Page 53 of Asher's Assignment

“You’re sure?”

“Yes. Thanks for picking me up.” She gathered the handles of her tote and opened the door.

“Okay. Let me know later how everything turns out. Your mother and I can come over and lend some moral support if you need to call the police.”

“I will. Thanks, Dad.” She slid out of the truck seat.

“You’re welcome.” Conner lifted a hand in farewell.

Esther gave him a strained smile and shut the door, then headed up the path and inside.

Silence echoed in her ears as she shut the front door behind her. She hadn’t realized how much of a difference his presence made before. It was amazing how quickly she’d grown accustomed to the noise a second person brought to a house. Without Asher, her house felt like a tomb.

Locking the door, she moved into the kitchen and set her tote on the counter. She cast a quick glance around, unsure what to do.

Do what you always do, her inner voice prompted.

Right. Of course. It was just like any other day after work. She needed to change clothes, then figure out dinner. She’d make something elaborate tonight. It would help take her mind off Asher.

Heading upstairs, she quickly shed her school clothes and donned a pair of lavender leggings and a light sage green cropped sweater. In just her socks, she went back downstairs to the kitchen and opened the fridge, eyeing its contents. She had a bunch of Roma tomatoes to use, so she decided to make her own pasta sauce. And her own pasta. That would eat up a good hour.

Pushing up her sleeves, Esther got to work. After taking all the vegetables she needed for the sauce from the fridge and washing them, she set them on the island, then grabbed an onion from the bowl on the counter. She dug out her cutting board and a bowl, then removed a knife from the block, the blade making a metallic shink sound as she withdrew it from the wood. It wavered in her hand, and she clutched it until her knuckles turned white, trying to still the tremor. Playing with sharp objects when she was upset probably wasn’t the best idea, but she needed to do something to calm her racing mind.

With the first cut through the green pepper, her loud thoughts dimmed the slightest bit. By the time she got through the tomatoes, she felt less scattered and more in control. Whatever the reason Asher had disappeared, she’d handle it in stride. There really wasn’t another option.

But when she got to the onion, tears welled in her eyes.

Esther sniffed and swiped her face on her sleeve.

It’s the onion. That’s all.

She was scared to admit anything else. Didn’t want to acknowledge the loud voice in the back of her mind screaming at her that he hadn’t left willingly. That he wouldn’t do that to her. Not without communicating his plans.

Just because she would handle that scenario with grace, too, didn’t mean she wasn’t also terrified of what it meant.

Twenty-Three

Aheadache pulsed through Asher’s skull and into his eyes. He struggled to focus as he came awake. The low hum drumming through his ears didn’t help. Where was he?

He rolled—or attempted to—but didn’t get far. His hands were bound behind his back. The fabric of the unicorn costume bunched around him, twisted, further restricting his movement.

So did the seat back in front of his face. He was in the back of his rented SUV.

And the car was moving.

But who was driving?

Lifting his hips, he tried to free up some of the fabric so he could sit up, but it refused to budge.

Asher growled and tried to muscle his arms apart. The costume swished, and he kicked the tailgate as he strained against his bonds, but he stayed stubbornly bound up.

The vehicle made a sharp right turn; hard enough to tip him to the side, and he rolled into the wheel well, smashing his face on the plastic.

“Watch it, asshole!” He didn’t care if the guy knew he was awake. He probably already did with all the thrashing he’d been up to.

The world outside dimmed, and the car slowed. Asher struggled to right himself, so he could see where they were. The costume fabric had loosened some, but it was slick, and in the tight space without the use of his arms, he kept sliding against it.

A moment later, the car stopped and the engine cut. The interior light came on as the driver got out.

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