“That’s a lot,” Dani said.
“I know. I knew it would be complicated, but...” She shook her head. “Remind me to never take on a case like this again.”
“Done.” Dani looked at the plan again. “When do you want to do this?”
“Soon, but I need to talk to Ash again. We need to know where to deliver her. We could set up a room here.” Taryn paused, reminded of her half-baked thought to keep Hope and Ash here, with her. “But if he has a place or a vehicle to get her out of the city, we’ll need to coordinate.”
“Oh no, you have to talk to Ash again.” Dani dramatized her statement with a hand pressed to her forehead and then to her heart.
“I hate you,” Taryn said without any heat.
Dani leaned back in her chair and pulled her legs up, tucking her knees to the side. “You could just call him, you know?”
“I don’t have his number,” Taryn admitted.
“What?”
“He kept stopping by the bar. I didn’t even think about it.” And that should have been her first warning. The Jack never forgot details like that.
“I’m sure you can get a message to him.”
“Yes,” she admitted, trying to ignore Dani’s scrutiny.
“Then put on your big Jack panties and reach out. Tell yourself it’s only business if you have to, but you can’t move forward—with this or with him—if you don’t at least talk to him.”
Dani was right. Taryn knew it.
“I’ll think about it,” she grumbled.
Dani laughed. “And think and think and think.”
Taryn scowled. Her best friend wasn’t wrong.
Dani pushed out of her chair. “You sit here and think. I’m going to bed.”
“Thanks, Dani. I couldn’t do this without you.”
“I know, boss.” She tossed Taryn a smile.
“Night, Dani.” Her friend slipped out of the office and left Taryn alone with her thoughts.
Chapter38
The guard shovedAsh into Portia’s office. He stumbled but managed to stay upright. She prodded his shoulder—hard—until he took one step, then another. The guard pushed him again, but this time Ash stood his ground. Ash expected them to shove him to his knees, the proper posture for a supplicant.
Fuck that.
If Portia Tremaine was going to take him out, she could fucking look him in the eye while she did it.
He stood up straight and did his best to radiate calm, but inside he was freaking out. Being dragged into her office by guards didn’t tend to be a positive turn of events.
Portia stared at him, her expression serious. “Where is she?”
Of all the questions he’d expected...
“Who?”
Nostrils flaring, Portia pushed her chair back and stood. She circled the desk and closed the space between them slowly. Her heels clicked loudly, ominously on the tile floor.
