Page 11

BLAISE

M y shift drags on as I patrol the perimeter of the Kean estate. Resentment grows inside me. It’s not easy to protect the people who killed my family. But I’m not really protecting them. I’m scouting, observing, looking for ways to use their weaknesses against them.

Three cameras on the west side have blind spots wide enough to slip through.

The old oak tree's branches stretch over the wall, perfect for a climbing rope.

And the old maintenance shed? The lock's rusted, begging to be picked. Someone could stash weapons there, waiting for the right moment. I make note of each vulnerability, mapping them in my head. It’s clear to me that Hampton Kean's arrogance shows in every security flaw.

He thinks no one would dare challenge him after what he did to my family.

I reach a side gate and make it look like I’m checking for breaches when I’m actually dropping a rock marked with a symbol telling my brothers everything is a go. I kick the rock under the gate and continue on.

I pause near the garden where Jenna spends her days.

I swear her scent still lingers on my skin from our encounter in the woods.

The image of her innocent eyes looking up at me with complete trust comes to mind, followed by a twist in my gut.

Everything about my mission is going as planned, except for her.

Or more accurately, except for my feelings about her.

My radio crackles. "Southeast checkpoint, report."

"All clear," I respond, finishing my round and returning to the main security office just off the house. A sense of excitement crackles through me knowing that all hell is going to break loose shortly.

A flash of movement catches my eye, and there she is, Jenna stepping out of the shadows with a covered plate in her hands. My heart rate spikes before I can control it. Fuck.

"I thought you might be hungry." Her smile radiates warmth as she lifts the cloth. The scent of cookies fills the air. "They're chocolate chip. Just out of the oven."

I hate how sweet I feel her actions are. It’s probably why I’m so gruff. "You shouldn't be out here this late."

The brightness in her eyes dims slightly, verifying that I’m an asshole. "I wanted to surprise you. I knew you’d be back from your patrol.”

She's been paying attention to my schedule. In a different circumstance, this knowledge would make me cocky. A woman watching my every move. But this is Jenna, the woman who used her observations to help the Keans kill my family. Does she have some agenda that requires her to keep tabs on me?

"Try one?" She holds out the plate.

The first bite floods my mouth with sweetness.

"Do you like them?" Her eyes search my face.

I want to hate these cookies, want to hate her for making me feel something other than rage. But they taste like childhood and home and everything I lost.

"They're good."

Her whole face lights up at the praise. No guile, no hidden agenda. Just pure, uncomplicated joy at making someone else happy.

This is wrong. All wrong.

I need to get away from her before these doubts take deeper root. "I need to get back to work."

She bites her lower lip and looks down as if she’s nervous. "Actually, I was thinking maybe you'd like to come over for dinner on your night off?”

No. I need to say no, except getting close to her is part of my mission as well. I still don’t know why she betrayed my family.

“I was hoping you could meet my mom,” she continues, fidgeting with the empty cookie plate. "I make a mean lasagna. Family recipe."

This woman is twisting me up in knots because this is a perfect opportunity to learn more about her sick fascination with Ronan that had her helping him, but it feels so fucking wrong. How can a woman who looks and acts so sweet be so dangerous?

"That sounds…" I swallow hard, fighting the war between my mission and these unwanted feelings. "Nice. Really nice."

Her face brightens. "Really? I was worried you might think it's too soon."

Too soon? We're way past 'too soon'. I've already taken her virginity. Meeting her mother, sharing a family meal, shows just how committed she is to me. And how sweet my revenge will be.

My watch beeps and I check it, reminded that in twenty minutes, another “random” attack will be launched against the Keans, thanks to my brothers. Worry about Jenna getting caught in the middle has me guiding her toward the main house.

“I’ll be there for dinner on my next night off. Right now, I need to get back to work.”

“Is there concern about more attacks?”

If she only knew. Over the last several months, my brothers have launched mini-attacks on the property. Each calculated strike chips away at Hampton Kean's defenses, keeping him off balance. The idea came after the distraction we caused to help Flint rescue Lucy from the house last year.

“It’s just a precaution.”

"But who would want to hurt the Keans? They've done so much good.”

I’m glad to hear her concern for the Keans as it reminds me that she’s on their side. The side I’m against.

“Will you be okay?” She puts her hand on my arm, her worry about me dislodging the resolve to hurt her that I had a moment before.

"I'll be fine. Go."

She hesitates, then stretches up on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek. "Be careful."

I watch her disappear into the house, making sure she's safely inside before radioing the other guards. Time to play my part in this charade, pretending to defend the very people I'm here to destroy.

"Someone's got it bad," Jones, another guard, elbows me as I return to my post. "Dinner to meet the mama."

“You know what that means,” Donnelly, who works with me and Jones, taunts.

I do know. Meeting the parents is a sign of just how deeply Jenna feels for me. I should feel triumphant. But because I’m such a fucking twisted mess, I feel like shit.

“Eavesdropping?” I ask lightheartedly to keep up the ruse that I’m their buddy.

“It’s our job.” Jones grins.

“Can’t blame you. Garden girl is hot.”

I try to smile, but it might look like a grimace as I want to punch Donnelly’s face in for ogling my girl.

“Yeah, well, she never looked at you like she does him,” Jones says.

I narrow my eyes. “Like what?”

"Like you hung the fucking moon or something."

I remember that look. The pure adoration in her eyes when I told her I loved her. With that memory, the self-loathing returns. I’m the biggest piece of shit for my plan to destroy her heart.

I force a laugh. “Don’t you know? I did hang the moon.”

They laugh. “She used to look at Mr. Kean, the son, like that. Looks like you cured her of that,” Jones says.

Again, I try to keep things light, but I feel my jaw tighten. “What can I say? I’m a catch.”

The guys move on to other topics, thankfully.

I’m totally fucking this thing up with Jenna.

Why is it so easy for her to mess up my emotions?

I need to remember why I'm here. Remember the flames that took everything from me.

Remember that in minutes, the world around me is going to explode, literally.

A flash of orange light blazes over the wall, landing with a deep boom at the front corner of the house. The alarm system screams to life.

The first “package”, as Ash called them, has been delivered.

Two more blasts follow in quick succession.

Right on schedule. The attack is more about smoke and sound than doing real damage, and it’s working.

Guards sprint past me, shouting into their radios.

I join the chaos, barking orders. If I do this right, the Keans will be impressed by my quick action and leadership and give me a position closer to them.

"Secure the perimeter!" I command, watching Hampton's men scatter like ants. "Teams of two, standard protocol!"

The front doors burst open. Hampton emerges, rage twisting his features as he surveys the damage to his stolen kingdom. Behind him, Ronan appears.

"Find them!" Hampton roars. "I want whoever did this dead!"

If he only knew how close his enemies were. The irony almost makes me smile.

Another explosion rocks the foundation, this one closer. The force knocks several guards off their feet. Smoke and dust cloud the air, perfect cover for what comes next.

Time to play my part, the loyal soldier defending his boss while my brothers torment Hampton and Ronan.

This time, I do smile because I’m enjoying this game.

Yes, revenge is sweet. While no one will die tonight, when the Ifrinn plan is fully activated, the Keans will be dead and Jenna will regret having betrayed my family.