Page 41 of Cruel Titan

Either way, Asher is behind me, and I hate that every time I glance back to make sure it’s still his lights in my rearview mirror, I feel a sense of relief.

The relief is even greater when I pull into Nathan’s driveway. Asher slows down, waiting until the gate closes behind me, then speeds off.

Hopping out the car, I run out of the garage, hurrying into the house. All the lights are off, and the house is quiet so I’m guessing everyone has turned in for the night.

I bolt up the stairs, feeling like someone is still chasing—or at least watching—me. I slip into my bedroom, shutting the door behind me.

I clutch my chest as my phone rings, surprising me as it disrupts the silence. I hurry to answer it.

“I would ask you why, but I doubt I’ll like any answer you have to give.” I hear a frustrated huff on the other end of the line.

“Davis?”

“Damn it, Quinn. I have to ask anyways. What the hell were you thinking going out to that house alone at night?” His voice starts out angry, but I hear worry in his tone, and it tells me I was in danger and someone was watching me other than Asher.

I have a good guess, but I ask anyways. “Who told you?”

“Your boyfriend called me,” he says, flatly. It’s apparent by his annoyed inflection that he isn’t happy to tell me, but it’s obvious he had to find out somehow.

“Of course he did. Why would he call you?” Confusion consumes me as I sit on the edge of my bed, hoping that I hadn’t put my trust in Davis when I shouldn’t have. “Why are you talking to Asher? You told me not to trust anyone.”

“And I meant it. Don’t trust anyone.”

“Then why do you trust him of all people?”

“I don’t, but I’ll take his word for what it’s worth because he’s the one who slipped me the contracts with your forged signature.”

“What? Why would he do that?”

“Maybe he wants to protect you. It sure seemed that way tonight when he called me, begging me to talk some sense into you because he said you won’t listen to anyone else … but from the sound of it, you didn’t listen to me either.” The frustration is evident as he continues, “I told you to drop it until I can help you.”

“I know.”

“But you went off and could’ve gotten yourself killed.”

“So what? It’s better than you dying and leaving Lindsey a widow. Have you ever thought of that?” My words squeak out as I finish the question.

“Every. Single. Day.” His voice is strong and stern, no hesitation as he continues, “But I know for a fact that she has people looking out for her other than me. People she can count on, people who love her that she can trust. The more I dug into your case, the more I saw that you were in more danger than I ever was.”

“Then tell me what’s going on!”

“I don’t know, but I was close to finding out and someone didn’t want that to happen.”

“I don’t know what to do. What am I supposed to do?”

“Just as I said. Let me help you, but give me the opportunity before you get yourself killed.”

“Okay.” Good plan, but easier said than done. Not the getting killed part, the waiting and letting Davis get involved again part. How am I going to manage it when all I want to do is run into the street and scream for whoever it is to come out of the shadows. Then I would at least know what, and who, I’m dealing with. It’s the lurking, never knowing what to expect that I can’t stand. The evil hiding in plain sight as Asher put it, which tells me he knows more than he is letting on to Davis.

After getting a few more minutes of lecturing, I hang up with Davis, then send a message I’m sure to regret.

Me: Meet me in the garage. Now.

Asher: Say please.

He has to be the most maddening, infuriating person that I’ve ever met in my life. Jamming my fingers against the glass screen of my phone, I cuss him out as I type the response. If he doesn’t show, then oh well, but I won’t be begging him for shit after everything he’s done to me.

Me: No.