Page 113 of Outside The Wire

“You’re dead.”

“I’m not.”

“Clearly,” I croaked out. “You’re standing in front of me.”

What the hell was going on? She didn’t look anything like she did the last time I saw her. She was strong, clean, with no signs of drugs in her system. And then he stepped out from behind her.

Chase.

“You fucker!” I shouted, running straight at him and tackling him into the table behind him. I swung my fist, slamming it into his face over and over again. Screams filled the restaurant and people ran out as I continued to pummel my old teammate, but then I was being pulled off him.

I jerked the hands away, ready to fight whoever was trying to stop me. When I spun around, I growled at Patrick, wondering how much of this he was in on.

“You too?”

“Just listen,” he said, holding his hands up.

“Listen to what? More lies?”

“We didn’t know! Not until she came back, and you weren’t answering your fucking phone,” he argued.

I spun around to face Chase as he stood, wiping the blood from his lip. He nodded in confirmation, glancing at Jade.

I was so fucking confused, but there was one thing that was clear in my head. She was back, and that really fucked up my plans. I was finally happy, and I was still married. My eyes rose to meet Holly’s. I didn’t know what to say, what to do, but I knew I needed her in my arms.

I stalked across the room and took her hand in mine, grabbing her purse. “Let’s go.”

“What?” she asked, surprised by the whole thing.

“We’re leaving.”

“But Asher?—”

I didn’t want to stick around and discuss it right now. I had to get out of here and let it sink in that the woman I was married to was still alive, and that was fucking up my current life. “I need to get out of here,” I said to her. “Are you coming with me?”

“You know I will,” she answered immediately.

That was all I needed. I turned and pulled her toward the door, past Jade and my old teammates, who stared at me in shock. Yes, I was leaving. But what did they expect? Springing Jade on me in a restaurant was not the right way to do this.

“Asher!” Chase called out.

I stopped and glanced over my shoulder.

“Tomorrow.”

I nodded once and then walked out of the restaurant with the only person in the world who mattered right now.

I stormed across the parking lot, feeling the bracelet around Holly’s wrist hit my hand as she rushed to keep up with me. I felt like shit for her having to deal with this. She had to know who that was. I’d told her my wife’s name. She had to be just as shocked as me. Yet, she wasn’t freaking out like I was, but she had every right to. This affected her just as much as me.

As soon as we were to the truck, I backed her up against it and pressed my body to her, kissing her with everything in me. I needed her to know how much I loved her. I didn’t want her to doubt for even a second that my heart was with her. Our situation might be complicated as hell right now, but that didn’t mean I felt anything less for her because Jade was alive.

“Baby,” I whispered. “I love you.”

“I know,” she said breathlessly. “I know.”

“Let’s go home.”

She nodded, not saying anything more. I would give anything to hear those three little words from her right now, but I couldn’task her to give me anything right now, not when I’d just flipped her world upside down. I hoisted her into the truck and then took a moment to shake off my nerves before getting in the truck with her. I spied Wyatt walking out with Noelle, but didn’t stop. I needed to get home and talk to Holly.

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