Page 92 of Shadow

Everything exactly as they’d left it.

Except—

There. He spotted it as he advanced into the house.

A phone on the coffee table. His burner phone. The screen still glowed.

He picked it up.

Unknown Number

Time’s up.

The door creaked behind him. He pocketed the phone and spun around.

Daphne.

She’d come into the house, despite his order.

And then, before he could move, a figure emerged from the shadows. Grabbed her from behind. Arm around her throat. Knife visible.

She grabbed his arm and spun away.

And Asher’s world went red. He moved so fast, he didn’t even realize it, part instinct, part training.

Three steps, and he tackled the attacker. Shoulder to center mass. Driving him back. Away from Daphne.

The attacker—masked, black clothing—swung the knife. Asher blocked. Took the hit across his upper arm.

Didn’t even feel the pain. Later.

Now he grabbed the attacker’s wrist. Twisted. The knife clattered to the porch floor.

Another figure emerged from the side of the house. Also masked. Also armed.

Two attackers.

Asher processed it in a second. Two opponents. One knife on the ground. One still armed. Daphne behind him. Roger and Destiny were exposed outside.

And given the syndicate, the house might be rigged.

“Get them out of here!” he shouted at Daphne. “Daphne—RUN!”

She hesitated. Half a second.

“Go!”

She went out the front door.

The second attacker turned to run after her.

Asher leaped at him, tackled him on the porch with a grunt. Fire burned through him, but he got an arm around the man’s neck. Yanked at his mask.

Daphne’s voice lifted. “Car! Now! Move!”

The man got an elbow up, slammed it into Asher’s ear, and he saw gray, enough for the man to get loose.

Asher rolled away just as the man found his feet, aimed a kick at him.