Page 76 of Bound in Ashes

I shifted to stand in front of Asia.

Christopher didn’t like that.

The little twitch in his fingers gave him away. But he recovered seamlessly and then laser focused on Asia. “Yeah, sorry about that, too.” He cleared his throat, shifting, his face flaming red with what I was sure he would say was embarrassment.

It wasn’t.

He was pissed.

I quirked a half smile.

“Anyway,” Christopher said, “I was really sorry about Kathleen. She was a good woman.”

“She was,” Asia whispered.

“I was surprised you didn’t make it back for the funeral.” Christopher watched her, weighing the impact of his words.

Asia gave away nothing.

I couldn’t stop myself. I trailed my fingers down her arm then looped them around her wrist. Kept my gaze glued to Christopher and made him watch me touch Asia like she was mine.

Prayed he would try to do something about it.

Christopher stared at Asia, and I waited, wondering if she’d try to pull away. On instinct, I tightened my grip.

Asia didn’t move. Christopher cleared his throat and then continued. “But Levi seems to be holding up all right.”

Christopher was clearly prying and trying to get a reaction out of her.

I watched as she processed his words, and saw when she slipped her mask into place. The counselor was here, and not my counselor. This was professional, distant Asia.

“I heard you had moved out West,” she said.

Christopher shook his head, then shrugged.

“I did. Was going to try my hand at a ranch. But you know, the siren call of home and all that,” he said.

“Yeah,” Asia responded, that fake smile on her face setting me on edge.

That, and the fact that I was playing third fucking wheel.

Fuck that.

I tightened my grip on her wrist, and Christopher looked at me.

“Glad to see you again, Thorne,” he stuck his hand out.

I glared at him.

He bristled but recovered. “And I should thank you again for getting Asia home.”

“I was unaware this is her home,” I responded.

Christopher, determined to be unbothered, shrugged.

“Guess not. But glad she’s back with family. That’s where she should be,” he said.

Family.