Instead, it was Miles who appeared. He seemed as startled as she was.
“Oh, fuck. Where are you? Zander! Fuck!”
She’d never heard Miles swear like that. The poor guy jumped to his feet and then there was a loud thump. She winced as she realized he must have banged his knee into the underside of his desk. “Zander! It’s Angie!”
The phone was dropped. And there was more swearing.
“He seems panicked,” North commented.
“Because he was worried about me,” she said.
Then the phone was picked up. By Zander.
“Zander,” she said in a high-pitched voice. She felt surprisingly emotional as she greeted him. She angled the camera so he couldn’t see Jared’s face.
She wanted to explain things first.
“Angie! Where the hell are you?” Zander demanded.
She blew out a breath. “Before I tell you, I need you to know that I didn’t want to come here, but now that I am here I want to stay.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” Zander yelled.
“Is that Angie? Angie? Oh my God!” Keira burst into tears as she appeared.
“Keira, don’t cry,” Zander demanded. “Keira. Keira, stop.” His voice softened and they disappeared out of camera view for a moment. She could hear them in the background, Zander trying to console Keira.
Shit.
She felt awful.
“This isn’t your fault,” Jared said. “I will explain.”
“Hey. Who is that who just spoke?” Honey asked, popping into the screen. “Babe, you look good for someone who was kidnapped. What’s the deal? Where are you? And who do I have to fuck up?”
North’s eyebrows raised at that.
“Are Zander and Keira there?” she asked. “I want to tell you all.”
“Keira, quit it,” Honey told her. “Angie is okay. I told you I’d know deep down if she wasn’t. But Angie, why didn’t you use the flame thrower?”
“Flame thrower?” North asked.
“Hey! That was a different voice,” Honey said. “What’s going on?”
“Angie? Where are you? We’ll come get you now.” Keira stared at her through watery eyes.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t call you earlier,” Angie said. “So sorry.”
“That wasn’t Angie’s decision, so don’t blame her. It was mine. I wouldn’t let her call until now.” Jared moved the camera so they could all see him.
“Bartolli!” Zander roared. “You’re a fucking dead man. I am going to track you down and kill you, you motherfucker!”
“Actually, that would be a very bad idea,” North said smoothly as he sat next to Jared. “Because then I would kill you.”
“No one is killing anyone!” Angie cried. “Zander, I need you to listen to me. Okay? Everyone be quiet and listen.”
“We’re listening,” Keira said.
