Page 58 of Finn
“Thanks,” I muttered, dialing the number Gabriel had written down earlier for emergencies.
The line rang once, twice, before connecting. I relayed the details of our situation, keeping my answers short and to the point.
As I hung up, a door in the corner of the store creaked open. The one with a bathroom sign hanging crookedly above it.
I turned instinctively, and my blood ran cold.
“Asher,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
He froze in the doorway but he didn’t look as shocked as I was.
For a moment, neither of us moved, the air between us heavy with unspoken tension.
My heart pounded in my chest, so loud I was sure he could hear it.
“Finn,” he said. “I finally found you.”
I didn’t know what to say. My throat felt dry, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts but unable to settle on any of them.
What was he doing here? How had he found me? And more importantly... what was he planning to do now that he had?
“Asher, I?—”
He cut me off, stepping closer. “What the hell are you doing here?” His tone wasn’t angry, but there was a dangerous undertone, a barely restrained fury simmering beneath the surface.
“I could ask you the same thing,” I managed, trying to keep my voice steady, though I knew I was failing.
“The Guild said you couldn’t get out of Craven Hill. I searched all over the city for you,” Asher said.
There was silent accusation in his voice. Asher was concerned about me? Of course he was, he was my brother.
Still, the mention of the Guild sent a cold shiver down my spine.
Dang it. I really thought it would take them longer to find me, to find us.
“So they sent you to find me?” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt. “How did you even know to look for me here?”
“They did, but after I reported that I couldn’t find you in Craven Hill, they told me to return.” Asher’s tone was sharp, almost offended. “I disobeyed orders and continued searching for you.”
His gaze swept over me and I wondered what he saw.
“I know, Finn.” His voice was heavy with something between resignation and sorrow.
I stiffened. “What exactly do you know?” I asked carefully, though my mind was already racing.
This was bad. Out of all the hunters in the Guild, it had to be my brother standing here.
Facing Asher wasn’t just difficult because he was family, but because he was so good at what he did.
Unlike me, Asher wasn’t conflicted about the job. He was a natural. Asher was skilled, dedicated, and relentless.
Somehow, I had to lose him. But before I made any move, I needed to figure out just how much he’d pieced together.
“About you and Gabriel,” he said bluntly, and I felt the air rush out of my lungs. “I know he was your target, and you were sent to kill him. Somehow, you convinced the Elders that you succeeded. And now, you’re on the run with him.”
I braced myself for an explosion of anger, but Asher didn’t lash out.
He didn’t yell or accuse me like I’d expected. Instead, he just looked at me, sad and disappointed.
