Page 101 of Outside The Wire

“What are you hiding from me?”

His whole body stiffened. So, I wasn’t wrong. He was hiding something from me, and it was something big. But why was itsuch a big deal? Was he a murderer in a past life? Was that why it was so easy for him to take a life? And would that change my mind about who he was? I guess that would depend on who he murdered.

Were they innocent children? Bad guys? Mothers and fathers? Rapists? Maybe there was a chart for how bad a murder was and if there was any redemption for it. I’d have to consult the local priest about that one. First, I’d have to figure out who the local priest was.

“Holly,” Asher said, getting my attention.

Right, I was having a conversation with him. Not myself. “Sorry. What?”

“I was saying you should get some rest.”

I rolled my eyes, which was extremely hard to do when my eyes just closed from extreme tiredness. “Figures you’d say that.”

“You’re about to fall over.”

“Can’t fall over if you’re in bed,” I mumbled.

“Yes, you can.”

Sighing, I hit the pillow. I was too tired to argue with him. But at least for now I was snuggled in bed and not really worried about a damn thing. Nothing hurt and I was perfectly content with everything. Well, everything aside from the giant secret Asher was holding back.

His lips brushed across my forehead. “Get some rest.”

I grasped his hand, suddenly terrified to be alone. I knew peace waited for me, but the idea of closing my eyes and possibly seeing that man again was enough to keep me awake.

“What is it?”

“Stay with me.”

“I just need to?—”

“Asher,” I pleaded, my voice sounding way too pathetic for him to turn me down.

He didn’t wait even a second before he kicked off his boots and climbed in with me. Relief hit me the moment his body was pressed against mine and the evil thoughts fled my mind. I wasn’t even sure I cared if he was a murderer in a previous life anymore.

But there was one thing that made me smile as I drifted off to sleep. He smelled like oil.

When I woke up,I wasn’t nearly as numb and that cozy feeling from earlier was gone. Asher was nowhere to be found, and the bright light filtering in had been replaced with darkness.

I pushed myself into a sitting position, sucking in a breath when my side pulled painfully. Since I didn’t even remember leaving the hospital yesterday, I couldn’t remember what exactly was wrong with me. The attack was still a little vague in my mind, and I had no desire to relive it at the moment.

After taking the time to breathe through the pain, I swung my legs over the side and pulled up my shirt, grimacing at the state of my stomach. I had gauze pads covering my stomach and bruises forming all over. I closed my eyes as flashes of the attack started to come back to me—of trying to get across the SUV, but being pulled by my hair out the window. That explained the gauze on my stomach. And the massive headache. Although, I also remembered the multiple punches to the face, so those could be responsible, also.

“The doctor said you don’t need to leave those on.”

I dropped my shirt and looked up at Asher, leaning against the doorframe of my bedroom. I wasn’t sure how he always knew when I was awake or what I was doing, but it seemed no matter when it was, Asher was aware of me at all times.

“I saw him pull you through the window,” he muttered, his voice low. “I was down the road and…I didn’t get there fast enough.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“Do you want something to eat?”

I sighed, wishing he would just talk to me. “Maybe something light.” I started to stand, but found that a lot harder than I expected. My whole body was sore.

Asher was by my side before I even had to ask for help. Like I said, he always knew. I didn’t understand any of it. How could anyone have such good intuition about this stuff? Did he have bat hearing? Had he been beaten up so many times before that he knew what this felt like? His superpowers were beginning to frustrate me.

“Here, sit here while I make you something.”

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