Page 8

Asher

My finger taps against the wood of my desk as I sit in front of the many monitors Zane set up. Each one reveals a different view of the house’s interior and exterior, but there’s just one room that holds my interest at the moment. It’s been several hours, and Charlee hasn’t moved.

Dark hair fans out over the pillow as she sleeps. She looks like an angel, but I know better. Innocence is an illusion—one that’s covered in the blood of the weak. The black lace of her bra clashes against her olive skin, only adding to her appeal.

Zane leans against the wall near the door. He doesn’t say anything, but he doesn’t have to. I can hear his thoughts from here.

“What?”

I glance over my shoulder at him. I knew this was coming. Doesn’t mean I’m at all happy about it.

“Nothing.”

His fingers play with the end of his beard and I know he has something to say.

“Bullshit,”

I grunt in response and continue poring over the new files I’ve managed to get my hands on.

“Sleeping better?”

Zane flicks his cigarette against the ashtray and leans back, watching me closely.

“Yup.”

“The dark circles under your eyes say differently.”

I guess he didn’t get enough of a heart to heart in the van. He’s pushing me for more, but I’m not in a good headspace to deal with any of this bullshit right now. Not when I finally have her in the next room and I’m so close to getting what I want.

The chair creaks from my weight when I shift back and meet my brother’s gaze head-on. “What do you want to hear, Z? That I can’t shut my eyes without hearing her screams? Seeing the blood seep out of her lifeless body as our unborn child inside her womb dies with her? Or how about the fact that I was locked up like a fucking animal with the very same bastards I put there, and they left me to rot like I was one of them? I had to fight every day—every fucking day—to prove that I was no one’s bitch, or I’d wind up with a few dicks shoved up my ass. Because I sure as shit don’t want to remember any of that.”

Blood pounds in my ears as I struggle to keep my breath steady. The demons are fighting their way to the forefront of my mind and it’s taking everything I have to keep them at bay. I toss back some whiskey, relishing in the afterburn. Pain is my new friend. I’ve learned to live there, to thrive in the darkness and never look back.

Zane’s quiet a minute; no doubt digesting every pile of shit I just dumped on him. “Not saying that what you went through was a cake walk. Hell, I can’t imagine half the shit you went through in there. What happened to you and Lauren wasn’t easy. For any of us. I’m just worried about you, brother. You’re so set on revenge and making sure they pay for it, as they should, that I’m worried you’re not seeing the consequences. Next to Axel, you’re all I’ve got, and I’ll be damned if you’re taken away again.”

“Not gonna happen. The only way I’m going back is in a body bag. There’s no fucking way I’m going to spend the rest of my life behind bars.”

Just the thought of being locked back up has me ready to crawl out of my skin. No, this time I’m going down on my terms, not theirs.

“Fair enough.”

Zane straightens the mess of hair on the top of his head.

“Right.”

I shake my head and glance back at Charlee’s sleeping form.

Zane does the same but frowns. “You sure that shit Carl gave you is any good?”

“I’m sure.”

At least I hope I am. She hasn’t moved from her spot since I last checked on her. What if I gave her too much? She’s smaller in person than I originally thought and I need her alive, for now anyway. My plan won’t work if she’s dead.

“Pictures don’t do her justice.”

Zane whistles as he leans in a bit closer for a better view. I ignore him and focus on the files in front of me. Now that I have pictures, I have a better idea of how to handle Benny.

“She’s not your concern.”

My temper flares back up. The thought of either of my brothers near her is enough to set my teeth on edge.

He holds his hands up in mock surrender. “Easy, big brother. I’m just looking.”

A muscle ticks in my cheek. “Make sure that’s all you do.”

I don’t even like him doing that much.

“Something I should know?”

Zane cocks an eyebrow at me, and it takes everything I have to not punch that smug look off his face.

“Nope. Stay away from her. That’s all.”

I ignore him and go back to thumbing through the files, planning my next move. Diego will know that she’s missing soon enough and things will be set in motion. Everything is coming together perfectly.

“Tell that to Axel.”

He slaps me on the back and blows out a cloud of smoke.

“When’s he getting back anyhow?”

I change the subject once again, before I lose my shit and do something stupid like putting my fist through my brother’s face.

“Don’t know. He didn’t say. My guess is he’ll probably be a while.”

Zane takes another hit of his cigarette and shrugs.

“Let me know when he gets back. I want to pay Benny a visit and show him these photos soon.”

I wipe my hand down my face and do my best to shake off the stupidity that is my youngest brother. It doesn’t matter to me where he sticks his dick as long as none of it comes back on me.

“Axel knows how important this is to you, Ash. He won’t do anything to jeopardize it. He’s just reaping the rewards of being the helpful brother.”

He pats me on the back and walks out, leaving me to my thoughts.

I attempt to glance over the files once more, but I can’t get Zane’s earlier words out of my head.

He’s right; this isn’t just about what happened to me.

It’s about all of us.

I wasn’t the only one to be affected.

Losing our parents while I was locked up only added to the shit storm.

Movement catches my eye, dragging my attention back to the monitor.

Charlee’s finally starting to stir and anticipation churns in my gut. Someone’s going to pay, but it won’t be me. Not this time. I have the devil’s daughter at my door and it’s time to play.