Page 52 of Asher

Hands that felt so wrong were grabbing me.

I tried to move my lips to scream.

I tried to move my mouth to bite on the hand that was still over my mouth.

My body bucked, trying to dislodge whoever it was behind me.

My hands swung widely, trying to hit whoever it was.

And when a hand moved to the waistband of my sleep shorts, I had never felt more grateful when my hand closed around a heavy candle stick holder I had on my dresser.

I grabbed it and then swung up and back.

The sound of something hard smacking flesh and bone reverberated around my room.

And when those hands let go of me, the body moved back, I spun and then hit the person in the face with the candle stick holder as hard as I could.

The person had on a black mask over his face, but there was no mistaking his eyes.

Eyes I had seen before.

But I wasn’t going to be one of those women who hesitated. You hesitate, and you get hurt.

Therefore, while the man was disoriented, I raced around, grabbed my phone, and flew down the stairs.

The moment I made it to the front door, I saw the deadbolt was locked.

As my shaking fingers unlocked it, I heard heavy footsteps racing down the stairs.

But I got that door unlocked, opened, and then... I ran.

I ran for so long that I wasn’t sure where I was.

I ran for so long that I felt a hitch in my side.

And then I power-walked until I got to something familiar.

Seeing the diner on the corner, I raced into it.

Eyes came to me, but I paid them no attention.

I brought up my phone, winced when I saw it was at seven percent, and then I placed a call.

My hands were shaking as I brought the phone to my ear.

A waitress started to make her way over to me, but she slowed when she took in my appearance.

I breathed out a sigh of relief when I heard, “Chloe?”

Then he shouted, his voice laced with anger, “You better get back, you sorry piece of shit.”

“Asher?” I couldn’t stop the tremble in my voice.

The immediate anger she had heard had disappeared immediately. “Chloe?”

With tears I hadn’t realized were spilling down my cheeks, I asked, “Can... you come… and g... get me?”

He was silent for a beat. Only a beat, then I heard, “Fuck this shit.” And then I heard a gunshot, which was immediately followed by, “Where are you?”