Page 137 of The Sidekick

The phone is completely silent as I call her name again. I can’t hear her hurried breaths anymore, either.

I’m grabbing my keys and rushing to my car without a second thought. I don’t bother with a shirt or shoes. I type her address in the GPS and leave the connection to her open in the hopes that she’s still there.

“Answer me,” I grit out as I squeal out of the parking lot in my apartment complex. Her place is maybe ten minutes away if I don’t catch any red lights.

“Tera, I’m coming to you, ok? I should have told you in person, and I’m sorry. I got impatient again. Please say something.”

When I pause, I can hear a door slam in the background and Shade cursing then it’s quiet again.

“Fuck,” I choke out. I can only pray that she hasn’t run.

I slide into a parking spot close to her apartment and barely remember to grab the keys as I rush. I don’t hang up, but I keep the phone in my hand like a lifeline in case she picks up to curse me.

I take my frustration out on the door and pause to listen for any movement. When none comes, I start punching instead.

The door opens suddenly, forcing me to back up or fall inside. I should have chosen the forward momentum because Shade is standing there with his arms relaxed at his sides and a murderous look on his face.

“Asher. What a surprise,” he says flatly and takes a single step forward to block my access. He takes in the fact that I’m barefoot and shirtless, clutching keys and a phone. Then he looks at the parking lot to find my hastily parked car.

“Is she ok? Did she run?” I try to brush past him to see for myself without waiting for an answer, and he shoves me back with a strength he’s never shown before.

“Why would my bestie not be ok, Asher?”

“Because I told her what a fucking asshole I am, Shade. I don’t want to start anything with lies between us. I should have fucking waited, but she wanted me to talk now, and I broke. I fucking broke when I knew better. Now get the fuck out of my way.”

“You mean you didn’t tell her all this before you snuck off to the bathroom with her earlier? Shame, shame,” he smirks, but it’s more of a bitter curve than triumph. “This town is a cesspit for toxic men, I’m convinced.”

“I’m not going to tell you again,” I warn him as I focus on his relaxed stance. He’s hidden a lot more of himself than I first suspected, and I need to be ready to follow through.

“Let me talk for a second, Asher Florent Broussard,” he tilts his head as he considers me through narrowed eyes.

He knows my full fucking name?

“Tera is family to me. Imagine you were me for a second. You have four sisters. It won’t be that hard.”

His words sink in, and I frown. He knows my full name. And about my family. Who the fuck is this guy?

“What would you do to a guy that hurt your sister?”

“Kill him,” I answer honestly.

“You say that, and I know you mean it, but I bet you’ve never dug a grave before. I have, Asher. This is the only fuck up I’m giving you. I won’t be pathetic and threaten your family or any of that bullshit. You’re who I’ll focus on, and Asher? You don’t want that. Do we understand each other?”

When is Max going to stop being right about shit? This is just uncanny. A silent assassin adopted my angel.

“I understand,” I drop my defensive stance as I take him in. I don’t like all of the things he’s implying. I especially don’t like the threat he could bring to my family and Tera herself. But I get it. Although… the man is wearing cartoon pajamas. How is this real life?

“I’ll accept it as long as you leave my family out of it. Fuck, if I lose her, I’ll be ready for you to finish me anyway.”

“Good to know,” he nods and jerks his chin towards my car. “You might want to lock that up.”

I turn to see the driver’s side door hanging open, and he steps back to close the door in my face. I hear the locks turn over and seethe for a second. The blinds are open, and I can see his outline in the dark as he watches me grab something before I lock and close the door. I put the phone to my ear, but the only thing that greets me is silence. The connection is still good. She just hasn’t come back to her phone yet. I grit my teeth and hang up before I shuffle through my lock picks for the right tool and head back.

It gives me a cold chill as he watches me approach without expression. He even knows I can pick the locks?

Fuck me.

Tera

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