Page 71 of House of Soot

Ash's reply pops up.

She’s with them. Not worth dying for.

My jaw tightens. They don't understand. They didn't see the confusion in her eyes, the horror when she realized what her childhood crush had manipulated her into doing.

I can’t leave her.

That's not our problem,Phoenix writes.Mission compromised. Leave NOW.

I close my eyes, fighting the urge to throw the phone against the wall. My brothers are right. This isn't part of the plan. But I can't leave her.

I type back firmly.

No.Need someone at hospital to protect Jenna’s mother.

A long pause follows. I can picture my brothers arguing, Flint probably the only one defending my choice.

I don’t have time to argue over text, so I put my phone in my pocket and move on to find Jenna. I don’t recall hearing her take the main steps up. So maybe she heeded my warning and headed somewhere else. I know she’ll want to get to her mother, which isn’t a wise move, but Jenna is a sweet, innocent gardener who somehow missed the ugliness of the Kean world around her and how they operate.

I decide she’s probably making her way to the cottage to grab essentials. It's exactly the kind of practical thing she'd think of, even in a crisis. That mix of responsibility and innocence that first drew me to her before I twisted it into something to despise.

I hear Ronan’s men reach the wine cellar and I know the passageway there is no longer an option for escape. So once I get Jenna, I need another way out. One that I can get Jenna through as well. Can she climb a wall?

But my first obstacle will likely be convincing her to let me help her escape. At the very least, I want a chance to explainmyself. How I wanted to destroy her, but somewhere along the way I fell for her, totally and completely. She probably won't believe me. Why should she? I used her feelings against her, just like Ronan did. The difference is, I fell for her in the process.

But explanations will have to wait. First, I need to get her somewhere safe. Then I can try to earn her forgiveness, if she's willing to give it. Right now, all that matters is protecting her from Ronan's cleanup crew.

I reach a service door that leads toward her cottage. Pressing my ear against it, I listen for movement outside. Nothing. Time to move. I quickly and quietly move through the door. Guards patrol the perimeter, but I know their patterns since I helped design them. Moving through shadows between the sculpted hedges, I keep low and quick.

A light flickers on in her cottage window. My pulse spikes. It’s like a fucking beacon to Ronan and his men that she’s there.

The curtain shifts slightly, and I catch a glimpse of movement inside. Not Jenna's delicate frame. No, this is someone larger. Male.

Ice floods my veins. Ronan. He knew she'd come back here just as I did.

I reach the cottage, pressing against the outer wall. Voices drift out, too muffled to make out words, but I recognize Ronan's smug tone. Then Jenna's higher pitch, tight with fear.

My fingers curl around my gun. Keeping to the shadows, I circle the cottage, checking entry points. Front door, back door, two windows. Limited options, all likely to alert Ronan. But I can't risk waiting. Not with that bastard alone with her.

Jenna's frightened voice rises, though I still can't make out the words. I need to get in there. Now. I head to the front door, knowing they’re in the living area.

"I'll do anything. Please, Ronan. We've known each other since we were kids. I used to bring you flowers from the garden, remember? Fresh arrangements for your office every Monday."

The terror in her voice guts me.

"Always hoping I’d notice you. Shame I never took you up on it. It might have been fun."

Mother fucker.

"This will be quick, Jenna. Try to be grateful for that much. Any last words?"

There’s a long silence and then, "Time to die, Jenna."

Oh, God, oh, God. I have a sense of déjà vu. My world is burning up and I’m unable to stop it. I failed to protect my family a decade ago. I won't fail to protect her now.

"Please don't. I'm pregnant!"

Pregnant. The word ricochets through my head.

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