Page 17

BLAISE

A fter my appearance this morning, I sneak away, making an excuse about checking a section of the property. Slipping away unnoticed will be harder now that I’ve been promoted, but I know Ronan and Hampton are in town at the office, so I’m counting on my absence not being noticed.

The woods beyond the property shield me from the Keans’ surveillance cameras. I move swiftly now, no longer needing stealth. Flint's motorcycle idles along the road, right on schedule.

He scoots forward on the seat to make room for me. "Cutting it close."

"Unexpected security meeting this morning." I climb on the back of his bike, and we race off to Phoenix’s place.

I’m barely in the door when Ash is on my ass. "Any progress on getting closer to Ronan?"

"Got a promotion. He's keeping me closer now.

" I sink into a chair, happy to take a load off for a moment.

“They're still throwing a party… Ronan’s engagement to Hannah O'Donnell. I think it will be a good time to hit.” I pull out building schematics I lifted from security and set them on the table.

“Hannah O'Donnell?” Flint asks. “I’ve been hearing grumblings that O’Donnell isn’t happy with Hampton. Never has been, actually.”

“All the more reason to have an arranged marriage. Anyway, I'll be coordinating guards for the party."

Ash studies the blueprints, his finger tracing potential entry points.

“They’ve got bigger balls than I thought,” Phoenix says. “I’d have thought they’d cancel the party.”

“I think Lucy’s story hit them harder than the attack. They’re scrambling to save face with this party."

"More than scrambling." Flint's lips curl into a satisfied smirk. "Some partners are getting nervous, including O’Donnell, especially after Lucy’s story. Phoenix is making contact with him.”

“Really?” I arch a brow. “As an Ifrinn?”

“Not yet, but soon.” Phoenix glances at me and then Ash. “We’ll need to offer something to build a partnership with him.”

“Like what?” I don’t like how he’s looking at me. Ash is making a face.

“Let’s focus on the Keans and this party.”

I pull the guard rotation schedules and guest list, setting them on the table by the blueprints.

"They're inviting every influential family in Boston.

Hampton needs to prove he's still in control.

But they're paranoid. Double the normal security detail.

We'll need perfect coordination to pull this off. "

Ash crosses his arms. "What about the girl? Is she going to be a problem?"

I tense. "Jenna's not a threat. She'll be working the party.”

"That's not what I meant." Ash's eyes narrow. "Your little side quest to make her pay. Is that going to be a problem?”

“Why would it be?” I snarl, annoyed. I’m hoping he thinks I’m irritated that he’s questioning my ability and not see that it is difficult. Some way, somehow, Jenna has gotten under my skin.

"Just remember why we're here," Phoenix cuts in. "We can't afford any complications."

I nod, pushing away memories of Jenna's smile, her gentle touch. "Trust me. When this is over, she'll know exactly who I am. They all will." I focus on her betrayal. She gave away our home’s vulnerability. She fucking stole my mother’s lasagna recipe. She worships the Keans, for fuck’s sake.

"Speaking of Jenna…" Flint's tone carries an edge I don't like. "You sure you’re not getting too close?"

"Please." I force a laugh, keeping my voice steady. "She's desperate for attention, starved for affection. The kind of girl who'd do anything for someone who shows her a scrap of kindness." And she did, for Ronan.

“You’re sure she’s not remembering you? Or her mom?” Ash asks.

I shake my head. “She was thirteen when it happened. She says the Ifrinns have been all but forgotten." My fingers curl into fists. "She worships the Keans. Thinks they're some kind of saviors who nobly took over after our parents' 'tragic accident'."

Ash and Phoenix nod, seemingly accepting my response.

Flint, on the other hand, isn’t sold. "That doesn't answer the question.”

"Neither of them recognizes me. There’s no way she’d be able to hide if she did. She’s one of those people who wears their emotions on their sleeve. I've got her wrapped around my finger. She won't know what hit her when she realizes who I really am and I make her pay."

"She's not our priority," Phoenix says.

"She's the key that let Ronan in," Flint says.

"But like you said, Blaise, she was thirteen with a schoolgirl crush. I'm not saying we don't use any information we get from her. I'm just saying she isn't our priority. Ronan set that fire. Hampton is the one who wanted us all dead."

“So who is on our list? They wanted to kill us all, but Phoenix, you’ve been adamant about no women and kids.

What about Mrs. Kean? Ronan’s sister, Keira?

They’ve got some godchild living there too.

” Keira and the child, Brigit, are rarely seen publicly or even in the house.

It’s almost like they live separate lives in a different wing of the house.

The few times I’ve seen Keira, I think she likes to stay out of her parents' way as much as possible.

Phoenix’s jaw tightens when I mention Ronan’s sister. It makes me wonder if he ever got over that little fling he had with her during better times.

“What, now they’re taking in orphans?” Flint says.

“I don’t know. To be honest, the only person who shows an interest in the kid is Keira. And Keira… there’s something going on there. She might beat us to the punch and kill her parents in their sleep. She keeps to herself, but you can see there’s no love lost there,” I report.

“Our targets are Ronan and Hampton.” Phoenix’s response is firm, decisive. Almost like he doesn’t want to discuss the others, or perhaps Keira.

“And Jenna,” Flint adds. “Woman or not, she was instrumental in the Keans’ carrying out our family’s destruction.”

I should be glad that he sees her as complicit and needing to pay, but hearing it from him doesn’t sit right. It’s proof that I’m fucked up inside.

“Ronan and Hampton are our targets,” Phoenix reiterates. “And if I understand Blaise, he just wants to crush Jenna’s spirit, not kill her. I’m not averse to that.”

“Can you do that?” Flint asks me.

"She's just another pawn," I assure them, needing to convince myself as much as them. " I won't let anything compromise our revenge."

"I feel like I've heard that before," Ash says with a look at Flint. "Look how that turned out."

"Hey," Flint says, annoyed. "It turned out awesome. I'm happier than any of you motherfuckers. I've got a fantastic wife, an awesome son, and because of Lucy, we know Jenna was the snitch, and her article has pushed the Keans back on their heels."

Ash shakes his head. "I stand corrected. If you want to fall in love and make babies with Jenna, the woman who?—"

"I don't." But my insides do a full somersault. I’m not sure if it’s because the idea is ridiculous or the disturbing realization that I haven't used protection with Jenna. Not once. Fucking hell.

"You okay?" Flint asks.

"Yeah, just…" The words stick in my throat. I've been so caught up in revenge, in playing my part, that I didn't think about the consequences. A baby. My baby. With Jenna. The woman I'm supposed to destroy.

“It’s all good,” I say, but my voice lacks conviction.

I'll find out if she's on anything, make sure there's no chance.

But even as I think that, I know it might be too late.

We've been together multiple times. And the thought of her carrying my child while I plot to break her heart makes me feel sick.

“Has she been able to give any insights that help us get to Ronan and Hampton?” Phoenix, always focused on the plan, asks.

“No. She’s focused on her job and caring for her mother. But like I said, she’s full-on in love with me. If we need her to do something, I’m sure I can manipulate her into doing it.”

“Even if it involves Ronan? I thought you said she had a thing for him and thinks the family walks on water,” Ash reminds me.

I give him an irritated glare. “As Phoenix says, she’s not our focus, so why are your boxers all in a bunch?”

Ash gives me the finger.

“Has she said why she betrayed us?” Flint asks.

It’s the one question I don’t know the answer to yet. “No. I’m working on it.”

“Hopefully, in your off time,” Phoenix says.

“Maybe she was used? Or didn’t realize what she was doing?”

We all look at Flint.

“Are you defending her?” I ask. “The woman who invited the enemy in?”

“She was a kid. And I’m not defending her, I’m just saying maybe she doesn’t realize?—”

“She told Ronan how to break past our defenses. How do you do that by accident?” Ash asks.

Flint shrugs. “Just saying.”

"We need to discuss guard placement," Ash says, but I barely hear him because it’s possible Flint is right.

I could totally see Jenna giving away some bit of information out of infatuation.

But how could she not put two and two together?

She gave information and right after, our home was invaded.

And the person she gave the information to took over everything.

"Blaise?" Flint waves a hand in front of my face. "You with us?"

"Yeah." I clear my throat. "Guard rotations. I gave you the current schedule there. I’ll get you the party schedule when I make it.”

Phoenix and Ash debate strategy, their words sharp with revenge, but all I can think about is Jenna's gentle touch and sweet smile. The way she hums while she works in her garden. Her quiet strength as she cares for her dying mother. How can she be both an innocent, sweet woman and a monster?

"Earth to Blaise," Flint snaps. "Get your head in the game."

I straighten, forcing myself to focus on the blueprints. If they knew the war I’m constantly playing against myself in regard to Jenna, my brothers would call me weak. Maybe I am.

The meeting breaks up, and I follow Flint back out to his motorcycle so he can bring me back to the house. I’ve been gone for just about an hour, so I need to get back before anyone starts to wonder where I am.

Even without looking, I sense his concern. It's always been this way between us, that twin connection everyone talks about.

"You're falling for her." It's not a question.

"Don't start." How can he fucking tell? Is that part of the woo-woo twin thing too?

Flint blocks my path. "I've seen that look before." He taps his chest. "In the mirror, when I was fighting my feelings for Lucy."

"This is different. Jenna helped kill our parents."

“It’s why I know you caught feelings. If you were as pissed at her now as when you entered that home, she’d already be suffering a broken heart and you’d know exactly why she betrayed us.”

“She did it for Ronan.”

Flint purses his lips and stares at me in a way that reminds me of our mother when she wasn’t buying whatever excuse we were trying to sell her.

“She was a thirteen-year-old girl with a crush. She’s not the same person.”

He’s not wrong about that. "She's nothing like I expected. She's…" I struggle to find the right words. "Pure. Genuine. The way she cares for her mom, how she lights up when talking about her garden. She fucking looks at me like the sun rises and sets by me."

"And that scares the hell out of you."

"Either she's the world's best actress or…"

"Or we were wrong about her involvement." Flint finishes my thought. "Look, I get it. Revenge is simpler when the enemy has a clear face. But sometimes, hate and revenge hurt you more than the person you’re pissed at. Look at me and Lucy. I found something better than hatred."

Something twists in my chest. The image of a future, a real one, not built on lies and revenge, flashes through my mind. Jenna in my arms, genuine smiles, maybe even…

No. I can't think like that. "That's different. Lucy was innocent."

"And you're sure Jenna isn't?" He raises an eyebrow.

I stare him in the eyes. “She told Ronan how to get into the house. Our house. Whatever her reasons, that alone means she’s not innocent.

Our parents are dead because of her. Our legacy is gone because of her.

So I don’t care if she was manipulated or blinded by love.

Her actions destroyed us. Even people who accidentally kill people have to pay for their actions. She has to pay, Flint.”

He holds his arms up in surrender. “Okay, okay. I just… you look like shit. Like you’re fighting with your soul or something.”

"I've got this under control." It’s a fucking lie. Every time Jenna touches me, every genuine smile she gives, chips away at my control. It would be so much simpler if she were the monster I'd imagined, cold, calculating, deserving of my revenge.

“You sure?”

I motion to his bike. “Can we go now before they start looking for me?”

He shrugs and gets on his bike, with me climbing on the back. Moments later, the engine drowns out everything but my thoughts blowing through my head like a whirling dervish.

When he lets me off, Flint says, “The mission is Hampton and Ronan, so if you want to leave the girl out of it?—”

“I don’t. Now fuck off and let me do my job.

” I don’t look at him as I scale the wall again, glad that I was in control of security that would let me leave and return unnoticed.

I head back to the security office, passing Jenna’s cottage.

My heart beats hard, my chest filling with emotion, and it pisses me off.

I’m stronger than this. I have a mission, and I can’t let my libido or whatever the fuck is going on inside me get in the way.

I can’t let my family down. The Keans need to pay for their treachery. So does Jenna. With the party coming, it’s time for me to find out the truth about her and then put an end to us.