Fractured Fear (The Devils of New York #1)

Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25

ASHER

A fter Berkowitz and Kowalski leave Spencer’s, the palpable tension dissipates. Rio ushered Spencer to her room to change as soon as they arrived. Kowalski bagged and tagged the evidence while Berkowitz took the photos.

Z tried to get Spencer to eat the pizza Rio brought from Sal’s, but she refused, which goes against one of the basic commandments. Thou shalt not refuse Sal’s pies. Rio had no problem demolishing a pie on his own though.

Rio and Z helped dispose of the rest of the mess from those fucking flowers. I cleaned up the broken glass and spilled water earlier. Spencer didn’t need to deal with that. I’ve never cleaned up for a victim, but she shouldn’t have to. She wouldn’t tell us about her time with Anthony, but it’s clear it wasn’t good.

Spencer thinks the flowers are from her ex-fiancé. Zane and Rio don’t know what to make of it all, yet. I think they’re still focused on keeping Spencer safe.

As for me? I know it’s him. The fucker I’ve tracked from coast to coast. He’s kept me on my toes, and I refuse to give him a fucking name. Assholes like him don’t deserve anything other than a bullet between the eyes.

If the media gets hold of this, they’ll give him the attention he seeks. The praise. It makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about it.

“Thank you, guys, for everything. I think I’m going to head to bed so—” Spencer starts.

“Are you kicking us out, Mama?” Rio asks with a head tilt.

“Umm. Well. I need sleep and I’m sure you do too. I have work tomorrow and I still want to run in the morning. So in a way, I guess I am, but it’s not because I’m not appreciative of what you did for me tonight. I’m beyond grateful. Really. Thank you. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t been here. Y’all were amazing. Not that you’re not usually amazing every day,” she takes a moment to close her eyes and breathe. I didn’t know the Princess could get so nervous. “That’s not how I meant it.”

Rio and Zane are holding in their laughter. No wonder they’re smitten little kittens. Spencer is adorable as fuck. Add in her curves, independence, and strength, I’d be just as haunted by her. But I’m not, so it's not an issue.

“Hey, I know you can’t keep your hands off me, so if me leaving helps you get some sleep, fine by me,” Rio jests and Zane just nods his head.

It’s lighthearted, but something is off. They’re giving in too easily. If this were my woman, nothing could make me walk out her door tonight, but she’s not mine so it doesn’t matter.

Her jasmine perfume still invades my senses, but I can ignore it. I can ignore the instinctual pull. The need to wrap her in my arms, kiss her, and make her scream until she forgets every name but one.

Mine.

“Come on. Leave the woman be. She says she wants us gone, we’re gone.” I grab both of the clowns by the back of their shirts and haul them out like a sack of potatoes. Again, they don’t put up much fight.

“Asher, wait,” Spencer calls. I shove the two idiots to move down the stairs and turn in her doorway. “Thank you. For being here. I know you don’t like being my bodyguard but thank you. I don’t know how I would have handled it earlier on my own.

I nod my head. “Anytime, Princess.”

Exhaustion sweeps over her, but a small smile still tugs at her lips. “Stop calling me that.”

“As you wish, Princess.” I can’t help the grin that beams her way.

She playfully swats my chest and chuckles. I’d do anything to hear that sound, but I don’t have time to lose my head. Whatever is stirring in this pot of uncertainty has to go.

Without any more words, I shut down my inclinations that are screaming at me, and leave behind the siren who calls to my baser self. I can’t let those propensities take over now. Not when her life, and very likely the lives of the two people who mean the most to me, are in danger.

It’s been over an hour and a half and the guys still aren’t home. I was too tired to cook and Rio ate all the damn pizza, so I stopped at Sal’s for food. I’ve been hanging out in the living room watching trash TV to numb my brain, expecting Z and Rio to show up any minute, but they don’t.

Me: Where the fuck are you two?

Z:...

Rio: Don’t wait up, Wolf baby.

Wolf baby? He needs to cut that shit out.

Me: Seriously. Stop calling me that.

Rio: If you insist…puppy.

Z: We’re just out. We’ll be back sometime later.

Me: Where are you?

Z: Don’t worry about it.

Me: Tell me you’re not at Spencer’s apartment.

Z:...

Rio: We’re not at Spencer’s apartment.

Me: Now tell me the truth.

Rio: We’re at Spencer’s apartment.

Motherfuckers. With a big sigh I heave myself off the couch, and ignore the snaps and cracks of my joints.

I’ve already dressed down into shorts and a T-shirt so all I have to do is slide on some shoes and I’m out the door.

They better have a damn good reason for this.