Page 62 of Shattered

My lip quivers. “Why are you doing this? I haven’t done anything to you!”

Rocco chuckles. “No, sweetheart, this is all about what we will do toyou.”

A violent full body shudder tears through me, and a sob slips from my lips.

Chapter 22

Asher

The world comes back in pieces, and my panic starts when I begin to come to. The sound of a harsh voice cuts into my ears. It takes ages to find myself, and finally, I find my senses, able to open my eyes, blinking away the piercing halo of light behind Bane’s head.

“Dude, WAKE UP!”

He slaps me across the face, and while my anger flares for a moment, I’m beyond caring.

Lila. Where the fuck is Lila?

I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out.

“Ash, what the fuck happened?” Bane asks. He knows something’s wrong. He must’ve come home and found me unconscious.

“Where’s Lila?” I groan.

“Not here. Again, what the fuck happened?”

Dread consumes me. “They took her.”

Bane’s eyes widen as I try to find the strength to sit up. When my phone starts ringing, Bane throws it in my lap, nearly hitting me where it hurts.

“It’s rang three times since I walked in here.”

I can’t answer the phone fast enough, knowing it’s got to be them. I accept the call and put it on speaker, but I can’t find the words to speak.

“Did you have a nice nap?” The voice that comes through the speaker is cold and soulless.

“What time is it?” The question flies out of my mouth before I can register it, and I don’t realize why I even care until it’s out. How long have they had her? What have they done to her?

“Your girlfriend is a feisty one, you know. I had to knock her out, too.”

Bane’s eyes freeze on mine as he takes in the conversation. He knows how bad this is as much as I do, though I’m not sure he’s half as terrified as me.

“Why?”

There’s a snicker on the other line before Rocco speaks. “This seemed only fair, Asher. You fucked my girl.”

“And you smashed my leg!”

“And you stole my clients,” Rocco says.

“Jared called ME!” I roar. That’s when my voice softens to nothing but desperation. “Guys, please… What do you want? I’ll come to you right now; you can put me in an early grave for all I care. Don’t hurt Lila.”

“An early grave for you is boring. Watching you fall apart for your little lady here? Priceless.”

My insides twist and cave in at the thought. And I find I can’t stop myself from begging, no matter how futile it is.

“Guys, please… She has a fuck ton of friends; they’ll figure out what happened. You won’t get away with this!”

“That’ll be up to you, Ash. I’ll tell you one thing for certain. If you go to the cops, you’ll never see her again.”

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