Page 274 of Shadowman

And The Ivory expects me to… what? Play nice??

Are you fucking kidding me??

The fear and anger in me feel like anchors around my ankles, pulling me underwater. Glancing behind The Ivory, I subtly search for Trevel. But I don’t see him over there anymore.

The Warden straightens at the sound of footsteps approaching, joined by the familiar clanking of chains. “Don’t worry, Byron. Something tells me you’re about to have more on your mind than just reuniting with your ex’s terrible father…”

Suddenly, two of his men come clomping up the path, dragging someone along in shackles, hands cuffed behind their back and a bag over their head. My breathing is labored as they shove the person onto their knees in front of us.

The Ivory looks purely elated, reaching forward to grab the bag and yank it off.

What…

The…

Fuck.

A gasp flees my lips, eyes bulging out of my skull. “Dash??”

The unmistakable hazel gaze of my friend I haven’t seen in months—because he fuckingescaped—shimmers up at me, tousled pink hair hanging in his eyes. He blinks, in just as much apparent shock to see me as I’m feeling from seeing him. Blowing the silky strands away, he peeks at The Ivory, expression hardening to a distinct hatred.

Manuel Blanco smirks and reclines. “Welcome back, Dascha.”

Perfect fucking timing… Trevel comes traipsing around the corner, while I’m reeling down to my goddamnsoul, and looks around. “What did I miss?”

My eyes are on The Ivory. Concern ripples and rushes all over me as I watch him, taking a phone call across the room. When I’m absolutely sure he’s not paying attention, I lean in.

But Dash beats me to it. “Bro, oh myGod,” he sighs, an exhausted, fluttery chuckle, swirls of brown and green aimed up at me, all wide and shiny. “It’s so good to see you.”

“You too.” I shake my head over and over. “But what are you doing here??”

“I could ask you the same thing…” His gaze narrows, shifting briefly to Trevel. I swallow hard, and we both check on The Ivory again before he whispers, “Kemper and I came back.”

“On purpose??” I gasp. Trevel shoots me abe quietlook.

“We’ve been trying to call Joy for weeks and couldn’t get ahold of anyone,” he explains, hushed yet determined. Not a ton of worry in his tone for someone who escaped prisonandthis island, only to find himself chained up in front of the very psychopath he dipped out on. “I was sure something was wrong. I mean, clearly, I was right…” He gives me a knowing look.

Accurate. Shit is all kinds of fucked right now.

Hancock tries mumbling something beneath his muzzle, and I snap, “Shh! Not now.”

“What the hell are you doing over here?” Dash asks again. “Why aren’t you with Velle?”

“We were here when the prison fell, and shit got… complicated,” I mutter sheepishly, gulping. “It’s a long story.”

Dash is peering up at Trevel again, who’s studying him right back, head cocked in that curious animal way thatIfind pretty cute, but I think others might find unsettling.

“Oh, sorry… Dash, this is, um, Trevel,” I rasp, trying not to sound as uncomfortable as I’m feeling. “He’s 102. Trev, this is Dash. He was 101… until he escaped.”

“Charmed.” Trevel pulls a polite grin that’s more skeptical than anything. He’s getting the same thing right back.

Dash squints at him. Then at me. “Are you two a thing?”

I’m gawking and speechless while Hancock nods enthusiastically. I kick him in the back, and he grunts. “Where’s Kemper?” I ask, blatantly ignoring his question. “And how did The Ivory get you??”

Dash’s lips part, but the answers I desperately want are interrupted by the Warden stalking over. We all scuttle back into place, presenting as much innocence as we can.

“Sorry about that,” he sighs, returning to his seat beside me. “Business as usual. Now, where were we?”