Chapter 35

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

ASHER

W e’ve been at the club for a few hours now. The girls are buzzed and as I dance with Harper under the flashing lights with the bass jumping, I still have this sense of dread. If anything, it’s worse than before. This afternoon it was easy to forget everything. I just got to hang out, which, if I’m honest, I don’t think I’ve ever done. There’s something in me telling me we’re too exposed here, and my grip tightens on my girl. She looks up and furrows her brows.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, baby.” I kiss her forehead, but she can tell I’m lying. I don’t want to worry her or spoil her happiness. She’s been through so much lately I just want her to have one day. One day without hurting, without pain, and I will die before I let anything or anyone spoil that.

“Are we safe here?”

“Perfectly.” I smile, giving her a spin before pulling her back to me.

Brooke runs over to us. “Come on, we’re doing shots.” She grabs Harper’s hand, pulling her away. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring her back safe.” She laughs as she pulls her through the crowd away from me.

Why does that sound like the last thing I’m going to hear her say?

My eyes scan the crowd, and suddenly, I spot something that isn’t right. She shouldn’t be here and worse than that, she’s watching me. She’s sitting with a guy. Someone I don’t recognize. This feels wrong somehow. She smirks at me, taking a sip from her glass before she gets up walking over to me.

“Hey, stranger.”

“What the fuck do you want?”

“Is that any way to greet an old friend?” She smirks. She tries to wrap her arms around me. “Dance with me, Asher.”

I grab her wrists, pushing her away from me. “I don’t fucking think so.”

“Now that’s just rude.” Her eyes pinch as her face transforms.

I look for the guys but can’t see them.

“Chase is with his precious little bitch at the bar, along with your girl.” She looks at my ring. “Or should I say wife?”

“What the fuck do you want? If you think you’re getting Chase back, you’re sorely fucking mistaken. There’s no way he would leave Brooke for a whore like you.”

“Oh, I’m a whore, am I? I don’t remember you saying that the last time we fucked.”

I glare at her. The thought of my cock being inside her now makes me feel sick, bile rising in my throat.

“We both know what that was, Chloe.”

She laughs. “Does Chase?”

“Firstly, if you think Chase doesn’t know I fucked you, you’re mistaken, and secondly, if you think he gave a fuck about it, then you’re just pathetic. We both used you. That’s all you’re fucking good for, now fuck off.” I barge past her, but she grabs my wrist, and all I can feel is a sharp pain over and over again until my vision blurs. I look down, grabbing my waist and as I pull my hand back, all I see is blood.

“No, Asher, I used you and you were the one too pathetic to see it, and right now, my daddy wants to speak to you.”

HARPER

“Oh my god, what was that?” I pull a face, slamming the empty shot glass down. “That was nasty.”

Brooke and Chase laugh. “It’s called a fireball.”

“It took me a while to get used to them too.” Brooke smiles

“Nope, no way I’m getting used to that.”

“I need to take a leak,” Chase says.

“That’s a gross way to put it.” I laugh, and he grins before jumping off the chair. “I’ll come with, bro,” Jax says.

I shake my head sticking my tongue out, trying to get the taste from my mouth as both leave us.

“Where did Asher go?” I look back to the dance floor, but I can’t see him. I jump off the bar stool and spot a blonde girl with him. “Is that who I think it is?”

Brooke follows my gaze. “Is that Chloe?”

“I think so, why the fuck would she be here? We’re miles away from home.”

“I don’t know, but something doesn’t feel right.”

Suddenly, I see something glisten, reflecting the club lights. It’s a blade. She slams it into Asher once, twice—I lose count. I watch him fall to his knees, blood dripping on the floor.

“Get the guys,” I scream at Brooke before jumping off the chair and launching toward them.

“Asher,” I scream out. Chloe looks up at me and smirks. She waves the blade at me before dropping it on the floor. The next thing I know, two men pick Asher off the floor and they take off running for the door. I turn sharply on my feet. They’re dragging Asher, a blood trail following them.

Fuck, he’s losing too much blood. I can’t fucking lose him. I push through the sea of bodies, but by the time I get to the door and get out, they’re gone.

I look around the street, seeing a van door being slammed shut and I take off running after them. The van zooms off and I don’t have a chance at catching them. I fall to my knees, seeing the van disappear around the corner. I yell his name and then just scream. I hear it, the pain, the other part of me gone. I don’t even know if he’s alive, my body collapsing in on itself.

“Harper!” Chase shouts, pulling me to my feet. I look up at him, feeling numb. “Where did they go? Harper, where did they fucking go?”

I point at the corner they just turned.

“We’re gonna get him back, Harper, I promise you.”

“It’s too late,” I choke out through the tears. “She stabbed him.”

“Harper, no, that doesn’t mean anything.”

Jax nudges him and looks down at the trail of blood coming from the club.

“She stabbed him,” I whisper. “Over and over again.”

I shrug Chase off, walking back to the car that Jax drove us in. My blood goes cold as I feel the dark seep in. I wipe the tears from my face. They can fuck with me, but they are not doing this. I go numb, my mind preparing me for what has to be done.

“Harper, where are you going?” Brooke runs after me.

“I’m going home to get my gun. You’re going to take me to the Twisted Brothers and then I’m going to end this. And if he’s dead, Brooke, that bitch is going to wish she had never been fucking born.”