Page 160 of The Sinner's Bargain

He exhaled loudly, seemingly accepting his fate. “I don’t trust her, Thoran. I don’t trust people I can’t look into. That’s mine and Cyrus’s job. We can’t protect you if we can’t do our jobs.”

“There is nothing to dig. I already know everything I need to know—”

“What she’s told you,” he shot back, struggling to keep his voice down. “If there is nothing and she’s really just running from some dirt bag husband, I will let it go, but I’m telling you, Thoran. My gut is telling me it’s not that simple.”

I would have been lying if I said I wasn’t curious. I trusted Naya, but I didn’t like not knowing what I was up against. I didn’t like surprises. If she was in danger, it would find her, and I needed to know what — or who — I was protecting her from.

“Discreetly,” I bit out. “Tell no one else.”

I could have declared Christmas had come early for the way Vance shot to his feet, hands digging into his pockets for his phone. He was dialing even as he bolted from the bookstore.

CHAPTER FORTY

JEANNETTE

They were all against her.

Jeannette Roberts could feel their eyes watching her leave the market with the items for supper tucked into a reusable bag slung over her elbow. She could hear their whispers talking behind her back.

They were laughing.

Mocking her.

Years of being a pillar of society, a model of strength and tradition, tarnished by that little slut. That whore.

Her fingers tightened in the strap of her purse, folding the expensive leather.

The Lacroix tramp who humiliated her and then sent her demon lover to threaten Jeannette’s family. Of course Lacroix himself would never get his hands dirty by doing the work himself. He was the devil who sent his minions to attack the God-fearing members of society of which Jeannette was.

She loved God.

She went to church every Sunday and gave generously to the collection basket. She helped her community members and gave to the needy.

She was a good person.

She didn’t deserve to have her neck slashed by that whore. She didn’t deserve to get humiliated by that insufferable twit Ivelle and banned from that pathetic establishment in front of a crowd of onlookers. She didn’t deserve her husband’s ire when Lacroix’s lapdog showed up at their house in the dead of night to demote Tom from his prominent position on the council. She had done nothing wrong.

So, she said a few things about that monster who brutally murdered multiple women. In regular society, she would have been hailed a hero. She had told the truth. Sending Handley to serve justice was her right. If anything, she was the victim who stood up against a beast and had everyone she knew turn against her. That was what good, honest people like her had to endure.

Insides writhing with a pit of snakes, Jeannette lifted her chin and started across the cobblestone to Diane’s vintage boutique. A little shopping would help calm her nerves. Maybe she’d find something cute for the baby that useless ninny Charlotte was lucky to be blessed with. TJ should have kept looking. Charlotte wasn’t good enough for Jeannette’s only son.

Her pride and joy.

Her sweet baby.

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