Lying to Jason didn’t sit well, though. He finally trusted Emma the way she’d always wanted, and he was going to take it personally when he realized her duplicity. No matter how just her cause, or her reasons for keeping him in the dark, after tonight, Jason might never believe in her again.
Ignoring the growing hole in her chest, she turned as if planning to follow.
“Ten million!”
Who was giving off prey vibes now?
She faced Renfro, wearing her best poker face. “Okay. Ten million,” she said. “But only if you transfer it immediately.”
Renfro smirked as if he’d known all along that they’d cave. “I have the NDAs right here.” He slid a folder across the wide desk.
“What are you doing?” Jason asked, the shock in his voice so real it hurt. They hadn’t scripted any of this, wanting their reactions to be as genuine as possible.
Emma sighed. “I’m being realistic. This is the only way everyone survives.”
“I’m not signing anything,” he gestured toward Renfro, “and I’m sure as hell not takinghismoney.”
“Not even to protect Byron?” Emma asked. “What about Ava?”
Jason swore and looked out the window, a deep scowl on his handsome face. She knew he didn’t have to dig deep to find his objections. It was giving in that was going to be the real acting job.
Watching them from his side of the desk, Renfro wore a smug look that made her stomach curdle.
“Jason.” She caught his gaze and held it, as if pleading with him to give in. She didn’t have to pretend. Part of her still wasn’t one-hundred percent sure he’d go along with the plan. “You can do whatever you want with the money. Make it do some good.”
His hands fisted at his sides and he made a pained noise deep in his throat. Turning his attention to Renfro, he said, “If we take this deal, you leave us, and everyone in our families, alone.”
“Done.” The weasel failed to hold back a smirk. “As long as you hold up your end of the bargain, you have my word.”
Jason snorted. “Why should I trust that?”
The older man’s smile faded. “Yousupposedlyhave enough evidence to make my life difficult. That’s your insurance.”
“If something happens to either of us, there are contingencies,” Jason said.
“I’d expect nothing less.”
The two men stared each other down for a full minute before Jason stepped back and broke eye contact. “Fine,” he said, looking like he’d just tasted something sour. “Let’s get this over with.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, Emma withdrew a small piece of paper from her bra and placed it on the desk. “Wire the money here. Once we see the confirmation, we’ll sign.”
Renfro eyed her a warily. As he should. The receiving account was owned by one of the shell corporations Nolan had created. As soon as the money hit, he and Dallas would be able to trace it to its originating account and start siphoning.
Emma pointed to the guard near the door. “It’s not like we’re going anywhere without your permission.”
Nodding, he slid into his desk chair and brought his computer to life. Hopefully working on the wire transfer would be enough of a distraction that he wouldn’t think anything of Jason sticking his hands into his pockets.
They’d loosely attached a listening device to the underside of his left pocket, which he could work free. Once it dropped to the rug, he’d nudge it gently under the desk and then activate it later, in case the guards swept the office for bugs immediately after she and Jason left.
Within minutes, the transfer was complete and the documents were signed.
“I told you everyone has their price,” Renfro said. “I’m glad we found yours.”
“Go to hell,” Jason said, turning on his heel and striding to the door.
This time, Emma followed.
Jason gripped Emma’s hand tightly and practically dragged her out of Stolz, his threat radar pinging madly, even though several of his teammates were stationed around the building. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
