Page 116 of One More Chance

“He was exonerated. The actions of one dirty FBI agent—who was connected to a family whose whole goal was to affect national culture, politics, and policy—don’t count against a man who was doing his job. Who stuck to his oath as an FBI agent until he had no choice but to be what everyone believed he was.”

Herron said, “Sounds like a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

“Like me believing in conspiracies means I find a conspiracy everywhere I turn?”

“You tell me.” Herron shrugged.

This wasn’t the time to lean forward and bang her head on the table, but it was tempting. “I didn’t make up what happened here.”

“You’re right. This is undeniable.” Herron leaned back in her seat. “Now tell me, where is SAC Jaxton?”

Kenna bit the inside of her lip. “Nicola Santorini, one of the doctor’s victims, will know where he is. Her family took Jax to force me to get her back so I could exchange her for him. Like a ransom demand. They also wanted the doctor.”

“The one you killed?” Herron asked. “Strange way of bargaining for your husband’s life.”

“Things don’t always work out the way we intend.”

“That might be the truest thing you’ve said so far.”

Ramon shifted in his seat. “So you’re arresting both of us, like we had anything to do with this? On whose orders? I want to talk to that person so they can look me in the eye and tell me what laws I broke here.”

That tactic might not work, considering theyhadbroken laws. However, it was down to what the prosecution could prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Still, when Kenna’s mental health was being called into question, as if she was some kind of cracked conspiracy theorist who had misled everyone on her payroll, that was a scary idea.

As if she was this charismatic leader convincing her followers to give their lives for what she believed. Sounded an awful lot like howDominatusoperated if anyone was going to ask her. Not that it seemed like they would.

At least, not without her needing her lawyer present.

“I need my phone so I can find out where Jax is.” Kenna pushed out a breath that sounded like she was gasping. Like a pressure cooker releasing a little of the frustration that had bubbled up in her until she was about to explode. “If you want to know whatever it is you’re asking, then I need something in return. I need Oliver Jaxton here.”

She sat back in her chair and crossed her arms.

Special Agent Herron drew her phone from the inside pocket of her blazer and looked at the screen. “You’ll be speaking with my superior next. He just arrived from the San Francisco office. He’ll be covering for SAC Jaxton until we can get all this sorted out.”

“Great. I’ll just tell him the same thing I’ve been telling you.”

Special Agent Herron stood.

The tent flap lifted inward, and an older gentleman stepped inside wearing a suit with a red tie. Hair slicked back.

“Three.”

Herron glanced at Kenna, probably wondering what that was about. Then, she faced her boss. “Sir, I’m Special Agent Andrette Herron.”

He nodded, and they shook hands. “I’d like to speak to these two alone.”

Two more men stepped into the room, flanking the door.

The “boss” said, “I’ll be protected.”

Herron didn’t appear to like the break in procedure but couldn’t argue. “Of course.” She skedaddled out of the tent.

Three stood on the other side of the table. Four and Five stayed by the door. All of them were dressed like special agents, like a Secret Service detail. Maybe that was what they planned to do. The president knew aboutDominatus. Maybe they were going to kill him.

Or her thoughts were all over the place.

Kenna lifted her chin. “You killed One.”

“The only answer to betrayal is death.” Three’s expression was cold, pure ice. “We all know that.”

---