Igniting Her

Chapter Eleven

I rest my forehead on the window, still reeling from my encounter with Jason. After four years, I thought I knew him, but tonight, he showed me a side of him I didn't recognize. What the fuck got into him? That plus the worry the twins heard about my scarred past weigh on me like an albatross. I find myself embarrassed thinking they might know what Richard did.

I was only eighteen, and deep down, I know it was not my fault, but it feels like something wrong with me. It was like something in me should have been able to stop it, I shouldn't have let it happen. Jason knows that whole situation haunts me, but he still spit it out, like it was nothing, and tried to add to my shame. Fucking low life bastard!

It is truly amazing how quickly you can come to hate someone you thought you loved. After four years, Jason knows what jabs to throw to truly hurt me and that seems to be his intent. For whatever reason he has decided my suffering is necessary and that gleam in his eye told me he is not done. A shiver runs up my spine with the realization, Jason is just another abusive prick in my life, like Richard. Other than Andrew it seems like every man in my life since Dad is toxic and abusive in some manner.

My attention is drawn to the two men in the front seat and I can't stop the little voice telling me I am just setting myself up to be abused in god knows what way with them. I didn't even argue when Asher decided I was going back to their place. Now I am going to be secluded with them, in their home, and not even have my car to leave if things go sideways. Fuck I am an idiot. At least I have my cellphone in my pocket, and I could call Andrew. It is not much reassurance, but it is enough to stave off the onset of panic.

From my spot in the back of what looks to be an older car, I admire Asher as he silently maneuvers through the quiet streets of Eastwick, and he is truly a distracting sight to behold. His chiselled arms, prominent in a plain black shirt, flex deliciously with every turn of the wheel, and I rub my hand across my mouth to make sure I am not drooling. Asher is lean, built like a living panty remover, exuding sensuous confidence that would have any woman tripping over herself. Which would be a great cover for a sadistic asshole. If I think about it, Asher and I have barely had a conversation, I know next to nothing about him, only the tidbits Lucas shared with me.

I peer over at Lucas' strong side profile as he sits in the front passenger side quietly, his hulking frame making the seat appear comically small. The man has been nothing but sweet with me, but that doesn't mean anything; Jason was incredibly sweet in the beginning too. I can't suppress the seed of doubt taking root in my chest. I could be letting Lucad manipulate me, and he could turn out worse than my ex.

Lucas and Asher are walking muscle, so if the situation ever crumbled to anything physical, I would have no chance of defending myself. And here I sit in a vehicle with these men, that for all I know could be psychopaths. I am internally cussing myself out for being so trusting again.

"Hey guys?" I called out. Lucas turned to face me while Asher locked eyes with me in the rear view mirror. "I changed my mind, I should be fine to head home. Could we just go back to Chalky's and I can drive myself?"

Asher holds my gaze in the mirror, his hazel eyes with the forest green limbal ring mesmerizing, and in an instant, he turns back to the road. "No," he states with firm finality.

"What the fuck do you mean no?" I snap back before I can think better of it.

Lucas gives me a tight lipped smile, "What Asher means to say, is we witnessed you in a bad situation and when I mentioned taking you home you kind of freaked out," his eyes are sympathetic and for once I didn't feel pitied or judged. "We are almost at our house and if after we feel you are okay, one of us can take you to your car, so you can drive home."