Page 142 of Shadow

Down the road, the roar of engines rose. Asher spotted multiple SUVs approaching fast, dust kicking up in plumes behind them.

He released Draven, let him drop unconscious to the dirt. His chest heaved. Blood dripped from his split cheek. His ribs screamed. But he was alive.

“Asher!” Daphne, breathing hard. “You okay?”

He wiped his face. “Yeah. You?”

She nodded, so much in her eyes.

“Daph, I⁠—”

“Not now, Asher.”

Right. And the cavalry had shown up anyway, two SUVs, with Dani Kim climbing out of one of them, her weapon drawn. “You guys good?”

Daphne nodded. “I’m good. Destiny’s down. Roger ran. Draven’s contained.”

“We’ve got Roger.” Dani knelt beside Destiny. Checked her wound. Called for medical. “You’ll be okay, ma’am.”

“Don’t ‘ma’am’ her,” Asher said. “She’s the head of the syndicate.”

Dani stared at him just a second, then, “Wow. That, I didn’t see coming.”

Daphne’s mouth made a grim line. “Me either.”

Yeah.

Asher stood. Released Draven—still out cold—to other agents. Let them cuff him. Process him. Take him away.

Daphne stepped away to coordinate with Dani.

Asher spotted Roger, also cuffed, being dragged into one of the SUVs.

He couldn’t help but watch Daphne—dust on her skin, in her hair, a fierceness radiating off her. She’d saved him. Come after him, despite what she believed. Despite his betrayal.

That had to mean something. Had to count for something, right?

And yet, as he stood alone and stared into his grave, he wondered if being saved was the same as being forgiven.

Daphne sat in her hotel room staring at her phone, not sure what her next move might be.

She’d been…well, shaken…at how close Asher had come to ending up in that dug grave. And then the FBI had swooped in, and somehow, she’d ended up back in Renegade, giving a statement, and Asher had disappeared and…

And maybe that was it. Mission accomplished. He’d uncovered the true head of the syndicate, brought down enough evidence to tear the entire organization apart, and…

And it was over.

When she had finished giving her statement at FBI headquarters, he wasn’t standing in the hallway or in Dani Kim’s office. She’d even stopped by Caroline’s office⁠—

He hadn’t waited for her.

And she tried not to let that feel like a punch to her heart.

Frankly, maybe it was for the best.

So she’d gone back to her hotel.

The text had come an hour ago. While she’d been in the shower trying to wash away the quarry dust and the blood and the feeling of Destiny’s voice still echoing in her head.