Page 65 of Burn With Me

“Agreed, I’ll put the coffee on,” I said and smiled. Stepping away, I got to the kitchen doorway when Vi called my name.

“Asher?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you for…well, for helping with this and for… you know. I just want you to know that no matter what, I’ll always be thankful to you,” Vi said softly, and she turned away to continue sorting files.

I wanted to say something profound, but like so many of our conversations, I was at a loss for words, specifically the right words.

* * *

Violet

I woke up to the feeling of my body jerking. I was dazed and disoriented, not even remembering where I was. The warmth radiating up into my body and the strong arms around me told me I was lying on Asher. Lifting my head, I stared up at his strong jaw and realized that we were in the same position where we’d collapsed on the couch.

Our eyes wouldn’t stay open any longer as one report began to blur into the next. Asher’s face looked pained, and his forehead pulled down into a frown. Even in the soft glow of the lone lamp, it was easy to see he was sweating.

“Asher,” I said softly, but he continued to mumble something incoherent. He didn’t respond, and again, his muscles twitched beneath me. It was obvious he was in the throes of a dream. It didn’t look like it was a very good one.

“No, no, no,” he mumbled, his head jerking back and forth as his arms suddenly tightened around me.

Reaching up, I cupped his face like he’d done for me. “Asher, wake up. Asher, it’s just a dream,” I said louder.

Asher jerked as his back arched, and his eyes snapped open. I’d seen way too many people brought back from the brink of death, and the way he gasped and looked around with confusion was eerily familiar. It took a moment before his eyes locked with mine. Asher blinked like he was still confused and then flopped back as recognition kicked in.

“Shit, sorry.” He swallowed and ran his hand through his messy hair.

I pushed myself up to straddle his waist and kiss his amazingly soft lips. Fear never left you. It simply dulled or took on other forms to haunt you. This was something that I understood well, and I wanted to kiss away the last remnants of his dream.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Yeah, I am now.” Asher pulled me back down so he could hold me. The man I’d first met didn’t strike me as someone who cuddled for the sake of cuddling. That knowledge made this moment feel more special.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not really. Just more of the same. It’s always the same.”

I kissed his chin, and he smirked as his eyes turned down to my face. “After what I revealed to you, I think it would only behoove you to share with me in return.”

“Behoove?” He laughed and pulled my body closer to his own. “I’ll share only because you use fancy words that I barely understand. So, I briefly told you that I have an older brother, and we were both abused. He was my best friend and the one person I trusted no matter what. So many times, he would protect me even when I didn’t fully understand until years later.”

“What was his name?”

“Derek.”

“Is that him in the picture you have in the hallway?”

He nodded. “Derek is…I don’t know where he is. He was arrested, and they told me they would be taking him to a hospital. But then it was like he simply disappeared. No one would give me answers. I tried so many times, but it was like the paperwork just vanished—like he just vanished into thin air.” Asher shook his head and laid his arm over his eyes. “I have so much guilt, and it still strangles me.”

“Do you mind if I ask what he did?” I asked and reached up to play with the soft strands of his hair.

“He killed four people,” he said, and my hand stilled.

My eyes went wide. “Oh my god, Asher, that’s…wow, I’m sorry.”

He shook his head back and forth before sighing. “Two of the people were my parents. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t shed a tear over their deaths. They were not great people, but even so, to murder them? I love my brother, but…” he stopped and looked toward the window.

“It’s okay. You can tell me.”