Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
ASHER
Growing up, I was told that nothing mattered more than duty and honor. When music became my life, I was told it was about ticket sales and how many zeros were in my bank account.
Now, as I hurry down the hall in the A&E wing of the hospital, I know there is nothing more important in this world than the love I feel for her.
When this is all over, I’m giving Lewis a raise.
Or a car. Maybe two.
After that disturbing photo of Mercury was sent, I lost my mind. The rage I felt was so overwhelming, I thought it would consume me. But Lewis remained laser-focused.
While I could barely look at the photo without feeling furious and sick at the thought of her being hurt and alone, Lewis stayed calm and managed to analyze every detail, which turned out to be exactly what we needed.
Because there was a window in the background, and through it, you could see a steeple of a local church.
Once he identified the church’s location, it was relatively easy to narrow down the options using the position of the steeple in the photo and the limited number of homes in that rural area.
He had the police dispatched within minutes.
That was the easy part.
The hard part was waiting. Lewis promised he would bring her back to me. Since he worked as a liaison with the police, he had the authority to be at the scene. I did not.
It felt like an eternity before my phone finally rang, and his voice was on the other end, reassuring me she was alive and safe.
Safe.
It was a relief, but I still needed to see her with my own eyes.
The nurse at the check-in desk confirmed, after I lied and told her Mercury was my fiancé so I could have a better chance of seeing her, that she was only brought to the hospital as a precaution.
I try to swallow the guilt that keeps trying to surface—the guilt and swirling thoughts of doubt, wondering if she wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me.
She would never have been in this situation to start with.
But thoughts like that won’t help me right now. They won’t help me help her, which is my main priority.
From now on, it will always be my top priority.
I find the room number the nurse gave me and quietly tap on the door. My chest nearly splits in two at the sound of her soft voice inviting me in.
I almost barrel in, but then I stop myself. She’s just gone through a terrible ordeal. She doesn’t need a man, even if it’s me, barging in and making unnecessary noise. So I hold back.
I take my time and go slowly.
She’s wearing a hospital gown. The skin around her neck and chest looks pink, as if it’s been freshly scrubbed, and I appreciate whoever took the time to remove the words that asshole put there. Her clothes are neatly folded on a chair in the corner. I doubt she’ll want to put them back on.
I’ll have Evie bring her some fresh ones.
“Asher,” she says in a soft, relieved voice.
My throat tightens at the sound of her voice, but I manage to keep my emotions in check…until I see the bruise on her face.
I rush to her side, seeing her eyes well with tears the moment they lock with mine. “The nurse said you weren’t harmed.”
Her fingers brush over the already black and blue spot on her cheek. “It’s just a bruise. I’m fine otherwise.”
“Just a bruise.” I let out a dark laugh, shaking my head. “I’m going to kill Mitch for this.” I knew he hated me, but I never thought….
“No,” she says suddenly, taking my hand. “You can’t.”
“What? Why?”
“Didn’t Lewis tell you?”
I gently brush my thumb over hers, savoring each touch when just hours earlier I feared I might not have another. “Tell me what, love?”
“Mitch wasn’t the one who sent the texts. It was Ian, the security guard.”
“What?” My brow furrows. “But Lewis said Mitch was there at the scene.”
“He was. But only because Ian called him,” she replies, appearing guilt-stricken.
“Ian is his future brother-in-law. Mitch is marrying his sister. I think he had this delusional idea that if he ruined your life like he believed you ruined Mitch’s, it would make him some sort of hero in Mitch’s eyes. ”
My tired brain is trying to keep up with this new information. “So Mitch didn’t do this?”
She shakes her head. “No, he actually tried to protect me.”
I try to remember the exact conversation I had with Lewis. All I can recall is the part where he told me Merc was safe. “Didn’t Lewis say Mitch was arrested?”
She nods. “When I tried to defend him, he just stayed silent. He didn’t defend himself. Why would he do that?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”
“Promise?” she pleads. This woman is too damn good.
Mitch is no hero, and yet here she is, fighting for him as if he were.
“I know he’s done some horrible things in the past, but in that room, he fought for me, and that should count for something.
He doesn’t deserve to be punished. Not for this, at least.”
Mitch had always been a part of my past I wanted to forget.
He symbolized my failure to my friends and my responsibility to the band.
Despite how grateful I am that Mercury was protected today, I will never forgive him for what he did to that girl.
Our friendship ended years ago, but perhaps it’s time I leave the past where it belongs.
Behind me.
“Aye.” I nod. “I’ll take care of it.”
For her, I’d do anything.
Mercury is discharged a few hours later, and despite my somewhat chaotic arrival at the hospital, my presence goes mostly unnoticed, allowing us to leave through the back without much trouble.
I doubt we’ll have the same luck keeping this out of the papers in the next few days, but that’s something we can handle later. For now, I just want to lock ourselves in our suite and not come out for at least a day.
Maybe two.
But of course, we have a hundred things to handle before I can do that. Starting with my mother.
She’s waiting for us at the front entrance when we arrive and pulls Mercury into a tight hug the moment we reach the top of the stairs.
“We are so relieved to have you back, my darling,” she says.
Fucking hell, my eyes are stinging. I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to keep myself from sobbing right there in front of everyone. But seeing my mother, who was once so cold and stoic, embrace the woman I love like a daughter is something I never thought I’d see.
“Thank you,” Mercury says, blinking back tears. “I know you all worked hard to find me.”
“Think nothing of it. You are family now,” my mother says very matter-of-factly, glancing over her shoulder to look at me with a raised brow. “Isn’t that right, Asher?”
Subtle, isn’t she?
A tiny smile tugs at the corner of my lips. “Couldn’t agree more, Mother.”
An approving smirk appears on my mother’s face before she clears her throat and ushers us inside. “Enough of this loitering, let’s get you inside. You must be exhausted.”
“A little,” Merc admits.
“As I figured, which is why I’ve already spoken to Evie and had her clear your schedule for the next few days. Mac has done the same with Asher’s.”
My mouth gapes open as we head into the foyer. She turns her head and notices.
“What? I can be flexible.”
“Since when?” I mutter.
“I heard that.”
Mercury giggles, then tries to cover it up with a cough.
We continue down the corridor. “I can have the chef bring up your meals if you like.”
“Oh no, that’s—” Mercury begins before I interrupt.
“That would be perfect.” She turns and frowns. “You’re tired and just went through a traumatic event, Merc. You need to stop being polite and rest.”
“Okay,” she relents and then yawns, confirming my point.
By this time, we’ve almost reached our suite, and my mother asks, “Is there anything else I or anyone else can do?” She asks, and I understand this is her way of trying to help. She may not have all the right words or be the perfect shoulder to cry on, but she knows how to get things done.
This is how she’s trying to show she loves me.
“No. But, thank you,” I say as sincerely as I can. “I appreciate everything you’ve done today. Everything,” I emphasize, remembering the way she held me together when I nearly fell apart.
She gives a curt nod. “You’re welcome. I tried to take care of everything, but unfortunately, there is one thing I couldn’t take off your plate.”
Mercury’s brows rise. “Oh?”
“I tried to contact your brother to let him know you were safe, but he insisted he needed to hear your voice. He also said you need to call your parents.”
Her eyes widen. “He told them?”
Her head tilts in a motherly way I’m not used to seeing. “You had been taken, darling. He probably felt like he had no other choice.”
Mercury’s face softens. “Of course. You’re right.” Then her brow furrows. “They must have been so worried.”
“I’m sure they’re just relieved you’re safe. Like we all are,” she says with a reassuring nod. “I’ll leave you two alone.”
“Good night, Mother.”
“Good night…” Mercury hesitates. “My lady.”
“Call me Theodora.” Then she smiles wickedly. “For now.”
After several tearful conversations with her family, including one particularly difficult talk with her parents, Mercury can barely keep her eyes open when our dinner trays finally arrive from the kitchen.
“Can you just feed it to me in bed?” she groans, shuffling out of the en suite bathroom in a pink robe and matching slippers.
“If you think that sounds like some sort of chore, you would be highly mistaken.” Decision made, I quickly grab her tray and put it on my side of the bed. “Come on,” I motion to her to get under the covers. “Let’s do this.”
“I was kidding!” She laughs, although the sound isn’t as joyful as it usually is, and the smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
“I’m not. Now get your arse over here. You need to eat.”