Page 70 of Malicious Wedding

His eyes are the same. A deep, dark blue. He peers at me from under his hair, gone shaggy now. It badly needs a trim. The tube into his lungs is gone, only the lines into his arm are left. He manages a smile. “You came. I told them to call you first.”

“You’re awake.” Tears jam themselves into my throat. I walk over to his bedside and kneel down, taking his hand in my own.

All of a sudden, the mourning I’ve been able to keep pushed to the side comes rushing back. Being around Carson’s been like a drug, numbing the pain, quieting my brain.

But seeing Iain awake wrenches all those emotions free.

He squeezes my hand weakly. “I’m awake. Feeling like shit though.” He clears his throat. “Glad you came. Didn’t think you would.”

“Iain. I’m so sorry.” They’re the first words I can think of. What else is there to say? Tears fall down my cheeks. Crying for him, for my father. Everyone I’ve lost. “I’m so, so sorry. I should’ve never cut you out. I should’ve been talking to you all these years, and I promise, I’m not going to turn my back on you again. I promise. I really screwed up.”

“Okay, okay, slow down,” he says, sounding exhausted. His smile fades away. “Did he talk to you?”

I tilt my head, not sure what he’s talking about. “Did who talk to me?”

His face tenses, grimacing as if the effort pains him. “DidCarsontalk to you?”

I pause for a long moment, not sure why he’s talking about Carson right now. We have so much to discuss—all those years we weren’t talking, Dad’s death, dozens of things. Instead, it’s Carson. My stomach feels sick. Something is wrong here. Something is very, very wrong.

I tell him, “Yes. He did.”

His grip tightens on my hand with more strength than I thought he had. His eyes harden, and his face twists into a snarl.

“Ashlyn, listen to me, no matter what he says,do notget involved with that man. Do you understand me? Under no circumstances should you ever,evertrust Carson Crowley. Do you hear me, Ash? Are you listening?” He pulls me closer. “Stay away from Carson Crowley.”

Chapter31

Ash

Irelease his hand, stand, and stagger a step away from the bed.

His eyes track me, face twisted in discomfort.

My head’s ringing. I can’t understand why he would say that—Carson’s his boss, his best friend, the guy that saved his life when it looked like everything was lost.

Iain’s alive because of Carson.

And he wants me to stay away?

I know Carson’s dangerous, but I didn’t think Iain would care about that.

He voice is a pained rasp. “I don’t know what happened while I was out, but if Carson’s actuallytalkingto you then things must be really bad.” His jaw works. “Ash, please, tell me he hasn’t gone too far.”

“I don’t… I don’t understand. Why are you talking about Carson? You know Dad’s dead, don’t you?”

He grimaces. “I had a feeling. I wasn’t sure. I just…” He curses, closing his eyes. “This is all so fucked.”

“Why are you telling me to stay away from Carson?” I step closer to the bed and decide to take a chance, vocalizing a feeling that’s been crystallizing for a while now. “Does this have to do with his obsession?”

Iain’s eyes pop open. “Did he used that word? Obsession?”

“Yes, a few times. Other people have too.”

“Oh, god.” He rubs his face. “Ash, how involved with him are you?”

“Tell me what’s going on first.”

He takes a slow, deep breath before letting it out. He’s clearly struggling with something, and when he speaks, it sounds as though his voice is tearing itself out from his throat. “For years, I’ve respected your wishes. I’ve kept my distance and fought with Dad to do the same. He took it hard when you completely cut us all out, but I made him understand it was your choice. It was around this time that I started to realize something was going on with Carson.”

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