#7 - Ghosts
1060 คำ
Asher
"What the—damn it, are you drunk?!" Grayson growled.
I scoffed at him.
Where the hell did he get off reprimanding me when he'd been the one ignoring me the past two days.
And yes, I was bloody skunk drunk, and apparently, crazy too.
Because I was seeing things.
Ghosts.
Of the woman I'd searched high and low for.
A ghost that was standing too close to my brother.
My gaze darted between them, something violent stirring in my chest.
It shouldn't have.
This was Grayson. My brother. He protected me. He didn't stab me in the back.
I forced myself to relax, but then a little excited babble filled the room.
"Dada, Dada!"
My gaze swung to the little bundle in Grayson's arms I hadn't noticed. A miniature version of him. Of us.
I froze, a thousand thoughts crashing in my beer muddled mind.
He wouldn't.
He hadn't.
My brother wouldn't.
Something sharp twisted in my gut.
I stepped forward.
He blocked my path. To Jade?
"What the—?" My nose flared.
Jade's eyes went wide as she grabbed the kid.
As if she'd been caught.
Caught!
The word punched me in the face as everything became clear. I moved before I could think.
My knuckles cracked the moment my fist connected with Grayson's jaw. "Is this why you bloody hell refused to tell me where you were?!"
I was barely aware of Jade's gasp as I landed another hit on my brother.
He didn't bother hitting me back.
Guilty bastard.
His reluctance only infuriated me even more.
I swung, hitting him square in the face, but still he only stared. He even had the audacity to look like he felt sorry for me.
He was the cheating, lying bastard.
And he'd knocked her up.
"She's my wife, damn it!" The confession tore out of me as I fisted my brother's collar.
The thought of him and her...together... the kid, it reached deep in my chest and squeezed until I couldn't breathe.
I turned to Jade, searched her face for denial. For anything. She didn't give it to me.
My grip tightened on Grayson's collar. "How could you do this? To me, to your wife—"
"Asher stop!"
I froze at the sound of Elaine's horrified voice.
Damn.
She was here too?
I blinked at her. Then at my brother. Then back at her as I let go of Grayson.
"Y—you're here?" I stuttered.
"If you lay one more finger on him, I'll kill you myself." Elaine shoved past me, glaring.
I blinked at her some more. At how she fussed over my brother, then glared at me for the damage I'd done.
Why the hell wasn't she mad at him?
He was the cheat here.
Or... had I got it all wrong?
Of course, I hadn't. I quickly shook my head. Because if I had that would mean...
Nope.
I couldn't even go there.
My gaze snapped to Jade instead.
She still stood right in front of me, clutching the child so protectively as if shielding it from a beast.
Me.
There was hate in her eyes, no fear. And it went straight to my soul.
That wasn't how she'd ever looked at me. Not on the beach. Not in our bed. Not when she'd whispered my name like I was the only thing in her world.
I stared at her. Glossed over the sight of the kid in her arms. I'd deal with that later. Whatever was going on.
Right now?
I wanted... longed to hear that whisper again.
Even if everything was messed up now.
"Jade." I stumbled forward, an ache for her touch I'd never known washing over me, but I froze the next second when she recoiled, the fear on her face deepening.
Damn it. I stopped.
She thought I was capable of hurting her.
Okay. I had hurt her, probably why she'd turned to Grayson.
"If she had." The hopeful, more drunk part of me quickly added.
I shook my head.
"I won't hurt you, I promise," I slurred.
I wasn't that monster. The bastard who'd dared to lay his filthy hands on her beautiful body before.
I moved towards her, but still she stepped away from me.
Why the hell did she keep doing that?
"Jade!"
I hadn't meant to bark it.
But I had to stop her. She had to know.
I would never hurt her.
"We should go," Bloody Daniel offered softly, taking my arm like I was a child.
I fought him, glaring.
"So that you can come back and get a piece of her too? Oh no, mate. She's all mine," I slurred, shaking myself free and turning back to her.
"I can't wait to hold you baby—" I froze when she flinched.
And I looked around.
Really looked. Well, as much as the alcohol I'd been consuming since finding out about my inheritance and my wife would allow me.
Everyone was watching me.
Elaine, Grayson, Daniel, and her.
Then it hit me.
"You've been dodging my calls," I accused Grayson, everything clicking in place.
I'd been late to the party.
Grayson had been here the entire time. Him and his wife.
And they'd had time. To process his infidelity. Maybe that was why Elaine wasn't mad anymore.
Which meant Jade— Grayson—
Tension coiled tight in my gut.
Hands fisted at my sides.
Beating the hell out of Grayson didn't appeal anymore.
I wanted worse.
I'd never craved the sight of blood more.
My gaze snapped to Jade again, but she was no longer there.
Panic gripped my chest as I turned back to Grayson.
"She was just there, right? Tell me I didn't imagine her. Jade?" I was about to go searching for her when strong arms restrained me.
"You should go," Grayson demanded.
I stepped into him and growled. "You and I are done! You don't get to tell me what I can or cannot do."
His eyes went wide, then softened. To a bloody pity I'd never seen before.
Then he grabbed hold of my arm and dragged me outside, pinning me against the door the moment we stepped out.
What the—
I couldn't get free even if I wanted to because his next words tilted my world, sending me slipping to the floor.
- ผู้เขียน
