“The schedule’s set and Rhonda will be here both nights.”
“I’ll definitely be on the floor, so I’ll check on her,” Taryn said.
“I think that’s all I’ve got,” Dani said. “Anything I need to know?”
“I’m going to rescue Ash’s sister.” Taryn’s jaw dropped. She hadnotintended to say that. She hadn’t even decided.
Dani looked horrified. “You just got Giselle out. You usually wait a few months until the next one.”
“I know.” Dani wasn’t telling her anything Taryn hadn’t already considered. “I know,” she said more firmly. “And I’d decided against it. But... I just can’t stop thinking about her.” She clenched her fists. “I can’t not help.”
“Why did he come to you?” Dani leaned forward, her elbows braced on the desk.
Taryn laughed bitterly. “Remember how he didn’t know I was the Jack? He used to come here when the old Jack was in charge.”
Dani’s eyes widened. “Wha?—”
Taryn continued. “That’s not even the best part. He works for a corporation. Tremaine Corporation.” Taryn held her breath, waiting for Dani’s reaction. Her friend didn’t disappoint.
“No.” Dani practically shouted. “No. No. No.”
“Tell me how you really feel.” Taryn could joke about it now, but Dani’s reaction wasn’t that different from her own.
“I don’t like it,” Dani said. “It’s too coincidental. We had that dustup with Tremaine Security last month. Now one of their hackers shows up asking for help?” She shook her head. “It’s a trap.”
“I thought the same thing, but I don’t think it is.” Taryn sighed and leaned back in her chair. “His sister needs some serious help. How could I say no?”
“How did he know about the rescue operation?” Dani’s voice still carried a thread of doubt.
“I don’t think he did. I think he came here knowing that the Jack does—did—almost anything for a price.” That question had kept her up. That and her unlikely and unwanted attraction to the man.
“Why doesn’t he just use his corporate ties?” Dani asked. “He has to have some, right?”
“Um.” Taryn hedged and squeezed her eyes shut. Dani wasn’t going to like this part either. She looked at her friend reluctantly. “We’d be rescuing herfromTremaine Corporation.”
Dani erupted from her chair. “That’s insane. You know that, right?”
When Taryn didn’t respond, Dani dropped her palms on the desk and leaned over it to stare at her. “We don’t even know how Giselle’s pimp found her here. And now you want to go up against a corporation?” She shook her head in confusion. “Why? Why would you risk that? What has he promised you?”
Maybe she should reconsider. Taryn hadn’t decided—thoughtshe hadn’t decided—until she opened her mouth and the words came out. “We didn’t discuss payment,” she said sheepishly, ducking her head so she wouldn’t see the disappointment in Dani’s eyes.
“Is it because you think he’s hot?” Dani circled the desk to Taryn’s side and sat on the edge. “Because if you need to get laid that badly, we can get that taken care of, no suicide mission required.”
“No! It’s not because of that.”Shit.That didn’t come out right. Taryn threaded her fingers through her hair and clasped the sides of her head. “I mean, I don’t think that’s why. I think he really needs help.”
Dani glared at Taryn another few seconds, then leaned back on the desk. “We’re really doing this?”
“Yeah.” Her voice squeaked. “Yes,” Taryn said, putting more gravity into her tone. “Yes, we’re going to help him. Her. Them.”
“You’re crazy, you know that, right?” Dani said.
“Yeah, probably.”
“All right. I’m in.”
Taryn raised a brow. “I don’t have a plan yet.”
“Oh, I know. That’s why I’m in. You need help and someone you can trust. That’s me.”
