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Chapter Thirty-Six

She closed her eyes and held Asher. Afraid Heston would pry him out of her arms if she relaxed her grip. Just as afraid when Asher came to, he’d leave her. Would blame her. Cast her off like the fool she was. This was her fault. All of it. She’d wanted to believe her mom. The stupid little girl in her that craved Mona’s attention and love just wanted to believe she was lovable. That she wasn’t worthless. Marlowe hadn’t known how bad things were until she’d climbed back into the van after Mona and saw her mother pull a burner phone out of the glove compartment.

“Mom, no. Don’t touch that phone. Put it down.”

“I can’t. Sariah programmed a number for Chuck in this phone. She’s dead, so I can finally call—”

“It’s a trap, Mom. No!”

But Mona kept thumbing that keypad, and Marlowe knew there was no use. Mona wasn’t calling Chuck. She was calling the bomb Sariah had hidden somewhere inside or under the van.

There was no sense arguing or staying. Marlowe bolted out of the van and ran to safety and freedom. She ran to Asher.

Holding him now, feeling his heart beating against hers, she knew his love was real. She didn’t have to earn it. It just was. She didn’t have to figure out how to be more lovable or how to do more. He’d loved her when she’d been a beast, when she’d kicked him, cursed him, and all the times she’d overreacted—over nothing. He hadn’t betrayed her. Hadn’t cursed her. Hadn’t once let her down. Asher believed her and he believed in her. Talk about coming to Jesus. She didn’t deserve Asher. He was too good for her. He shouldn’t have come to her rescue today. She had to let him go.

Panic shivered up her spine. Where would she go if she did? What would she do? Running her fingers up his sweaty neck into his hair, she breathed in the earthy essence of her savior. Her hero. Her lover.

“I love you so much,” she whispered in his ear. “I’m so sorry, but this is all my fault. It’s best if I leave.”

“You’re not going anywhere, woman,” he growled, his good hand behind her neck, pulling her into his mouth. “Shut up and kiss me.”