“Brie’s tied up,” he said, leaning back against the wall like he owned the place. “You’re stuck with me.”
I glanced at him. “Lucky me.”
His mouth twitched, a hint of a smile or a scowl. I wasn’t sure what it might have been, but whatever was, it had gone already.
“You already know you’ve got a leak,” he said. No build up. Straight in. “So, let’s not pretend this is news.”
Now I stilled.
“Then why the fuck am I here at four-thirty in the morning?”
Ash pushed off the wall, stepping closer, energy coiled tight under his skin.
“Because you’re not doing anything about it.”
That landed harder than it should have.
“We are,” I shot back.
“Are you?” he came straight back, no hesitation. “From where I’m standing, you’ve been a bit… distracted.”
His gaze held mine, pointed. Knowing. He didn’t say it. Didn’t need to. I already knew what he saw. What they saw. Women. Club drama. Shit that pulled our focus when it shouldn’t have. My jaw tightened.
“Careful, lad.”
“Or what?” He shrugged. “You’ll prove me right?”
Silence snapped tight between us. Then I stepped closer, closing the space until we were near enough level.
“Say what you’ve got to say,” I said low. “Or I’m walking.”
Ash held my gaze a second longer, something like approval flickering there before he turned and braced his hands on the table.
“We’ve had eyes on the Notorious,” he said. “Quiet. Long before your lot clocked them moving.”
I didn’t rise to that.
“Go on.”
“They’re not just getting scraps,” he continued. “They’re getting ahead of things. Not reacting. They’re moving first.” He took a breath. Intentional. Letting his words sink in. “You knew there was a leak,” he said, glancing back at me. “You didn’t know it was this bad.”
I didn’t answer. Didn’t need to. Ash straightened, stepping back from the table.
“They know timings. Routes. Names. Before they should. Before anything’s even in motion.”
That tightened something low in my chest.
“That’s not someone talking after the fact,” I said.
“Aye.” Ash nodded once. “That’s someone sitting close enough to hear it before it happens. That’s not a prospect. Or an Ol’ Lady.”
Silence stretched.
“Police?” I said finally.
Ash let out a short breath.
“Where else?”
