Ashley POV

I swallowed back the impulse to protest and forced myself to take a deep, stabilizing breath. "Are you staying in here?"

Jared didn't answer verbally, but this time, I caught enough information flashing through his eyes. He wasn't leaving until he hunted down the masterminds behind his former boss's murder.

"I can help you," I blurted out without thinking. "You don't have to face this alone."

"I realize now that I always have to do it alone."

My eyes widened as the chilling weight of his words hit me. Jared looked torn between looking at me or looking away as the elevator finally chimed to a halt. Utilizing...