Page 134 of His to Burn

Checking for blood, I was sure, though his touch was uncharacteristically tender, searching like he was trying to confirm I was really here. Touching me like I was the only thing keeping him alive.

“Asia,” he rasped, voice low and rough with something that made me want to throw myself into his arms.

“Yeah,” I responded, swallowing aroundthe lump in my throat and the dull ache throbbing at my side.

His hand settled at the back of my neck, heavy in the most perfect way. His touch was calm, conflicting with the tumult in his eyes. “You could have—” He cut off, like he couldn’t even get the words out. Then he met my eyes again, his gaze unwavering. “Don’t ever do something that fucking stupid again.”

THIRTY-ONE

Jack

I stared at Asia,not able to let her go, waiting for calm to come over me.

It was always like before.

The rush of adrenaline and then the comedown.

But it wasn’t happening now.

No, I felt stuck, remembering the way my heart stopped beating when I saw the gun at Asia’s back.

Stuck by the rage at bruises on her face.

And stuck by that dark part of me that savored every millisecond of that kill.

My hands still tingled from the way I gripped the knife, from the pressure against my palms as I crushed his neck bones beneath them.

The same hands that touched her now.

I broke contact then, pulling away from her like I’d been burned.

She blinked, the one eye that wasn’t swollen wide with surprise.

I looked away.

I had to.

I couldn’t see her like that.

So I looked at the others.

They stood still, and then, seemed to move as one. I heard Asia struggle to her feet.

I reached out to steady her but didn’t look at her again.

Couldn’t.

I didn’t look at the others, either.

I imagined what I’d see in their faces.

Disgust at what I’d done, but underneath, a grudging acceptance that I was a monster, but I did what needed to be done.

I never cared when I’d seen that look before. But I couldn’t take it.

Not from her.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Lourdes take one of the paper towels that we so fiercely guarded and wet it, and then walk toward Asia.