"Eyes on me," he said quietly. She didn't move. Her gaze remained locked on the silver-haired man standing beside the SUV. "Sophia." Still, nothing.
Ronan shifted closer to her other side, careful not to touch her—not without permission. "We've got you," Ronan said.
That finally broke the spell. Sophia blinked hard and looked at Jasper. "He—” Her voice trembled. "He isn't supposed to be here."
Jasper nodded. "I know."
"No, you don't." Tears gathered in her eyes. "He never came himself." The words hit Jasper like a punch. "He always sentother people—always." She swallowed hard. "If he's here—” She couldn't finish, but Jasper didn't need her to. He could see from the fear in Sophia’s eyes that this man was trouble and there was no way that he’d let him get anywhere near Sophia.
The silver-haired man smiled politely. He looked more like a university professor than someone connected to Keller's organization, with his perfect posture, tailored charcoal suit, and Italian leather shoes. He had no visible weapon, but men like him rarely carried one because they paid other people to pull triggers.
"My name is Malcolm Ashcroft." His cultured voice echoed through the garage. "I'd appreciate five minutes with Sophia.”
"No," Dante answered instantly.
Ashcroft sighed dramatically. "I wasn't speaking to you."
His eyes settled on Sophia. "I've been looking for you." Sophia took one involuntary step backward. Jasper noticed, and he also noticed something else—she didn't hide behind Dante. She didn't hide behind any of them. She simply moved toward the people she trusted.
"You know him?" Jasper asked without taking his eyes off Ashcroft.
Sophia nodded once. "He used to bring books to the compound.” She wrapped both arms around herself.
Ronan frowned. "Books?"
Sophia laughed bitterly. "He wanted us to be educated."
Ashcroft looked almost offended. "An ignorant commodity is a poor investment." Every muscle in Jasper's body tightened when the guy called Sophia a commodity. The bastard had just referred to human beings as inventory.
Jasper had heard enough. He stepped forward. "If you take one more step?—"
Ashcroft smiled. "You'll shoot me?"
"I will,” Jasper promised.
"No." Ashcroft's smile widened. "You won't."
"You arrogant ass,” Ronan growled.
"No, I’m just a practical man.” He adjusted the cuff of his jacket. "You need me alive."
Jasper's finger rested against the trigger. "I really don't."
Ashcroft chuckled. "But Sophia does." That seemed to get everyone's attention. "You've been recovering memories." Ashcroft looked directly at Sophia. "Slowly." She stared back in silence, not answering him. "You've remembered Keller, and a few names. You remembered your time at the church.
She still didn’t answer him, but he smiled and nodded approvingly. "Excellent." Sophia looked physically sick.
"What do you want?" Dante shouted.
"The same thing everyone wants,” Ashcroft said.
"And what's that?" Dante asked.
"The truth,” Ashcroft said.
Ronan laughed. "Pretty sure that's the last thing you want."
Ashcroft ignored him. "Sophia." His voice softened. "You've forgotten something."
