Page 74 of Bound in Ashes

Or maybe she was just focused on the deputies. They’d formed a semi-circle around us. Hands hovering near their weapons.

Textbook containment formation.

I took a step back, angling my body toward Asia.

Didn’t miss the way the deputies tightened their holds on their weapons.

I did the math.

I could take four of them, but Asia would be dead before I hit the ground.

Soft fingers closed around my forearm and I looked at her.

Her eyes were wide.

Pleading.

She knew the math, too.

I looked at the deputies.

The sheriff.

I’d kill him first, make this count.

But Asia…

She gripped my arm.

Her eyes weren’t pleading anymore.

They were demanding.

Stand down.

Could I?

I looked at the deputies.

Looked back at Asia.

How could I not?

The moment stretched.

Tense, thick, ready to snap.

And snap it did.

Just not in the way I expected.

Caitlin, deciding to be useful for once, slid into the sheriff’s periphery.

“It was terrifying,” she said, her brow furrowed.

That wasn’t wrong. She even got her lip to tremble on demand.

And it worked.