. there's another. maybe she's safer with them.. oh how easy it was for me to get into her apartment, maybe you need to sort out your protection skills jay. there's another thing. your not the only one who received a box. we'll see who she makes it back too. if she makes it back at all.

the anxiety running through jay as he read the note aloud, the room falling silent, as a cloud of indescribable panic rushed through the veins of everyone in the room. Jay's heart pounding against his chest with fear. burning anxiety and worry leaving a scolding trail as it rolled through his body. Adrenaline kicked in as Jay rushed back to the surveillance room.

He startled Kevin who sat at the desk plainly waiting for Ash to make contact, Yet as Jay rushed in he frantically pulled on a pair of headphones before bringing the radio-like device up to his lips as he exclaimed: "Ash? Ashley are you there? i need your location now."

kevin leant over the desk his hand on the mouse of the computer trying to find Her last location, urgency clouded over they room as everyone piled in. Looks of panic etched onto everyones face waiting to know if she was okay, If Ash was safe. Yet the way Kevin's face fell was all Jay needed to know

"The trackers have been disconnected.." Kevin announced panic lacing his voice as Jay's eyes went wide, and he pulled the headphones from his head slamming them against the table: "Fuck"

****

Ash sighed as she laid on the small motel bed, Dom laying on the bed next to hers an awkward silence lingered, a silence that hadn't broken since being in the car. Yet the question in Ashleys mind outweighed her desire for silence. just one question, one question that tugged at her heart, one question that caused a pain deep within her chest.

turning her head she looked over at Dom who was staring up at the ceiling, memories of her old life flooding back. Good memories almost tormented her more than the bad ones. reminding her more of what she'd lost... Taking a breath she had to ask;

"how is he?" Dom's head turned to look at the girl he used to consider his sister. his best friend. the person who'd been there for him before Brian, before Letty. he'd saved her, she'd saved him. a sense of betrayal still rant through his veins, a feeling he couldn't let go off, but he knew he could push it aside..

"he's never been the same since you left. i think it was the not knowing. he thinks it was his fault." Dom shrugged as his eyes remained on Ash waiting for her reaction, yet his words made her body seize. she hadn't expected the answer to hurt as much as it did, it felt like someone had just punched her in the chest, leaving behind a gapping hole where her heart had once been.

"it wasn't him. not at all. i loved him." loved, Loved was a word she'd never imagined using to explain her feelings for him. The whole conversation making her heart violently ache with longing for a life she could've lived all those years ago.

"if you loved him why'd you leave? you didn't just leave him, you left all of us..." biting the inside of her cheek she contemplated telling him the truth but the truth was something that terrified her more than conflict ever did.

"i-" just as she when to speak she was cut off by her phone ringing, reaching into the draw she'd stuffed it in so they couldn't hear her and Dom she pulled it out, looking at the caller id it wasn't reyes, or josè it was the emergency line intelligence has set up. sitting up with narrow eyes, she answered the phone to a panicked jay.

"Ashley?! are you okay?" panic was prominent in his voice, she could almost see his face contorted with worry as her brows furrowed in confusion as to what could have possibly worried him.

"yeah jay i'm good. i'm safe. why??" she could feel the anxiety radiating of him and he wasn't even there, she could hear his uneven shaky breaths through the phone and other panicked voices in the background, Kelly..

"someone's stalking you. took the trackers off your car. they sent Kelly a box, had my hoodie in it you went home in the other morning, and a note. we're about to roll out" the hoodie had been in her apartment, there was no way someone got in there, surely not. she was in disbelief, her heart rate picking up, but she couldn't have them jeopardised this case. she was safe, she was with dom.

"no! don't, whatever the note says, send me a photo of it. do not jeopardise this case based on that. i'm safe" she stated sitting up and leaning against the headboard of the bed, the urgency in her voice making Dom watch with a raised brow.

"how are you safe? out there on your own?! we are coming. it's not safe we'll get them another way." Jay argued, Ash had a feeling she knew who had sent the letters and if she was right they were just trying to scare her, at least for now.

"is Kelly there" ash asked, she knew the concern jay felt for her was real and a part of her wanted to tell him she loved him and promise she'd be okay, but after what Dom had just said.. she couldn't, she'd never felt so conflicted.

"yeah and the whole team" ash nodded before she quickly ordered jay to put her on speaker, once he had she spoke again, everything was becoming too close...

"you all have to trust me. i'm safe. don't worry about those letters and shit right now. do not jeopardise this case. Kelly? i'm with Dom i'm safe. just trust me" she heard Kelly mutter a 'be safe' he knew better than to argue with her, he trusted her, she just wished the rest of the team did. the sound of rustling filled her ear followed her sarge's voice.

"ash, who's dom?" Hank Voight asked, his stern voice invading her ear drums.

"he works for agent luke hobbs DSS. i can do this sarge. i'll sort the box out when i'm back. we need to get these guys." she heard a sigh on the other line before he spoke again; "keep your mics on."

"thanks sarge" she ended the phone and looked over at Dom who was now sat up on his bed, Ash got up walking over to the window as her phone pinged Jay sent her a picture of the note. reading it shocked her. it wasn't the handwriting she expected. pulling the curtain back she looked outside, looking over at her car. no one to be seen.a phone rung startling ash, looking over at Dom, his phone now to his ear. his eyes wide upon hearing whatever was being said.

"what does the note say?" Dom questioned, his shoulders squared off, his body stiffening as he listened.

"tell Brian she's safe okay. i'm with her, not that she needs me she can clearly look after herself" Dom looked over at ash and the pure mention of his name made her heart ache, memories again filling her brain.

Dom got up, walking over to Ash. her heart racing yet again. she hated this, she hated feeling like this. she started a new life so she didn't have to feel vulnerable, here she was. history always repeated its self. she'd rather have a gun waved in her face then continue feeling like this. emotions were never really something ash was good at. and this was too much.

"he wants to talk to you" ash felt the memories flooding back again, meeting brian;

flashback

Ash had been helping Mia and Dom run the Toretto market & cafe in between street racing with dom and the rest of his friends, she'd gotten used to working behind the counter with Mia, they truly were becoming sisters. Working there didn't feel like work, it felt like spending time with family.

Ash had noticed a man, a beautiful man. blonde hair blue eyes. he looked like an angle, his blue eyes stared deep within her soul causing a deep blush to spread across her cheeks when ever her eyes met his. Ashley couldn't believe the man before her every morning at the same time.

It had become a thing now, Brian would come to the cafe every morning, get a tuna sandwich and go about his day. but it was starting to become the only thing that Ash looked forward to on a daily basis. he was becoming a breath of fresh air to her.

the only thing stopping her from talking to him was her shitty boyfriend. who just happened to be Mia's boyfriends best friend. and they hated Brian, they hadn't even spoke to him. yet they hated him. Ash hated the relationship she was in, but she knew the only family she did have loved him. Dom, Mia, Jesse, they all loved Theo.

of course she didn't tell them about the way he controlled her, forced her to wear what he deemed acceptable, the way he only let her talk to Dom and mias boyfriend. and how he would point out everything about her body, the way she acted. anything he could use against her he would use. he reminded her of her father.

he was making ash hate herself with each mentally draining comment at a time. then she saw how Brian had managed to treat her better in the five minute conversations they would have in the mornings then Theo ever had in their entire relationship.

another morning came around, Vince and Theo sat at the counter intensely watching over Brian sat on the other side of the counter closer to Ash as she served him. god, she'd never seen a man so handsome, angelic even. just the short conversation enough to put a smile on her face. as she walked away she heard Mia call out to her boyfriend.

Ash turned to make a coffee seeing Vince and Theo staring into Brian's beautiful eyes with hatred as if trying to intimidate him, but Brian didn't care. when Vince finally looked over at his girlfriend she asked if he wanted anything. ash knew if she did the same to Theo there'd be hell to pay for later.

she watched Theo continue to stare him out as Brian got up grabbing his wallet from his pocket and pulling out enough cash to pay for his meal and for a good tip, having haad enough of the other men's boring intimidation tactics.

"thanks a lot ash, see you tomorrow" she smiled thanking him back, she'd convinced herself it was just some childish crush. but he truly was gorgeous. brain turned to leave, ash could feel the anger radiating from Theo as he got up following Brian out.

"no! try fat burger from now on! get yourself a double cheese for 2.95  faggot!" Theo spat, anger dripping from his tongue like poison as he followed brian out of the cafe making Ashley's heart race, with panic and embarrassment.

"Theo stop it!" Ash reasoned. yet she knew. she knew she could say anything and he wouldn't listen. he was just like her father. and it made her sick to her stomach.

"i just like the tuna here" Brian called back, Ash could tell it wouldn't end well. Theo was just like her dad, his anger was extreme. he couldn't control himself even sober. maybe she'd she'd even convinced herself he was what she deserved. maybe she deserved the violent anger that came in waves, destroying anything in its path. even if that was Ash.

"bull shit asshole! no one likes the tuna here" Theo called out his anger only growing as b=Brian didn't stop for the confrontation, Theo scoffed as he started walking faster to catch up with Brian who clearly didn't care for what Theo had to say.

"yeah well i do" god Brian was cocky, if Theo wasn't about to put him on his ass, ash would've laughed. she watched as Theo pushed Brian against his truck, Brian turned surging forward to punch Theo. it landing right on his cheekbone, sending him off Balance.

"Dom! jesus christ will you get out there please!" Mia called out for her brother as the two men outside broke into a fist fight. Ash sighed as Dom didn't move. Ash took her apron off and jogged outside going to break the fight up.

"shit Dom! Ash is going! i'm not kidding Dom get out there!" Mia exclaimed at her brother as she watched Ash rush outside towards the two men. Aom looked out the window seeing Brian knee Theo in the stomach and looked at his sister.

"what'd you put in that sandwich" he joked before Letty urged him to go outside and he did following ash knowing her temper wasn't great either.

"Theo! get a grip! stop!" ash yelled trying to split it up, Theo trying to push her out of the way only for Brian to retaliate, not liking the way Theo was pushing her.

"don't put your hands on her asshole" Brian exclaimed through gritted teeth, Dom now rushing outside as ash tried pulling Theo away only to catch an elbow in the ribs that sent her flying back to the floor as Theo lunged at Brian again.

the two men now wrestling against the car before falling to the floor, Letty rushing over to Ash to help up the injured girl. fighting off tears as she leant against Letty watching dom brake up the fight.

"you good?" Letty asked as Ash wiped her grazed palms against her jeans the situation filling her with unease as she nodded brushing off Letty concern while trying to keep her composure.

"i'm good" ash scoffed her eyes glued to the fight in-front of her as her heart raced, her eyes glued to Brian. Dom threw Brian against a car with all the strength he could muster, Brian clearly shocked of the strength Dom had.

"hey man! he was in my face! hit her to the floor!" Brian defended himself hands up in defeat not wanting to get hit by Dom, Ash scoffed walking back, heading inside the cafe she ignored mia's concern walking past her and going to the bathroom, walking into the privacy of a locked stall as tears welled up into her eyes.

flashback over

"i can't i'm sorry" she declined speaking to him, and walked towards the bathroom locking the door behind her, tears welled up in her eyes as she leant against the door in almost the same way they had when they met all that time ago. she couldn't do it. she couldn't think about the memories.

tears ran down her cheeks as she slid down the door, she hated it. she hated herself. she hated everything, she just wanted to be happy but she didn't know her own emotions. thoughts rushed through her mind, possibilities, questions. what her life could've been if she'd stayed... told the truth...

she heard Dom apologise to Brian behind the locked door, she wanted Brian, she wanted to hug him. tell him how sorry she was, but it was too painful. maybe she'd overreacted all those years ago. maybe the fear from her dad and Theo still consumed her, maybe she was scared of what he'd do to her if she told him the truth so she ran.

but she has no reason to fear that, Brian was the nicest guy she'd ever met. he treated her like a princess, he'd treated her like she was most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. her emotions were all over the place. between the case, the letters, jay, Brian, her whole life unraveling before her eyes and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

"ash.. Brian got a box with a old shirt of his in it, photos of you and a letter" what the fuck.

**

A/N- hey guys, Just a quick announcement:
I Just started a Twilight x Teen wolf fic that can be found on my page! named Taste of Solitude...

Also i have instagram and Tiktok which i post a lot of Book themed: Edits, Spoilers Etc...

My insta; PizzaboyRhee_
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