Page 54 of Choosing Jenny
Jac grabbed her by the shoulders, giving her enough of a shake to get her attention. “I am sorry you saw whatever you saw, but there isnothingthat will stop me from burning the bodies of my friends and making them a life here. You can stay on the ship, but you’re going to direct us to that island, Sam.”
I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t breathe. I was no longer tethered to the ground or my body. Tiger was…I couldn’t even let myself think the word.
I heard Jac’s voice, but it was somewhere in the distance, until he lightly smacked my cheek. “Jennifer.”
I blinked as a response, forcing myself to focus on him and what he was saying.
“We’re going to find them,” he said, his tone unwavering. “We’re going to do whatever we have to for them.”
I slowly nodded, completely numb and still not sure of his words or what they meant.
“I need you to keep it together until we find them,” he said, looking into my eyes. “Can you do that?”
My mouth opened, but nothing came out. So I tried to nod again.
“Good. Okay. We’re going to take your ship—it has more room for whatever we might need. Sam?”
She was still weeping, unable to stop, her eyes hollow.
“Got it.” He scooped her up in his arms and carried her on board. I followed them onto my ship in silence, surprised my legs actually worked when my body felt like it wasn’t my own. I transferred piloting authorities to Jac, butCheesecakehad towalk me through the process, because it had slipped my mind entirely.
While I did all that, Jac asked Sam, “Where to?”
“You don’t understand,” she continued to bawl. “It’s a slaughterhouse.”
“No,youdon’t understand,” he snapped back at her, finally getting her attention. “We aren’t going anywhere else.Ever. Until you direct us to that island.”
Somehow, I thought to get her a glass of water from the printer, steeped with calming herbs. I gave it to Sam and she gulped it down like it was the only thing tethering her to life.
When she was finished, she wiped her eyes and looked at Jac. “Fine. But if we all die, it’s on your head.”
“You are not the first person to tell me that, Sam,” he said as he focused on the controls and the navigation system. “Now where to?”
CHAPTER 17
Mal
Longshot and I were out of breath by the time we arrived at Sarah’s manor after spending the day, and most of the evening, in Sorellamore. Deacon, Sarah, Abyss and Discord stood outside by Deacon’s ship,Allegiant.
“About fucking time!” Discord shouted as we ran to them after receiving the message that had come through on my gauntlet driver.
I gasped, my side aching from the run. “The fuck…Tiger…dead?”
“That’s the report we got from Jac,” Deacon said, his tone grim. “According to him, they ran into Sam flying Jenny’s ship. She was hysterical, stating the others had been eating by the Vulavi.”
My gut roiled, loose and acidic. I shook my head in denial. “No!”
“I won’t believe it until I see their bodies,” Discord agreed, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. “If I have to dig through the Vulavi’s guts to find their bodies, then I will.”
“Surge is far smarter than to let some giant lizards get the best of him,” Longshot added, though his expression reflected grave concern. “It cannot be true.”
I scanned the group, noting who was missing. “Where’s Jenny?” I asked Sarah.
“With Jac,” she explained. “He’ll keep her safe, Malice.”
I swallowed hard and nodded. “And Surge will keep Omen safe.”
“She will return the favor, I’m sure of it,” Sarah said, her hand laying protectively on her pregnant belly. “I agree with all of you. Our friends and loved ones are smarter than this. There’s no way they were taken out by a bunch of animals. I won’t believe it until I see bodies, and Discord, I’ll be digging into those guts with you, if needs be.”
