Page 59 of Midnight’s Captive (Stroke of Midnight #2)

“He did what?” Taryn stared at the woman standing next to the bar. The Tremaine employee was the same woman who’d delivered Taryn’s message to Ash. Now here she was in Razor Jack’s bringing Taryn the worst news of her life.

“He returned to Tremaine headquarters and Portia Tremaine had him taken to the detention cells.”

The brunette was obviously nervous, but Taryn appreciated her initiative. While she’d been in her office trying to decide what to do with Rhonda, Ash had decided to go see Portia Tremaine.

The idiot.

While she respected his desire to confess his role in the events leading up to the bombing, he was insane to go alone. If he’d shared his plans with her, she’d have insisted on accompanying him. Or made him take Daryl or one of the other bouncers with him.

“I don’t suppose it’s an easy place to stage a jail break?” she joked.

“Um, not really,” the other woman said. “Dizzie got out, but she had help.”

Taryn bit back a laugh. That was one way to describe Killian St. John’s rescue of Dizzie.

“Thank you for bringing me this news.” Not long after the bombing, the woman had come into the bar and offered her services. Taryn generally didn’t trust corporate employees, but so far, her information—and her help—had been useful.

“You’re welcome. I don’t know if I can get a message to him again, but I can try.”

Taryn was already shaking her head. “No, I don’t want you to get in trouble. I’ll take care of it.” How? She had no clue.

She paid the woman for her information and then watched her leave. “I’m going to kill him,” she told Dani.

“Why would he go back?” Dani asked while she poured a drink.

“Trying to do the right thing.” She sighed. She’d fallen in love with all of Ash—even this stupid, noble streak he’d decided to show—but couldn’t she have a few peaceful nights with him?

“How are you going to get him back?”

“I’ve got an idea,” Taryn said, “but I’m going to have to call in a favor.”

Dani wrinkled her brow. “Who?”

“The big favor.”

“Oh!” Dani’s eyes widened. “You must really like Ash.”

That startled a laugh out of Taryn. “Yeah, you could say that. You good here or do you need me to stay and help?” It was after ten and the bar was in full swing. Business had been especially good since the fight with Giselle’s pimp. Jed had been right—lookie-loo money was just as good as anyone else’s.

“We’ve got this,” Dani said. “Go call in your favor.”

“Thank you.”

“Wait.” Taryn reached out and touched her best friend’s wrist. “Are you okay with this?”

Dani quickly poured the drink she was making, then gave Taryn a funny look. “Okay working in the bar, yes.”

“Okay with Ash and Hope maybe becoming permanent additions to our family?”

Dani gave her an incredulous look. “Am I okay with you moving the man you love into your home? Of course.” She twisted her hand beneath Taryn’s so she could lace their fingers together.

“It’s a lot of change,” Taryn blurted. Oh god, she was sharing her insecurities again. “For all of us.”

“I love you,” Dani said.

Taryn didn’t know what to say. Her face must have revealed her stupefaction because Dani continued. “You’re the sister I always wanted. All I’ve ever wanted was for you to be happy. And now you are. So yes, I’m completely okay with this.”

Her heart lighter, Taryn made her way to her office. The basics of a plan were starting to come together in her mind. She had all the pieces except the first one: getting in to see Portia Tremaine.

As far as Taryn knew, the average person couldn’t just make an appointment to see the head of a multinational corporation. And even though the Jack was far from average, she didn’t think she could either.

Unless... you knew someone. Someone who could get you access.

“Dammit, Ash. This would be a lot easier if you were here to hack into Portia’s calendar.”

Taryn picked up her phone and punched in a number she hadn’t expected to use so soon.

“Killian, it’s the Jack. I’m calling in that favor.”