Page 83 of Defending You

“I understand.” He leaned toward the phone as if she could see him. “We’re less than two hours out, and nobody knows where we are.”

“It’s okay,” Cici said. “Asher knows what he’s doing.”

Her words surprised him, fortified him. He’d earned her trust, and he wasn’t going to let her down.

“All right, then,” Alyssa said. “I’ll keep digging. You two stay safe.”

“Will do.” Cici lifted the phone. “Thanks, sis. Love you.”

“Back atcha. By the way, we’re at Brooklynn’s. When you’re close, we’ll go to Mom and Dad’s to meet you.”

“You’re in Shadow Cove?”

“Of course. We’re all praying you two make it here without incident.”

Cici’s eyes filled. “That means…so much.” She and her sister traded a few more words, then Cici ended the call and handed the phone to him.

He pocketed it. “Thank you for…that. For believing in me.”

“Are you kidding? If not for you, I never would’ve made it out of Philly. Now, thanks to Alyssa, we know what we’re doing. I should just be quiet and let you two handle everything.”

Asher caught something off in her tone—a brittleness that didn’t match her words. “What do you mean, be quiet? You’ve been plenty helpful.”

She picked at her sandwich, not meeting his eyes.

“You were the one who suggested Gagnon had leverage. You’re the one who suggested we call Alyssa for intel. And don’t think I’ve forgotten how you saved my life. If you hadn’t whacked that guy in the woods, I’d be dead.”

“Rather be lucky than good, I guess.” She let out a sharp laugh, but there was no humor in it. “You don’t have to try to make me feel better, Asher. Alyssa’s crazy smart. You’re a Navy SEAL, for crying out loud. I’m…” She gestured vaguely at herself. “I’m here too.”

“Why are you downplaying your role? I don’t understand.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does matter. It matters to me.”

She looked past him, and he watched indecision play across her face. When she finally spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. “I was in that school play, back in fifth grade. You remember?”

He had no idea what she was talking about. “I wasn’t into drama.”

“Well, I was, a little. I got a good role. I was so excited about it, about my whole family coming to see me. It’s stupid, I know, but…I guess I always felt overshadowed by them.”

He couldn’t imagine how someone as beautiful and kind and talented as Cici could feel overshadowed by anyone.

“The night before the play,” she said, “I overheard my mother reminding my dad about it. He scoffed, said he had to work. He said, ‘If she ever does something important, I’ll be there.’”

Ouch. “I’m sure he didn’t mean?—”

“He didn’t mean for me to hear it, you’re right. But he meant it. He didn’t come to the play. He’s never shown up for…” She shook her head, still not meeting his eyes. “He didn’t even make it to my high school graduation. I guess that didn’t rise to his level of importance.”

“Not defending him, but he had a pretty stressful job, right? At the CIA?”

“He was also a father.” She leaned forward, warming to the conversation. “Once, one of my jewelry designs was nominated for a prize. It was no big deal?—”

“It was a big deal,” he said. “Go on.”

Gratitude flashed in her eyes as if he’d done her a favor by stating the obvious. “There was an event at the little art gallery where I took classes. Dad showed up.” She sighed. “He spent the whole evening talking to my cousin Daniel, who’d just graduated from medical school, telling him how amazing he was, how proud of him… He’s never once said that to me. I waited all night for him to actually look at the pendant I’d designed. He never did.”

Dad had his issues, but Asher had never doubted his love. He realized Cici’s seemingly perfect family wasn’t so perfect after all. “Sounds like your dad wasn’t so great at the whole fatherhood thing.”