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Omar’s eyes zoomed back to Ash’s. “What kind of deal are we talking about?”
* * *
Though anger continued to pound through Ash, just seeing Jules and knowing she was okay had gone a long way in cooling his fury. The offer he was about to make to Schrader was given to only a select few. He had come here ready to take the bastard and his men down. The minute the helicopter had touched down, Ash had begun to think of a new plan.
Omar had no idea what he had stepped into. Two men had been in front of the house, smoking. When they’d spotted the helicopter, they’d stared for a full minute before they’d pulled their weapons. Xavier had been the first out of the chopper. He’d fired one shot into the air, and both men had dropped their guns and held up their hands. No one else had even approached t
hem.
“You will not go to prison…you won’t even be arrested. What you will do is retire.”
“What? Why would I—”
“Stay quiet till I finish. You have contacts inside the illegal-weapons world. You hear things. When you do, you will call me.”
“What kinds of things?”
“That’s a stupid question, and I’m about at the end of my very limited patience with you, Omar.”
“But I—”
Ash held up his hand. “I’m going to leave a couple of people here with you. They’ll help you understand what is expected of you. If you at any time divulge Humphrey’s or Elsa’s identity or try to make a profit from any illegal deals, you will be arrested, and you will never see freedom again.”
“Who are you, Drake?”
“I’m a man who can make your life miserable. Remember that.”
Turning away, he held out his hand to Jules, who ran into his arms. Holding her close, he whispered, “You gave me a scare.”
“That makes two of us.”
“You’re really okay? You weren’t hurt?”
“I’m really okay.”
Lifting her chin, he growled, “You have a bruise on your cheek.”
“It’ll heal.”
Still holding her, he turned to Omar. “You ever hurt anyone I care about again, prison will be the least of your concerns. Understand?”
“I didn’t intend for anyone to get hurt.”
Jules had said that Omar had a deep need to impress Humphrey. Learning that he had been hoodwinked had apparently scrambled the man’s brain.
Ash looked down at Jules. “Ready to get out of here?”
“Yes.”
Not bothering to speak to Schrader again, he ushered Jules out the door. On the way, he gave Gideon and Eve a look. They would stay behind, explain Schrader’s new responsibilities, and describe in vivid detail what would happen to him if he did not follow the rules.
Stopping in the foyer, Ash asked again, “You’re sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. Really.”
“No bad moments?”
He knew she’d been tied up, possibly drugged. Not only that, she had been returned to the place where she’d killed someone. If those things hadn’t triggered a panic attack, how had she prevented one?