Chapter 25

brOOKE

I'm sitting on the porch of the house with blood all over me, lost in thought of tonight's actions.

He didn't know anything—this Deacon is smart, but it's clear now that the only way to end this is to end him. Hearing how he recruits shocked me to the core. How many girls' lives are ruined at college parties just so these boys can prove their worth?

He likes them to suffer.

This guy is clearly a woman-hating bitch, and I want to end him. I want to watch him burn. How many Ellies are out there living with their lives in tatters, and then there are the girls who are taken? The horror they live every day seeps into my core.

"I lost control. You were right to do that." I look, and it's Asher as he takes a seat beside me. "I'm sorry."

I sigh. "You don't need to apologize to me, Asher. Tonight was…" There's no words to describe that.

"I wish you didn't have to see that part of me,"

"I'm glad I did. I told you before we were going to do this together, but I couldn't stand there and watch you lose another part of yourself."

"I thought this would be it, you know, the one that would help me finally bring the whole thing down, and I could get to this Deacon guy, and my sister could finally rest."

"We'll get him, Asher. I promise."

"Till then, she'll keep haunting me. She comes to me in my dreams, you know. She's so angry at me. That I can't stop them."

"Asher, they're just dreams," I say softly. "That's not your sister."

"It is. She won't rest till I end this," he says quietly.

He sighs before pulling a joint from his pocket and lighting it up, taking a long draw.

I steal it from his fingertips, taking a draw myself. I've done weed before, and I feel that calm begin to hit. It's not enough and I take another long draw before handing it back.

"Wow, never thought you, out of everyone, would be sitting here with me smoking."

A smile cracks my face, "There's a lot about me you don't know yet."

He smiles back for the first time since we took Shane, and he looks a little bit more like the Asher I know and love. "I know you're strong—I know you love my brother."

I nod slowly. "I really do."

"Good, he needs someone."

"So do you."

The smile stops as he takes another draw.

"I have you guys," he whispers.

"That's not what I mean, and you know it. You love her, I see it, I'm not blind, but Asher, you can't keep pushing her away, you're going to lose her, you know."

"By what Chase told me, I already have. Me and Harper… You know what I love about her Brooke? That fire, that sass, that confidence to be who she is and not give a shit about anyone. She wouldn't be my Harper if she didn't move on with someone else."

"You really want that?"

"What I want doesn't matter. What's best for her does, and a damaged guy like me isn't what's best for her."

"Kyle is a distraction; she's trying to move on, but she doesn't want to, Asher. That girl would do anything for you."

He smiles sadly. "That's what scares me, Brooke. I love you, I do, but I don't want her to become what you have."

He hands me the joint, standing up. "I'll give you a few minutes to finish that, and then I'll get Chase to take you back. Me and Jax can handle the next bit." He leans down, kissing my cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow," and with that, he disappears.

I finish the rest of the joint, enjoying the peace it gives me from the million and one haunting thoughts swirling in my brain, threatening to break me, flicking it to the side just as Chase walks out.

"Ready to go?"

I nod, not saying anything, just climbing up and joining him.

He wraps his arm around my shoulders leading me to his car so this night can end as I ponder what Asher meant about not wanting Harper to turn into what I have.