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Jason’s eyebrow rises. “Because I’m not an idiot. What happened?”
My jaw clenches and I don’t answer him immediately, instead pulling out a smoke and lighting it. I close my eyes and wait for the nicotine to hit.
“She wants me to do something I can’t do,” I finally reply, keeping it simple.
“Can’t or won’t?”
I dart a glare at Jason. Jason may be a pain in my ass at times, but it’s because he fucking cares. Considering I don’t have an abundance of people like that in my life, I know I have to tolerate more of his shit than I might, otherwise.
“She told me a bit,” he admits. “Who are these Iron whatever folks? Doesn’t sound like your usual bag.”
Some of the anger I feel at his meddling deflates at the question. I run a hand down my face.
“Not fucking good,” I mutter, and Jay scoffs, taking a seat on the couch.
“Never known you to associate with much good. ‘Cept for her.”
I look up in the direction of her room and then back at Jason.
“That was a mistake,” I tell him, meeting his eyes. “She’s not meant for this world, man. You know that as well as I do. If I help her, it’ll only get her in deeper. Besides, I just fucking can’t. The Iron Elite...” I trail off, considering it for the first time, if only briefly.
There’s no way I could convince Ivor to give me all those girls, and even if he did, they’d just bring in a round of new ones. That isn’t what Kinsey is asking, anyway. Fucking Echo and Killian, getting these psycho schemes in the girl’s head.
I don’t notice that Jason has moved until he places a hand on my shoulder.
“You’re a good man,” he tells me and I raise an eyebrow at that. “Hey, I said good, not great. But you’re right. She’s a great one, a sweet girl. How long until she can go home?”
I shrug, pushing off the sickness that rises in my gut at the thought of her leaving.
“Few weeks, probably. I’ll be starting up at a new place soon, once that’s settled it should be safe for her, but I’ll have to keep an eye on her for a while.”
“Well, you know you’ve got my help with that.” He pauses, looking at me before continuing, “How you gonna let that one go? You really gonna let that girl walk out that door?”
I take a last drag of my smoke before stubbing it out on the overflowing ashtray on my desk without looking at Jason.
“I don’t have a choice.”
It’sabout an hour later when Kinsey emerges from her room. I try not to show surprise at seeing her come out. I feel a strange clench in my chest when I see her face, note her eyes swollen with tears. Despite that, she walks out with her chin up and I know she’s trying not to show it.
“Morning,” she says, walking into the break room and toward the coffee pot.
“Morning,” Jason replies and I give her a short nod.
When her back is toward me, I start to rise, intending to head to my office and get out of her way.
“Is Phil around?” she asks. My brow knits together, but I nod.
“He will be soon, why?”
I see her mouth tighten at my question. She clears her throat.
“He, umm, said he’d get me some clothes and I was thinking maybe I could just go with him.”
My frown deepens. I feel Jason’s eyes on me, assessing, but I ignore him for the moment.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
Her eyes narrow and she puts the coffee down, arms on her hips.
