Page 4 of House of Soot

“Really? After she handed him the keys to our kingdom?” Ash’s eyes flash with heat, the same anger I feel.

“Yep. I have to admit, she’s not what I expected. She comes off as shy, innocent. She blushed a lot.”

"Don't." Flint's voice carries a warning. "Don't start humanizing her. She's one of the reasons our parents are dead."

"Trust me, I know. I intend to make her pay as well. I don’t think it would take much to woo her away from Ronan.” I’m sure I saw interest or at least intrigue in her pretty green eyes as I flirted.

Flint’s eyes narrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

"Just stick to the plan," Phoenix says. "Get close to Kean’s people and find out everything you can about the operation.”

“Oh, I’ll get close.”

“Jesus, you’re not into her, are you?” Ash glares at me.

“What? No,” I say, perhaps a little too forcefully. I mean, I’m not into her like Flint is into his wife, Lucy. Is there an attraction? Sure. Jenna is pretty. She’s got a hot little body. I’m a man, after all.

“The last thing we need is you falling for the woman who helped the Keans take everything from us,” Ash warns.

The reminder stings, but he's right. I can't let myself forget why I'm doing this. Jenna Hart might look sweet and innocent, but appearances can be deceiving. I should know. I'm counting on that very fact.

“Fuck that,” I say. “I haven’t forgotten that she handed Ronan exactly what he needed, wrapped up in a pretty bow. It’s hard to look at her and not want to—” I don’t finish the sentence.

Phoenix arches a brow. “You need to dial it back or she'll sense something's wrong."

Flint nods. "He's right. One slip and our whole plan falls apart. We can't afford mistakes."

"I know what I'm doing. Trust me, she won't see anything but what I want her to see."

"Really?" Ash narrows his eyes at me like he doesn’t believe me.

“Yes, really.” I glare at him. “I’m going to kill her with kindness. I’m going to make her fall for me. Hard. Show her everything she thinks she wants in Ronan Kean. Then when she's completely invested, I'll let her discover exactly who I am and watch her whole world crumble when she realizes what she did to us."

"Jesus." Flint shakes his head. "That's cold, even for you."

"It's what she deserves.”

"And you're sure you can keep your cool long enough to pull this off?"

I meet Ash's skeptical gaze. "I've waited ten years for this. I can wait a little longer."

But Ash just shakes his head, unconvinced. "Just remember, we need information more than we need revenge at this point. Don't let your personal vendetta compromise that."

I roll my eyes. “This entire mission of ours is a vendetta. I know what I’m doing. Besides, it will be easy. All I have to do is give her a little attention.”

"And you think that'll work?" Flint crosses his arms.

"You didn't see her face when I flirted. One smile, and she lit up like a Christmas tree." I can't help the cruel twist of satisfaction in my gut. "She's starved for attention. Ronan's spent years ignoring her, treating her like she's invisible. I'll be everything he's not, attentive, caring, interested in her precious flowers."

Ash’s expression darkens. "You're playing with fire."

"No I’m not. Besides, what better way to hurt the Keans than to turn their most loyal servant against them? When she falls for me, she'll spill every secret she knows."

"This kind of manipulation…" Ash shakes his head. "It's risky. Personal. You could lose objectivity."

"I won't." My voice hardens, wondering why Ash is being such an ass about this. "Every time I look at her, all I see is our parents' blood on her hands. She might act pure as snow, but she's just as guilty as Ronan."

"And what happens when you have to get close to her?" Ash pushes. "When you have to kiss her, make her believe you're falling for her too?"

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