Burn (Breathless #3)(48)

And the timing was perfect. Because he hadn’t felt as though he could take this step with Josie until after the situation with Michael had been addressed. Tonight he would be taken care of and then Ash’s focus would be solely on Josie. Michael would no longer be a threat.

The entire week Ash had been adamant that Josie remain in his apartment. He hadn’t wanted her going out, and the one time she had—a trip to the gallery to bring Mr. Downing more artwork and also to pick up her check for the last pieces—he’d sent his driver with her, and his driver had accompanied her inside. Ash hadn’t wanted to take any chances that Michael would by lying in wait for her or that he’d make a public scene, which Ash knew would appall Josie and embarrass her.

He hadn’t explained to Josie why he’d been so forceful in his expectations, or why he’d told her that the next week she would be granted more freedom to do as she liked. He could hardly tell her that he had to first take care of the ass**le who’d put his hands on her. None of what he had planned would touch Josie. He’d make damn sure of that. And neither would Michael ever touch her again.

A sound at the door had him looking up to see Jace coming through. His friend’s expression was grim and worried, but then Ash had already told him why he needed to see him.

“I’ve got everything set for tonight,” Jace said quietly.

“Bethany’s out, right?” Ash asked. He’d been explicit. While Jace would be involved, at least in the capacity of providing an alibi for Ash, he hadn’t wanted Bethany to have any part in lying for him. Just as none of this would ever touch Josie, neither did he want it to touch Bethany. She’d had enough hardship in her life and Ash wasn’t about to pile on more.

Jace nodded. “I told her, just as you’ve told Josie, that we have an important meeting here at the office. I’ve set up the conference call with investors. You’ll be here at the start so they all get a good look at you. You’ll get up a few minutes in and excuse yourself to go to the bathroom. Mute the call for a period. But then it gets a little tricky, because you’ll have to continue to conduct the conference call while you’re on your way. If I angle the monitor just right, I can make me the primary focus and have your guy come in and sit in the background. Your coat, him there, but you on the actual call. Make sure they hear you periodically. I’ve arranged for the building’s security monitors to ‘go down’ right before the time you leave, so no cameras will catch you departing. I have an extra security badge you can use to buzz out, so according to the logs you’ll still be here with me and if necessary I’ll use your badge to leave when I go. I can only make the call go on for so long, so once you go silent to handle your situation, you need to make it quick and then pipe back in so it appears you were there for the entire call. It would be best if you come straight back here so we can both leave together once the cameras all go back online.”

Ash nodded. “Thanks, man. Means a lot. And just so you know, if shit goes down, you’re clean. I won’t let this fall back on you.”

“Just make sure shit doesn’t go down,” Jace said in a dry tone. “I still think you should have someone else handle this. You’re risking a f**k of a lot by doing this yourself.”

Ash’s lips tightened. “I want my point made, and the best way to do that is to deliver the message myself. I want this f**ker scared shitless. I want him to know that I have him by the balls, and after I beat the shit out of him, I want him to know that I can easily ruin him if he ever steps out of line again.”

Jace’s smile was rueful. “Have to admit, you have a point. Also have to admit that if some f**ker messed with Bethany, I’d beat the hell out of him myself and not rely on others to do the dirty work for me.”

“You understand me, then.”

Jace nodded. “Yeah, I get you. Don’t have to like it, but I get you. I’m worried, Ash. Don’t want this shit falling back on you. Not when you’ve found . . .”

He broke off and Ash pinned him with a look. “When I’ve found what?”

Jace’s smile was crooked as he stared back at his friend. “Your kryptonite.”

Ash didn’t flinch. Was that what Josie was? Yeah, he could see it. He’d given Gabe and Jace no end of grief over falling head over ass for a woman and going against their play hard and live free motto. But now that he was in a very similar situation, he didn’t object one bit.

A sense of peace settled over him.

“You’ve been a lot more calm. Settled lately,” Jace said. “I like it on you, man. After Bethany . . .” He broke off again with a sigh, almost as though he hated bringing it up after they’d sworn not to go back there. “After Bethany, I was worried. About you and me. Hated what happened even though I don’t regret it. I hope to f**k that makes sense. I didn’t like what it did to us and I didn’t like how shitty I was to you and Bethany after that night. But I also don’t regret the decision I made not to share her with you.”

“I don’t regret it either,” Ash said with a smile. “I’m good with it, Jace. You need to stop dwelling on it. We’re good. You got over being a dick. Bethany makes you happy. Now I’ve got Josie, and she makes me happy.”

“Glad for you, man.”

“Yeah, I know you are.”