Leaning back in my chair, I avert my eyes and try to focus on the TV rather than attempt to decipher my twisted feelings.
I’m a fucking mess right now.
Bree and I waited up for Ash and Jase to return, not realizing they would be gone for hours. Bree has an update from her contact she wants to share, and apparently it couldn’t wait until tomorrow.
“Got something on your mind?” Jase asks, handing me a fresh beer. He flops down on the couch beside me, bringing his own bottle to his lips.
Ashley giggles, narrowly avoiding falling off the stool she’s sitting on.
“Is she drunk?”
“She’s a little tipsy, but she’s fine.”
I harrumph, switching my gaze back to the TV as I drink from my beer.
“Are you jealous?” I feel Jase’s eyes boring a hole in the side of my skull.
As if I’m answering that. “Don’t try to psychoanalyze me or pretend like you know me.”
“Not sure you got the memo, dude, but we’re on the same side.”
“Not sure what fucking side I’m on anymore,” I blurt.
He sighs heavily. “Yeah. I know. It’s a shitshow.”
“What happened at Chad’s place?” I ask, wondering what his mother had to say.
Jase fills me in. The girls are giggling and drinking in the background.
“How the fuck did you not know his old man was involved in Luminary bullshit?”
“It’s not exactly something that is openly talked about, and he’s not part of our Luminary family. If he was, my father would have told me,” he replies.
I kick my bare feet up on the coffee table. “I’m betting he’s Carter’s.”
“It would make sense.” Jase purses his lips before pulling out his cell. His fingers fly over the keypad. He looks up and answers my unspoken question. “I asked Knight to check it out for me.”
“Is that wise?” Ash asks, tumbling onto Jase’s lap with a giggle.
“I doubt it will raise any red flag or warrant him mentioning it to his father.”
“We need to see what’s on that flash drive,” I say before I get up and stalk to the refrigerator behind the bar, grabbing two bottles of water. I toss one to Bree and hand the second one to Ash. “Drink.” I pin her with a sharp look.
“Aye, aye, Captain.” She smirks as she salutes me, and I flip her the bird. She cracks up laughing, smiling at me like we’re not in the middle of Armageddon and the world hasn’t gone to hell in a handbasket.
Snatching up my beer, I drain it in one go.
Bree lifts her palm. “Hand me the drive, and let’s see what’s on this baby.” Jase gives her the thumb drive Carole handed over to him and Ash. She slots it into the side of her laptop, instantly cursing.
“What?” Ash asks, immediately sobering up.
“It’s password protected.”
“I suspected as much.” Jase runs his hand up and down Ash’s spine.
“Should we ask Carole if she knows the password?” Ash asks before knocking back a mouthful of water.
“She would’ve told us if she had it. Jasper knew whoever ended up with this file would be able to crack the password.”
