Page 114 of With this Ring

Adriana was planning to marry her fourth husband in the next few months. Sasha had supported her through all of her divorces and new romances, but she honestly didn’t understand her older sister. It seemed that she was always searching for something that she never found.

“What’s on your mind?”

They passed through the main part of Winter Park, headed toward Berthoud Pass. “Nothing important,” she assured him.

When he touched her knee, she added, “Okay. Maybe I’m worried about Mrs. Santos.”

“That all?”

How was he so damn perceptive? “Yes.”

Since she wasn’t sure how long she’d have cell phone reception for, she called her client again.

When Mrs. Santos picked up, Sasha heard background noise, as if she was driving. “You’ll be meeting some people in the airport parking lot. I’ll be giving your phone number to them. Anyone you’re meeting with or talking to must use the wordsnowblind. Do you understand?”

“Snowblind?” she repeated.

“You got it. Any questions?”

“I feel like I’m in a nightmare, but I can’t wake up.”

In a way, she was. But the harsher reality was that she’d been living it for months, maybe years, since the first moment her husband had become entangled with Argentum. “Snowblind,” Sasha reminded her. “Anyone who calls, anyone you meet.”

“Where are they taking me?”

“A nearby safehouse. You’ll have agents with you, plenty of food, water, TV.”

“I want to tell Felix,” she pushed.

“Not yet,” Sasha insisted. “I’m sorry. We don’t know where he is and if that information can be coerced from him. He’d want you to be safe,” she reminded her again. No matter how many times Sasha had to repeat herself, she would.

If the situation were reversed, no one would be able to stop her from calling Gregorio.

There was silence for so long that she wondered if the call had dropped.

“I hate this.”

Agreeing wouldn’t help, and neither would assurances that she understood. Instead, Sasha settled for, “I’m sorry. Remember, I’m here if you need to talk or if anything happens.”

“I know I should say thank you.”

“No. Definitely not yet. I’ve just turned your life inside out,” Sasha empathized. “It’s completely normal to be confused and upset. I’d be worried about you if you weren’t.”

“Really?”

“One hundred percent.”

“I’m falling apart, Sasha.” She sniffed hard, as if battling her overwhelming feelings. In the background, the GPS gave directions. “I need to go.”

Before Sasha even had a chance to respond, a beep indicated the call had ended.

As she dropped her phone into her purse, Sasha closed her eyes and exhaled.

“You’re doing great, too,” Gregorio told her.

The last of Winter Park’s light had faded into the distance, and low-hanging clouds meant there was no moonlight, so she couldn’t read his expression. “I appreciate you saying that.”

“But?” he prompted.

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