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Page 20 of Midnight’s Captive (Stroke of Midnight #2)

Ash stared at the Jack, processing everything she’d said. He was afraid to get his hopes up, but it sounded like she might be willing to take on Hope’s case.

“Anything you want,” he blurted. “I’ll give you anything you want if you help me free Hope.”

Fuck! What was he thinking?

Offering carte blanche to the Jack...

The old Jack had been formidable due to his willingness to do whatever it took to fulfill a request, whether it was a girl for the evening, a contract hit on a rival, or the latest drugs to hit the streets. He would have latched onto Ash’s mistake and taken advantage.

Was that what she would do with the ridiculous offer he’d just made? And did he want to take it back?

He watched the wheels turn in the new Jack’s head. Taryn was a thinker and that made her even more dangerous. She was also one of the most intriguing women he’d ever met.

“I want your skills.”

“What skills?” he asked, dumbfounded by the request. She couldn’t mean his hacking skills, could she? But what other skills did he have?

She sighed. “Computer skills, Ash.”

“You need something hacked?” He practically salivated at the thought of getting into the Jack’s computer system.

Taryn swiveled side to side in her seat, then stopped. It was the first sign of uncertainty that he’d seen from her. “Maybe.”

She looked like she was contemplating her words, so he didn’t say anything, just waited.

“Someone came into the bar, shortly after I made an... acquisition. Someone who shouldn’t have had a reason to visit Razor Jack’s.”

Ash stared at her. “Okay?”

“I want to know why he showed up here.” Her lips were pressed into a thin line and her body radiated tension.

This was obviously important to her. More important than he probably understood at the moment if she was willing to trade rescuing Hope for something that sounded like an easy project. “So am I locating this person or am I hacking their system?”

“Yes.”

Ash rubbed his brow with his thumb and middle finger. That wasn’t really helpful.

“I know his territory,” Taryn said, “but I need you to locate him electronically. Then I need to know why he showed up here. Has he been here before? Was he tipped off? Is there an electronic footprint we can trace somehow?”

As the scope of the “easy project” got more complicated, Ash understood why she was willing to make the trade. Except... “I can’t do this at Tremaine headquarters. And I assume you wouldn’t want me to, anyway.”

“No, definitely not,” she said, shaking her head vigorously. The sleek waterfall of her dark hair shimmered behind her.

“What about your computer?”

Another vehement no .

Shit . “I know I said I’d do anything, but...” He paused, searching for the right words. For an option that wouldn’t nuke his chance of freeing Hope. “I don’t have any equipment.” He didn’t tell her that he wasn’t allowed to have any personal equipment. Allowed , like he was a child.

Sure, there was the warehouse he’d sent Dizzie to when she was on the run, but it was on the edge of town. Getting there, hacking, and getting back to Tremaine headquarters? The more time he spent there, the more chances someone would notice his absences.

“I’m sorry. I can’t do it,” he said. “Please. Is there something else I can do?”

Taryn pushed away from her desk and stood.

Ash tensed. Was she going to kick him out? Should he plead his case one more time? “Please, I’ll do anything. I just... I can’t do that. I don’t have the equipment.”

“Walk with me,” she said.