She stared at him, then exhaled. “Okay then. Sounds like we have a plan.”
A team? A plan? It sounded more like a series of hopes but he’d take what he could get, as long as it brought the real Hope back safely.
“Once you go downstairs, you should probably stay there. Either Dani or I will bring you meals. That way no one at the bar sees you.”
He understood her unspoken point. The mole in her business wouldn’t know he was here. Except... “Dani saw me. And your bouncers.”
“I trust Dani with my life.” She didn’t hesitate to defend her friend. “And the bouncer who tried to stop you is completely trustworthy too.” She paused, her shoulders slumping slightly. “I think I know who the problem is. I need to take care of that.”
She straightened and he watched her transition from Taryn back into the Jack. Taryn’s softness was replaced by the Jack’s hardness. Watching Taryn disappear into the role was more terrifying than the Jack alone.
“C’mon,” she said. “Let’s get this over with.”
He should be agreeing with her, but why did those words hurt so badly?
Chapter42
Taryn closedthe heavy door to the hacking room then sagged against it.
She’d accompanied Ash downstairs. They’d stopped for linens and a blanket, since the sheets on the cot down there probably hadn’t been changed since before she took over. She’d waited around a few minutes, until it became clear that they weren’t going to discuss anything that had just happened.
Being that close to Ash and yet feeling the distance between them had messed with her head—and her heart.
She’d used work as an excuse and left him down there. Even when she’d hesitated at the doorway, he hadn’t turned around. Hadn’t called her name.
Being close to Ash wasn’t the only challenge she faced tonight.
She had a mole.
Someone in her bar—in her home!—was selling secrets to outsiders.
Though she couldn’t bear the thought, Taryn had to take care of that problem before she could rescue Hope.
Strengthening her resolve, Taryn pushed off the door. The fact that Giselle’s pimp had shown up at the bar—twice—had pissed her off. But once Giselle’s second scan had come back clean, Taryn hadn’t really considered her people as the source.
As she stalked down the hallway to the bar, Taryn considered her options. The old Jack had left a stash of less-than-legal instruments in one of the back rooms, but the thought of using them turned her stomach. She preferred less intrusive—less painful—methods.
Taryn knew her staff, many of them for years. That was why the betrayal broke her heart. One of her people—practically her family—had betrayed her.
And she thought she knew who.
When Taryn strode into the bar, Dani flashed her a huge smile. “Everything worked out between you two?”
Taryn’s laugh wasn’t a happy sound. “Not even remotely.”
Dani’s smile faded. “That sucks. I’m sorry. Anything I can do?”
Taryn shrugged. “Not about that.” Maybe she and Ash would be able to work it out eventually, but there was a lot to do between then and now. “Would you give me five minutes then send Rhonda back to my office?”
Dani’s frown deepened. “Sure. Everything okay?”
Taryn shook her head. She wanted to confide in Dani. Though her friend had noticed the problem first, it was Taryn’s mess to clean up.
“Shit. Anything I can help with?”
“Maybe,” Taryn said. “I’ll let you know.”
Taryn had just settled into her chair when there was a rap on her door. She took a long breath, then exhaled. She wasn’t looking forward to this conversation.
