Page 140 of Shadow

“That’s enough.” Roger pointed his .385 at him.

“Everyone underestimates women,” Destiny said. She sighed. “Of course it was me. Did you really think Ralph had the intelligence to build something this complex? I was the daughter of a cartel lieutenant. I understand how real power works.”

“And Ralph didn’t?”

“He was going to ruin everything. Thirty years of building, and he wanted to tear it down because he felt guilty about Draven. About his poor abandoned son.”

She gave Draven a smile. He smiled back.

Unbelievable. “The foundation was yours,” Asher said. “The youth camps. The trafficking.”

“Troubled youth needed help. We provided it.”

“You were trafficking kids through a charity.”

“I was running a business. Supply and demand.” Cold. Empty. “Some children have value. Others don’t. I simply recognized which was which.”

Asher’s hands tightened on the shovel.

“The safe-house attack,” Asher said. “That was you.”

She shrugged. “The people at Aspen Ridge were so generous with their phones.”

“You tried to have yourself killed?”

“Don’t be silly. I tried to have you killed.”

Right.

She laughed. “Don’t look so upset, Agent Morrison. I’ve been at this game a lot longer than you.”

His mouth tightened.

“And really. You shouldn’t be surprised. You know I’ve been one step ahead of you for years. Long before Renegade. You’re not so different from me. You would do anything to win. Lie, let people die…kill.”

He looked at her.

“Yeah. I know what you did in Denver. And I let you live anyway. You should be thanking me. That’s deep enough. Draven⁠—”

“I think you should kill me yourself,” Asher said.

Silence and then Destiny shrugged. “Fine.” She snatched the Glock off the ground where Roger had dropped it and raised it. Aimed at his chest. “Goodbye, Asher.”

The shot rang out. Sharp. Clear. Echoing across the quarry.

Asher stumbled back, hit the edge of the dirt.

Except—

Destiny lay on the ground, writhing, shouting.

Draven turned as Roger hit the dirt.

Another shot, and this one nearly took out Draven, scrubbing off dirt as he dove behind the SUV.

Asher sank the shovel into the earth, then used it to propel himself out of the hole. Grabbed up the shovel.

Draven ran for the SUV’s open door.