Right now, my concern is getting Slone safe.

I stopped mid-stride and stared at the back of Asher’s head.

He wanted me safe.

If I hadn’t given my heart to Asher sometime in the last twenty-four hours, I was sure it would’ve been beating out of my chest. But all the shriveled-up organ was doing was dying more.

“What if I just hid here?” I suggested. “Then you wouldn’t have to wait.”

“No.” Asher turned in the chair and any further protests died in my dry throat. “Lorenzo knows I’m into you. He made a point of mentioning it. Not that he came straight out and said it, but he knew I was looking for you and lied to me. He told me you weren’t there—he did that to get a reaction. When we were done with our conversation, he told me you were downstairs, again to see how I’d react. But even if he hadn’t caught on to me watching you at the club, he has cameras, which means after tonight he knows unequivocally that I’m into you after months of me being there and turning down every woman who’s propositioned me.”

Jealousy prickled as it pierced my skin.

Before I could comment he continued, “Then there’s Will Evans and his sidekick, who spent the ten minutes I was in Lorenzo’s office arguing with the two dirtbags about arranging the purchase of a human, completely mute. I don’t like silence. I get the feeling Will’s the man in charge, or he works for him and Lorenzo’s the broker. What that means is Will’s smart and it’s only a matter of time before he digs into you and finds your connection with Elise. Before that happens, I want you up in Idaho where I can protect you. If the deal goes south, then we find another way to take them down. We know enough now, we don’t need the sale to go through. It’d be faster, but we don’t need it.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?” Asher repeated.

“Yes, I’m not going to argue about this.” I sucked in a breath in preparation to eat crow. “You were right, I should’ve quit this afternoon on the phone. Though, a tiny part of me is happy I didn’t because I heard Will and I know he took Elise. And while we’re on the topic of overhearing conversations, what about Sammy? Will said he didn’t want her but what if they get impatient and change their minds?”

Wilson was quick to field my question. “I already called my contact at the Marshals, they’re contacting local authorities and she’ll be under constant surveillance. If they make a move on her, they’ll be taken in.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“No need to thank me, Sloane. This is what we do.”

I guessed it was, but I was still relieved someone would be watching out for Sammy.

My attention went back to Asher and, serious as shit, my breath caught in my throat. I glanced back at Wilson, then to Cole, before going back to Asher. I’d prepared myself for the possible looks the other men would give me, the reprimand or disapproval but I hadn’t been prepared for Asher.