Chapter 74

Ashley's POV

Rocco and I returned to the barracks after my meeting with Zane. On our way back, I tried to engage Rocco in discussions but he zoned out on me. After trying to make him talk, I withdrew into my shell and we returned quietly.

I was engrossed in my thoughts and I remembered my meeting with Zane.

"The members and some of the higher-ups are against my decision to absorb you into the group. They felt that you were just a woman and you could compromise the integrity of the group… As you can see, the group is not a joke. But I watched you fight and I saw your potential. I also did my findings and I realized that you have lived through hell. Your resilience got me hooked. I absorbed you based on my terms… you have to live up to my expectations." Zane's words resounded in my ears again and I jumped up to cut some leaves hanging down from a tall tree.

"Puff! They should get the fuck away… I don't need the group anymore. Mattias is dead already. I wasn't the one who killed him, but