Page 11 of The Penalty Shot (Totally Pucked 5)

“Asher,” I breathe.

He’s wearing a t-shirt and sweats, the dark ink of his tattoos on display, but what I really notice is how his chest is heaving. His jaw tightens for a second as he tries to look past me. “I just got a text from Alex. Are you okay?”

I want to cry, to fall into his arms and weep after how bad the last thirty minutes have been, but I subtly shake my head. I’m seconds away from having a panic attack. I can feel the tightness in my chest intensifying by the second, and seeing Asher standing here feels like a lifeline. I’m so scared at this moment, of what Jarrett is capable of. That he might hurt Alex or me, or even Asher.

“Get rid of him, Auden. Don’t make me say it again. I’m not in the mood for this shit,” Jarrett hisses quietly behind me, and then I feel his hand on the back of my neck, squeezing so hard that my breath catches in my throat.

Asher notices the sharp hiss, and his face turns into something…deadly. “What the fuck?”

He pushes the door open and I stumble backward, falling against Jarrett, squeezing my eyes shut at the pressure on my neck. His hand seems to tighten with each step Asher stalks toward us. The stench of alcohol and sweat permeating off of Jarrett makes me want to gag.

“Get the fuck out, this has nothing to do with you, pretty boy,” Jarrett sneers. His grip never leaves my neck, and I swallow, praying for this to be over.

Asher steps even closer to us. “It has everything the fuck to do with me, the moment you put your hands on her. Remove your fucking hands before I remove them from your body.”

Jarrett begins to laugh maniacally, spittle coating the back of my neck. “Ah, big shot hockey player. Sure you want to throw your whole fancy hockey career away for some worn-out pussy like this?”

I hear Asher grunt, so deep and animalistic, that I feel it in my bones. I open my eyes, a split second later, to see Asher charging toward him. Jarrett lets go, pushing me aside, and I fall to the carpet. My pained groan causes Asher to falter for a split second. I can see the concern mixed with rage in his eyes, and that split-second costs him. I hate violence, but I really hate someone touching me like this and violating me in my own home.

Jarrett swings wildly, and his fist lands with a sickening crunch against Asher’s jaw. The entire thing makes me want to cry. I’ve never felt so…helpless. It’s not as if I could step in and intervene with these two, and I’m worried that Asher will get hurt.

Thankfully, Jarrett’s so drunk, his equilibrium is clearly off, so the next swing, Asher ducks back from. It only takes one punch, and Jarrett slumps to the floor. Lights out.

“Oh God,” I cry, covering my mouth.

Asher rushes over to me, crouching in front of me and pulling me into his arms. I can’t help the sobs that burst from my chest. The adrenaline from the moment has my head spinning, and my emotions in overdrive. Even through all of that, I immediately feel safer in his arms.

“Shh, it’s okay, Killer, I’ve got you.”

“I’m so s-sor-r-ry, Asher,” I cry. Hot tears wet my cheeks as I sob.

He pulls back, taking my chin between his fingers, “Hey, it’s okay. Where’s Alex, is he okay?” His eyes search the apartment, and the genuine concern on his face makes me want to cry more.

“He’s in his r-r-oom, I told him to stay put.”

Asher nods, standing, and lifts me off the floor.

“We need to call the cops.”

The thought makes my heart stop in my chest. What if they think I’m a bad mom because of this? What if they try to take Alex from me for letting this happen? My mind immediately goes on the defensive, with my past rearing its ugly head. Imagine if my parents found out about this, what would they say?

“No, I can’t. I…I don’t want them to take Alex,” I stutter, panic seizing my chest.

Asher’s brows furrow in confusion. “Auden, why would they take Alex from you? This motherfucker just assaulted you. He fucking put his hands on you. He hurt you. He’s the one at fault. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

Instinctively, I burrow further into his chest, so desperately ready for this to be over. I want to get Alex and lock us both away. I already feel safer just having him here with us.

“I know, I just…” I’m shaking so badly that I can’t speak and each second that passes, my chest gets tighter, the panic sliding to my throat.

I feel a panic attack coming on. I feel myself slipping, and I cling to Asher in hopes of stopping it.

He must sense my hysteria because his arms tighten around me. “I’ll be here. I’m not leaving, and if he fucking moves from that spot on the floor, I’ll put him through it. Go get Alex and go to your room. I’ll call the cops.”

He makes it sound so easy, having him take care of everything. It’s the adoring look in his eyes that has me agreeing, and the moment Alex hits my arms, I know that allowing Asher into our lives is the best decision I’ve made, even if it’s only temporary.

Chapter Five

Asher

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