Chapter 4

The next morning, Ashley woke up around 9. Her mom would be there around 11. She got up and went to take a shower. She couldn't believe after all these years that Brian shows up out of the clear blue and asks her to do something. 'Unbelievable' she thought to herself. She stood underneath the scolding hot water. She finally dragged herself out of the shower and went to get dressed. Once she was done, she looked over to see the one thing that made her still love Brian, no matter how much he pissed her off. Next to her bed lay a 3 year old little girl named Anna. She had blonde hair and blue eyes just like her father.

Ashley stood in the bathroom, a month after Brian had left for LA. She stood with a pregnancy test in one hand, and a watch in the other. She prayed that it would turn out negative, but no such luck. Ashley sat on the bath tub and cried. 'How can this happen to me?' She went into her room and called her mom. Her mom came over immediately. Ashley didn't know what to do. She wasn't going to tell Brian. No, he left her. She knew it was wrong keeping his baby from him, but there was no way she could get a hold of him. His cell phone was not in use anymore. She sat with her mom all night and talked about what would happen in the future.

Ashley woke up out of her trance and noticed she was crying. She wiped her tears away and finished getting ready. She put on a pair of low-rise jeans that went to her hips, and a black wife beater tank top. She dried her hair and put a little bit of make-up on, not that she needed it. When she was done getting ready, she decided to get Anna's things ready. She packed some clothes that would last her awhile, and her favorite stuffed animal. As she was packing she didn't notice Anna get up.

"Mommy?" Ashley looked over to see a very sleepy 3 year old looking at her. 'God she looks just like Brian.'

"Yea sweetie?"

"When grandma come?" she said. Of course she was 3 and her words weren't exactly prefect. She walked over to Anna and bent down to her.

"Grandma will be here soon alright? Why don't you go get ready okay?" Anna smiled and nodded and went to get her own personal things that she never left without. As she was getting her thing, she heard a knock on the door. She went to open the door to find her mother there.

"Hey, mom."

"Oh, Ashley sweetheart. How are you?"

"I'm fine mom, don't worry."

"Did Brian see her?"

"No, she wasn't home yet. Thank goodness." Ashley was glad that Anna wasn't back from daycare yet. She couldn't imagine what Brian would say.

"Ok, where is this little angel at hm?"

"Grandma!" Anna screamed as she into her grandmother's arms.

"Here are her clothes. They should last for awhile. I hope I'm not gone that long, but if I am you have a key, you can always get more things from here if you need. She has her stuffed animals and,"

"Sweetheart! I know. Just breathe, alright. I haven't seen you this flushed since you found out you were pregnant! Really dear, she'll be fine alright?"

Ashley just nodded. "Alright. Baby, mommas gotta go away for awhile, all right? I need you to be extra good for Grandma and Grandpa Okay?"

Anna just nodded. "How long you gone?"

"I dunno sweetie, not long I promise. And when I get back, I'll take you to the zoo! How's that sound?"

"Yay! Bye mommy. I wuv you!"

"I love you to sweetie. Thanks mom."

"No problem sweetie. If you have any problems, don't hesitate."

Ashley just smiled as her mom and daughter left. She waved and tried not to cry. She went back inside and got the last minute things packed and ready to go. She sat around for awhile and waited for Bilkins and them to show up.

Finally she heard a horn honk and she got up and went outside. Unfortunately, Brian had come along to, and he was right there putting her bags in the trunk. She walked around to the side of the car and got in. Thankfully Brian sat up front. They drove to the airport where they were to fly back to Miami. Brian opened the door for her and she got out. She noticed Brian checking her out. He obviously didn't try to hide it. She walked past him to her bags. They were finally put onto a private jet. It was nice, to say the least. There, Ashley got her anklet taken off and she couldn't have been happier. Now she could actually walk normally. She went over and took a seat next to the window. It would be a long few hours until they made it back to Miami. Thankfully, there was no time to talk to anyone because they were getting debriefed on the case. When they arrived at the airport, they drove over to the US Customs building. Ashley held back before going in, having second thoughts. She started talking to herself, which was a bad habit.

"Wait. Hold up." Brian walked over to her to see her mumbling. "Hey Ash what's goin on?"

She missed her nickname that he had called her. "I don't know if I should be trusting you, Bri."

Brian thought of what to say. "Just think of it this way. It's an opportunity for a fresh start now let's just go do this."

"I wouldn't need a fresh start if it weren't for you." She snapped back.

"Ash, you been using that since the day you got busted. Now let's just chill out and go do this."

"I don't need to chill out Bri! And stop calling me Ash." She snapped.

"Yes, you do. And you need to stop blaming me for your every mistake. And Ashley Johnson needs to start taking responsibility for her own actions."

"You need to go to hell."

"And you need to go back to Barstow."

"I'm not going back to Barstow. Not know anyways."

Ashley picked up her purse and followed Brian inside. Once inside, she was still fuming. They were led to a big hangar. An Orbit truck backed in. The back door opened and a young Mexican looking woman stood. She looked to Brian like she knew him. Ashley looked over to Brian to see him gawking at the woman. Ashley felt a little jealous but she squashed that away. He wasn't hers anymore, and that she had to live with. He probably has had many women since they broke up.

"Brian O'Connor, Ashley Johnson, meet Monica Fuentes."

"Do they have background on Verone?" she asked.

"They've been briefed."

"Good. Alright, here's the deal." Ashley really didn't like this woman. "Verone is looking for drivers. I've arranged for both of you to join up. I've also hired some thugs, you know, to make it legit."

"When do we start?" asked Ashley. She couldn't wait to get away from this woman. Something about her just rubbed her the wrong way. She seemed bitchy.

"Right now."

"What are we driving?"

Brian and Ashley looked behind them to see the sheets come off of two high performance, tricked out cars.

"Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo! Don't even think about takin' the convertible. It might loosen your mousse." Ashley said as she rubbed Brian's head. He swatted her hand away.

"No, that's cool. That's too much chrome for me anyways."

"Damn! Where'd ya'll confiscate these rims from man?"

"Check in with us after you meet him." Said Bilkins to Brian.

When they ready to go, Ashley noticed Monica getting in with Brian.

"I'll ride with you cowboy?"

"O she ridin with you now uh?"

"You get the convertible, let's go." Brian looked over to Ashley. She just gave him an annoyed look and got in her car. They took off down the street. She was following Brian because he had the directions. She noticed that he started driving like a dumb ass. She knew this way of driving. It was when he wanted to show off to a pretty girl. She noticed him riving a certain way, and she knew what he was doing. Something that SHE had taught him. They stopped at a red light and she pulled up next to them.

"He did the stare and drive on you didn't he? He got that from me." She said coldly and sped off. They soon showed up at the house where Carter Verone lived. They got out of the cars and Ashley walked up to Brian. Brian watched as she walked over. Her long legs in the tight jeans, and the skin tight black tank top she wore. She had blonde hair that went to her shoulders blowing in the wind, and her silver sunglasses on. 'Damn she looks good.' He snapped out of it as she came closer.

"Hey good looking! Where did you get them cars, the bottom of a cereal box?"

Ashley looked at him with disgust. "Eh! Real funny, Fonzie." The men looked at her with annoyance. "Ass." She said under her breathe.

They heard a whistle and saw to men beckoning them to come over. They started walking over when Brian opened his mouth. He obviously knew her attitude.

"Let's go. Keep your mouth shut and follow my lead, all right?"

"I got this." She said.

"No, I'm serious Ash."

"You handle your business. I'll handle mine, Bri." He looked over to her. She just said his nickname that she had given him. "Don't look so surprised. You use my nickname, I use yours. Even Steven buddy."

They walked into the compound and had to get searched. Ashley didn't like the way this guy was touching her. Obviously he was feeling her up, just in a not so noticeable way.

"Watch your hands buddy."

"Go in line."

"Let's go." One snapped.

"I don't like to be treated as a dog, thank you." She said as she walked over to the line.

They were escorted to the back of the house were "Stay." Verone and Monica walked up not a minute later.

"Thank you for coming on such notice. My red Ferrari was confiscated yesterday, and it sits in an impound lot in Little Haiti. It's about 20 miles from here. The car isn't important. What is important is the package I left in the glove box." Brian and Ashley looked to each other and nodded. "The first team back here with the package will have an opportunity to work for me."

"What we gotta audition?" some mook said.

"Nobody's got a gun to your head." Ashley just scoffed at this. "That's it."

"Driver's licenses. Pass 'em up." Ashley pulled hers out of her back pocket and handed it to her. Her and Brian took off towards their cars, racing each other. It would always be a race between them to see who could get there first. Ashley wasn't gonna let him win. They both got into their cars and were off before anyone could say anything.