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Notjustfor Temperance, but because I knew without a doubt that no one just casually decided to do that. He’d gone out there with a plan—that meant he’d done that shit before.
How many? How many more girls had he hurt like that?
He needs to die.
“Asher,” Justin said, but I didn’t give a fuck. I had a job to do—ensure this fuck never hurt Temperance again. “Asher.” Both times, his voice never raised higher than what he’d use in casual conversation.
A hand gripped my shoulder, and I rounded, my fist raised to attack whoever it was who grabbed me. Instead, I was met with Justin’s remorseless, light brown eyes.
“He’s nearly unconscious. You should leave him alive. Though he doesn’t deserve to live, you shouldn’t have to pay the price for his miserable existence,” Justin said flatly. “All three are down. We need them awake so they understand the gravity of this situation and what any future transgressions will bring them. Understand?”
As I stared into his eyes, I came back to myself. My fists throbbed, and my breaths were ragged pants. My heart raced inside my chest, and I wasn’t entirely sure it wouldn’t beat right out of it.
Justin’s head tilted ever so slightly as he studied me, his eyes shifting between each of mine. “Understand?” he asked again.
I blinked a few times and shook my head, clearing the leftover fogginess before I nodded. “Yes.”
He gave a curt nod and stood, walking away. It was then my gaze landed on Eric. His eyes were wide as he stared at the starry sky, his nostrils flared with every breath. His throat and face was bruised all to hell, but it was the dozens of deep cuts that disturbed me. Those weren’t from a beating.
What the fuck did Blackwelldoto him?
I stood and looked around at the carnage. Even in the small amount of light available, I could see the bloodshed. If any of the three of them decided to press charges, we’d be fucked. There was evidence all over the place.
New Asher tried to claw his way back into my brain, but I looked down at an unconscious Temperance in Luna’s lap as she ran her fingers through her hair and hummed softly to her, rocking her as she soothed her.
That was enough for me to shut him out and finish the job.
We grabbed all three of them and dragged them into a line before threatening their lives. Justin, of course, was enough to makemyblood run cold, so I could only imagine what they thought. I’d heard Temperance speak a couple of times, so I knew she was awake, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at her. Not yet. If I did, I knew I’d run to her, and I couldn’t allow it. She didn’t need me. She needed Luna—maybe even Justin—but not me.
I need to stay far away from her—especially knowing this is who I am deep down.
Before Justin moved to get Temperance, he’d told us to take care of our hands and not worry about anything outside. He’d said,“I’ll take care of it,” like some fucking psycho. I didn’t know what that meant, but it didn’t sound good.
If it weren’t for the fact that he and Luna had been friends for so long, and I’d seen how protective he was of her, I’d have worried about sending Temperance with him. However, I knew he was right. She didn’t trust us… She trustedhim. We’d done that to her, and I wasn’t about to make her suffer for it. I was confident she’d be safe with Justin, so I let him take her.
Damian must have felt the same way, too, because evenherolled over like a submissive puppy. It was like a switch flipped in him. His rage was spent, and he was almost…normalunder all of it. His voice sounded gentle, passive. He sounded concerned about her and even demanded they send him updates and let them know if they needed anything.
Was it possible he actually cared?
I didn’t think so, but then again, there was something about her that had all three of us out there ready to commit murder on her behalf—so, maybe?
After picking myself up off the floor, I rinsed my mouth out with mouthwash and got a washcloth from the cabinet under the sink. I wet it with warm water and went to the door to clean it off. Luckily, the bulk came off, though there was a brown stain in the shape of a handprint there. I’d have to bleach it and paint it.
I opened the door and took in the blood all over my door handle as well as on the white wood surrounding it. I quickly cleaned all that before heading to get the bleach. As I did, I grabbed my phone and sent Blackwell a text.
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Me:
I have yet to figure you out, and you’re kind of scary as fuck, but thanks for coming to get us. Thanks for helping her. I know you did it solely for her, but I owe you one. Anything you ever need—I’m yours. No hesitation. Please keep me updated if you guys need anything for her and let me know how she’s doing.
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It had been the night from hell. I just hoped tomorrow wouldn’t bring worse. Between my father and Damian’s, I doubted either one of us would walk away breathing if weembarrassedour families with something like this. Defense of another would never be a worthy enough cause. In fact, that would more than likely get Damian’s ass kicked twice as hard—especially over someone like Temperance, who they’d see as a nobody.
As weird as he was, I hoped Blackwell wouldn’t find himself in the same boat.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO