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She spends more time with Wren, but they aren’t as tight as they were in September. I suspect something else is up, but I don’t ask. Eddie stalking her is bad enough. Charlotte’s empty room has become our meeting place, but it isn’t as private as the Oak. So, the three of us return to our usual booth and try to figure out a new plan.
“Any word from your uncle?” I ask Asher.
He scowls at the table while turning his beer with his fingertips. “He’s ghosting me. I spoke to his lieutenant instead. He swears Eddie is a renegade.”
“What does that mean?” asks Jaxon.
“He’s going after Charlotte on his own, and the MC isn’t behind him,” replies Asher.
“Why would he do that?” I ask. “What’s motivating him?”
Asher looks uncomfortable with the question and won’t look us in the eyes. “Eddie knows Charlotte, but she’s never known he existed until now. Monarch is a tough school; you know that, Hudson.” I nod and he continues.
“Charlotte stood out like neon in the dark. She was a beacon to all the scum in that shithole. They use women hard in Weymouth, and I did what I did to protect her, though it might not seem like it. I claimed her as my toy, so the others would back off. But if I had treated her sweetly, they would have gone after her to get to me. I couldn’t appreciate her. You understand? I had to treat her wrong to protect her, or it would have been worse.”
“And Eddie was worse,” I reply.
Asher meets my hard gaze. “They wanted her to be the entertainment at a house party. And some guys from the club got wind of it. Charlotte had a reputation in town for being a desirable piece of ass, and her being rich caused resentment.”
“I thought she was broke then?” asks Jaxon.
“Being rich is an attitude, not income,” Asher replies. “They were going to run a train on her to shame her and let everyone watch. I had to do something drastic to stop it. The girls wouldn’t tolerate their men banging an outsider. So I made a secret deal. They could shame Charlotte if they let her go.”
“That’s the photo of her shaved head,” I state.
“I didn’t know that photo existed,” replies Asher. “But yeah, the girls did that. But none of the guys got to touch her.”
Jaxon scoffs at the wild story. “They must’ve been pissed with you.”
“I got my ass jumped, but she got away. And they all forgot about Charlotte except for Eddie. And Eddie can hold a grudge.”
“You can’t get your uncle to call him off?” asks Jaxon.
Asher shakes his head. “Not if he won’t talk to me.”
This is wild. Asher goes to college, and his uncle goes apeshit. I get into Ivymore and get a new Mercedes.
“All because you didn’t join the MC,” says Jaxon in amazement.
“It’s a major blow when your family turns you down.” Asher sips his beer. “Jake spoke to me at the dorm. I’m getting into Alpha despite my shit grades.”
“That’s great.” I punch his shoulder while Jaxon shakes his hand. “This is a big deal; don’t look so put out.”
“I’m still debating dropping out,” he replies, appearing resigned to his decision.
“Don’t do that, bro,” says Jaxon. “Who’s going to call me an asshole when I need to hear it?”
Asher laughs, and relief floods into me. “You’re going to ruin my workout,” I tell him. “My shoulders are broad from pulling you two shitheads apart.”
Asher full-on laughs. “You can call each other assholes.”
I shake my head. “It’s not the same. It sounds like an insult coming out of your mouth with that thick Weymouth accent.”
Jaxon turns serious. “Seriously, man, stay and finish out the year. It’s only three more months. You froze your balls off all winter; don’t make it for nothing.”
“Besides, what about Charlotte?” I reply. “She’ll take it hard.”
Asher’s expression clouds over and conceals his feelings. “I can do more in Weymouth. My uncle can’t ignore me if I’m in his face.”
