Page 13 of Lost In The Dark

“No.” Asher said flatly.

“No? Listen, I don’t know who you think you are, but you shouldn’t even be in here right now. You can’t just…”

“Actually I can,” Asher cut him off, sounding almost bored. “You see, I’m very good friends with the police commissioner in New York, and I called him on our way here. He arranged with your chief of police that my brother and I would be granted access, and allowed to stay with our sister until this whole mess is cleared up. Make your own calls if you need to confirm anything, but in the meantime, Addy goes nowhere without her attorney.”

Tears slipped down my cheeks as emotion overwhelmed me, but I refused to make a sound, not wanting to show the detective any more weakness. He had seen enough from me.

I was just so overwhelmed that Eli and Asher had put themselves in the line of fire for me, and that Asher had stood up for me. Had anyone ever done that? Had anyone ever stepped in and protected me? The answer was a definite ‘no’ to that. I had always had no choice but to stand on my own two feet and fight my own battles. Not that I was ever any good at that. I was too meek and I knew it, but it was the way my mother had made me with her temper and violence. I lacked confidence in myself and I always had. When trouble came I had always taken the easy route to spare myself the confrontation, and had backed down in the end.

The detective cursed under his breath as he turned and walked from the room, slamming the door closed violently behind him, making me jump once again. A sob slipped free as soon as I knew he was gone and I collapsed back into the chair, my exhausted body losing the fight to hold me up.

“Addy!” Eli gasped as he turned to me, then dropped to his knees before me. “Are you okay? What can I do?”

“I…I’m alright,” I whispered tearfully. “I just….you…you stood up for me,” I squeaked as I looked from Eli, up to where Asher stood at his side.

“Of course we did, shortcake,” Eli said gently.

“We’ll always stand up for you. You’re our sister,” Asher added.

“You d-don’t even know me,” I sniffled.

“We will know you, Addy, in time. But that doesn’t matter right now. You’re our flesh and blood and we already feel so protective of you, especially after everything you’ve been through,” Eli told me as he took my shaking hand in his.

“He’s right. Maybe it’s an instinct thing, but ever since we met, I feel this overwhelming need to protect you, and we will, Addy. I promise you we will always do everything we can to take care of you and keep you safe,” Asher added.

I understood what he meant, because I felt something towards the both of them too. It was like a part of me knew they were family, and I trusted them more than I probably should, but my instincts were pretty much all I had to my name and I had opted to trust them. It wasn’t like things could get any worse anyway. What did I have to lose?

“Th-that means more than you can know,” I replied tearfully. “Thank you f-for being here with me.”

“We’re not going anywhere,” Eli promised.

“I need to call Max and get him back here. Are you doing alright?” Asher asked as he looked to me with concern.

“I’m good,” I nodded. He gave me a half smile, then left the room with his cell in hand.

“He can be a bit gruff, but he’s a good guy. He would do anything for the people he cares about,” Eli told me as he looked after Asher once he had left the room.

“I can see that,” I agreed. I had already realized Asher’s tough exterior hid a kind and caring guy inside. He had been so gentle with me, but then, when he needed to – when he was protecting me – he put up this hard, business like front that I was pretty sure no one would dare to mess with. He had an amazing ability to look and be terrifying, but I hadn’t once felt scared of him.

“He was different before the military. Whatever he saw over there, it changed him. Made him harder, but the Asher I always knew – the one who protected and cared for me my whole life is still in there. That’s the Asher you’ll come to know.”

“He was in the military?” I asked. He certainly looked the part, but I was shocked that someone who came from what was obviously a wealthy family would choose the military.

“Yeah. He was a SEAL. Served almost ten years.”

“Did you…?”

“Serve? Me? No way. That was definitely not the life for me,” he chuckled a little. “I’m not tough or strong like Asher. I’d have never survived basic training.” He was smiling as he told me, butI heard something in his voice, like shame, or embarrassment. I didn’t believe his words. He seemed just as strong and tough as his brother, maybe not physically, but mentally.

“What do you do?”

“Ash and I both work for the family business now. I guess those roles will get even bigger now dad’s gone,” he shrugged.

“You don’t like working there?” It was a question, but the answer was written all over his face.

“It’s okay,” he shrugged. “I like being at Asher’s side when he needs me, and things will be easier now dad isn’t there to dictate our every choice and move.”

“Your dad…our dad, I guess…he wasn’t a good man?”

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