Page 66 of Hostile Extraction

“Why did you tell me you didn’t love me?” She turned away from him, not sure she wanted to hear his answer.

“Because you never would have moved on if I hadn’t, Asia.” He slid his hand in hers and tugged her back to him. “I loved you then, and I love you still.” He looked into her eyes, probably hoping to hear those three little words back, but he wouldn’t hear them from her.

She shook her head. “I don’t know if I can do this with you. Dusty, you walked away when I needed you most. And now you’re pulling away again, denying what we have, pretending it means nothing. Maybe it doesn’t.” She lifted her chin, making a snap decision. “I’m going home when this is over. Back to my parents. It’s obviously where I belong.”

“No, it’s not, Asia. Why would you do that?”

“I need to figure out my life. I deserve to be happy. I deserve a man who will be there for me.”

“Baby, please, don’t go back there. You know the repressive life they’ll force on you. You can’t mean that.”

“I do.” She turned her back on him. “Get out. I don’t even want to look at you right now.”

The room was quiet until she heard the door click shut behind her.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Dusty wandered to the front door, barely aware of anything but Asia’s words playing over and over in his head.

Maybe she was right. She deserved someone better. Deep down, he was afraid his trauma might never be healed, and he didn’t want it to destroy them both.

He imagined her being awoken every single night by his night terrors. What kind of life would that be for her?

But she was the one who calmed him, and already his nightmares were coming fewer in the last few days. Being with her had done that. It made the nightmares bearable. She made it better. How could he lose her now?

The pain tore at his insides. As flippant as he’d been with Stan, it was all a lie. He didn’t want to let her go, but he wanted what was best for her, and that probably wasn’t him.

He opened the door, and Stan turned, taking in his face.

“What’s wrong, buddy?”

“There’s breakfast if you’re hungry. You should eat.”

“Dusty, what’s the matter? What happened?”

“Asia heard us last night. Now she’s through with me.” He couldn’t believe the words even as he spoke them.

“Well, shit.”

“Yeah.” Dusty shook his head. “Maybe she’s right. I’ve failed a lot of people. I failed her, and I failed my team.” He dropped into one of the patio chairs, his elbows on his knees.

“Man, I don’t know a lot about what happened. But I do know it wasn’t your fault. We all signed up for that shit. We all knew it was a risk. It was war and everyone over there wanted us dead.” Stan reached up and squeezed the top of Dusty’s shoulder.

“You think it’s that easy? I went to every one of their funerals. I was still healing from my own wounds, but I didn’t miss one. Saw their children, who will now, because of me, all grow up without their fathers. I apologized to every one of their wives, looked into their empty eyes and saw a pain that meant their lives would never be the same.” He paused to rub his palms together. “They said all the right things, of course—how they were glad I survived, that they didn’t blame me. But I saw the truth in their eyes. Every single one of them was wondering why I made it, when their husband came home in a body bag.”

Stan opened his mouth to say more, but before another word could be said, Asia came down the stairs and approached, her gaze shifting between them. “I’d like to talk to you both.”

Stan frowned. “Okay.”

Dusty looked back at her, not sure what to expect now.

They both followed her into the kitchen.

She sat on a barstool.

“You want some coffee?” Stan offered her, lifting the pot.

She shook her head. “There’s something I witnessed at Nico’s estate. Something I didn’t tell you about, because I didn’t put the pieces together, but it just dawned on me, with everything you’ve said about Nico and his hideous crimes, something’s been bothering me, and it just clicked.”

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