Page 38 of Twisted Truth

“Sit. And stay,” Declan orders him. “You can get up after we’re gone.”

Asher grabs my hand again, pulling me to his side, and a wave of relief washes over me, diluting my fear. It’s strange that even though I’m in the same room as Kyle, who I was with for three years, that I feel more comfortable with Asher, who I’ve only known for two days. If my mind wasn’t so muddled from the tense circumstances, it might scare me to admit how good it feels to be close to Asher, and how safe I feel with him.

He gives me a gentle tug and we make our way through the apartment, checking the bedroom, bathroom, and all the closets and drawers. As we do, tears start to burn my eyes. More than half of my things are missing. Kyle didn’t just get rid of my clothes—books, jewelry, shoes, make-up—so many of my things are gone.

I march back into the living room with Asher still by my side. “What did you do with all of my things?” I hiss at Kyle.

“I sold them,” he sneers. “I needed money for my new business.”

“So, all the money you stole from me wasn’t enough?”

“New businesses cost a lot of money. And you deserted me. You got what you deserve.”

Asher looks like he might kill Kyle, so I pull him out of the living room. I do one last sweep with a fuming Asher before determining that everything of mine is packed up. It only took fifteen minutes, and all of it fits into just five boxes. My onlyconsolation is that my most nostalgic and treasured items that are utterly irreplaceable are at my mom’s house in the attic.

The security team and movers begin to file out.

“Dec, Sterling,” Asher says to his brothers. “Take Ella. I have one last word to say.”

Declan links his arm through mine and gently leads me away with Sterling as Asher leans over a quivering Kyle, who’s still on the couch now under Robert’s icy stare.

“You are never to contact Ms. Hale in any way, ever again,” I hear Asher say as Declan leads me away. “If I see you near her, if I see your name on her phone, if I so much as hear of your existence in relation to hers again, I will destroy your life. There will be nothing but shreds for you to pick up.”

“You okay?” Declan asks once we’re out in the hall.

I shrug. I don’t even know what to think at this point.

“Don’t worry. I know this situation is . . . unorthodox. But Asher is a good man. The best. This is exactly who he is; he protects those he loves with everything he has.”

Those he loves?My stomach somersaults. I know Declan is referring to Asher’s family, and not me, but the way he said it so casually toward me has me reeling.

“We hardly know each other,” I say quickly.

“Yes, well, because of the . . . project, that is going to change.”

“I know this situation is crazy,” Sterling adds, “but if anyone will protect you through it, Asher will. Asher is possessive of what is his. Whatever that dumb fuck, Kyle, has done to you, it will never happen again. Asher won’t allow it.”

“We’re all done and out, Chief,” Asher says into his phone, exiting the apartment. Kyle slams the door behind him. “No violence, no robbery. Only Ms. Hale’s things were gathered.”

“I want those cars within a week,” Chief Olsen barks.

“Done,” Asher says, hanging up the call.

As we make our way downstairs, I do everything I can tohold it together; I don’t want to cry in front of everyone. And I know I’m being silly. They’re just things. Things can be replaced. And if I agree to Asher’s proposal, I’ll have more than enough money to replace them. But the idea that someone I loved, someone who I thought cared for me, who I was ready to marry at one point, would take my things and burn and sell them is a lot to take in. It’s a deep cut to think that Kyle could just turn on me at the drop of a hat.

“Where are we delivering the boxes?” Robert asks as we step out of the elevator.

“I . . . shit, I don’t know.” A couple tears spring free, and I swipe them away. Everything is hitting me all at once. “I’m staying with my friend Zahra, but her apartment is tiny, and her boyfriend lives there, too. The few things I have there already take up too much space.”

“Take them to my apartment,” Asher says.

“I don’t want to impose.”

“Ella,” he says firmly. “You are not an imposition.”

The boxes are placed in the second car, and Robert, Matthew, Declan, Sterling, Asher, and I ride in the first.

“Did you say he stole all of your money?” Asher asks as we start driving.