I Borrowed Money From My Bullies Before Faking My Death Chapter 09

“What does Asher want with her? Don’t tell me he’s interested?”

“No way.”

“You think he’s really going to punish her for Knox? I’ve heard…” The voice dropped. “Asher knows how to make people suffer.”

“Yeah, that’s the most likely thing.”

…

My face went pale.

I tried to block out the chatter around me.

Eyes glued to the two cars on the track, engines snarling.

Praying in my head.

Let Knox win.

At least Knox hadn’t recovered his memory. I could still find a way to escape.

If Asher got his hands on me…

Even if my task was done, he’d make me pay. That two-faced, grudge-holding bastard.

I stared, unblinking, at the cars screaming down the track.

The roar of the engines was deafening.

The two machines tore into each curve, brutal and tight.

“Why’s Asher going so hard today?” someone muttered. “Doesn’t he usually just mess around?”

“Who knows. Probably doesn’t want to lose that vase.”

My fingers dug into my shirt.

On the final curve, the silver car surged. Cut inside at an angle that looked

borderline suicidal.

The black car got shoved to the outside. Tires shrieked against pavement.

“Insane!” someone yelled.

The silver car blasted across the finish line first.

A moment of dead silence. Then chaos erupted.

Asher won.

The System spoke up, very appropriately. [So… I think you should start planning your escape.]

[You’re right.] I spun on my heel without hesitation.

Got to the door.

Two men in black blocked my path. “Mr. Cole’s orders. He asked you to wait here.”

I sucked in a breath. Said, completely serious, “I’m going down to greet him. Do you believe me?”

Two blank faces. Two unmoving walls.

A standoff.

Until unhurried footsteps sounded ahead.

The bodyguards stepped aside instantly.

Asher stood a few feet away.

His hair was slightly messy. Top two buttons of his shirt undone. A sliver of sharp collarbone visible.

He’d just come from an intense race, but he looked perfectly composed. Almost lazily satisfied.

“Running?” He tilted his head. Smirk teasing. “Shouldn’t old friends catch up?

I stumbled over my words. “What old friends? I don’t—I don’t know you.”

“Don’t know me?” A low laugh. “Right. You’ve been dead for seven years. Forgetting me makes sense.”

His voice was soft. Only loud enough for me.

Asher closed the distance. Stood over me.

He reached out. Long fingers pinched my glasses and slid them off, painfully slow.

“Same old look.” He murmured it, thumb tracing the frame. “Hiding behind these. Pretending you don’t exist.”

His fingers moved to my forehead. Brushed away the heavy bangs.

My entire face was laid bare.

Asher’s eyes lingered. His throat moved.

Right when I was about to pass out again.

Knox stormed over.

His clothes were rumpled. He didn’t bother holding back. “Asher, that speed—are you insane?!”

Asher’s face was dead calm. “I’ve been insane for a long time.”

I used the distraction. Took a silent step backward.

Knox noticed. Frowned. Turned to Asher.

“Same deal as before. I’ll give you the supercar.”

Asher looked up, abrupt. “Did you remember something?”

“Remember what?” Knox clicked his tongue, impatient. “She’s not an object. She’s not mine. I can’t just bet her like one.”

Asher’s mouth curled. Didn’t back down an inch. “Either way. I’m taking her.”

The tension was stifling.

Then, from behind the crowd, Delilah answered her phone. Her voice was clear.
“Silas, you’re here? I’m at the third-floor observation deck.”

Asher’s expression cracked.

Before I could react, he grabbed my wrist. “Move.”

Too late. Silas was already in the elevator.

The only elevator. Coming straight up.

Asher’s brow darkened.

Knox pointed diagonally across the observation deck. His voice was unreadable.
“There’s an exhibit hall under renovation over there.”

Asher pulled me toward it.