“That’s me,” the blond man confirmed. “Can I go up? I’ve brought something Mr. Caldwell is very anxious to have.”
“Oh, yes. Take the first elevator. I’ll send you right up,” the guard replied, and the blond headed to the elevator.
He was wearing a black leather jacket over jeans and expensive boots, but he carried no bag or briefcase. Whatever he had that Asher was eager to get, it had to be inside his clothes. And there was only one thing Zach could think of.
Zach let the door close and slumped against the wall, closing his eyes against the sharp pain stabbing him through the heart. His eyes burned, and he bit back a sob of complete despair. He didn’t know how long he stood there, but eventually he made himself move. He couldn’t give in to his pain here. Looking straight ahead, he left the building and turned in the direction of his own apartment over a mile away. He didn’t care about the cold, the wind, or the snow that swirled around him as he walked with his head down and shoulders slumped. He concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, emptying his mind and trying to ignore the empty hole in his heart.
When he reached his building, he went up to his apartment, fumbling for his keys with fingers that were numb with cold. His apartment was warm, but he didn’t take off his coat. He dropped onto the sofa and covered his eyes with one hand. He didn’t know what to do; he’d never felt this much pain in his life. Nothing and no one had ever hurt him so badly, and he wished the floor would open up and allow him to sink into oblivion.
He sat there, unable to do anything else. Then the ringing of the cell phone in his pocket startled him, and when he pulled it out, he felt a fresh stab of pain. Asher was calling him to let him know he’d arrived in DC. Asher was safe, but Zach’s heart was breaking with the knowledge that he’d lost Asher anyway.
He didn’t answer; instead, he forced himself to get up and grab the keys for his SUV. There was really only one place for him to go where he could give in to his pain among people who loved him and would hold him and tell him things would be all right.The only place to go when you’re hurt, he thought,is home.
