Herman showing up was thest thing Asher expected.


    He dropped Rowan and turned to his guy. "How many people with him?"


    "T-t-t..." The poor kid had a stutter that could tie knots in your patience.


    Asher''s eyebrows jumped. "Twenty?!"


    "N-n-no, it''s t-t-t..." The guy''s face was red as a tomato, struggling just to get the words out.


    Asher was about to lose it. He stared at the kid, waiting for something more than another round of "t-t-t..." but that''s all he got.


    Finally, Asher lost his patience and sent a quick kick his way. The kid hit the floor, and the shock must''ve helped, because atst he managed to spit it out: "Two. Two people."


    Asher just stared at him. "...Really?"


    "If it''s just two, just say two! What''s with all the t-t-t? Didn''t your English teacher teach you anything?" Asher gave him a light p on the back of the head. "You''re such a blockhead."


    The kid, gathering his courage, corrected him, "Asher, it''s ''dumbass''."


    "Oh, dumbass, huh? I''ll give you dumbass!" Asher gave him another p. "If I say blockhead, it''s blockhead. Got it?"


    The kid rubbed his head, looking totally put out. "G-g-got it."


    Asher was already ticked off at Rowan, and now his own crew was driving him nuts. He stood there, hands on his hips, so mad he forgot what he was even supposed to be doing.


    The kid piped up, "Uh, Asher, Herman''s waiting outside."


    "What''s he want? I never go looking for him, and now he''s got the nerve toe


    to me?" Asher asked. "Who''s the other one? Seriously, just two people?"


    The kid looked at Asher with that clueless gaze only the truly oblivious can manage. "Asher, you''ve always been scared of Herman, aren''t you? Didn''t you even move out to the sticks to dodge him? Did you forget?"


    Privately, the guy was thinking, Asher would never go looking for Herman-he can barely hide fast enough. He must''ve forgotten.


    Asher just red.


    Rowan, still hanging upside down, almost burst a blood vessel trying not tough. At the same time, a wave of envy washed over him.


    The one mouthing off to Asher was Riley-everyone called him Junior. Twenty-one; sharp-featured, and had been tagging along behind Asher since he was sixteen. He never did anything big, just errands and odd jobs. Out of all Asher''s guys, only Riley could get away with mouthing off. Anyone else-Rowan included-would''ve ended up in the hospital.


    It wasn''t that Riley was brave. He was just a little dense, forever


    rushing around, saying whatever


    popped into his head, stutteri


    through every answer with a


    wide-eyed, innocent stupidity that


    was almost sweet.


    If it had been anyone else annoying Asher like this-or even Rowan-someone would be bleeding. No one else ever got to stick around after talking back.


    But for Riley, a couple of ps and a kick were the worst of it. It all looked rough, but Asher never really hurt him. Even Rowan, his own half-brother, didn''t get that kind of pass.


    Rowan felt a sharp pang of jealousy. Deep down, he wanted that kind of brotherhood with Asher.


    Asher''s re could burn holes in steel. "If you can''t talk right, just shut up. Let Rowan down-I''ll deal with Herman myself."


    Riley gulped. "Y-yes, Asher."


    He rushed over to let Rowan down, careful not to touch any bruises-there were


    so many, he hardly knew where to grab.


    "Hang in there, man," Riley said, real admiration in his voice. "You''ve got guts, taking this beating and note giving in. And hey, Herman''s wife?


    She''s gorgeous. No wonder you!!


    her Asher even said you''ve got good taste."


    Rowan just stared at him. Was that supposed to be apliment?


    He hurt so much, it was tough to even talk. "Who did Herman bring?"


    "His wife, obviously," Riley said, looking genuinely puzzled. "Who else would he bring someone else''s wife?"


    The second Rowan heard that Anastasia hade too, something flickered deep in his eyes.


    He struggled to his feet, voice strained. "Riley, help me over there."


    Riley gawked. "Now you''re stuttering too! Maybe Asher''s right—maybe it is contagious!"


    Rowan resisted the urge to punch him. He wasn''t stuttering-he was just in pain. He decided not to argue. "Just get me over there."