Page 131 of Bound in Ashes

And then I approached, knowing that walking up the front steps would be a mistake.

Instead, I approached from the back.

Evan had shown me these electric locks he wanted to get. Said they were cool, and that I should join everyone else in the twenty-first century.

I was glad I ignored him.

I worked at the lock for fifteen minutes, alarm growing with every second.

Evan should have watched that. Been on me if I or anyone else tried to come in this way.

But he was probably playing it safe.

“Fuck yeah,” I muttered when the lock finally gave.

The door pushed open, cool, slightly damp air rushing out.

I stepped inside my house, struck by the feeling that it was no longer my home.

“Evan?”

TWENTY-FIVE

Asia

“What are you doing old man?”

I scurried over to Uncle Levi’s bedside, a smile plastered on my face, but tears still welled in my eyes, especially when I saw him tremble.

“What does it look like I’m doing? Didn’t me and Kathleen send you care packages when you were up at that college? I would think they would have helped so you’d be able to see when somebody’s standing up,” he said.

It was Uncle Levi, but his voice was thready, breathy. And I saw his arms shake as he pushed against the soft mattress trying to hoist himself out of bed.

And failing.

He huffed against the mattress with a gentle thud.

The tear fell before I could stop it. And I swiped it away angrily, but then forced the smile back on my face.

“Sounds like you calling me dumb, but this is definitely a pot kettle situation,” I said, looking at the mattress.

“Girl, I’m not gonna spend my last days laying on this mattress, staring up at the ceiling,” he said.

“Uncle Levi,” I said, tears falling freely now.

He huffed, but then leaned back against the headboard. I lifted his pillows, not bothering to try to wipe the tears, or hide them.

I blinked, some of my tears landing on his soft baby blue comforter, turning it darker.

“Gonna fall and hit your head, and what are we gonna do then?”

“You and Kathleen aren’t blood related, but you fuss like it came to you naturally,” he said.

“Hush,” I said.

“Asia,” he said, reaching up, his hand trembling as he grabbed my wrist.

“Let me get you more comfortable,” I said, trying to pull away.