Page 111 of Taking Jenny
I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answer to my question, but I had to know Justice’s thoughts. “Do you think it was Tiger Orne?”
“That boy?” He barked a laugh. “He’s brave enough to do something that foolish, but too simple-minded to be able to pull it off. No. It must have been someone smart enough to plan it, but dumb enough to do it. He fits only half the criteria.”
I forced myself not to clench my jaw in anger from his assessment of Tiger. “How can I help?” Because I certainly wanted to be involved so I knew what Justice had planned so I could keep Jenny safe.
“For now, keep it to yourself. We cannot let this information get out. We must play up her status, her success.” He turned and stared at Jenny through the glass panes in the doors. “We build her up, so that when the truth is exposed, her fall will echo through all time. No one will cheat at Illiapol ever again, once I’m done with her.”
Dread tightened my chest. “I want to do something, Justice. I can’t just hold onto this information and do nothing.”
He chuckled softly but there was steel beneath the sound. “For now, that’s exactly what you do. Save your strength. In the upcoming days, there may be an alarming number of executions and you will be a very busy man.”
I gave him a tight smile and stared at Jenny, too. “I’ll sharpen my ax.”
He slid his assessing gaze back to me. “In the meantime, I understand you’ve been keeping her and the Orne boy at your estate, sans lock and key?”
“Makes it all the more interesting when I work them over,” I said with a shrug. “They never see it coming.”
He laughed brashly. “Do you think more torture will get us the answers we want?”
I sighed like a weary executioner. “Sadly, no. Nothing I’ve done has gotten me anywhere. I’m starting to worry I’ve lost my touch.”
“Now, now, we’re at a party. Chin up,” he said, almost jovially. “Perhaps you need a different strategy with them. Less torture, more friendliness. Get them to drop their guard so they’ll open up to you.”
Which is exactly what he’s trying to do with me. Call me his son, then try to bait me into admitting to treason.“It’s worth a try.”
Someone inside the palace caught his attention. “Ugh, Yelskin is going to force me to lop his tail, isn’t he?” Still, he smiled and waved at the dolt like he was a dear friend.
“Very likely. He still wants a seat on the council.”
“As though I would ever allow that worm to bother me on a regular basis. Pfft.” Justice rolled his eyes. “Disappointing him will be fun. I should do it in front of his consort. Excuse me.”
Justice left without another word, for which I was grateful. I needed air, and it always seemed like he sucked in every bit for himself, even outdoors.
So he lied about how Arrow and Lawson died…to what end? Though it explains why he cozied up with Jenny—he wants her downfall to be huge, and the closer he seems to her, the bigger her scandal will look when it hits.
A dozen different questions danced in my mind, and—
“Deep in thought?”
Hearing that soft, feminine voice, I smiled before I turned. “The hero of the hour.”
Jenny shook her head, not impressed with my praise. “Don’t call me that.”
“You are what you are.”
“I don’t think it’s heroic to save your own life.”
“I beg to disagree.” I crooked a finger at her. She came closer, so I yanked the edge of her dress at her cleavage and kissed her. Her soft moan overcame my senses. But only for a moment. I kissed along her jaw and whispered directly in her ear, “They can hear us right now.”
“I know…you want me, Malice,” she said, already playing along. “But I’m not sure I should limit myself to just one man tonight. Seems there are several who want my attention.”
“And some of the ladies, I suppose.” I was relieved she knew about the microphones on the balcony.
She giggled sweetly. “And they’re lovely, but I’ve never been into women. Just men.”
I went with theless torture, more friendlinessJustice had suggested, though the flirtations with Jenny came easily and naturally enough. “Will I have to fight a ballroom full of men to keep your attention, Prima?"
"Do you think you could?” Her tone held a bit of sass.
