Page 182 of Damsel in Disguise

Which tells me there’s definitely more happening beneath the surface.

Before Asher can launch into whatever fresh disaster is forming inside his head, Ariella abruptly points toward the hallway.

“I’m going to leave you three alone for a few minutes to get to know each other,” her voice rises an octave.

Then she flees into the messy bedroom.

“You’re seriously leaving us alone with this psychopath?” Asher sharply points his thumb at me, ignoring the fact that I’m present here in person.

Ariella stops halfway through the doorway. Slowly, she turns back around, peaking through the door.

“No fighting,” she warns.

Both Keinston men immediately straighten as if they’ve been caught committing a crime.

“We weren’t—”

“Asher.”

His mouth closes.

“I’m serious.”

“I am too,” he says. “There’s a shirtless man in your apartment.”

“A half-naked man,” Adrian corrects.

“Not helping.”

Ariella ignores both of them. “I’m leaving for five minutes, and I don’t want to come back to blood on my floor.”

“Depends on whose blood we’re discussing?” Asher mutters.

“Asher!”

He flinches.

I’ve never seen anyone successfully weaponize his own name against him.

“Promise me.”

“No.”

“Promise me.”

“No.”

“Ash,” the stare she gives him could probably stop traffic.

Eventually, he throws his hands up. “Fine. Whatever. I promise not to kill the dude. Or hospitalize him.”

She shifts her attention toward Adrian. “You too.”

Adrian looks offended. “When have I ever started a fight?”

“When have you ever stopped one?”

“Fair enough.”