Page 91 of Bound in Ashes

“Still. That’s pretty cool,” he said. “Dad says you just get criminals off, but I think it’s noble.” Asia looked at him skeptically.

“You do?”

He nodded, his dark brown hair flopping against his forehead. “Yeah. Every system needs balance. You are a counterweight against guys like my father.”

“And what kind of guy is your father?” I interjected.

Christopher smiled, his brow furrowed. “Direct, but simplistic. Very much a black and white thinker,” Christopher said.

“You’re different?” I asked.

He shrugged, paying no mind to the question in my voice. “I’d like to think so, but maybe I’m not the one to judge. Way I see it, you need balance, you need consensus. We’re all in this together. That was true before, and even more true now.”

“That’s interesting to hear you say that, Chris,” Asia said. She smiled quickly. “Sorry, Christopher.”

“Don’t be. It doesn’t matter that Dad says it’s not respectable for an adult. My mom always called me that.” Hayes said.

“Well, I’ll call you Chris then,” she said, smiling at him, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

I knew what she was doing, and I fucking hated it.

“No. Better stick to Christopher and avoid those unnecessary conversations.”

“How far away is the diner?” I said. I reached for Asia and settled my hand on her back. Told myself I did it because she needed the contact.

“Right up here,” Christopher responded.

“Mind if I join you?”

“Would it matter if we did?” I said before Asia could respond.

Christopher just smiled like I was the most amusing thing ever.

“Well, I wouldn’t want to intrude,” he said, hands raised in an aw-shucks manner that made me want to bury a knife in the base of his skull.

“Whatever. But let’s go,” I said.

Asia didn’t look at me, but she didn’t have to. Her annoyance was clear.

I gazed at the side of her face, daring her to look at me. Probably for the best that she didn’t.

“We slaughtered one of the hogs, so there’s bacon today,” Christopher said.

“Great,” Asia responded.

“Eggs are powdered, though. Try to balance it out, but we’ll see how it goes,” Christopher said.

We sat, and I didn’t taste the food as I ate it. With every second that passed, that instinct that told me to move blared louder and louder.

“Thank you for the hospitality, Christopher,” Asia said.

She sounded sincere, and as I studied her face, I didn’t see anything that made me think she wasn’t. Still, there was discomfort in her expression, and that edge was even more intense.

“You’re part of this community, Asia. This is what we do for each other,” he said.

“I appreciate that,” she said. “Can we go now?” I asked.

“I believe my father wanted to see you first,” Christopher said.