Page 77 of Shadow

He pulled out his phone. His call went straight to voicemail.

“C’mon, Daph.”

He called again. Voicemail.

His chest tightened.

What if…shoot, he was an idiot! What if Draven had pulled him away from the house so he could…

Asher wanted to hit something. He slammed the accelerator, the rain slickening the pavement.

Michael. Asher had seen him and Dani pull up as he drove away.

Michael answered on the third ring. “Martinelli.”

“It’s Asher. Is Daphne there?”

“Ash. Where are you⁠—”

“Daphne—I need to talk to her.”

“She’s not here, man. She left about forty-five minutes ago. Posted Blake at the gate before she went. No one gets in without his say.”

A beat. “What? Left where?”

“Didn’t say. She borrowed my car and drove off. I figured she was meeting you.”

He made a fist. “She’s not.” Asher ended the call.

What if…what if Draven had reached out to her? Threatened her⁠—

Okay, and now he was simply past thinking. He floored the gas. Sixty. Seventy. Eighty. White lines strobing past. Wind buffeting the SUV.

His phone buzzed. Text from an unknown number.

Unknown Number

Slow down before you get pulled over. I’m behind you.

Lights appeared in his rearview mirror. High beams. Signaling.

What?

He slowed, pulling over, gravel crunching under his tires. His heart thundered, and he palmed his gun.

Then he got out. Cold wind hit his face, the air still soggy, the storm having wrung itself out. No moon. Just darkness and highway and empty land stretching in all directions.

The car pulled in behind him, headlights bright. Blinding. Driver’s door opening with a metallic click.

He raised his gun, heart pounding.

Daphne emerged in the light of the dash, hands up. Her auburn hair was pulled back in a practical ponytail, but strands had escaped during the drive and framed her face in the harsh headlight glare. Green eyes sharp on him. She wore dark jeans and a black tactical jacket zipped halfway. Weapon visible at her hip but not deployed. “You going to shoot me?”

He lowered the gun. She lowered her hands and walked toward him. The wind caught her jacket and whipped loose strands of hair across her face. She didn’t blink. Didn’t falter.

“Where did you go?” Her voice stayed level, barely a hint of accusation. But he saw it in her eyes.

“How did you find me?”