Page 114 of Asher Black (The Five Syndicates)
So, I ask, “Nick?”
“He’s fine. He blew out of town to lay low.”
I don’t ask about that, because I don’t give a damn about why Nick needs to lay low so long as he’s okay. “And René?”
“We found him at a motel a mile away from the warehouse.”
“What’d you do?”
He narrows his eyes at my accusatory tone. “We didn’t kill him, Lucy.”
“Then, what’d you do?”
“We called the police.”
“And they arrested him? With what evidence?”
Asher smirks. “He didn’t have any evidence with him, but we may have planted some for the police to find when they search the room.”
“Asher… that’s illegal.”
“So? It’s only illegal if the police finds out, and they won’t.”
I should be worried that he broke the law, but I’m not. I’m just relieved he’s here, and this is all over. “And Monica?”
“Fired with a lawsuit pending for breaking the NDA. We’re also gathering evidence against her as we speak for a criminal suit. We have the security log showing her entering the building right before the attack. We handed that over to the cops. She should be in jail soon if she isn’t already.”
“But you don’t know if she’s in jail yet.”
“It’s only a matter of time.”
“Oh.”
“Lucy?”
“Yes?”
His eyes darken. “The black rose...” he begins.
My mind races, confused. “What about it?”
“René sent it to you. We were able to track the purchase.”
My eyes widen. “I thought you gave it to me.”
Asher places a finger under my chin and tilts my face up, so I’m looking into his eyes. “For future reference, if I send you roses, it’ll be a whole damn bouquet.”
I smile and lean forward to kiss him. When I pull back, I ask, “So what now?”
“Whatever you want, Lucy.”
Turns out that what I really want after all of this is to have a normal day with Asher, and that includes going to my only class today. I’m taking another course with Dr. Rolland this semester, one on the applications of physics in biology. I haven’t actually physically gone to it, thanks to the threat on my life, but I’m excited to now.
“We’re going to be late.” I frown.
Asher lifts his brow, as if to say, “So what?”
“Splash zone.”
