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“And you don’t think he’s a good guy?”
“I don’t have a clue. Never met the dude.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“I wanted to, but she kept putting me off. Now her best friend Emily can’t get hold of her anymore. I’ve tried as well. It says her phone is no longer in service. Emily went to an address she had gotten from Asia before all that, but she was stopped at the door by some Gestapo-like security this dude’s got. They wouldn’t let her even talk to Asia. I’m worried as hell.”
“Okay, okay. Slow down. We’ll figure this out.”
“I know it’s a big ask, but I need you, bro.”
“What’s this dude’s name?”
“Nico Amorosi.”
Dusty repeated the name in his head, committing it to memory. “Let me talk to my employer. Maybe Tri Star can find out more about this guy.”
“Thank you, Dusty. Really, man, I’d appreciate whatever help you can give.”
Dusty rested a palm on the counter, his shoulders tightening. “Do your parents know about this?”
“I haven’t told them. They kind of disowned her when she left. They’ve been really shitty about it.”
“Sorry to hear that.” He had expected as much.
“My family is fucked up, man.”
“Not you, and not Asia.”
“It’s a miracle we’re not, I’ll tell you that.”
“Carter, let me get back to you in an hour, okay?”
“Sure. Thank you.”
Dusty disconnected, grabbed his keys, and ran to his truck. Maybe if he got in early enough, Chris would have time to talk to him about this. It was a personal matter and better kept on the down low. He didn’t want the team to know about this, especially his connection to Asia. At least not yet, not unless it became necessary.
Dusty fired the truck up and pulled out. He wasn’t even sure how much help he could be. He wanted Asia to be happy, but it was hard to imagine her with another man. He dragged a hand down his face and rested his elbow on the door frame.Stop thinking of her as yours. She never was. She never can be.
He’d promised Carter his help, but now everything inside him waffled. What if she was happy? What if this guywasMr. Right? Didn’t she deserve that? Didn’t she deserve everything?
He didn’t need to go messing that up for her. Especially not after all she’d done to seek her own happiness. Leaving home like she did—Goddamn—he still couldn’t believe she’d done it. It must have taken guts—more guts than he’d given her credit for, apparently. But then, Asia did always surprise him. He remembered the way she’d lifted her chin, even as her eyes filled with tears. He may have hurt her, caused her more pain than he’d ever intended, but she had that steely strength he’d known would see her through.
She deserved better than him. He’d always known that, but now that she had, a pain knifed through his chest. He had to admit—if only to himself—that perhaps somewhere deep in his brain, he’d hoped they’d have a second chance, that life would somehow bring them together. He huffed out a laugh at his own folly.
Now, more than ever, that was completely impossible. He was too broken on the inside. That dream was dead and buried.
But he could at least make sure she was okay. That much he owed her.
CHAPTER THREE
Chris met the helicopter out on the pad. His connection in the FBI disembarked and extended his hand.
“Thanks for coming, Mark.”
“This wasn’t something I wanted to discuss over the phone.”
“Understood. Let’s talk in my office.” Chris led the assistant director of the FBI into Tri Star. They used his private entrance that led directly into his big corner office that overlooked the landing pad.
