Chapter 151 Part 151
Asher
He was in a blind rage, as he drove back to the ranch. He skidded to a halt in front of the barn. He couldn’t believe Colt would do this to him. They all knew he still loved her, despite what he’d said, they should know he’d never walk away from her.
The betrayal stung, especially because it was Colt.
His brother saw him coming, and was in fact waiting for him just inside the doors of the barn. Colt grinned, but it wasn’t a friendly grin, it was a taunt, an invitation.
It only made Asher’s blood boil hotter. Colt timed it perfectly. His fist slammed against Asher’s jaw and he stumbled back. If he wasn’t ready to kill him, he’d praise his younger brother on his delivery.
Asher’s fist connected with his diaphragm, and the air rushed out of Colt’s lungs. If it had been his ribs, they would’ve been broken. Asher knew that, and that’s why he’d avoided it. Colt didn’t hold back, his next swing connected to Asher’s ribs, and his hands encircled Colt’s throat.
He pushed him backward as he tightened his hold around Colt’s neck, until his back slammed against the wall. The horses snorted their annoyance, but they were both too far gone to notice anything else.
Asher’s eyes were cold, steely, and almost glazed over. His eyes looked dead, and for a moment, fear flashed in Colt’s eyes. This wasn’t his brother anymore. This was a deadly machine, intent on killing him. It was like Asher wasn’t even aware of what he was doing.
Asher pulled him away from the wall, and slammed him against it again. Colt’s head bounced off it, and he started clawing at Asher’s arm with one hand. The other one was pounding into his ribs repeatedly, but Asher barely felt it. He didn’t see his brother in front of him, just an enemy intent on taking what was his.
Asher’s knee snapped forward with such force that he let go of Colt’s neck, and started going down. An arm wrapped around his neck tightly, and then he was on the ground, his eyes looking up at the wooden ceiling. Legs tightened around his waist, pressing against his ribs, threatening to crack them.
“Cassidy!” Blair yelled as he ran toward them. Colt was coughing, one hand at his throat as he tried to breathe.
Asher tried to push his hand between his throat and the arm around it, but the arm only tightened. The legs around his waist tightened, and he could feel the damage Colt had inflicted on them.
His mind cleared, and he stopped fighting. His throat wasn’t being crushed but he was subdued. He rolled over onto his knees, knowing he was crushing Cassidy with his weight.
Her arms loosened a little bit. “I’m fine.” She released her hold on him, and he leaned forward on his knees, breathing hard.
“What in the hell is going on here?” Thomas yelled.
Asher got to his feet, and glanced at Cassidy. “Thanks.”
Blair shook his head but the way he was looking at Cassidy almost made Asher laugh. He had definite hearts in his eyes. She’d taken him down within seconds, and if she had tried, she could’ve had him unconscious in 15 seconds or so.
“I want an answer!” Thomas’ voice was cold and angry. He hated his sons fighting amongst themselves.
“Ask him!” Asher snapped, and glared at Colt.
“It’s not my fault you’re too much of a coward to tell Emerson that you love her. I only asked her out—”
“You made a move on your brother’s woman?” Thomas glared at Colt.
Blair chuckled, but he was standing so close to Cassidy that he might as well have pulled her against him. Colt shook his head, and glared at Asher.
“As a friend. Why should she sit at home while Asher has his head up his ass? She deserves better than some washed out army sniper that can’t make up his damn mind!”
“And that’s why Cassidy climbed Asher like a tree?”
Blair barked out a laugh and Cassidy folded her arms over her chest. “I did NOT climb him like a tree!”
“You have no right sticking your nose into my relationship!” Asher said, angrily.
“What relationship? You just push her away like you do everyone!”
“I asked her to marry me!”
Colt opened his mouth and closed it. His hand went to his gut, and a smile started slowly. “Well, okay, then. Congratulations.”
“She didn’t say yes, you asshole! She told me about you asking her out!”
“Then my work here is done,” Colt said, and took a bow.
“Cut it out! Before I let Asher finish what he started,” Thomas said.
“I didn’t do anything wrong!” Colt protested.
“Thank Cassidy for saving your life,” Asher said, spat on the ground, and walked out of the barn.
“You’re welcome, Asher!” Colt yelled. It was followed by an ‘ow’ very quickly.
He took in a deep breath, and the familiar sharp pain of a cracked rib shot through him. If he hadn’t grabbed Colt by the neck, he didn’t know how that fight would’ve ended.
By the time he reached his house, the adrenaline had left his system, and his ribs ached more. He headed upstairs to the shower, knowing full well that a bruise was already forming on his abdomen.
He sat on the edge of his bed, a towel wrapped around his waist. His elbows were on his knees and his head rested in his hands. He was screwing everything up. Colt had just done what he always did. He was a terrible flirt, and Asher shouldn’t have been surprised by his actions. He hated jealousy, he’d never been jealous before, but the thought of Colt with Emerson had enraged him so much that he would’ve killed his own brother.
His phone vibrated on his nightstand but he didn’t answer the blocked number calling him. He had to apologize to Colt. He wasn’t the kind of man to go after someone else’s partner, but he had wanted to make Asher jealous, probably to make him realize that Emerson could very well slip through his fingers.