Ridge quickly unlocks the door and shoves it open.
“What do you need me to do? Should I go get Panther?” Ridge asks.
I want to ask where the fuck her brother is and why he wasn’t keeping an eye on her, but I already know. I’d bet my entire bank account that he and Maggie snuck off back to their cabin and are fucking like rabbits.
“Asher, tell me what the fuck I should do. Should I get Doc?” Ridge asks, pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts.
“What I need you to do is get the fuck out and stay the hell out of trouble while I take care of her. Can you do that?” I snap as I set her down gently on her bed.
When I go to pull away, she whimpers, holding on to me tightly.
“And give us some goddamn privacy,” I hiss over my shoulder.
As soon as the door shuts, I let out a breath. I sit down on her bed and move her so her legs are lying over my lap. Leaning down, I rest my forehead against hers.
“It’s over, Aspen. Come back to me. It’s all over,” I murmur softly as I start to run my fingers through her hair.
Over and over, I reassure her that no one will hurt her and that I’m here. That she has nothing to fear, not anymore.
CHAPTER
FIVE
ASPEN
The party is raging on out in the clubhouse, but I can’t bring myself to go out and have a good time. I know I would be safe. Panther is out there with Maggie. Rain is probably here somewhere too. Kim and Lisa also told me they were coming, but I am not ready for that yet.
The sound of the music mixed with the bass thumping against the walls brings back memories I can’t deal with right now.
So instead, I sit in my room with a borrowed book as I try to focus. I never was much of a reader, but if I take it slow, I can focus on the story.
I’m on chapter five when something crashes in the clubhouse. My stomach sours.
You’re safe. It was probably an accident.
My mind doesn’t settle, though, so I pull myself from the bed.
One peek and it will calm my nerves.
I sneak down the hall into the main area. Many of the guys are drinking as the music blares, but there is a wide circle around the two men in the middle.
Ridge stands there, chest against Caterpillar, one of the men that I was introduced to but didn’t like much. He is too cocky for his own good. It’s going to cause him trouble one of these days, and it looks like today might be that day.
Ridge throws a punch, the sound echoing in my head even though I know it isn’t possible over the music.
My mind isn’t in the present anymore, though. No, it’s thrown into the past.
The crowd parts, and there he stands. Asher. The only man in this whole club who has shown me any kind of compassion.
I want to throw up. I have been watching Monster fight. With the drugs in his system, he is practically unbeatable. The way he is looking at Asher now, he is going to murder him.
“Our prospect wants to step up? Well, let’s see what you have then. Monster, show him what it means to be a Ragged Anarchy.”
Monster laughs maniacally as he stares at me. His pupils are blown wide.
“Gladly.”
I watch as Asher steps to the center of the ring. I want to yell at him. Tell him to run while he can. Monster might kill him. Asher once told me that he couldn’t do more for me because he isn’t a full member. It means he has limits, but it also means that Monster can kill him without consequence.
