Page 15 of Asher Black (The Five Syndicates)
I look at Asher, hating myself for instinctively asking for permission to retrieve it. He gives me a pleased expression, which contrasts greatly with the aloofness of his eyes, and nods. And then, because I am clearly an idiot and don’t want him to think he can control me, I stick my tongue out at him. It’s quick, just a flash of a tongue lasting no longer than a quarter of a second, but still…
I. Stuck. My. Tongue. Out.
I’m a twenty year old woman, and I just stuck my tongue out at a mobster.
Of course, I did.
I’m mortified when I lean forward to grab the paper. Unable to help myself, I glance down at it. It’s part of the class roster. My guess is that Dr. Rolland was searching for Asher’s name on the list. He won’t find it, but I hand the sheet back to Dr. Rolland anyway.
A part of me is even amused when Dr. Rolland, with his sweaty forehead and face red with fear, nods his head at the paper and continues on with the lecture. He pretended that Asher is enrolled in the class instead of kicking him out, which is university policy for lecture crashers, something that’s actually surprisingly common at Wilton. Dr. Rolland is a horrible actor, and his reaction is an unnecessary reminder of the fear Asher garners in respectable people from all walks of life.
My amusement at Dr. Rolland’s poor acting skills fades when Asher’s arm returns around my shoulders, a heavy reminder of what’s to come. I stiffen when people around us start packing up their things. I glance at the clock. It’s 10 A.M. on the dot. I can hear the death bells ringing, taunting me in the privacy of my own head.
I’m going to die.
I’m going to die.
I’m going to die.
Chapter Six
Courage is resistance
to fear, mastery of fear—
not absence of fear.
Mark Twain
When everyone else gets up, the girls that filled the front row linger, their eyes jumping from Asher to me. Nella even remains seated next to me until Asher stands up, swings my backpack around his broad shoulder and grabs my hand. As we get up and leave, over a dozen girls follow, Nella included.
I never thought I would be grateful to have Nella’s company, but I am. It means that I have a witness. But at the sound of the high pitched giggles, Asher shoots a menacing glare at the girls behind us. They instantly scramble, quicker than I thought possible in their sky high heels. There go my witnesses.
Asher and I exit, hand in hand. That shallow part of me wonders if this is what it looks like to be in a relationship, two people holding hands and walking from class. Except we aren’t even close to being a couple, and I’m trying really hard to hold myself together, so I won’t look like a mess on the outside. I don’t need Asher to know how vulnerable I am and use that against me.
I also must look ridiculous in my shirt that’s practically lingerie. At least my jeans cover my legs. And Asher, as gorgeous as he is, looks out of place with the dangerous glint in his eye and the tailored suit he wears like a second skin.
Okay, so we look nothing like a normal couple.
I’m saddened by the knowledge that I will never have the opportunity to experience a real relationship. I need to find a way to save myself. There are so many things I want to do with my life, things I’ve never experienced and won’t get the chance to if I die now. I decide it can’t hurt to stall.
I turn to Asher and say, “I have another lecture to get to.”
I’m stunned when he nods his head. But he doesn’t let go of my hand. Instead, he tilts his head, as if asking me to lead the way. I sigh, and we head in the direction of Sproul Hall, where my lecture on the advanced applications of statistics in genetics is being held. This class is smaller, with less than ten people in it, and I wonder what will happen when I enter the class with Asher by my side.
As we walk, I considered my very limited options. I know that Asher won’t be letting me out of his sight anytime soon, so whatever I do, I have to do it under his watchful eyes. I don’t know anyone well enough to pass any covert I’m-about-to-be-killed-by-the-world’s-hottest-man looks.
Plus, if I tell someone, there’s a large chance they won’t believe me or won’t be able to do anything about it. And then I’ll be left in the same position, only Asher will have even more reason to hate me. I decide to keep an eye out for any better opportunities to get away.
Part of me doesn’t even think I should be trying to get away. Horny Lucy perks up, and I sit her ass right back down. I have enough on my mind without adding Horny Lucy into the mix.
Sane Lucy reasons that there’s nothing to do that isn’t worse than what’s currently happening. If he wants me dead, I would already be dead. I can’t hide from him. I don’t want to run from him and leave Wilton. Having a degree from here will almost definitely change my life for the better, and there’s no way I’ll sacrifice that.
I can’t go to the police either. I’ve watched enough movies and read enough Romano fan blogs to know they probably have a lot of police officers on their payroll. I won’t know who to trust. It would be a gamble to turn to them. I also don’t have anyone in my life besides Aimee, whose advice would be to sleep with Asher.
Inside me, Horny Lucy lifts her head. I mentally duct tape her mouth and force myself to stop thinking of Asher before Horny Lucy takes over my brain and body, and I do something stupid. Like try to jump his bones.
Once we enter the class, I’m flabbergasted when Dr. Lance greets Asher with a warm smile. She’s an older woman with white hair, a round body, and keen eyes. But with the way she’s looking at Asher like she adores him, I have to question her intelligence.
