Page 88 of Hidden Ascent

“You don’t remember?”

“I was trying to escape.”

“That’s what he said. How’d you take the skinny guy out while you were locked in the cell?”

“I asked him to get me a drink. When he passed it through the bars, I smashed his head into them. Hulk found me before I could get the keys.”

“Really? You did that?”

“You’d know if I was lying.”

“How?”

“Did my mouth twitch?” She stared him down with a cold, hard look.

His lips tightened to hold back the smile. “I made that up.”

“What?”

“I was building camaraderie with Simmo.”

“But he said he saw it.”

“Suggestion can be a very powerful tool.”

“So that thing about the kiss? You couldn’t really tell I was lying?”

“I didn’t need to. I knew you’d lie.”

“If you don’t get that self-satisfied look off your face, I definitely won’t come with you.”

“Sorry.” He kept the smile but reached out a hand toward her. This time, she took it.

“You’d better not be lying to me.”

“I’m not. I’m sorry for deceiving you.”

“You were probably right to,” she said as he helped her to the car. “I would have blown your cover if I’d known.”

“But it sounds like you did all right fooling that guy back in the cell.”

“Yeah, him, but not Hulk, unfortunately. I wasn’t quick enough to come up with a plausible reason for Tag’s nap.”

“Good thing I turned up when I did.” He waited until she was settled in her seat before he got in. “Let me know if you need to throw up,” he said as he started the car.

“I’m not going to.”

“It’s a side effect of concussion.”

“I know. I’m fine.” She leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

“It would be better if you stayed awake,” he said as he pulled onto the road.

“I’m really tired.”

He turned on the radio, then buzzed down her window. “You can sleep later. Once the doctor gives you the all-clear.”

After glancing into his rearview mirror, he took the next left. “Get that seatbelt on, would you?”

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