Page 143 of End Game

“We should update them.”

“In a second.” He wrapped an arm around her and poured every fear he’d been consumed with, since the moment he left her standing outside the guesthouse until he discovered her beneath a tree, into the kiss.

Ash leaned into it, wanting to bury this nightmare and sink into her light. But a wave a dizziness struck, and he pitched into her, all one hundred and ninety pounds of him.

Not expecting the weight shift, her body buckled under his. She held on tight though, somehow guiding them into a jarring knee crash, rather than a face plant.

“Sorry,” he whispered, resting his forehead against hers.

She steadied him, then turned her head to cough up a smoke-filled lung. “What’s wrong?”

“Lost my balance for a second. I’m fine. You, on the other hand, sound like shit.”

“Don’t lie to me, Asher.” She reared back, her gaze zeroing in on his bloody shoulder. “Your gunshot wound.”

He nodded.

“What else?” He opened his mouth, and she interrupted him. “Don’t give me any of your macho BS. Where are you injured?”

“Probable concussion, maybe a broken rib or two.”

“Let’s get you into my hiding spot, and I’ll?—”

“Not happening.”

“You’re hardly in a position to fight.”

“I can hold my own just fine, as evidenced by the guy I left back there.” He hooked his thumb over his shoulder, then pushed to his feet. “How many mercenaries are left?”

“One is guarding Sybil in the big house and there was a big one, their commander, I think, carrying out Elsie’s bidding.”

“The same one guarding Jillian earlier?”

“Yes.”

“He’s out of commission.” Grasping her hand, he headed toward the house. She stumbled, and he noticed her stockinged feet for the first time.

He bent at the knees, careful to keep his blurry gaze straight ahead. “Jump on?”

“Pardon?”

“Get on my damn back.”

“Are you out of your mind? You’re in no condition to carry me.”

“Your socks are bloody, which means your feet are torn up. I’ll carry you as far as the forest edge, then you can be your badass self again.” When she stayed fixed in place, he said, “I can do this. Trust me.”

Ash thought she would refuse him, but after another short hesitation, she scurried up on the narrower end of the fallen tree, then eased onto his back, taking care not to touch his injured shoulder. He focused on putting one boot in front of the other until, finally, they arrived on the east side of Sybil’s mansion.

Once Kayla slid down and moved to his side, he retrieved his phone to send Zeke a text, when a message from his brother popped up first.

We have a problem.

77

Ash stared at the clusterfuck in front of him. “What the hell happened?”

“Damned if I know,” Zeke said.

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