“What did he want?”
“You heard him. He’ll release Hope if I give him access to the Tremaine system.”
“Do you honestly believe that? He’s lying.”
Ash considered what he knew about Caspar. “He’ll do what he says. Exactly what he says, but he’ll find whatever loopholes he can.”
“And when will this visit take place?” She was pissed. It radiated from every pore, coated every word.
Ash shrugged. “Probably soon. He’ll call when he’s ready to make the exchange.” Caspar would strike while the iron was hot. He wouldn’t want to deal with Hope for longer than he had to. Not in her current state.
Portia stood directly in front of him, arms crossed. “From this moment, you are suspended from your regular shift and will remain under house arrest. If you aren’t working here, under my supervision, you will be in your room.”
Ash stared at her in horror. “He has my sister. She’s in danger.”
“I know. And it’s terrible.”
He interrupted. “What would you do if it was your sister?”
Her lips curled into a snarl. “Mysister?” she asked archly.
Oh right. She’d tried to kill her sister a few weeks ago.Stupid question, Ash.He probably could have chosen a better example.
“Is it because she’s in a coma? Is that why you think I shouldn’t do whatever possible to save her?” Just when he was starting to believe Portia Tremaine wasn’t the monster her father was.
“I didn’t say that.” Something flickered in her gaze, but it was gone before he could identify it.
“You didn’t deny it either.” He was going to be sick.
“I know you want her to wake up, but if it hasn’t happened by now, I really don’t think it’s going to.” Her voice had that tone that was intended to be kind, but in reality said that you were too stupid to understand what was actually going on.
“She still could,” Ash insisted.
Portia’s gaze was filled with pity. “I don’t think so, Ash. I won’t trade her life for the safety of my company. I’m sorry.”
She sounded sincere but Ash was too horrified at the thought of losing Hope to care. “If you care so damn much about your company, maybe you should learn more about it.”
There was a cure for Hope. Or at least the hope of a cure. Ash had read all the clinical notes and the lab trials and it sounded like there was real promise. Or that there would be if it was just funded further.
Of course, Portia would never believe that.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Figure it out.” He was done. He had to get out of here before she sicced the guards on him again.
Chapter40
Taryn was standingbehind the bar when the front door burst open and slammed against the wall with a bang. Conversations stopped and everyone looked toward the entrance. Her bouncers immediately surged forward to block the threat. She really hoped it wasn’t Giselle’s pimp again.
She continued pulling the beer in her hand, but her attention never strayed far from activity at the front of the bar.
“I don’t fucking care. I have to see her. Now.”
Ash.
She caught Dylan’s eye and nodded.
The guard stepped out of the way and Ash raced toward her. Her heart lightened. When he hadn’t come back to the bar when she’d sent the message, she’d been sure that whatever was between them was over.
