Chapter 65

ASHER

“What on earth happened to you?” Tyler rushes toward me, concern etched on his face.

He gently lifts my chin, angling my face toward the light to examine the injuries I haven’t even had a chance to see myself.

“It’s nothing,” I dismiss, striding into the office in search of a distraction.

Maybe my face is worse off than I initially thought. I probably should have checked it out earlier, but I suppose it’s time to face the truth.

Not now, not after getting a glimpse of what my future could be.

A future I want no part of.

I desperately want to help these girls, but I realize I need a different strategy.

There has to be a better way to handle this.

Shutting down the business would be a good start—rescuing his girls would be even better.

No girls mean no business for Fennick.

But I’m in way too deep, and I’ve finally come to terms with how foolish I’ve been.

“I need your help,” I admit, standing at Zach’s desk like a misbehaving student in front of the principal.

He looks at me, his jaw clenched, his eyes darting across my face as he takes his time to respond.

“I can see that,” he murmurs.

Tyler appears next to me with a first aid kit and those familiar antiseptic wipes our mom always uses.

“They’re already clean,” I protest, pushing him away.

“Doesn’t look like it,” he retorts, cleaning them anyway.

I think of Maddison upstairs, her soft touch, her worried tone.

I was an ass for sleeping with her, exploiting a girl who’s already been exploited.

I shouldn’t have done that, and I’ve likely opened a fresh wound for her.

She trusted me—and I shattered that trust.

And it’s in this moment, reflecting on my actions, that I realize I’ve made the biggest mistake of my life because even with her consent, it was wrong.

“Spit it out, Asher…” Zach urges, his arms folded across his chest as I shift uncomfortably.

It’s now or never. I have to tell him the truth.

“On one of my first shifts, a woman came to Daniel looking for her missing daughter. Daniel, being the jerk he is, refused to help, so I decided to step in.

I found the place where the girls were being trafficked, and I have three of them upstairs right now. I spent a ton of money, and I have nothing to show for it, but those girls needed help, and I think I’m in over my head… And here.” I hand him his master key fob.

It’s one of two that can open every door in this hotel. One belongs to Zach, and the other to Tyler.

I’m not sure if there are any more, but I’ve been led to believe there are only two.

“The guy you were talking to earlier, when you found me in your office, he stole your key fob. I think he started a fire as a distraction so he could attack me…because I have his girl, Maddison. She’s…upstairs.”

He just stares at me, his expression unreadable, his eyes unblinking.

“You’ve really gotten yourself into a mess. Why would you do that?” Tyler asks.

“I thought if I could save them, then maybe I’d be half the man you are.”

Tyler presses a wipe against my chin, the sting of the antiseptic making me wince.

“Why would you want to be anything like us?” he questions.

“I’ve always admired you, wanted to be like you,” I admit, my eyes welling up with unshed tears.

I blink them away, knowing that crying now wouldn’t do me any good.

“He started a fire in the bin shed outside the restaurant, then used the fire stairs to get to the second floor. I didn’t see him on your floor, but I’m guessing the CCTV will confirm everything,” Zach states matter-of-factly.

His voice is detached, emotionless.

I feel a pang of shame. Instead of bringing them success, I’ve brought them problems, and it makes me feel utterly inadequate standing here before them.

Tyler uses some tape to secure a bandage on my chin. His touch is gentle, reminding me of our mom.

I can’t bring myself to meet Zach’s gaze.

I can’t bear to see disappointment in his eyes again.

“You snooped on my desk earlier. I assume you already know that I knew?” he asks.

I nod guiltily.

“One question, Asher. Why didn’t you come to me for help when this all started?” he asks.

“I sought help from Callum and Tyler,” I admit.

His question hangs in the air, unanswered.

“Why didn’t you come to ~me~?” he questions, his voice laced with hurt.

“What have I done to make you so afraid of me, Asher?”

He rises from his seat, and I can’t help but glance at him before quickly averting my eyes.

I’ve never felt this level of fear toward my father, standing here, baring my soul to him.

“I don’t want to keep living off your success. I can’t always be in your shadow, Dad,” I confess.

His response is immediate. “In my shadow? Good Lord, Asher. You’ve always been above it.”

“You’ve always been the bright one. A caring, funny kid. You’ve always protected your siblings. You’ve always brought joy and fulfillment to my life.

You graduated with honors, something I never did. I didn’t even finish school, Asher. I dropped out…” His voice trails off, and he takes a moment to collect himself before continuing.

“I’m proud of you, Asher. Proud of you for being you. Proud of your compassion, your love. Proud because you’re my son. My own flesh and blood… When will you let your guard down and see that?”

Suddenly, Tyler steps away, and I realize Zach is standing in front of me, leaning on the desk.

I hadn’t noticed him move because my vision was blurred with tears.

The room falls into a deafening silence.

We’re all frozen, not moving, not speaking… not even breathing.

Until three words escape my lips, words that I haven’t spoken in a long time.

“I love you—too, Dad.”

He pulls me into a hug, holding me in a way that’s not typical for him, but I let myself relax into his embrace.

He doesn’t make me stay there for long.

Instead, he gently pushes me away but keeps his hand on the back of my neck, looking into my eyes as if trying to communicate all the words he hasn’t said.

The ones that can’t fully express his emotions.

“Please help me help them,” I beg.

He presses his lips together, thinking, then rolls his eyes and looks at Tyler.

I follow his gaze and see Tyler shrug, a silent conversation passing between them.

“Bring them home tomorrow; we’d like to meet them. And then we’ll discuss this like men—with Cal too,” he says.

I swallow hard but nod in agreement.