Page 80 of House of Soot

“He lied to me.” Now the tears are falling, and I can’t stop them. “He was only using me for revenge. He thought I helped kill his parents."

"Oh, Jenna." Mom's voice is soft with sympathy. "I wish I could see you now.” I find it odd that she’s aware of the danger. Is it possible she knew more about the Keans than she let on?

“I wish I could too, but they say it’s too dangerous.”

"As soon as I’m better, we’ll be together. We’ll get through this. Is the baby okay?”

“I think so.” I sniff. "I'm so scared, Mom. I don't know what to do."

"First, you breathe. Then you rest." Her words wrap around me like a hug. "The baby needs you strong. Everything else, we'll handle one day at a time."

I curl up on the bed, clutching the phone like a lifeline. "I love you, Mom."

"I love you too, baby girl. So much." She pauses, and I hear her labored breathing. "Try to sleep. Things will be better in the morning.”

When I hang up, I feel like I’ve been wrung out. I’ve lost nearly everything in the matter of hours. I don’t see how sleep is going to change that. But since there’s nothing I can do, I give in to the fatigue and the despair and let the darkness take me away.

32

BLAISE

Islump into a chair, my shoulder throbbing where Phoenix patched up the bullet wound. My brothers stare at me, waiting for answers.

But all I can focus on are Jenna’s words, running through my head in an endless loop.I want you out of my life.

"What the hell happened in there?" Phoenix demands.

I know he doesn’t mean in my discussion with Jenna a few moments ago, which went like shit. What an idiot I am. I’d been falling for her the whole time, yet when the moment came, I followed through on my plan and as a result destroyed a sweet woman and the best thing that could ever happen to me.

"I had Ronan right where I wanted him." I run my hand through my hair, frustrated at how it all went sideways. "But Jenna showed up with him."

"The girl screwed everything up again," Ash says. "Just like she did ten years ago."

"She didn't know what she was doing. Either time." The words come out sharp. I’m not in the mood for Ash’s bullshit. "She was just a kid when Ronan manipulated her. Andtonight…" I trail off, not wanting to remember the awful things I said.

"It was your idea to go after her," Phoenix reminds me.

"I did break her heart. But it wasn't as satisfying as I thought it would be." I meet their skeptical looks. "Because somewhere along the way, I fell in love with her."

Ash makes a face and shakes his head. "After what she did to our family?"

I wish Flint were here. He’d understand. “She was used. When she realized how Ronan used her, she was devastated.”

Ash opens his mouth, but Phoenix holds his hand up to stop him. “Okay, fine. But we don’t have the manpower yet to be spending it on protecting her and her mother.”

“I just need a little time. When her mother can be moved, I’ll make the arrangements to send them away.” My head sags back on the couch and I scrape my hands over my face. "She's pregnant.” The room goes silent. "And before you ask, yes, it's mine."

"Jesus Christ, Blaise." Ash paces the room. "You were fucking her with the intention of breaking her and got her pregnant?”

God, it sounds awful. It is awful. I’m such a dick.

“What is it about you and Flint? Didn’t Dad give you the talk?” Ash finishes.

I said the same to Flint when he told us about Lucy’s pregnancy. I can see now why he didn’t think it was funny.

“She doesn’t want anything to do with me, so like I said, I’ll get her and her mother set up with enough for the child too and…” And I’ll live the rest of my life regretting having lost Jenna.

“If you were in love with her, why did you follow through with hurting her?” Phoenix asks, finally acting like a concerned brother, not a fearless leader.

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