I'm Afraid I Won't Be Able to Leave

The thought of Asher Keating was unbearable for Madeline Sterling. Even though she’d found someone and had his face surgically altered to look just like Asher’s, she knew deep down that this man wasn’t him.

Just remembering that day in the hot spring, how the wet strands of hair clung to Asher Keating’s forehead, and how he had gasped breathlessly in this very room, was enough to make Madeline Sterling’s heart ache with an unbearable, itching desire.

In the end, her lust for Asher Keating overpowered everything else. She called him back. "Asher Keating, just as you said. We have a deal."

"Where do you want to go?"

Madeline Sterling considered it for a moment. She needed to pick a place where she felt safe. Finally, she said, "The Creston Hotel on Seagate Road. Call me when you get there, and I’ll tell you the room number."

"Alright. And make sure you dress... pretty." Asher’s last word was delivered in a sexy, flippant tone, almost a tease.

"..."

While everyone else felt a disgusted chill, Madeline was only further aroused by his tone. Her desire flared. She stood up, selected a dress with a plunging V-neck, and quickly began touching up her makeup. The other man clung to her. "Baby, are you really going? You don’t want me anymore?"

"Tsk, didn’t I leave one for you? I’m only going this one time. After this, I’m all yours. Be a good boy and wait for me here. Once I’m gone, you can have your way with her, however you want." Madeline Sterling turned and gave him a passionate kiss.

"Her body’s not as good as yours. She’s so skinny, all skin and bones," the man grumbled, clearly dissatisfied.

"Now you’re getting picky?"

Madeline Sterling rolled her eyes at him and went back to applying her lipstick. Once she was ready, she stood up and checked herself in the mirror. Satisfied, she swayed her hips as she walked toward Leah Sinclair’s room.

"Do you know what I’m off to do? I’m going to sleep with Asher Keating. And you? You get to stay here and get screwed by this fake Asher. Hahahahaha!"

Leah Sinclair was in agony. Her vision swam with encroaching darkness. She managed a weak stir at Madeline Sterling’s words, but Madeline didn’t spare her another glance. Instead, she sashayed gracefully out, while the man closed the door and began walking toward Leah, one step at a time.

After hanging up on Madeline Sterling, Asher Keating couldn’t sit still. He peered through the peephole of the adjacent room, gauging the distance and ensuring his position would be invisible from Madeline’s side. Ethan Shaw and the others took their positions at various points around the door.

Time ticked by, second by agonizing second. With a CLICK, the door finally opened. Asher Keating immediately flattened himself against the wall, holding his breath.

Madeline Sterling was extremely cautious. She opened the door just a crack. She had already scanned the hallway through the peephole and seen nothing, but even after opening the door, she stood there for two full minutes without moving.

Just as Asher Keating’s patience wore thin and he was about to rush her, Madeline Sterling finally unlatched the security chain. The instant the door swung inward, Asher charged, kicking it all the way in.

Madeline Sterling didn’t even have time to react before the door slammed into her, sending her sprawling to the floor. Asher burst in, but he didn’t see Leah. His eyes snapped to a closed door on the left, and he sprinted toward it.

"Stay away."

Leah Sinclair squeezed her eyes shut, stumbling backward. She had no strength. The combination of the drug and low blood sugar left her completely debilitated.

"Baby said I look exactly like that Asher of yours. So what’s the difference if you sleep with me?" the man sneered, leaning in with a lecherous grin and grabbing at Leah’s clothes.

"No, don’t!"

Leah Sinclair’s eyes were squeezed shut, her voice a tremble. She couldn’t bear the sight of this man with Asher Keating’s face approaching her. But her shouts were faint, and her entire body was shaking uncontrollably.

She heard the sound of her clothes tearing, and tears instantly welled in her eyes. Just as the man was about to make his next move, he heard the commotion outside. Before he could even process it, the bedroom door was kicked open. Asher Keating stood in the doorway, his face a mask of pure fury.

The moment he saw what the man was doing, Asher’s vision went red. He lunged forward and sent the man flying with a vicious kick.

"AGH!"

The man went tumbling to the side, clutching where he’d been kicked and howling in pain.

"Don’t touch me, don’t!"

Leah was still crying out weakly, her voice trembling as she tried to struggle. Asher held her tight. "Leah, it’s me! It’s me!"

A familiar scent filled her senses. Leah’s eyes flew open and met Asher Keating’s, which were bloodshot with panic.

"Asher..." Leah was trembling so violently she couldn’t form another word.

Seeing her state, Asher’s heart seized. His hands trembled as he held Leah tighter, murmuring words of comfort again and again.

When Ethan Shaw and the others moved in to restrain the man, they all froze. A horrifying chill crept over every one of them.

"Asher..." Ethan Shaw’s voice trembled.

Asher Keating looked up and finally got a clear look at the man on the floor. He had a face identical to his own.

An icy fury erupted in his eyes. Sheila Hughes rushed in, carrying a bathrobe from the adjacent room, and wrapped it around Leah. Tears streamed down her face. "Leah, are you okay?"

When she turned to look at the man, Sheila’s tear-filled eyes widened in sheer terror. Her body trembled as she held the equally shaking Leah, feeling goosebumps erupt all over her skin.

’What the fuck is this?!’

Asher Keating handed Leah to Sheila. He rose and walked, step by deliberate step, toward the man, who was naked and shivering on the floor.

Asher stopped in front of him. Staring at the man’s face, he let out a low chuckle. The sound sent another violent shiver through the man.

"Which hand touched her?"

Asher’s voice, cold as ice, struck the man’s ears like a death knell.

"I... AGH!"

But he never got the chance to answer. Asher lunged forward and snapped both of his hands. He then grabbed the man’s head and slammed it viciously into the wall. Blood immediately streamed down the man’s forehead.

Asher went berserk, raining a furious barrage of punches onto the man’s face. One after another, each blow landed with a sickening thud. Soon, Asher’s hands were covered in so much blood, it was impossible to tell if it belonged to the man or himself.

All the man could do was scream in agony. As his wails grew weaker, Ethan Shaw and Shawn Grant tried to pull Asher away but couldn’t restrain him. Riley Sterling rushed in, and only by combining their strength could the three of them finally drag Asher off the bloodied figure.

"Asher! That’s enough! You’re going to kill him!"

"Stop hitting him! Asher! He’s not worth it!"

"Asher! Stop!"

"AHHHH!!!!"

As Asher got to his feet, he brought his heel down hard on the man’s crotch. The man, who had been barely breathing, suddenly let out a shriek like a pig at the slaughterhouse.

His shriek was so horrifying it made everyone in the room flinch. Outside, Madeline Sterling, who was being restrained, had no idea what was going on. But when she heard that unearthly scream, she began to shake uncontrollably, the color draining completely from her face.

Panting, Asher shook off Ethan and the others. He went over to Leah, scooped her up, and carefully laid her down on the sofa in the outer room. Chester Hale immediately rushed over to check on her.

He then turned to look at Madeline Sterling, who was cowering in a corner. Asher stood up and stalked toward her, his expression grim.