Bash ignored Tom Harris’s snicker. “They thinkyoucan get her back?”
“Ryan and Rory recognized me,” he admitted for the first time, though that event had occurred in Johnnie’s office weeks ago.
Bash roared with laughter. “Those two young pups recognized you, but Johnnie didn’t?”
“I talked to Ryan frequently when he visited,” Easton reminded him, shifting his weight. So far, Bash hadn’t gotten agitated, which he counted as a good sign. Hopefully, he continued choosing his words carefully. Aunt Celia wasn’t around to run interference. “It makes sense that Ryan knew me.”
“So Ryan asked you to get Molly back?”
He’d already decided honesty—as much as possible—worked best. Fewer complications later. “It was Rory.” Going into all the details of that meeting wouldn’t serve any purpose but to piss Bash off. Just as he had to take care with what he said, Easton had to pick his battles. Molly lived day-to-day by Bash’s stability. Not a good place to be.
He spared a glance at Tom Harris. “Rory wants me to negotiate her release.”
“How’d you earn your colors?”
Easton lifted his brows at Bash’s unexpected question. “Excuse me?”
“You forced your cock in a bitch, slit her throat, or killed a motherfucker?”
“I killed someone.”
Bash grunted, picked up a piece of paper and read it. “Got an interesting invitation today.”
“That so?” He didn’t know who’d willingly invite Bash anywhere.
“From Kendall Donovan.”
Thatshocked the fuck out of Easton, and he sputtered. “Johnnie’s wife?”
“The same. She wants to meet with me at her office in Hortensia as soon as I can get there. Know anything about that?”
He sure the fuck didn’t. Rory must not have known either. No way would that kid not find a way to protect her.
“They don’t let me in on that type of shit,” he reminded Bash, which was the truth. “Outlaw doesn’t trust me.”
“Because of Meggie,” Bash said flatly. “That little slut has him twisted around her fucking finger.”
“I say you chop them off,” Tom said with glee.
Easton clamped his mouth shut.
“You were supposed to be getting close to her.” Bash roared to his feet and yanked open a drawer. “Instead, you’re some bitch boy for one of their cumsquirts?”
“Bash—”
He grabbed something from the desk drawer and stalked to Easton, then lifted an 8x10 of Meggie naked in her spa bath.
“I want her, Easton.Her.You can’t bring that cunt to me, don’t—”
“They need some way to trust me,” Easton interjected.
Bash shoved the photo against Easton’s face and twisted it, before pulling it away and allowing it to fall to the ground.
Tom Harris’s snicker added to Easton’s humiliation but he forged on.
“Meggie’s innocent,” he argued. “She knows nothing about any of this. Tabitha hates her, but even she concedes Meggie’s clueless.”
“She won’t be for long!” Bash’s unfriendly reply earned more laughter from that flunky.
