Page 135 of Scars Run Deep

I grabbed his hand and tugged him from Jonah. “Come with me.”

He let me pull him along, Jonah and Killian following, wondering what I was up to.

We reached the basement and I barreled inside toward the octagonal ring, bringing Asher with me.

“Hmm, I see,” Asher said, looking on.

“Well, come on then,” I pushed, striding toward the entrance, then ducking inside.

“Hell fucking no,” Killian cried. He spun to Asher. “No.”

“She wants to prove herself.”

“Damn straight!” I called out across the distance as I bounced on the balls of my feet in the center.

“This is a bad idea,” Jonah said.

“Fucking right it is,” Killian insisted.

“Don’t be so hasty. She needs to get all that rage at me benching her out of her system and this will accomplish that if nothing else.”

“Nothing else?” I yelled over. “I do this and you let me join Caleb’s crew.”

“Hmm… no.”

“Asher!”

“You’ve had my final decision, sweetheart. But I’m all for you working off that frustration.”

“Don’t be an immovable dick!”

I watched him tense.

“Aurora, don’t,” Killian warned. He shook his head at Asher. “No.”

“Or is it a pussy? Is that what you really are? Too afraid to let me in on this? Is that it? Too afraid to challenge me? Worried I’ll kick your ass again?”

He smirked, that sadistic gleam lighting his eyes.

Good, I had him.

He pulled off his watch and bracelet and handed them to Jonah.

“Oh, fuck,” Jonah uttered.

Asher pulled off his designer shoes and socks then.

Killian grasped his shoulder. “Don’t. Don’t hurt her. She’s ours, brother.”

Asher shrugged out of his grip and spun on him.

But then he was dropping his voice so low that I couldn’t hear.

Whatever he was saying had Killian surprised.

And then he simply stepped back and gave a nod.

I frowned.

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