Page 93 of Shadow

Missed. And Asher leaped up.

Daphne had gotten Destiny and Roger into the car, was backing out of garage.

Go—go!

The first attacker had recovered. Picked up his knife. Came at Asher again.

Asher dodged him but took another cut. This one across his ribs. Shallow but painful. More blood.

Daphne was on the street now, the window down, shouting at him.

He couldn’t take on two at once. Not while protecting the witnesses.

Then he spotted the man whose mask he’d liberated.

Dmitri.

“Time’s up, kid,” Dmitri said.

A shot broke the air.

Daphne, out of the car. “Asher! Now!”

Not yet.

Another shot, and this time, the other attacker went down, holding his knife arm.

Asher turned and took off for the car. The passenger door hung open. Engine running. Daphne still holding the gun on the syndicate men.

He dove in. “Drive!”

She drove.

Tires squealing. Car accelerating. Away from the house. Away from Dmitri. Away from the compromised location.

In the back seat, Roger said something. Voice shaky. “Well. That turned into a fun night.”

Destiny made a sound between a laugh and a sob.

Asher pressed his hand to his ribs. Blood seeped through his fingers. Not fatal. Not serious. But yeah, it burned.

Daphne glanced into the mirror. “Where are we going?”

“Uh.” He was breathing hard. Leaned his head back. “The Timberline Motel. Off the highway, fifteen miles out on Route 40.”

She nodded. Turned onto the main road, heading away from Aspen Ridge. Away from the community center and paper leaves and string lights and the dance.

Away from the crazy fake life.

Asher looked at Daphne. Profile lit by dashboard lights. Jaw set. Eyes focused.

But the tiniest wetness filled them.

Because yes, she’d probably figured it out.

And all Asher could think was that he’d never gotten to kiss her.

“You’re bleeding,” Daphne said. Still calm. Still professional. But her voice had an edge. “How bad?”