Page 73 of Choosing Jenny
That captured everyone’s attention and the room went quiet.
He looked around the table, meeting each gaze in turn. “I’m sure some of you want her head on your mantel, but me, Omen, Surge and Gram were the ones she trapped. Longshot…what happened to him falls on her, as well. And she shot Jenny…” He exhaled a shuddering breath. “If it’s true that Justice is blackmailing her by torturing her family, then she is just as much a victim in this as we—”
“The fuck she is!” Omen shouted as she jumped to her feet.
“Simmer down, Omen,” Gram said quietly.
She turned to him, incensed. “She tried to murder us—horribly—and you’re upset about the volume of my voice?”
Jenny spoke next. “Sam was told that for every one of us she killed, a member of her family would live. Whatwouldn’tyou do for your family, Omen?”
Her eyes darted to Gram, to Drift, and then Sarah. She was quieter this time. "There is nothing I wouldn’t do for them.” She sat down.
Jenny nodded. “Then we owe it to ourselves to find out if she told us the truth. If she is being blackmailed by Justice, then we help her. We don’t punish her.”
“And if she isn’t being blackmailed by him?” Omen’s words were clipped.
“Then we will punish her accordingly,” Sarah answered this time. “AfterJustice is dealt with.”
“Why after?” Tiger asked.
Sarah settled back in her chair, her hand resting on her pregnant belly. “Because if Sam doesn’t return to Orhon, all her parts intact, then that will be extremely suspicious. Justice will know we are onto him. We can’t let that happen.”
“She will go back to Orhon,” Deacon said, his voice steady as he supported his consort. “And she will keep spying for Justice.”
“What?” I stared at him. “You can’t be serious.”
He smiled faintly. “Sam will tell him whateverwewant Justice to know. Useless information that will satisfy him, but also keep him off our backs.”
Jac raised a brow. “That won’t last forever. She’s not a trained spy. She doesn’t know how to drip-feed information to him. She will, eventually, fuck it up.”
“What do you suggest?” Deacon asked.
Jac leaned forward. “I’d like to propose my idea directly to her, if you don’t mind.”
Deacon didn’t argue and had one of the servants deliver Sam from the dungeon. Surge excused himself and left with Abyss and Omen for the parlor next door before she arrived.
When Sam walked into the room, I had expected terror or fear, but there was only resignation on her face. She believed she would die for her deceit and betrayal.Good.
Sam took one of the vacant seats and Jac didn’t waste time. “Sam, do you have proof that Justice has your family?”
She swallowed hard. “There is a box of human fingers and other body parts in my room at Malice’s estate.”
Discord raised an eyebrow at her, not looking convinced. “That could only prove you have a gruesome hobby.”
Sam thought for a moment, fidgeting in her seat. “I have messages from Justice on my secret gauntlet driver there, too. That’s all the proof that I have.”
“That would be enough.” Jac pressed a few buttons on his driver, then passed it to her. “Log in and show me the messages.”
She did and returned the driver to him.
Jac read one aloud. “Your mother’s left hand looks nice with three fingers, though if I do not hear from you by noon, I’ll find out if it looks better with two. A daughter should have her mother’s wedding ring after she dies. You’ll get it early.”
Sam started to cry, and so did Jenny. Even Sarah’s eyes shimmered with tears.
Jac looked just as disturbed. “We are going to break your family out of the royal prison, Sam.”
“What?” she whispered, her tone filled with disbelief.
