I stay still as I process the words Asher isn’t saying. “And why is that?”
He leans down and kisses my forehead again. “You know why.”
I nod, swallowing hard. The enormity of the situation with Asher and his board, and the threats from TDC, hits me like a ton of bricks. And so does the reality of Asher’s ability to be one person with me and another person when he’s dealing with his enemies. It’s a bit of a mind fuck, and yet it doesn’t change the way I feel about him. I still wonder if that makes me a bad person. But whether it does or doesn’t, I know that Asher isn’t left with many choices in this situation. If he was able to handle these people and these threats like a normal person, I have no doubt he would. But he’s not afforded that luxury. Not when his world works with its own set of rules. You either work within those rules or you fail. Simple as that. Such is the way of cutthroat savagery wrapped in the glittering glamor of high society.
“What does this mean moving forward?” I ask, knowing full well that Asher will not risk something like this again.
“Well, first off, I have something for you. It’s been in the works since the beginning, but it’s finally done.”
He reaches across me and grabs something off the nightstand. He holds a red velvet jewelry box toward me.
“Jewelry?” I quirk my brow. This isn’t exactly a romantic moment.
“Just open it.”
The box opens smoothly and silently, so different from the creaking and groaning of his antique jewelry boxes. A gold watch is inside. “It’s beautiful,” I say, admiring the delicate band and diamond-encrusted watch face.
“It’s not just a watch.” He lifts it from the box. “See this button?” He points to a button I probably wouldn’t have noticed on the side of the face opposite the crown. “This is a panic button. If you press this and hold it for three seconds, it alerts the entire security team. Or you can hit it three times in quick succession if you can’t hold the button down. There’s also a feature like my watch has, where you can use it to create a small explosion. But that’s to be used only if you need to get away, like I did in Singapore.”
I blink at him. “Like a bomb? Is it safe to wear?”
“It is. The propellant is safely housed inside and can only be ignited by clicking the crown with a very specific pattern.”
“But it’s so small, I can’t imagine it doing much damage.”
“It will do enough. It looks delicate, but it’s damn near indestructible and waterproof. I know this all sounds crazy, but our enemies are not a small matter. Which means you’re to wear this watch at all times. I don’t care if you’re in the shower, at home, or somewhere you think is safe. You will wear this watch.”
“So demanding,” I tease as he fastens the watch around my left wrist then presses a kiss to the sensitive skin there.
“I’m serious, Ella. I can’t . . . what happened to you . . .”
“This watch wouldn’t have changed that.”
“I know, but I have to do something. Otherwise, I won’t be able to function. I worry for you constantly. It’s always in the back of my mind. I’m trying to fight my compulsions to . . .” He sighs. “It’s getting harder to deal with you being a target, and every day I’m closer to snapping.”
My brows furrow. The fear and anguish in his voice is so real, raw. But his words make my stomach coil in apprehension.
“What compulsions?”
His jaw tenses, clearly avoiding the question.
“What compulsions, Asher?”
“In the beginning, they were to run away, to push you away. A terrified voice in the back of my mind keeps screaming at me to do that, and to stay away this time.”
My heart stutters in my chest.
“Not because I want you gone, but because if you’re not with me, then one day people will forget about you, and then you can live a safe and normal life.”
I meet his eyes and hope that the fire in mine can get through to the fear in his. “I don’t want a safe and normal life if you’re not in it.”
He kisses my forehead. “I know.”
“What’s another compulsion? It sounded like you had more than one.”
He hesitates before answering. “I want nothing more than to lock you away until this is over. I know it’s fucked up, but I can’t help the instinct to hide you where my enemies can’t find you. Until they’re all dead.”
“I am not a princess that can be locked in a tower, Asher.”
