Page 33 of Dash

“I haven’t been back in… years.” Since Nix died and I broke up with Dash. I hadn’t been able to return to the place where we all began. The mere thought of it had been too painful.

“Astor House makes sense,” Dash said. “Strategically, it’s a good move. Tactically, it’s a solid, defensible position. Astor House is your family home. Nobody will question you going there to mourn your loss and heal.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll come with you. It’s the only way I can make sure you’re safe. I’ll make it public knowledge that we’re working on the company’s transition together. This should reassure youremployees, investors, and partners. The company will remain stable, and we’ll have one less problem to worry about.”

Dash and I at Astor House. Together. Like in the old days. I’d dreamed of this every night since he left and yet it was also frightening. I couldn’t afford to give in to my want for Dash. He’d lied to me before. I could not put myself through that kind of pain again.

Dash must have sensed my reluctance. “The house is also a good place for you to get some rest as the doctor prescribed.”

“The doctor is not responsible for the Astor Group,” I countered. “Or for finding my sisters.”

“One thing does not belie the other. You can rest, recover, and get a lot done from there,” he said, as if I needed to be enticed when I was fighting not to feel enticed at all. “Do I have your approval to send in an advance crew to secure the place?”

“You do.”

“Excellent.” He slid out his cell and typed a text. “We can leave today.”

I hesitated, then spoke up. “I can’t leave the city until after tomorrow night.”

His head snapped up. “Why not?”

“The Phoenix Foundation benefit is tomorrow night. The ball is the foundation’s main fundraiser of the year, and we need the funding. I can’t let the kids down. I won’t.”

“Negative.” He shook his head. “You can’t attend a benefit tomorrow. It’s too soon for you to be out and about. I can’t have you in a public setting when we’ve got a murderer on the loose.”

“The benefit provides the bulk of the funding for the program,” I insisted. “It’s also my way to honor my brother. No ball, no funding for thousands of sick kids who need medical care. I can’t disappoint them, and as I told you before, I’m not running scared. I’m not giving that SOB the pleasure of witnessing me dropping everything that’s important to mebecause he wants to terrorize me.”

“Thena, please—”

“No, Dash, no.” I fisted my hands on my lap. “I’m not going to allow anyone to prevent me from doing my duty. Plus, we can kill two birds with one stone. We can use it to reassure the public and our investors about the stability of the Astor Group. If they see us together, getting along, people will know that I’ve accepted my father’s wishes, that I won’t contest the will and there are no legal battles forthcoming. We need a show of unity.” I paused for a moment to let my point sink in, before I continued. “Most importantly, we can use the benefit as part of our strategy to flush out whoever is hunting me. We could set up a trap. What if we use the ball to draw the killer out of the shadows? If he took the bait, we could end this and prevent him from going after my sisters.”

“I’m not using you for bait,” he grumbled. “It’s too dangerous and there are too many variables outside of my control. Besides, you don’t need to take on the risk anymore. From now on, that’s my job.”

“I disagree.” I rose to my feet and began to pace the room. “Think about it. This event can be the solution to our problems. I’m compromising here, agreeing to leave the city and go to the house. You need to bend some, too. One more day. That’s all I’m asking for. I’m not unreasonable, or eager to die, but I am willing to take on a little extra risk if it means we have a chance to keep my sisters safe.”

“This is exactly why your father didn’t want you to know about the threat,” he snapped, unable to suppress the irritation in his voice. “He knew you’d have no problem risking your life if you thought it would be helpful to catch his murderer.”

“But you’re not my father and we’re working together.” I stopped by the window and softened my voice. “It’s a good plan, Dash. Admit it.”

“It’s a plan,” he conceded, pushing up from his chair, and leaning on his cane as he ambled to the fireplace. “A dangerous one. It could work. Or not. It’s not worth the risk, though.”

“It’s the one way I can help my sisters right now.” Tears swelled in my eyes, and I pressed my hands together as if in prayer. “Please, Dash, I’ll be careful. If it doesn’t work, we’ll do it your way. I’ll go to Astor House. I’ll go to the North Pole if you want, but please, let me do this one thing that helps so many kids, honors Nix, and could save my sisters’ lives.”

“Fuck.” He scrubbed his face. “When you put it like that…”

I held my breath.

“Fine,” he finally said. “We’ll try it, but you’ll follow my instructions to the letter.”

“To the letter.” Relief coursed through me and hope, too, that my sisters could survive this debacle, wherever they might be.

“You do realize that there’s a high probability that our enemy will be a no-show, don’t you?” Dash arched his eyebrows at me.

“I understand.”

“I don’t want you to be disappointed,” he warned. “I’ll have to call for reinforcements, take extra precautions, organize an effective defense.” He pinned me with his gaze and lifted a straight finger in the air. “One more day in New York.One. Then we’re out of here. Agreed?”

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