Chapter 1: Six years later.

Asher's POV

The room filled with sound of fists slamming into leather, sending Asher into an almost hypnotic trance.  His eyes stayed fixed on the punching bag before him as he sent jab after jab at it.  Each time his fist connected her image in his brain became less and less.

This time of year was always hard on him.  When the leaves outside would begin to change color on the trees and fall to the earth to be trampled, Asher's mood would follow suit, and as the air grew colder so would his heart.

It had already been six years since he last saw her, but no matter how much time passed it never truly helped his heart heal.  If anything it simply made his heart fester more and more.

Sighing Asher closed his eyes slowly drifting back to that night.

Just like every time he remembered he always lingered on them becoming one before his world completely shattered. 

How beautiful she had looked after asking for his all for her birthday.  How perfect their time spent had been.  How his heart had reacted with their first kiss and then how his soul felt complete when he had taken her fully. 

Everything, for lack of a better word, had been absolutely perfect.  It had been a night that would be forever etched in his memory and heart.

Once those images faded he would begin feeling the familiar stabs at his heart as he relived the horror of waking up alone to the sounds and lights of ambulances and police cars. 

His rage built as he saw the face of that bastard as he was dragged out of the house smiling and laughing.  His words still sounded clear as day in Asher's mind. 

'You're too late.'

Those three words still woke Asher from his sleep.  Each time his heart would be pounding, and his body turning cold from the excruciating pain he felt from them, even to this day.   

On those nights he would find himself pulling a small piece if paper out from his bedside drawer, tears forming as he read it.

'Thank you for saving me.'

It had seemed so ironic when he looked back on it.  How had he possibly saved her?  When she needed him most he slept peacefully and only discovered that something had happened after it was too late.

The image of Summer lying on that stretcher, an oxygen mask on her face, her body void of any movement as the paramedics rushed to get her into an ambulance and to the hospital turned Asher's heart to stone.

He had desperately tried to get to that ambulance wanting to see if this was all some kind of sick joke.  To him there was just no way the woman he loved would be going through that right now.  Especially after such a beautiful experience. 

Yes, her stepfather was violent but he wasn't a murderer.  During all these years he hadn't done any more than left a few marks and bruises.   So, how could this possibly be happening right now?

When he had finally come back to his senses he had ran to his car and headed to the hospital.  He had only one thought, he had to be there with her since she had no one else to accompany her.  There was no chance he was going to allow her to wake up completely alone in a hospital room.

He sped through the night running red lights along the way too terrified to even worry about obeying traffic laws.  When he arrived at the hospital he took no time parking and then ran towards the hospitals entrance. 

The scent of disinfectant attacked his nose, too bright florescent lights nearly blinded him as he shoved his way through two glass sliding doors that were taking much too long to open. 

"Can I help you?" A friendly voice called. 

Eyes adjusted fully Asher looked to a smiling middle aged woman who was sitting behind the reception desk.  Her friendly brown eyes watched him patiently waiting for him to speak.

"Summer Freeman." He had managed to get out.  "What room is she in?"

"Are you a family member," She asked pushing a strand of her short curly hair behind her ear.

"No."  Asher responded beginning to grow impatient. 

The woman frowned, "I'm sorry sweetie but you must be a family member of the patient to go back and see them."

Rushing forward Asher slammed his hands on the desk.  "She needs me, please tell me where she is."

He knew his behavior was inappropriate, but at the moment he was unable to control his emotions.

"Sir please calm down." The woman who hadn't even flinched at his outburst said.  "Otherwise I will call security to remove you."

"Please, can you please let me go to her."

Feeling almost manic Asher was barely holding on.  Each moment spent driving to the hospital, each one spent arguing with this receptionist was more time that Summer was alone.

"Sweetheart I understand you are worried but we can't allow non-family members back."  The receptionist explained giving a sympathetic look.  "If you would like you may take a seat until we get authorization from a family member to allow you back.

"SHE DOESNT HAVE ANYONE!" Asher roared patience completely gone now.

"Security!" The receptionist called after pressing an intercom button underneath her desk,  "Please come to the waiting room. 

It only took a minute for a big bald man with thick tattoo covered arms to appear. 

The receptionist whispered something to him and as he nodded he turned and looked at Asher.

"Let's go son." The man said Pressing his hand on Ashers back.

"No!" Asher argued.  "Summer needs me!"

Not speaking the security guard pushed Asher towards the sliding doors leading him outside of the hospital. 

With each step further fear gripped at him, fear that if he didn't see Summer now he would never see her again.

"Please!  I have to be here, she needs me!"  He begged.

Despite all his struggles the security guard managed to push him outside to the cold unforgiving night.  

Clouds had gathered once again and thunder had began to rumble.  Rain could be smelt in the air, and soon a single freezing drop of rain hit Ashers face followed by many more. 

Unable to find his strength he collapsed to his knees allowing himself to be fully soaked by the onslaught of rain that began to fall.

He wasn't sure how long he stayed there before his parents finally found him. All energy gone he allowed them to stand him up and lead him to their waiting car. 

During the long ride home he remained silent staring out the window, ignoring each and every one of his parents questions.  Even when they returned home he simply went to his room and locked the door ignoring their worried voices behind him. 

He never saw or heard from Summer again after that night. 

When he had gone back to try to see her again he discovered that someone had already transferred her to a different hospital and they were unable to disclose where she had gone. 

Her mother likewise had been moved from their home.  No one had heard where they went or who was behind everything.   

Even her stepfather who had been in jail ended up disappearing.  The business he had been running ceased to exist after going bankrupt.  Every trace of the Freeman's vanished into thin air.  It was almost as if they never truly existed to begin with.

"Asher."  The voice broke Asher from his reverie.  "If you're done attacking that bag we have a business meeting in two hours."

Asher coming fully back to the present turned to look at his business partner David.  

David Johnson and Asher had met in college around the time Summer disappeared. 

While all his classmates had started avoiding him when he fell into his depression David had been the only one who had went out of his way to befriend him. 

They had become the best of friends by the time they both graduated and when David had asked Asher if he wanted to go into business together of course Asher had agreed.

It only took them four years to build their empire, an expanding tech business they had named Antitech.  The goal for their firm was to help those who were technology illiterate with using their technology with ease, hence the name.  Due to its easy to use nature it didn't take long for their products to become sold out and for their business to expand. 

"Where are we meeting him again?" Asher asked David wiping some sweat from his forehead. 

"Milan Restaurant." David responded throwing Asher a towel.

Nodding Asher began wiping sweat from his face with the towel his friend had handed him.  

"Let's go." He said heading towards the exit.  "I need to shower and get changed."

Nodding David turned on his heel and followed.

Asher arrived home within twenty minutes.  Stripping off his tank top and shorts the minute he stepped in the house he headed to his room in nothing but boxers.

"Welcome back." Came a purr from his bed.

Grimacing he looked to the woman lying on his bed. He had forgotten he was with Amanda the night before and had left her there alone while he went to the gym after a morning quickie.

Smiling Amanda stood up still completely naked.  Her long dark hair cascaded down and around her chest and back slightly covering her exposed breasts.  Her brown eyes flashed as she took in Asher's sweat covered body appreciating his well defined muscles before looking to where his boxers still hid his manhood, a hungry look forming on her face.

"I've been waiting for you." She murmured wrapping her arms around Asher's waist.

"I'm almost positive I told you to be gone by the time I returned." Asher's voice was devoid of all emotion.

Pouting Amanda didn't let go. "Don't be like that Ash."  

Anger boiling Asher grabbed Amanda's arms prying them off of him before turning to glare at her.

"I am about to take a shower and by the time I get done I expect you to be gone." He growled letting go of her and heading to the bathroom.

Absolutely stunned Amanda nodded tears forming in her eyes. 

"I get it." She squeaked before quickly beginning to collect her clothes and belongings.

Satisfied Asher didn't spare her another glance before storming into the bathroom and slamming the door behind him.

Only when he heard a loud bang downstairs as Amanda left did he turn on the shower tap and allow himself to relax.