29

Blair

Present

I don’t know how long we’ve been driving.

It feels like hours, but it can’t have been. The dawn sky stretches out above us, vast and empty, as we race down a deserted stretch of road winding through the hills. The weight of the cash-filled bag presses against my shoulders, each bump in the road a reminder of the life-changing night we just had.

I try not to think about the scene I just left behind at home. My parents, Wes…

I try not to think about how I really don’t care as much as I should do.

Then I hear it—the low roar of an engine. My stomach twists as men’s voices rise in angry shouts, and I immediately know.

The surviving competitors from last night are chasing us down.

“Hold on!” Asher shouts over the engine’s growl and the wind whipping past us.

He veers the bike sharply to the side of the road, bringing it to a halt on sandy dirt. My heart thunders as I grip his waist, watching as a truck pulls up behind us, screeching to a stop. The doors fly open, and three men step out, slamming them shut. It’s three of the competitors from last night—the ones who lost, the ones who wanted that cash as much as we did.

The trio advances, their faces shadowed in the early morning light. One is tall and wiry, a mean glint in his eyes, his lips twisted into a snarl. The second is bulkier, his fists clenched, a streak of dried blood on his face from last night’s fight. The third I recognize as Ivan—the biggest, built like a linebacker, with a cold, calculating expression. He’s the one carrying a gun, his hand resting on the holster, ready to use it.

“I knew they were fucking working together,” the wiry one spits, his voice laced with bitterness.

“Cheaters,” the other sneers. “That little bitch isn’t one of us. Doesn’t deserve it.”

Ivan smirks, his gaze flicking between me and Asher. “Doesn’t matter who it was awarded to. Now we’re out in the real world where there’s no rules. The cash goes to whoever’s holding it. Now hand it over, and we won’t have to fuck either of you up.”

My grip tightens on the bag, my pulse racing. I don’t want to die like this, but I can’t let them take everything we fought for. Not after what we went through. And not now that I have Asher by my side.

Asher steps forward, positioning himself between me and the men.

“You’re not getting her money,” he warns.

The men glance at each other, then start advancing as a unit. Their eyes are fixed on me. Ivan draws his gun, his lips curling into a sadistic grin.

“You want to play hero, pretty boy?” he taunts, aiming the weapon directly at Asher. “Then get ready to fucking die like one.”

I scream out as the gun clicks, but Asher explodes into action, lunging forward before Ivan can fire. His fist slams into Ivan’s jaw, sending him staggering back. The gun falls from his grip, clattering to the ground, and Asher kicks it aside, sending it skidding into the dirt.

The wiry guy lunges at me, grabbing for the bag. I swing it at him, the weight of the cash making contact with his ribs. He grunts, doubling over, but he quickly recovers, fury blazing in his eyes.

Asher steps in, his elbow connecting with the man’s face in a brutal blow. Blood sprays, and the guy collapses to his knees, clutching his broken nose.

The other guy comes at Asher next, swinging a switchblade. Asher dodges, but the blade grazes his chest, slicing through his shirt. My stomach turns as a line of blood wells up over Asher’s chest.

He doesn’t even flinch, his expression darkening with anger. He catches the man’s wrist, twisting it until the blade clatters to the ground, then drives his knee into the guy’s stomach. The man doubles over, gasping, but Asher doesn’t stop—he grabs the fallen switchblade and slams it into the side of the man’s temple, a huge fountain of blood exploding across the dirt,

But Ivan has recovered from Asher’s punch, his face twisted in rage. He charges forward, fists swinging, but Asher sidesteps. He grabs his bike’s handlebars, pivoting it toward Ivan. He revs the engine, the wheels spinning, and Ivan hesitates, thrown off-balance by the unexpected move.

“Asher, be careful!” I scream, half in terror, half in awe.

It’s useless. When in his life has Asher Stone ever been careful?

Ivan charges at me, fury in his eyes. Without a second’s hesitation, Asher leaps back onto the bike, the engine revving like crazy. Ivan barely has a chance to react as Asher accelerates and slams the bike straight into him.

There’s a crunch and blood sprays out as the man’s limp body goes flying.

A gasp rips from my throat

Asher drives up toward me, stopping the bike with a spray of sandy dirt.

I want to scream. But not with terror. My pulse is a million miles an hour and god, it feels so good . No one will ever mess with us again.

There’s just no way around it.

I feel so alive.

Asher was right about me. There’s no need to deny my true nature. I crave the thrill, the pulse-pounding rush of adrenalin as much as he does, and I always will. And I know, standing here beside him, that I’ll never be able to go back to my old, sheltered life.

These men’s blood will stain the desert earth under our feet. But we’re free. It could be days until anyone discovers this scene of broken bodies.

Asher’s expression softens, though his eyes still hold that fierce, possessive glint. “You okay, sugar?”

“That was so messed up,” I say breathlessly. “No, not messed up. Fucked up.”

Despite my words, I’m smiling.

Asher laughs, planting a kiss on top of my head. “Cursing like a sailor. I’m proud of you, baby.”

I nod, my heart pounding as I step closer to him. “But yes. I’m more than okay.”

I reach up, brushing my fingers against his cheek, feeling the heat of his skin beneath the grime and sweat.

Asher Stone would never abandon me. He’d never try to control me, as long as I’m his forever. And he’s mine too. Knowing this with the most certainty I’ve ever felt about anything makes the million dollars feel like nothing at all.

He pulls me close, his arms wrapping around me, and I tilt my face up to his. The empty road stretches out around us, vast and endless, the sun rising higher above the hills. We’re free, finally free, and nothing can hold us back now.

He leans down, his lips brushing mine, and the world fades away as we kiss, the taste of blood and dust mixing with something sweeter, something wild and unbreakable. When we finally pull apart, he’s grinning, his eyes filled with crazed satisfaction.

“Let’s go, baby,” he murmurs against my lips. “Time to leave this hellhole behind.”

“I love you, Asher,” I say. “You’re insane. But I love you.”

His smile is dark, and it makes my heart flutter even harder. “Get on the bike before anyone shows up.”

I hesitate, glancing back at the men lying broken on the ground. “Promise me something first.”

“Anything.”

I take a deep breath, the weight of our past finally lifting. “We’ve been to hell and back together way too many times. Promise me that we'll never go back again.”

I’ve spent long enough there for one lifetime.

“I promise.” His dark grin widens. “And I fucking love you too, sugar. Now let’s get the hell out of here.”

I hop onto the back of his motorbike, fix my arms around the chest of the boy I’ve loved since I was a child, and we roar off into the dawn, leaving everything—and everyone—behind.