Page 58 of Extracted

A sharp intake of breath met her ear. “Whose phone are you calling from? Where—”

“The one you gave me is dead and I needed to reach you.”

“I’ll say.” Her voice rose an octave. “You have a lot of nerve falling off the face of the earth like that.”

She cleared her throat. “Someone’s been trying to kill me . . . Silas’s men.”

A beat passed. “That’s impossible. Silas is dead.”

“I don’t think so. According to our sources, he’s alive and is after me because he believes I set off the bombs.” The word ‘our’ burned her tongue, slipping from her mouth like butter. She waited for the barrage of questions to assault her.

“Who’s ‘our’? Tell me where you are and we’ll bring you in while we figure this out.”

Knots formed in her chest, and she lifted her hand to rub her breastbone. “I want you to know that up until now, I planned to quit working for you—for the CIA.”

Silence fell like a sonic boom.

“Is that right?”

“However,” she continued, her throat practically sealing off the word, “I have a proposition for you instead.”

Another stretch of quiet. “I don’t know what you’re trying to do here, Gemma, but we’ve been good to you. You’re in no position to make demands.”

“It’s not a demand. It’s an exchange.”

“What kind of exchange?” Her tone turned downright steely.

Gemma’s next words left her mouth carefully. She had to watch what she said in case Charlene tried to turn any of this onto Dallas. “If it weren’t for an old friend I bumped into in Cali, I’d be dead. He’s stuck with me the last few days to ensure my safety, and I’d like to return the favor. He now has a hit on his head from Silas—as do I—and getting anywhere in one piece is going to be next to impossible, let alone leaving the country.” Her voice shook as the gravity of their situation closed in around her. Dallas would be pissed, but what choice did she have?

“I’ll continue to work for the CIA for another two years if you can get us out—and my friend safely back to the US. That’s all I’m asking.”

Tears stung her eyes. She and Dallas would be separated if Charlene agreed to this. Not only would she be forced right back to work, but also, Charlene would know who Dallas was. She’d know to keep an eye on any contact Gemma had with him. Her one slice of heaven, her safe haven and yearly hiatus, would be gone.

Not to mention their friendship. Dallas surely wouldn’t forgive her for returning to do the CIA’s bidding.

“All right,” Charlene finally said. “I don’t see why that arrangement can’t be made. He’s an American citizen?”

“Yes.”

“Fine. Now, charge your encrypted phone and I’ll call you first thing in the morning with more details.” She clicked off, and Gemma lowered the phone.

Her heart sank with it.

CHAPTER 16

Dallas entered the motel room with the bags of steaming food in his hand. He’d worn the hat he’d had in his backpack and kept his head low as he walked around the block to one of the takeout joints. Thankfully, the area had been quiet, and since it was past dinnertime, there were only a few stragglers eating at the restaurant, and they’d paid him no mind.

“Gemma,” he called. “Food’s here.”

He shed his boots and carried the items to the small dinette table. He’d already had a quick shower so he could rush out to get them something to eat while Gemma soaked in the tub. It had probably been a shitty bath—the tub had barely reached his knees. When they got back to the US, he’d ensure they stayed somewhere she could really relax. Or he’d just let her use his tub, which was significantly better than this dive of a motel’s.

He scrubbed his hand over his face and smothered a scoff. Gemma hadn’t given any indication that she’d see him again after their escape. If he didn’t prepare himself to part ways with her, he’d likely be setting himself up for disappointment.

And why the fuck should he be disappointed? He had no claim to her. They were friends at best, and the sooner he got that through his thick head, the better off he’d be.

The bathroom door popped open and Gemma walked out. She wore one of his T-shirts and nothing on her lower half. Water glistened off her legs as she moved across the small room, her hard-tipped breasts swaying freely beneath the material.

The crotch of his pants tightened on his junk.

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