56. Asher

I threw Harvey into my car and am now driving him back to Denver. His mom wanted him home for dinner, well, she can fucking have him!

He hasn’t said a word, and he must have been kind of shocked by my show of strength and anger, because after a very short scuffle in the driveway—which ended with my fist in his nose—he slumped into the passenger seat of my truck. He’s been using his jacket sleeve to stanch the bleeding from his left nostril, but he hasn’t said a damn thing. He hasn’t even argued about leaving his car at Hockey House, and he hasn’t tried to open the door and roll out either.

The farther we go, the thicker the tension in the car gets.

He keeps sniffing, then opening his mouth as if to talk before clenching his jaw again.

Little fucker probably doesn’t even know what to say, and I’m too pissed off to even rant at him.

To be honest, I don’t really know what I’m doing. As much as I want to haul this asshole straight to the police station, I’m not sure it’ll do any good yet. I kind of want the cops to come and arrest him somewhere public because he deserves that humiliation. So instead, I’m dropping this douchenugget off to his parents, and they can figure out what to do with him.

Knowing them, they’ll back him up, but this will be my chance to tell it to them straight.

They can’t keep covering for him. I don’t care who their lawyers are. They may be the best in Denver, but my parents have the best lawyers in New York. And all I can hope is that they’ll back me and my girl when it comes down to it.

My insides are aching and swelling with this toxic feeling that makes me want to throw up, but I push a little harder on the gas and make it to the Carmichaels’ home in record time.

It hurts to pull into the driveway. I used to love this place. Every time I drove in here, it felt like I was coming home.

But not anymore.

That sensation has evaporated now, and I’m left with a cold fury… and a sick dread.

This is it.

I’m about to lose Hockey House. I’m about to lose my Denver family. I’m about to make a mess for the people I care about most.

But the woman I love needs me to do this.

And I want to.

For her.

And for all the other women who’ve been affected by this shitgibbon.

“Let’s go,” I spit, shouldering my door open.

Harvey gives me a cautious side-eye, but I hear his heavy sigh as I step out of the car, and he’s soon following me into the house.

“Oh, good! You made it. Asher passed on my message, then.” Aunt Carla’s bright voice fades as she rounds the corner and spots us.

“Harvey?” She rushes toward him. “What happened?”

“Asher punched me,” he spits.

I clench my jaw, my upper lip curling as I throw him the darkest look known to man.

My aunt spears me a sharp glare before wrapping her arm around Harvey’s waist. “Let’s get you some ice, sweetie.”

I scoff and shake my head. “He doesn’t deserve ice.”

“What?” She spins, the word flying out of her mouth like a sharp slap. “You’d better check yourself, Asher Bensen.”

I rise to her fierce look, my sneakers squeaking on the tiled floor as I slowly approach her. “I’ve got evidence now.”

“Some security footage?” She scoffs at me like I’m pitiful. “That’s not going to hold up.”

My shoulder hitches. “Well, maybe the recording of Harvey yelling at my girlfriend, telling her she needed a good fuck and then admitting that he heard her say stop will help.”

“I never said that!” Harvey snaps.

My scorn is potent as I shake my head at him. “You told her she didn’t mean it when she said stop, which means you heard her fucking say it! You raped her, Harvey. You can lie to yourself as much as you want, but the truth is… you raped her.”

Aunt Carla’s cheeks pale, and she glances at her son before dipping her eyes to the floor.

Harvey’s expression buckles with pain, but it doesn’t last long. Uncle Hayes walks into the room. His clipped steps seem to echo off the marble, and I brace myself for battle.

“What’s going on here?” He looks between us, his lips flatlining when he spots Harvey’s red nose and the dried blood crusting on his upper lip. “I see you boys have had a disagreement.”

I let out a harsh laugh. “I don’t even know you guys anymore.” Pain slices through me. “I used to adore you. I used to wish you were my parents and that Harvey was my brother. I used to beg my parents to let me stay here for longer.”

Aunt Carla’s expression softens for a moment, like she can’t remember why she’s mad at me, but then I remind her, because that’s why I’m fucking here, right?

“But I can’t be a part of this family anymore. Not if you’re gonna keep covering for him.” I point at Harvey. “He’s a rapist. Why are you trying to protect him? Do you not care about the girls he’s ruined? Do you not give a shit that the next party he goes to, another innocent woman is going to fall victim to him?”

“They don’t all say no!” Harvey spits. “They don’t all tell me to stop.”

“Harvey, shut up.” His father throws him a look of pure disgust before turning back to me. “It’s loyalty, Asher. He’s my son. I’ll defend him no matter what.”

“Well, you’re not doing him any favors.” My voice rises, echoing back to me off these cold, pristine walls. “He needs help!”

“And you need to get out.” Uncle Hayes’s glare is so hard and unrelenting.

I don’t even know this man anymore.

How could it all change so quickly?

How could they do this?

I shake my head, a deep sadness sweeping through me as I frown at my family and realize how delusional I’ve been. It’s like I’ve had blinders on or something.

They were so great. So perfect.

But they’re assholes, thinking they’re above it. Thinking the rules don’t apply to them.

Fuck this.

I don’t even want to be related to them anymore.

Shaking my head, I give them a pained frown and turn to walk away.

“Remember what I told you,” Uncle Hayes calls after me. “Don’t go doing anything stupid. You drop this nonsense, or you’re out on your ass.”

I slowly spin back to glare at him.

He gives me a pointed look, sliding his hands into his pockets. “You and all your little friends. Homeless.” He almost looks smug, and my fingers curl into a fist before I can stop them.

The urge to beat his ass is so overpowering, but I fight my instincts. Hitting him won’t do me or Lani any favors. I have to be aboveboard on this shit, right? Do everything in my power to ensure that Harvey does go down for what he did.

Licking my lips, I let out a short, disbelieving laugh and shake my head.

“I’m going to do this the right way,” I assure my uncle.

He smiles at me, his eyes glittering like he knew I’d cave.

Little does his know the shitstorm that’s coming.

Harvey snorts, standing a little taller and looking as smug as his father does.

Gone is the wounded victim in front of his mommy. He’s back to being the arrogant fuck who raped my girlfriend.

The way he spoke to Lani rings through me again, and I let the anger swell and surge, stepping forward to deliver a final goodbye before walking out of this place for good.

My punch lands true, whipping Harvey’s head back with a snap. He groans, grabbing for his nose again and tumbling onto this butt.

Aunt Carla lets out a horrified gasp as Uncle Hayes grabs the back of my jacket before I can hammer my fist into Harvey’s face again.

“You are so done!” he yells at me. “This is over!”

“It was over the second he raped my woman.” I shove him off me, turning on the man with venom. “He’s not going to get away with it anymore. And that punch was the least of what he deserves!” I point at my cousin still writhing on the floor. “And you know the sickest part about all this?” I look between my aunt and uncle. “You know I’m right, but you won’t do a fucking thing about it.”

Straightening my jacket, I throw Harvey one more disgusted glare before shaking my head and walking out of that house, knowing I’ll never step foot inside it again.

It kills me.

But I did the right thing.

And that’s fucking liberating.