Page 80 of Untamed Sinner

"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.”