Page 148 of Shadow

Still, he flinched a little when he showed up at the courthouse this morning, spotted Dani Kim and Michael Martinelli talking with Patterson over cups of coffee.

No Daphne.

He took a breath and headed over to the group. It was a good day. Roger had kept his plea deal, and Destiny and Draven would go down.

RICO case intact.

The Shadow Syndicate would fall. Justice would be served.

It was over. Done. Finished.

So why had he spent the night staring at the ceiling? Daphne, maybe.

But something sat in his gut. Niggled.

He approached the group, but Patterson walked out from them and held out his hand.

“Morrison. Great job.”

“Thanks, boss.”

“Can we get you in for a quick briefing with prosecutors? They want to confirm some details about the undercover operation before they put Roger on the stand.”

“Now?”

“Yeah. They’re in the secure conference room. Won’t take long.” Patterson gestured toward the corridor leading to the underground holding area. “Roger’s down there waiting. We can brief on the way up.”

He glanced at Dani, who met his gaze. He frowned. He turned to Patterson. “Dani should probably be in on this. She was involved with the transport company⁠—”

“Already talked to her. She’s coordinating with the marshals on courthouse security. Just needs to be you.” Patterson’s smile widened. “Come on. Sooner we do this, sooner we can watch justice happen.”

Right. Asher nodded and followed Patterson toward the corridor. They walked through the main hallway. Past deputies and attorneys. Through security doors leading to the underground holding area. Down concrete stairs into the tunnel connecting the detention center to the courthouse.

The tunnel was empty, the fluorescent lights humming. Their steps echoed against the concrete walls.

And then he spotted it. The cameras that should have been covering this corridor were dark.

He glanced at Patterson. “Boss⁠—”

And then the far door opened.

And Daphne walked through.

She wore a dark suit, her beautiful hair pulled back, her weapon visible at her hip. She came through and stood by the door.

Glanced over at him.

For a second, something flickered across her face. Pain. Longing. Anger. Love? Maybe he didn’t know how to read her.

Her mouth parted. Then she gave him a nod and swallowed.

And if that didn’t just tell him everything…Yeah. It was over.

Roger came into the hallway, handcuffed but wearing a suit and looking spiffed up. Credible.

Patterson slowed. And a smile lifted on his mouth. “Good job, Miss Cross.”

And then he pulled his gun.