"Xavier's enemies are circling," Asher explains, his tone matter-of-fact. " Even if you didn’t want him to claim you, he did, andthe second news spreads that he’s down, They’re going to come for the Raiders. They’re going to come foryou."
"But I'm not—" I start, my voice cracking. "I didn’t want this.”
Asher scoffs. “I’m sure Xav didn’t want to be shot either.”
“ I don't know what I'm doing,” I grip my hair at the root and tug a bit, looking away from him. “I'm going to mess this up, Asher. I'm going to?—"
"You're not going to mess anything up," he interrupts, his voice firm but not unkind. "You're scared. That's normal. But you're also smart, and Zay, and I will help you. Okay? You’re good."
I stare at him, my throat tight, my chest aching. "I’m not good. Asher, I am far from good. I don’t want to do this. I can’t."
"You can." His voice softens, just slightly. "And you will. Because Xavier needs you to. Because we all need you to."
The weight of his words settles over me like a lead blanket, and I have to fight the urge to slide down the wall and curl into a ball. "How is he?" I ask, my voice breaking. "What's the real update? Not the sanitized version for the table. The truth."
Asher's expression darkens, and for a moment, he doesn't answer. He looks away, his jaw working like he's chewing on words he doesn't want to say. Then he sighs, running a hand through his hair, leaving streaks of dried blood in the long blond strands.
"It's bad, Valentina," he says finally, and the gentleness in his voice makes my stomach drop. "The bullet... it did a lot of damage. They're working on him, but it's going to be hours before we know anything for sure, and it doesn’t look good."
My knees go weak, and I press harder against the wall to keep myself upright. "But he's alive."
"He's alive," Asher confirms, and it's the only thing keeping me from completely falling apart. "He's a fighter. You know that. He's not going down easy."
I nod, even though it feels like the floor is shifting beneath me. "When can I see him?"
"Once the doctors give the okay," Asher says. "We'll go together. But right now, Zay's the only one they're talking to. Hospital policy—next of kin only."
"Right." I swallow hard, tasting something bitter. "Right. Of course."
Asher steps closer, and suddenly his hand is on my shoulder, warm and solid and grounding.
“We’ll figure this out,” he says, his voice low and steady. “Together. You, me, Zay, Jackie. We’re going to keep the Raiders intact, and we’re going to keep you safe until Xavier comes back. I promise you that.”
I want to believe him.
God, I want to believe him so badly it hurts.
But all I can think about is Xavier getting close to me, whispering in my ear how I was always meant to be his like some divine blessing.
All I can think is maybe he’s right.
I am scared he will die.
I am scared that he was meant for me.
I am scared they are all meant for me.
“What if he doesn’t come back?”
The words slip out before I can stop them, small and terrified.
Asher’s grip on my shoulder tightens.
“He will.”
“But what if?—”
“He will,” Asher repeats, and there’s steel in his voice now, a certainty that leaves no room for doubt. “Xavier doesn’t lose. Not to a bullet. Not to anything. You know that.”
