Ares trampled down the instant irritation he felt, but when he glanced up from his screen, he realized that his trusted lawyer was trying to get his attention back to her.They were in the private room upstairs at a bar Alicia suggested.It wasn’t private enough.The noise and music from a bustling crowd floated upstairs.
He wasn’t in a joking mood.“Dax’s team aren’t mercenaries.”Those guys rescued people, sometimes objects, but so far, they hadn’t had to employ his sweepers to clean up their messes.
Ares’s secret, off the books team, did whatever it took to protect the people who worked for them.
Like the time his team came in to save Logan by staging a heart attack.The countless times his team had cleaned up after Quinn and Erik.
“Sorry, I’m distracted.”
“I noticed.”Alica stood, sweeping the files into her briefcase.
Ares swallowed, thinking of how close Quinn’s little sister had come to not getting out of that club.If it wasn’t for Erik Knight, she could have been hurt.
“But before we move on, you know the consequences if the asset does not decide how we want her to.”
“I know.”
“There has been no press about the asset, so if they had family, they don’t care or gave up.”
Ares frowned.He recalled that Quinn’s ex had a family, a sister.
“There’s a sister.”
“You know it’s easier when there is nobody who will go to the press.”
“Nothing that’s happened before.”
He strolled over to the railing, turning so he had his back to the noise downstairs and faced Alica.
“You know the authorities’ position on this.If you had over the asset or anti-asset technically, they’ll be happy to claim it but there’s a strong possibility that the incident at the nightclub will resurface and that will make them look bad because we were successful when we buried the story.”
“All I can do is keep telling my team to apply pressure and take the deal.”Ares bit the inside of his cheek.Who wouldn’t take a bank account full of cash, a new identity, and a tropical climate over prison?
“Next issue.I heard a rumour that Ryder Klassen is being recruited.”
Ares turned to survey the crowd below him.The restaurant was decorated with black Christmas trees on every table and blue lighting.It was gloomy and he wanted to be somewhere else, anywhere else.He caught sight of a table near the bar and his heart gave a leap.
Josie.
His blood roared through his veins.It had been an entire week since he’d had any contact with her.He wanted to jump the railing and roar.
“Not surprising.”Their technology was part of the public facing side of the business and they hired the best.All he could do was hope that Ryder came to them and they could up the offer he received.
“The visa is in order for Ida.”
His heart jumped in his chest as the dark head of curls turned.It was hard to see her face from where he stood, but with her arms crossed over her chest, she didn’t seem happy.
All week he had longed to hear her voice.But she hadn’t texted him once.
The man across from Josie placed his hand on her shoulder.
Fury spiked his blood.He wanted to rip that hand off and carry her over his shoulder caveman style out of this place.
“Did you hear anything I said?”Alicia stood next to him, following his gaze.“Ahh.”
“I got distracted.”
“You deserve a distraction, Ares.”
