Asher almost argued further with her, but she had a point. Still… “I have to call my friends and at least let them know I’m okay.”
She slid her phone across the floor to him. “Make it quick, and if you decide you’d prefer to return to them, we’ll find a place to drop you off, give you a burner phone, and leave you there. You can tell them that. If you try to tell them anything about what we’re doing, I will knock you out.”
Asher smiled. “As fun as that sounds, I won’t betray your trust.”
She stared at him with a challenge in her eyes, but he hoped she understood he was up for her challenge. He wasn’t going anywhere, and he would prove she could trust him. This phone call would help him do that.
He picked up the phone, but before he could dial, Cabo spoke. “The Savages might know who you are now, Brie.”
“What do you mean?” she inquired.
“If that cop saw Asher’s face come across his computer screen, then your face was probably with his. The computers might have been on a larger network, and the info might have gone out to other police stations, especially if they were looking to see if you were wanted somewhere else.
“Maybe not, because it’s not like you two are major criminals, did something truly heinous, or were in custody for that long, but itisa possibility. If that happened, then they’ll pin you two as being together and possibly come after you now too.”
Asher held his breath while waiting for her to react. She hadn’t wanted him to be a part of this at all; she’d been convinced he’d screw it up somehow, but neither of them could have seen that coming.
Well, maybe she could have, and since she didn’t, she couldn’t blame him.
“Shit,” Brie whispered as she lowered her head and rubbed her temples.
Then she lifted her gaze to him, and whereas he’d expected condemnation and anger, there was only hopelessness. And that hopelessness was far worse than any rage could have been.
“Ihaveto find those last two stones,” she whispered.
“You will, I promise,” he told her, and he would do everything he could to uphold his vow.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO
Turninghis attention to the phone, he dialed the last number he’d memorized for Nathan. If Nathan didn’t answer, he’d try Logan next.
“Hello?” Nathan greeted on the first ring.
“Hey,” Asher said.
Something clattered, and Asher pictured Nathan knocking something to the ground as he rose abruptly. The noise could have been something else entirely, but that image was what formed in his head.
“Asher,” Nathan breathed. “Where have you been?”
“I can’t reveal that.”
“Why not?”
“I said I wouldn’t.”
There was a pause as Nathan absorbed this. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m here by choice, but I can’t reveal where… yet. Hopefully, I’ll be able to do so soon.”
Asher held Brie’s gaze as she stared at him from across the way. He couldn’t read the expression on her face, but at least she wasn’t glaring at him.
“And how do I know you’re telling the truth when you say you’re okay?” Nathan asked.
“Because I was given a chance to call you, and I’ve been offered the opportunity to leave, but I’m staying. I may have stumbled upon something to help us all, and I’m not going to leave it.”
Is that the only reason he’s staying?Brie wondered and then kicked herself in the ass for thinking it. Who cared why he was staying? Not her, not at all, not even a little bit.
And she was completely lying to herself. She was aware of that, but it didn’t stop her from repeating the lie a couple more times.
