Page 235 of Stay Scared

That shuts him up, although his expression promises litigation later.

Owen touches Cade’s shoulder and receives a glare for the effort. They move toward the junction together, Owen willingly and Cade with enough reluctance to qualify as resistance training.

Ash watches until they disappear around the turn.

“You have become very comfortable issuing instructions on my property.”

I look at him.

“Did you go?”

His brow tightens. “Where?”

“The aquarium.”

That gets him.

Barely.

His face stays controlled, but his eyes change before the rest catches up.

“You remember that.”

“I told you I remember useless things.”

“That conversation occurred during an active hostage situation.”

“And yet your inability to whistle survived beautifully.”

Ash gives me a look.

I smile.

“Did you?”

He glances toward the corridor where Cade and Owen disappeared.

“That is none of their business.”

My smile widens.

“You went.”

“Once.”

“When?”

“Three weeks ago.”

The answer lands strangely.

Ash spent most of his adult life treating leaving Crimson Night as an inconvenience. Six weeks without me, and sometime in the middle of it he walked onto property that had nothing to do with fear, surveillance, or a problem waiting to be solved.

“For work?”

His expression turns offended.

“You specifically prohibited work from qualifying.”