Chance(12)

I recognize the irony in the situation. Caleb's loyalties lie in one place. It's not with me or his brothers. It may have been his former fiancé at one point, but it's always been his parents. If they need anything, Caleb is the first to jump to the ready to help. I admired it when we were younger but now I see it clearly for what it is. He's trying to make up for what he views as his part in the breakdown of their marriage. He quietly blamed himself when they announced they were separating. His guilt stemming from the fact that he forced himself into the middle of their business relationship.

"Have you talked to Asher?" I scan my smartphone's screen hoping to see a text from Asher telling me he's running late.

"You only get one phone call in prison," he says with the hint of amusement in his tone. "I doubt I'm Asher's call."

I have to bite my bottom lip to stave off the urge I feel to scream at him. It may be his incessant need to joke about serious situations because he can't handle anything heavy, but this pushes all of my buttons. "Asher isn't in prison."

He taps his foot against the edge of my desk. "Did you pay his bail?"

I look into his face. He doesn't deserve an answer. He doesn't deserve another ounce of my time. He went out on a date when he thought his brother was sitting in jail. He carried on with his life, without a single missed step at all. "What happened to you, Caleb?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" He cocks a dark brow as his tongue slides over his bottom lip.

"You've changed so much." I exhale audibly. "I don't know when it happened but you're not the man you used to be."

The words hit him with the force of a hurricane. His expression doesn't give anything away but his body language does. His shoulder fall back, his neck surges forward and his gaze drops into his lap. "I haven't changed at all."

"You're selfish," I say it because it's what I see and feel. "The Caleb I used to know would have done everything in his power to protect his brother."

He's on his feet in one quick movement. "I was protecting him, Rowan. I was doing what I needed to do to protect him."

"No," I push the word out slowly and loudly. "You were protecting your precious company's reputation."

"He was in full attack mode." He clenches his fists together at his sides. "You weren't there. You don't know what was going on."

My finger darts out to wave in the air over my desk. "I know that you're at least six inches taller than him. You must have at least fifty pounds on him. You're telling me that you couldn't control him?"

"You don't need to fight my battles, Bell," Asher's voice breaks into our conversation. "Caleb did what he needed to do. I don't blame him. I don't want you to either."





Chapter 9


"Asher," I say his name as I round my desk to embrace him. "I tried to find you yesterday. I've been so worried about you."

"I know." His hands leap to my shoulders. "Frank told me you were at my building. I needed to crash at a friend's house."

"Are you alright?" I step back to soak in the sight of him. There's never been any question Asher, Caleb and Gabriel are brothers. They all have the same dark brown hair and brown eyes. Asher is just as striking to look at as his brothers but he doesn't carry the same confident air that they do. He's shy. He's more reserved and unless you know him well, making eye contact isn't going to happen.

"I'm okay." His gaze moves to the right to where his brother is watching us.

Caleb stands in silence with his broad arms crossed over his chest. I can't tell if he's seething or if he's relieved to see his younger brother looking freshly showered, shaved and ready to take on his day.

"I need to talk to you about something." Asher sighs and pushes his hand through his hair. "I want to talk about it alone."

"I'm leaving," Caleb spits the words out without looking at either of us.

"Caleb," I start before I realize I don't know what to say.

"Don't." His hand juts into the air. "I need to get to work."

I glance quickly at Asher as Caleb walks through the door of my office before he turns to the right and disappears down the corridor.

I reach for Asher's hands and squeeze them both tightly. "Were you hurt? Did you get hurt yesterday?"

"No." He shakes his head rapidly from side-to-side before looking up towards the ceiling. "I lost it. I totally lost it."

I want to ask the obvious question about what he was on but focusing on the elephant that's in the room isn't going to pull any of the details I want out of Asher. I have to pace myself. I can't push him into a corner. If I do that, he'll never view me as someone he can confide in. "I wanted to call Gabriel. I really wanted to call him to help."

His eyes search mine briefly. "He's in Italy. He's got too much to worry about already."

I nod. "Caleb told me that."

His jaw tightens at the mention of his brother's name. "Caleb panicked yesterday. He came at me full force. I lashed out. I think I hurt him."

I smile softly at the idea that Asher could cause any physical damage to his brother. I don't doubt that Asher can defend himself, but I've witnessed Caleb pushing men up against walls with just one hand. "He's fine. You didn't hurt him."