Page 60 of Shadow

But his tone was light. Almost teasing.

Destiny’s mouth twitched. “You have a sense of humor. Good. You’ll need it, living with her for a month.” She nodded toward Daphne.

“Hey,” Daphne protested.

“I’m just saying. You’re very…intense.”

“Intense keeps people alive.”

“So does knowing when to relax.”

Asher handed Roger a plate with three slices of pepperoni. Roger took the plate and headed back to his room.

Destiny called over her shoulder. “I’m eating out here. Jeopardy! is on.”

The door closed.

Silence.

Daphne looked at Asher. “Did we just get dismissed by our fake family?”

“Apparently.” He grabbed two slices of supreme and put them on a plate. Handed it to her.

Daphne took the pizza and moved to the small dining table. Asher joined her with his own plate—pepperoni, four slices.

They sat across from each other.

The house quieted except for the muffled television and the hum of the refrigerator.

November evening darkening outside. Curtains open. Mountains visible.

Asher got up and closed the curtains.

They ate in silence for a moment. The pizza was good—local place, actual ingredients, not a chain restaurant. Daphne realized she was starving.

“Okay,” Asher said finally. “Let’s fix this. What do you want to know?”

Daphne set down her pizza. “Everything. Real details. Not just cover-story facts. I need to know who you actually are so I can make up a convincing version of why I fell in love with you.”

“That’s—” He paused. “Fair. Where do you want to start?”

“Where are you from?”

“Denver. Born and raised. Parents divorced when I was ten. Dad left. Mom struggled. I got out as soon as I could.”

“Siblings?”

His expression shifted. Something darker. “Had a sister. Younger. She was killed seven years ago. Gang violence. Wrong place, wrong time.”

The bluntness of it hit her, took her breath. “Oh, Asher. I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah. Me too.” He took another bite of pizza. Chased it with a pop. “That’s what got me into police work. Wanted to stop people like the ones who killed her.”

“Did you?”

“Stop them?” His smile was dark. Humorless. “Some of them. Not enough.”

Interesting.