Page 39 of Saving the Rockstar

He blinked, rocking back like I'd slapped him. "I'm just trying to keep you safe, and do my job."

I scoffed, the sound harsh and ugly to my own ears. "Right. Your job. That's what this is about."

Anger sparked in Jared's eyes, bright and hot. His jaw clenched, a muscle ticking in his cheek.

"You know damn well it's more than that," he bit out, his voice tight. Barely controlled. "What we have, it hasn't been just a job in a long fucking time."

I nearly flinched at that, but I couldn't let myself weaken. So I doubled down.

"There is no ‘we', Jared." I stepped into his space, let my lip curl in a sneer. "You're my bodyguard. I pay you to protect me, to keep the crazies away. That's it."

Something flickered in Jared's eyes. Hurt, quickly replaced by a simmering rage.

"That's funny," he said slowly. "Because I seem to remember you spilling your guts to me. Telling me your deepest, darkest secrets."

He stepped closer, crowding me. Forcing me to crane my neck to meet his gaze, to hold strong under the intensity of it.

"I remember holding you while you cried," he continued, his voice a low rumble. "Promising you that I wouldn't let anything hurt you, that I would always be there."

I swallowed hard, felt my resolve waver. Because he was right. He'd seen me, all of me. The broken pieces, the ugly scars. And he'd accepted them. Cherished them, even.

But that was why I had to do this. Had to push him away, keep him safe from Carter.

"Things change," I managed, my voice thin. "People change."

Jared's eyes narrowed. "No. I don't believe you.” He caught my chin, forced my gaze to his. Let me see the fire in him, the conviction.

"Something's going on, Ash. Something you're not telling me." His thumb swept over my jaw, gentle despite the steel in his words. "And I'm not letting you push me away. Not like this."

I trembled under his touch. God, I wanted to tell him. Wanted to let the words pour out of me, let him lance the poison from my veins. But I couldn't. Not if I wanted to keep him whole, keep him untouched by the filth and rot of my past.

I opened my mouth, a rejection rising to my lips. A final, killing blow to sever this tie, this bond between us.

But before I could speak, my phone buzzed. Loud and jarring in the charged air. I jerked away from Jared's touch. I fumbled the device from my pocket, my hands shaking.

And there, glowing up at me like an accusation was a text from Carter.

Tick tock, Ash. Clock's running out. Last chance. You know what you have to do. See you soon, superstar.

I felt the blood drain from my face. I looked up at Jared, met his eyes, and let him see the terror, the anguish, the resignation.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, broken and aching.

And then, I ran. Bolted from the bar like the hounds of hell were on my heels. Ran from Jared, from the warmth and light and promise of him.

I ended up in a park, deserted and dark. The air felt cold and sharp in my lungs, the stars distant and unfeeling above. With shaking hands, I typed out a response.

Where do I meet you?

Who was I in the end, to deny my fate? A shattered star, falling back to earth. It was time to go back to the darkness, where I'd always belonged.

I closed my eyes and let the tears come, hot and stinging. But it was worth it. Because Jared would be safe. Untouched by the rot, the ruin. Free to walk in the light, while I sank back into the shadows.

Chapter 12: Jared

Worry gnawed at me like a constant ache. And then there were the texts. The constant pinging of his phone, the furtive glances at the screen when he thought I wasn't looking. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, that Asher was in trouble and too stubborn or scared to ask for help.

So when he told me that morning that he was going to meet an old friend alone, I felt a cold sense of dread settle in my stomach. I watched him leave, his shoulders hunched and his eyes darting nervously, and I knew I couldn't just sit by and do nothing.

---