Page 78 of Shadow

She paused a moment, then, “I’m paid to keep track of people.”

Right. And he didn’t know why, but the words “Don’t you trust me?” just sorta spilled out of him.

As if he’d earned her trust at all.

So it felt right when she said, “Not even a little.” She stopped five feet away. Close enough to talk. Far enough to draw if needed. “You disappeared. Patterson was there asking questions. Our witnesses were vulnerable. You didn’t coordinate. You didn’t explain.”

He just looked at her.

“You were parked outside a warehouse for a long time.”

He drew in a breath. “I told you that I had an informant. He texted me. Said he had information about…” He stopped, the words tonight’s explosion on his lips.

Except, no. That would make her panic. Make them move. And then he’d have to deal with Draven again.

“Draven and his current whereabouts. I wanted to make sure he was far away from us.” Also true. “I was trying to make sure we were safe.”

“By meeting with an informant? Alone? Without backup?”

“It’s not what you think.”

“Then tell me what it is. Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re lying. Maybe even working both sides.”

Her words jolted him. “I saved your life tonight.”

“Instinct. Doesn’t mean you’re not playing me.” Her eyes stayed hard.

And oh, he wanted to tell her everything. “Ask your questions. Whatever you want to know. I’ll tell you what I can.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Fine. The courthouse. Did you know a hit was going to go down?”

“No.” Again true. “I only saw it as it happened. And I did try and stop it.” His voice thickened.

Her mouth pursed. Then, “Why Renegade? You were already investigating them in Denver.”

“Because it seemed like the head of the snake was here. Draven, or even someone else. All the syndicate activity seemed to heighten here. Something didn’t feel right.”

Her gaze stayed on him, rooting through his words. Then, “No. Something made you leave Denver.”

He swallowed, glanced away. Drew in a breath. “Yeah, okay. Fine. I left Denver because I had blown my cover there.”

She frowned.

“I finally found my sister’s killer.”

Daphne went still. Wind rattled through dead grass along the highway. Semi trucks passed on the road with diesel engines roaring. Headlights swept across them, bright and then darkness again.

“I thought it was gang violence.”

“It was. But…yeah.” He hung a hand on his neck. “It’s cold out here.”

“Tell me.”

Fine. Maybe it was best told in the half darkness, just the brutal headlights on them, the air still soggy. “My sister was my responsibility. Since we were kids and my parents split up. I was…we were…” He shook his head. “She trusted me. And I protected her. That’s why I got a job in Denver—so I could be around when she went to college at the University of Colorado in Denver.” He looked away from her. “Wow, she was smart. Wanted to be a psychologist. And then…” He blew out a breath. “She got involved in this Christian group on campus. She was…well, she was suddenly this die-hard Jesus follower, doing street evangelism and bringing food to the homeless…”

He looked back at Daphne. “That’s what she was doing when she was hit by a drive-by shooting. Wrong place, wrong time. Gang violence.” His chest burned. “The gang was connected to the Shadow Syndicate. Running drugs. Running protection rackets. Draven’s operation, even back then.”

“What did you do?”