Collided worlds

Chapter 21

Katherine's POV

Going to that warehouse was a waste of time, a trap. It was all planned by god knows who- someone i was determined to knowing his or her identity.

Asher's parents are probably in this mess because of me. I dragged them into my shit now they are facing consequences. I'll be damned if they don't get out of this alive. I'll forever blame myself and guilt is a fucking bitch.

"Katherine?", A knock on my door snapped me out of these thoughts. Looking up, i was greeted with Asher. We just came back to his house about twenty minutes ago. I haven't spoken a word to anyone since we returned. I went directly in my room, refusing to see or talk to anyone. Asher mentioned my brother is sleeping when we arrived, in a room under the supervision of that girl whose named i can't seem to remember- the caretaker.

"Asher, im sorry." I said all of a sudden, feeling overwhelmed with guilt. "If it wasn't for me, your parents would have never been dragged into this mess. I am really really s-"

"Stop." He interrupted me, shaking his head. "It's not your fault. You couldn't have known."

"But it is." I whispered, looking down. "I shouldn't have come to you."

"Katherine, don't beat yourself up over something you had no control over." He said in a soft voice as if he was afraid i would break. "It is not your fault. Tell me you understand."

I don't. "I do."

My eyes fell on his bruised knuckles which he has yet to clean. "Want me to help with that?", i gestured to his hand. A small smile was formed on his lips before he approached me. "No, I'll be fine."

I almost groaned at his stubbornness. Men and their ego, i tell you. "Where's the first aid kit?"

"I said I'll be fine." He argued, crossing his arms. "You need to eat something."

"Food can wait." I stood up, walked to the bathroom and opened the drawer in hopes of finding a first aid box considering my question was rudely ignored. "We need to clean that up."

I smiled in satisfaction upon seeing one sitting in the last drawer. "Come on."

"It's just a bruise."

"Bruises need to be disinfected." I stated and grabbed his hand, leaving no room for further arguments from his side. He sighed, following me towards the sink. I opened the tap and put his hand under the water before drying it with a towel. "Do you something to bite on? It's gonna sting." I smiled, bringing my lower lip between my teeth. I knew he could take a little sting but there was nothing wrong in teasing him.

"Fuck." He breathed out, making me look at him only to see him staring at me. At my lips. I furrowed my brows in confusion at his cuss, i haven't even started yet.

"Everything okay?" I asked and gently grasped his hand, carefully examining his bruised knuckles. He hissed in pain as i touched the tender skin, gritting his teeth to try and mask the discomfort. "Yes. Im not a child." He stated.

I felt the warmth of his hand in mine, and the proximity to him left me feeling a flutter in my chest.

As i cleaned the dirt and blood from Asher's wounds, i couldn't help but glance up at him every now and then. His chiseled features were twisted into a grimace, and beads of sweat started forming on his forehead. I felt bad for him, why did he have to hit the fucking wall?

I brought his hand close to my mouth and gently blew on it. This action seemed to make him relax slightly. His breathing slowed, and he leaned into me. I looked up at him, meeting his intense gaze for a moment before returning my attention to my current task.

"There," I said as i wrapped a bandage around his knuckles. "All done."

"Thanks." He whispered, his hand still in mine, waiting for me to let go but i didn't. Why am i still holding his hand? Let him go, Katherine.

Asher leaned closer to me, closer and closer- our lips almost touching. "Katherine." He breathed, tightening his grip on my hand. "Yes?"

"Time to eat something now." He pulled away with a smirk and hopped off the sink. I took a step back, regaining my posture. "See you downstairs, princess." He winked before disappearing behind the bathroom room.

What the hell just happened?

Shaking my head at whatever just occurred, i opened the tap, splashed water on my face and wiped it off with a towel before making my way downstairs.

Asher, Theo and Bash were sitting on the couch, each with a cup of tea and cookies in front of them. The second I sat, i reached for a cookie. I was starving.

"Hey Katherine." Bash smiled sadly at me, "Are you okay?"

"No." I answered truthfully. "But i will be."

"How the fuck could we have been so careless that we walked into a fucking trap?" Theo groaned, rubbing his forehead. "We thought this through."

"That's what's been bugging me." Bash added, "We had Ki checked the whole place, in and out- every corner."

"They let us saw their car on purpose. They knew there were cameras at the entry." Asher spoke, "We were so focused on finally finding a hint that we completely forgot about how it could also be a fucking trap." He sipped his tea before continuing, "My mom was at the mall with her friends. She was abducted from there itself and my father was at the golf club. It was completely fucking unexpected. Whoever they are, they're really good i gotta give them that."

"They're not gonna hurt your parents. They could be used to blackmail you and if they're dead then they'll have nothing to hold against you." Theo thought, "What's next? The ball? You cannot go in there unarmed and unprotected."

"If they wanted us dead, we would be by now." I stated, earning a hum in agreement from them knowing that i wasn't the only one who noticed how none of these men fired at me and Asher while we were in the warehouse, "They clearly want something and whatever it is, it requires us being alive."

Bash smiled at me before asking a question i wanna know the answer to myself, "Who did you piss off, Kat?"