Free Igniting Ash by M.A. Stacie Page A

thickly, emotion threatening to choke him. His heart pounded fiercely as he mustered the strength to say, “Ditto. I don’t forget good deeds either. You were mine.”
    She smiled widely, her eyes shining brightly. “I was your what?”
    “My angel, Em. You were my angel.”
     
    ***
     
    Emma
     
    Warmth seeped through every cell in her body as Emma replayed Asher’s words in her head. Granted, he could have chosen a better time as it was after all, a hospital and she really wanted to hug him so tight he wouldn’t be able to breathe. He’d shy away from that, especially in public. He just had no idea what his declaration did to her.
    For years she had wondered about him, wondered where he appeared to have disappeared to. In fact, he’d been here all along, hiding in a bookshop of all places. That one sentence he’s just uttered told her a lot.
    She truly had helped him that night. And if she’d altered things for him she could do it for Gabe.
    Turning the corner and on to yet another hospital corridor, she began to check through the window of each door hunting for Gabe. Responsibility weighed heavy as the urge to see how he was escalated. She should have asked the doctor, or even at the reception but Asher’s words had left her elated and her thoughts were now clouded.
    Emotions warred within her, each thought conflicting with the other. Too much was happening at once, too many events for her to concentrate on simply one. With Gabe, along with the other kids, she had a purpose, something that she was good at. They relied on her. Whereas with Asher she was the one that felt needy. For his friendship, for his strength and so much more. They were still getting to know one another again, and she knew her life wouldn’t be the same without him. However, she had a feeling she was going to need to convince him that being friends was a good idea.
    Emma froze, her thoughts halting as she finally found who she was searching for. Her body sluicing icy cold, her insides knotting at the sight of Gabe, pale and sedated in the hospital bed.
    Pushing open the door, she walked quietly around the bed and took a precarious seat in the blue chair. She took hold of his hand, not liking the coolness that met her. She rubbed at the flesh, trying to warm him up—hoping to warm herself up because the chill she felt was now bone deep.
    The machine beside him beeped to the rhythm of Gabe’s heartbeat, the little line bobbing up and down on the screen. It was steady, easing her concern for him a bit. The grey tinge to his skin increased it though, and when she noticed the large dressing on his arm she gasped. It would probably scar; something he would never be able to get rid of. It would always be there as a reminder to him.
    No matter how much therapy he had.
    Gabe would have to deal with pieces of his past every day when he looked in the mirror.
    “Oh, Gabe,” she said softly, sympathy dripping from her words. “You’ll be okay. I’m here for you.”
    Her body trembled, and she clutched his hand tighter. The beeps of the machine sped up as if responding to her, and at that moment she made a silent vow to herself. She would do everything in her power to rescue him from whatever he was dealing with. She’d helped Asher. He’d said as much only moments ago, so she would do it again.
    Emma was going to save Gabe.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 8
     
     
    Asher
     
    “How was he?” Asher questioned as Emma took a seat in the passenger side of his car. Her hand trembled as she smoothed a few of her blond curls behind her ear, revealing her tear-stained cheek to him.
    “Oh, Emma,” he said softly, stretching his arm across the space to take her hand. “Was he that bad?”
    Shaking her head, she took a deep breath before speaking. “No. He was sleeping. His face was a mess but not so much now that the blood has been washed off. He just looked so young and innocent laying there in the bed.”
    Asher hummed in agreement,