Page 184 of Damsel in Disguise

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Ash.”

“She studies engineering.”

Adrian blinks, clearly thrown off guard. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“She studies engineering.”

“Still not seeing the connection.”

“She voluntarily attends extra lectures.”

“Unfortunately.”

“She alphabetizes books for fun.”

“Psychotic behavior, honestly.”

“And somehow this happened,” Asher throws his arms at me, as if presenting me with extra exaggeration.

Adrian just stares at him.

“Ariella having sex isn’t a system malfunction, but your reaction to that is. It’s fucking normal, asshole. Stop making a fuss out of it.”

The horrified look on Asher’s face is almost impressive.

I suppose I should feel some degree of concern for my current situation.

Standing shirtless inside a Keinston apartment while one family member debates murder and the other debates whether murder is legally excessive isn’t generally considered an ideal social interaction.

However, it most definitely is a remarkable first impression.

Strangely, I find myself enjoying it.

Asher’s protectiveness isn’t performative. It’s instinctive.

Adrian’s restraint isn’t softness. It’s containment.

One acts first and thinks later.

The other thinks first because someone has to.

Together they’re a surprisingly efficient system. Not unlike a feedback loop.

Though if either of them knew exactly what had happened in that bedroom less than fifteen minutes ago, I suspect the system would become catastrophically unstable.

A fascinating hypothesis. One that I’ve absolutely no intention of testing tonight.

Mainly because I suspect Asher Keinston would attempt to shoot me again, and this time Adrian Keinston won’t even try to stop him.

I still need to be alive and well to go somewhere important. Can’t seem to die before I finish what I started.

Nonetheless, I find myself smiling again.

Asher snaps his gaze toward me. “Stop doing that.”