The Lost Library by Melissa Koslin

Author:Melissa Koslin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christian Romance, Christian mystery, Danger, Truth, Search, Mystery, Woman sleuth
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Published: 2024-09-03T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

Cali ran out of the room toward the sound of the crash, the same direction the sound of Asher’s phone had come from.

In the kitchen, she had to walk around a large pile of shattered pottery. Had he thrown it at the wall?

“Asher?”

He was faced away from her, his phone on the floor next to him.

“Asher, what’s wrong?” She approached him tentatively, not out of fear of him but out of concern he might not want her around while he was obviously upset.

Nothing.

She paused to allow him time to calm down.

She wanted to rest a hand on his back, but she didn’t. He often didn’t seem to like her being around, but she couldn’t get herself to leave him alone. And she didn’t know if it was something personal or if it was related to The Lost Library—did they need to get out of here?

His shoulders rippled as he pulled both hands through his hair.

“Asher?”

His voice was tight. “Please go away.”

She took a step back and started to turn.

But then she barely heard him whisper under his breath. “Please forgive me.” She didn’t think he was talking to her. Maybe to God?

She hesitated. “He always forgives.”

He lowered his head even more, and she could barely hear him. “Not me. Not what I’ve done.”

“You do so much good,” she said. “I’ve never met anyone who does as much good as you.”

He turned and looked at her. No, glared. “Jonathan Sikes is dead.”

“What happened?”

“I had him moved to a different facility.”

“I know. He wasn’t safe with that orderly there. It was the right thing.”

“He’s dead. Do you think it was the right thing now? I pulled strings, used my influence, and now the man is dead. His family will never see him again. He had a daughter and a granddaughter—did you know that? Now, they’ll never see him again.”

She hadn’t known he had a family. She should have checked, should have made sure they were safe. What had she learned about not involving others? About protecting innocents? Nothing, apparently. Tears pricked the backs of her eyes.

“Now, you know why they call me The Beast.” He moved to walk past her out the door.

She grabbed his arm.

He stopped but didn’t look at her.

“You’re not a beast,” she said.

“It’s a well-earned moniker, I assure you.”

“It’s not.”

He turned his head and glared. “How can you not see it? You with your brilliant mind, and you can’t see the obvious.”

“You’re right—sometimes I miss things that are obvious to everyone else. But this is not one of them. I’ve studied you. You don’t let people really understand you, but I’ve seen how you put everyone ahead of yourself.” She paused. “I have no doubt you would die to protect a stranger. Your scars are proof.”

He gave no response, but his glare slowly fell away into lack of expression. She almost wanted his glare back. In a way, it hurt less than that empty expression, the wall he kept up between them, that kept her away. Always away.

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