Page 40 of Shattered

“Shut your fucking mouth!” he hisses, his mouth only inches from mine. His eyes pierce mine, holding me prisoner as my heart beats a thousand miles a minute. He hands me the knife, which I take with question.

“Stay away from the windows and hide in the upstairs bathroom. If you hear someone break in, call the police. This isn’t a game, I’m not fucking around, youwilllisten.”

His panic makes mine burn hotter. “Y-yes.”

When Asher rushes for the back door in a stride that should definitely hurt his leg, I snatch my shorts and thong off the floor, gripping the handle of the knife tightly in my hand, and practically fly up the stairs, tripping over my own feet. I launch myself into the bathroom, slamming the door shut, and punch in the click lock before putting my clothes back on.

There’s a small window that’s cracked open, and I open it more, realizing I can see right into the driveway, but they aren’t paying attention to me.

Asher joins Bane in the driveway, and the frightened expressions on their faces steal my breath as I see their source of fear. Two moremen are in the driveway, sitting on motorcycles, their helmets in their laps. One is shorter, with neat hair and a cocky smirk that makes my skin crawl. The other is larger, with a full face of hair and piercings and long dark hair in a low ponytail. Even from up here, their eyes feel cold and dark. The casual way they linger there makes me nervous, as I notice that Asher and Bane are tense, waiting for them to make a move.

“What are you doing here?” Asher asks, his voice tight.

“We just thought we’d swing by and check out your new place. Interesting design choice.”

“We checked out your shop, too,” the other says. “How’s that leg doing, Asher? Still seems to be giving you some trouble.”

Asher’s face blanches, and something in his fearful, angry expression breaks me.

Bane squeezes Asher’s arm before he takes a hesitant step forward, putting himself between them and him. “Well, thanks for stopping by.”

To my great relief, they begin to leave, but that relief is short-lived when one speaks again.

“That’s a cute girl you guys got there. Nice set of pipes on her, too.”

My heart practically drops, and Asher’s face turns bright red as he springs forward to go after them, but Bane stops him, holding him back with every bit of muscle he has. Once the motorcycles are long gone, Bane slaps Asher in the chest.

“Are you fucking stupid!?” he snaps.

“They know about Lila,” Asher says, his voice strained.

That might be the first time I’ve heard Asher use my real name since that first night, and I wouldn’t say I like it. When I’m Sunshine, it’s all good fun. Being Lila to Asher is something else entirely.

“They were probably watching us through the windows. Lord knows she’s loud. Maybe they didn’t get a good look at her.”

“How do they know where we live, Bane? It’s not like we posted it on the internet! They must be watching us…”

Asher turns his head slightly before looking up at me, and I duck.

I wait in the bathroom for a few minutes, unsure what to do or think. Finally, footsteps climb the stairs, and a hard knock on the bathroom door makes me jump.

“Come on out.”

I open the door, and Bane holds out a hand, so I pass him the knife.

“Asher’s going to walk you home. Go.”

I nod, still flustered. When I try to slip past him, he grabs my arm in a bruising hold, making me stop. He turns his head, and I can’t help but feel like a mouse, shrinking beneath his harsh eyes.

“You okay?” he asks, a little gentler.

I have no clue what he’s asking, but I still nod.

Asher’s waiting downstairs by the back door, a grim expression on his ordinarily smug face.

“What happened?” I ask.

He nudges my shoes toward me with his feet as I approach.

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