Page 81 of Troy Story
When she looked up at him, her eyes were damp. “You came after me.”
“You came back.”
“I couldn’t leave. I just couldn’t.” She wiped her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. But this rescue mission would have been easier if you’d answered your phone.”
She gave a sad shake of her head. “Hughes took it from me.”
“What? What the hell was he thinking?”
“Let’s get my bag. Then I’ll tell you everything.”
Letting out a growl of frustration, Stuart grabbed her backpack from the bus, carried it over to the Land Rover, and stashed it in the back. She got in beside him and placed her hand over his. “Don’t be upset. I’m just glad you’re here.”
“Sorry, but I’m so pissed at Hughes. I can’t believe he did this to you.”
“I’ll be okay.” She retrieved her laptop from her messenger bag. “Before we head back, I have to show you something. Do you have your phone? I need to use it as a hotspot.”
“Sure.” He brought it out and waited for her to make the connection.
She angled the laptop so that the screen was facing him. “This is the email I sent my father. Look at the attachments.”
At first, he could barely comprehend what he was seeing. Ten photos of a worn clay tablet, inscribed with cuneiform markings, resting on a white bedsheet. “Where did this tablet come from? I don’t understand.”
“You will once I explain. But you have to let me tell the whole story.”
He listened, his emotions wavering between shock and fury, as Dusty filled him in on the morning’s events. When she recounted her confrontation with Dr. Hughes, he clenched his fists, barely able to keep his rage in check.
She tugged on his arm. “Please don’t be mad at me.”
“I’m not mad at you. Not in the slightest. I can’t believe Hughes had the balls to steal that tablet and think he could place it in his own trench.”
“I wanted to tell you about it. Even after he threatened me, I insisted on it. But he took my passport and strong-armed me onto that bus.”
“Did…did he hurt you? Physically, I mean?” Stuart’s breath caught as he waited for her to answer, afraid of what Dr. Hughes might have done to her. But when she shook her head, a little of the tension ebbed from his body. “I’m so sorry he forced you to leave. But…were you going to tell me once you had a way to call me? When you were in Istanbul?”
She bowed her head. “I don’t know. I was worried if I said anything that I’d put the whole dig in jeopardy. Not only that, but if you confronted Hughes, he’d report you for sexual misconduct. I didn’t want to ruin your career.”
“Oh, Dusty.” He pulled her closer until her head was resting on his shoulder. “I’m sorry I didn’t know about the new code of conduct when we spent the night together. But I still don’t regret anything we did. I love you, and I want you in my life, no matter what it costs me.”
She sniffed and rubbed her eyes. “I’ve waited for years to hear you say that. I love you, too. It was so hard to leave you.”
Her declaration filled him with a rush of happiness that eclipsed his earlier doubts. He took her sketch out of his pocket and unfolded it. “Thanks for the drawing. Once I saw it, I knew you didn’t leave by choice.”
“Trust me, I didn’t want to.”
“What about Sardinia? Were you actually going to take a job there?” Maybe he was pushing her a little too hard, but he didn’t want any more secrets between them.
“No, but Hughes wanted me to hurt you. He insisted I act like I was making a clean break. But I hadn’t planned on going to Sardinia. I wanted to come back to Boston with you so that we could be together. Like, together-together. You know?”
Now that he knew her feelings matched his, he had no qualms about speaking honestly. “I do. That’s what I wanted, too. I even booked a romantic getaway for us in Istanbul.”
“You did?” She placed her hand over her heart. “That’s so sweet. When were you going to tell me about it?”
“I almost told you last night until Hughes ruined the moment. I booked the place where Olivia and Rick stayed when they were in Istanbul last fall.”
“I love that idea. Olivia said it was so romantic.” She tugged him toward her until their lips met.
