Page 33 of Hostile Extraction

“Not very hard. Couldn’t pick up your cell?”

“I lost it.”

“Buy a new one. Your fiancé definitely isn’t hurting for cash.”

“It was on back order.” She felt on the defensive now.

“Yeah, okay.” He shook his head in disbelief. “Borrow one.”

“I asked.”

“And …?”

She shrugged. “Something always came up.”

“So, you only asked one time and call that trying to reach out to your ‘best friend?’”

“She is my best friend, Dusty. Stop insinuating I don’t care about her.”

“I’m trying to get you to see what’s right in front of you, Asia.”

“Itriedcalling her, but I could never seem to get a phone. Maybe it sounds lame, but we were always busy.”

“How many people did you see on a regular day?”

“I don’t know, five maybe.” She rubbed her hand up and down her arms.

“You seem unsure of yourself. Maybe I’m finally starting to get through to you.”

“You’re trying to confuse me. You’re trying to make me unsure of myself.”

“Fine. I’m not trying to put words in your mouth. I’m trying to understand. So, you’re telling me you wanted to call your best friend, but you couldn’t ask one of the five people you saw on a regular basis to borrow their phone for two minutes? Too busy suntanning?”

“What? No! Nico just wanted me to relax and feel pampered.”

“And feeling pampered was more important than letting your friend know you were safe? More important than letting your own brother know?”

“No! I tried and then…” She shrugged and ran her hand over the back of her neck. “I was always so tired.”

Dusty quirked an eyebrow at that admission.

“I was in the sun a lot. It made me tired.”

“So, stay inside. Or better yet, drive your ass to see the people you care about. Or had you just thrown them away once you found your new man?”

“No, I…” She was at a loss for words. “You’re twisting everything I say. It wasn’t like that.”

“Did you ever meet Nico’s family?” he pressed.

“Yes, his cousin. I actually met her first.”

“Oh, right, the bait. The one who introduced you to Prince Charming.”

“She’s not the bait.”

“Did you ever leave his property? Could you even?”

“Of course I could have.” But the way she wrung her hands telegraphed her uncertainty to the truth of her answer.

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