What the fuck have I just stumbled in on. Undercover.
“Go now. She’s in her room with Max on the door,”
My brows furrow.
I found it endearing if slightly overprotective, the relationship he had with his sister. Now it has my mind churning. What the hell happened to her that has him this fearful for her, so much so he has her guarded at school.
I push myself further into the ground as Jacob passes by on his way out of the tree line.
“I have messaged Bishop to look into Bronwyn’s family to see if they have heard anything, I am guessing Mr. Carmichael has been informed?” Asher asks oozing authority that has my thighs clenching.
“As of tonight, yes. But that fucker isn’t going to do anything as usual,” Daylan’s irises darken as he speaks of the headmaster. He has a heaviness to him that the other two don’t have. Something within I can see trying to claw its way out.
“Don’t worry Ash. If we have to repeat what happened last year, then so be it. We won’t let anything happen to Piper”.
Asher nods as his shoulders drop. “Thanks,” He runs his hand through his hair as an annoying high pitched voice echoes through the forest.
“ASHER!” Darcy shouts. “Where are you baby? I’m getting cold,”
“Maybe, because you said the coat I suggested you wear didn’t go with your outfit, you annoying fucking leech,” Asher whispers through gritted teeth as Daylan snorts with a barely restrained laugh.
“What are you going to do with her?” Daylan asks Asher and it piques my interest.
The moody man before me turns to his friend with a roll of his eyes. “Dear old dad told me to keep her sweet for a business deal,” He lights acigarette and places it between his lips. “It won’t be a problem much longer though. Just got to bide my time,”
Daylan smirks. “I think evenIwill celebrate that day,” Asher chuckles and the sound of it warms my blood. “I’m going to grab a drink and ask around about Bronwyn,”
“Don’t freak people out,” Asher snaps. “We don’t need people panicking about more girlsdropping out,”He air quotes the final two words with a sneer.
And there it is. Proof that he knows about Marlowe.
“I won’t,”
Asher takes a puff on his cigarette as Daylan turns to walk away.
“Do you think Ruella could be part of this?”
I freeze.
My heart starts to pound in my chest like a drum.
I watch as Daylan thinks it over. “Maybe,” He tilts his head. “Do we know anything about her?” He asks.
“No,” Asher shakes his head. “But I have ways to find out,” His jaw clenches before he takes a few more puffs of his cigarette. He pulls his phone back out of his pocket while Daylan leaves. His face is filled with something that immediately reminds me of my father. There aren’t any physical similarities, but the way he holds himself, the power and authority emanating off him, the rage that bubbles beneath the surface. It’s like looking at what my father would have been like at his age, and I grimace. My legs are protesting and my mind reeling. I really need to get out of here, Corden and Deena will be waiting for me, but Asher will see me from his position if I get up now.
“Ruella Griffith,” I shut my eyes in a panic at potentially being caught. “Who are you?” He asks and I eventually relax. He hasn’t seen me, just mumbling to himself as he stares at his screen. Therelief comes instantly, but then it is overshadowed by something else. Something darker, pulsing and almost like a magnet I feel a pull between us.
Asher finally puts his phone away and turns his back on me, but I still don’t dare breathe until he has walked out of the tree line. I groan as I stand, my knees clicking from crouching for so long. I take a deep breath and crack my neck from side to side as I decide on what my next moves are after tonight.
I know for sure that Asher and the boys know more than everyone else, not only is Marlowe missing, but potentially others. And somehow this connects with his sister Piper. Plus, Daylan could be the one who attacked me earlier.
Looks like myself and Asher Vander have a long overdue conversation.
I smirk and turn to make my own way out of the forest when my feet come to a grinding halt.
“Darcy?” I ask as I scan for others.
Darcy is stood leaning up against a tree, staring at me with nothing but hatred oozing from her. If looks could kill, I would be obliterated.
