57. Mandy
MANDY
Hendricks leans back in his chair, arms crossed, jaw set.
I know that look. It's the one that says he's already made his decision and the rest of us are wasting our breath.
Too bad.
"Ashford will know Mandy was inside Turner's operation," Hendricks says, his voice flat and controlled. "He knows she survived it and is hunting his clientele. We have to assume he knows she took the notebook. Regardless, he believes she has something that belongs to him."
Jake nods. "Then she's a liability."
"Yes."
"A big one," Mason adds.
I’m tempted to throw a donut at my almost-brother-in-law’s head.
Hendricks's jaw tightens—just a fraction, but I catch it. I've spent enough time watching him to recognize when he's fighting to stay in control.
I slide my hand onto his thigh under the table.
His muscle goes rigid beneath my palm. The tension radiates through him, the barely restrained violence coiled beneath his skin. He's not thinking tactically right now. He's thinking about what Ashford would do to me if he got the chance.
I understand it. If anyone hurt him, I’d go on a rampage. But we don't have the luxury of letting fear make our decisions. I sit up to say—
"No," Hendricks interrupts.
Five heads turn toward him.
I hold my palms up. "I haven't said anything yet."
"You were about to."
"You don't know that." I totally was.
"You have a face."
I roll my eyes. "Like that’s new."
He narrows his eyes at me. "The one that means you're about to suggest something reckless."
Luke nods, his mouth full of donut. "She does have that face."
Hendricks shoots him a warning look.
"Sorry." Luke winks, not really looking sorry at all.
I turn back to the table, ignoring Hendricks's glare. "Ashford wants me."
"No," Hendricks growls.
I heave a sigh. "Hendricks."
"No," he repeats, softer this time.
Well, shit. The quiet one gets me. I sit back. This isn’t Hendricks being controlling. This is Hendricks scared—for me.
Luke raises his hand.
"What?" Jake asks.
Luke clears his throat. "I'd like the record to reflect that I want to hear the plan."
I point at him. "You get another donut."
"Stop encouraging her," Hendricks says.
"I'm curious,” Luke protests. “And I didn't agree it was a good plan."
I shrug. "You're still on your way to earning another donut."
Turning to face Hendricks, I put my hand on his arm. My pulse is steady. My voice is calm. I've thought this through from every angle, and it's the only move that makes sense. "Ashford thinks you're still working for him.”
"He does," he replies.
I wonder if he knows how stormy his eyes look. I wonder if his eyes have ever been stormy before. "He expects you to complete the commission."
"Yes."
I hold his gaze. "So complete it."
His jaw locks. “No.”
“Think about it, Hendricks. Men like Ashford don’t wander around alone waiting for someone to put a bullet in them. They have security. Cameras. Drivers. People whose entire fucking job is making sure nobody gets close enough to hurt them.”
“I’m aware.”
“Then you’re aware we could spend weeks trying to find a hole in his security and still come up empty.” I tighten my fingers around his arm. “Or we use the hole he already gave us.”
His eyes narrow. “You.”
“Of course, me.” I shrug. “Ashford hired you. He trusts you enough to believe you can get past everyone else and deliver what he wants without making a mess he has to clean up.”
“You’re not what he wants.” The words come out cold enough to frost glass.
“Fine. Who he wants.” I hold his gaze. “Either way, if you tell him you’re ready to deliver, he has to give you somewhere to bring me. A place. A time. Maybe he shows up himself. Maybe he sends someone. But I’m saying we make him move instead of chasing him.”
Mason nods slowly. “Moving creates exposure.”
“Exactly.” I look around the table. “Right now, Ashford has every advantage. We don’t know where he is, if anyone’s protecting him, or how deep this goes.
But he doesn’t know we know about Turner.
He probably doesn’t know what’s exactly on the memory card.
And he sure as hell doesn’t know Hendricks switched sides. ”
I turn back to Hendricks. “That’s our advantage. Why would we throw it away?”
“Because the bait is you.”
“Yeah.” I give him a crooked smile. “Lucky for us, I’m fucking irresistible.”