Page 98 of Asher's Assignment

“We need to find a phone and call for help.”

Connie’s eyes widened, and she reached behind her back, shoving her hand beneath her shirt. “I forgot! She told me to hide it so we could be tracked.” When she brought her hand out, she held a cellphone. With a few taps, she called for help.

Asher glanced around, looking for something to staunch the flow of blood from Esther’s abdomen. “Leah, see if you can find a towel.”

The girl got up, moving away. Asher put his hands over the hole in Esther’s shirt and pushed. She groaned but didn’t open her eyes.

He felt moisture gather in his as blood welled between his fingers. God, this was not happening. “Hang in there, Essy,” he whispered. “You can’t die on me.”

“I found some!” Leah thrust some kitchen towels in front of him.

Asher took them and pressed them to Esther’s belly. “How long until the ambulance gets here, Connie?” She was losing so much blood. If they didn’t get her help soon—he didn’t want to think about it.

Connie held up a finger, giving the dispatcher directions to their location. He was glad Bradley hadn’t blindfolded her and Esther on the way here.

“Ten minutes,” Connie said, finally.

A grimace crossed Asher’s face. That was too long. But they didn’t have a choice. He’d just have to do everything he could to keep her from bleeding out until then.

Connie hung up with the dispatcher. “What do you want me to do?”

“Do you know if she called our friends to help find me and Leah?”

“Yes.”

“Is one of them Edie? Or Ford?”

“Edie. I met her.”

“Okay, call her. Get her here so we can get the team on finding Bradley.” He rattled off Edie’s phone number from memory. “Put the call on speaker.”

Connie dialed.

“Hello?” Edie’s voice came over the line, cautious.

“Edie, it’s Asher.”

“Holy shit, you’re alive!”

Despite the seriousness of their situation, he couldn’t stop the chuckle that slipped out at the incredulity in her tone. “I am. But we have a few problems. Esther’s been shot and Bradley got away.”

A short pause came over the line.

“Tell me you’re joking. Or that I heard you wrong.”

“No. She—” He stopped, having to swallow around the sudden lump in his throat. “She dove in front of me. Bradley was going to kill me, and she dove in front of the bullet.” He swallowed again, blinking back tears. “She’s alive, but unconscious. The bullet hit something vital because she’s bleeding heavily. Connie already called for help. She said you’re in town, and I know you’re going to want to come here, but I need you to track down that asshole.”

“Asher—” The word came out choked.

He heard her take a shaky breath. “I know, Edie. I know. I’m doing everything I can.” Again, he swallowed around the lump in his throat. “I love her too.”

Another choked sob came over the line, then a harsh intake of air. “Where are you? So I know where to start looking for Lennox.”

Asher felt the grip he had on his emotions slipping, but he managed to repeat the address Connie had given the dispatcher.

“He was in a black SUV,” Connie said. “At least, that’s what he brought us here in.”

“Do you know what make?”

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