“Well, shit.” Apparently neither of them had upheld their side of the bargain and here they were. “What does Caspar want in exchange for Hope?”
“Access to the Tremaine system.”
Taryn whistled. That was a hefty price. “Does Portia know?”
Ash shoved his hands into his hair but didn’t stop pacing. “Yeah, I was in her office when he called.”
This situation just got worse and worse. She sagged back into her chair. “So, you have Caspar coming for you on one side and I’m assuming Tremaine Security on the other?”
He nodded.
“Anything else I should know about?”
“You’re awfully fucking calm for someone who has a mole.”
Ha! If only he knew. She may have looked calm on the outside, but on the inside, she alternated between wanting to punch something and wanting to puke. How had it come to this? And how could she get out of it?
“One of us needs a cool head.” What a joke. “Sit down.”
He growled and paced again.
“Sit. Down. We need a plan and I can’t think with you pacing like that.”
“Your last plan didn’t work out so well, did it?” he snapped but dropped back into the chair.
The air between them pulsed with dark emotions that threatened to cloud her thinking. And she needed a clear head if she was going to get them out of this. The stakes hadn’t been so high since she’d found the last Jack on the floor after a massive heart attack. The decision she’d made then had gotten her the bar. The decision she made now would help her keep it.
“When is Caspar supposed to contact you again?”
Ash sighed. “All he told me was soon.”
“Fuck.” She was quiet a moment, her mind churning. “You think he’ll call?”
Ash shrugged. His shoulders were so tense they barely moved. The urge to comfort him was strong, though he’d probably shrug her off. She shoved the discomfort and doubt away, compartmentalizing them for now. There’d be time to lick her wounds later. Right now, Hope—and Ash—needed her clearheaded.
“I have a plan,” Taryn said. “But you need to be all in.”
He stared at her, his expression closed. “Depends on the plan.”
She shook her head. “In or out? Do you still trust me?” Her breath caught and held while she waited for his answer.
Finally, a stiff nod.
“Out loud.” She wanted no misunderstanding later.
His lips pinched, but he agreed. “Yes, I’m in. As long as it doesn’t put Hope in more danger.”
Taryn didn’t think that was possible but wasn’t going to poke the angry big brother. “It won’t.”
She took a deep breath, well aware she was about to commit to the craziest plan she’d ever conceived. “Can you scramble your phone so Caspar can’t trace you?”
Ash stared at her. “What the hell are you thinking?”
He’d find out soon enough. “Can you?”
A sharp nod.
“Right now?”
