Page 26

BLAISE

I don’t know what I was expecting in the cellar.

Maybe a few stolen kisses, but not sex. Not that I’m complaining.

Ronan has been busting my balls. The only bright side tonight is seeing Jenna in her server’s uniform.

It brings about all sorts of maid fantasies that are apparently going to come true.

She throws herself into my arms, her lips crashing into mine with unexpected passion. The kiss steals my breath, ignites something primal within me. Her fingers thread through my hair, and I press her back against the stone wall, pinning her there with my body.

"Someone could come down here," I murmur against her neck, though I make no move to stop. The risk only heightens every sensation, the softness of her skin, the catch in her breath, the way she arches into me.

"I don't care. I need you." She’s finally gotten my belt and pants undone.

I slide my hands up her thighs, lifting her dress.

I'm lost in her, the sweet scent of flowers, the little sounds she makes as I kiss down her throat while my fingers slide over her pussy as I yank her panties down.

The party feels a million miles away. Even so, the possibility of discovery sends electricity down my spine.

"Please, Blaise."

I capture her mouth again, swallowing her gasp as I lift her against the wall. Her legs wrap around my waist, and I sink into her sweet, wet pussy. Fucking hell, she’s a man’s fantasy come to life.

We move together with rising urgency. Somewhere above, glass shatters and laughter rings out. The sound reminds me of where we are, what we're risking. But I'm too far gone to care. I continue to drive into her, need coiling tighter and tighter.

“Yes, Blaise… yes… Oh.” Her body goes taut. Her pussy clamps around my cock. It’s so fucking good. I yanks me right off the edge into oblivion. I continue to rock into her, my cum filling her.

When it’s done, I collapse against her. Thank fuck for the wall as it’s the only thing holding us up.

“Well, that took the edge off.” I finally find strength in my legs and straighten. I help Jenna adjust her uniform, my hands lingering longer than necessary.

She smiles up at me and the words ‘I love you’ dangle at the end of her tongue.

"Blaise, I need to tell you something." Jenna’s face is flushed, lips still swollen from our kisses.

“I’m not sure how much longer we can be here before someone comes looking.” I press a quick kiss to her forehead, already calculating timing, exits, guard rotations. "I have to get back upstairs before someone notices I'm gone."

"It’s important.”

"Tonight's not good." The words come out sharper than they should. But I have to focus. Time to remember why I'm here.

Ronan Kean dies tonight.

With that thought, I remember where we are. The murder of my family started down here. I recalculate and realize that now's my chance.

“I’m sorry. I’m just… this party is a security nightmare.” I glance around the cellar. “I mean, anyone could be lurking down here. I’ve heard rumors of secret passageways.” I raise my brows. “Actually, you've lived on the property your whole life. Have you ever come across any?"

Her brow furrows. "Secret passages? I mean, they’re all through the house.”

“But down here?” I glance around again.

She shrugs. “I found one once when I was a kid, before…" She trails off, looking uncertain.

"Before what?"

"Before the fire. I found a hidden door. I don’t know if it’s still here.”

“Anyone know about it?”

“Ronan. I told him about it a long time ago. But then there was the fire and when the Keans rebuilt, I don’t know that they kept it.”

I fight off a surge of bitterness at hearing her confess to telling Ronan about the tunnel. This is the moment where I find out why she betrayed my family.

"You told Ronan about a door before the Keans lived here?”

She bites her lip. “Yeah, we were friends back then. Or I thought we were." She gives a sad little laugh. "I was just a kid with a crush.”

I don’t know what to feel. I mean, all the anger is back. The desire to hurt her is back. And yet, I feel like I’m being ripped in two. I love this woman, and she helped kill my family. Admits it openly. Admits she did it because she had a crush on Ronan.

“Well, if it’s still here, it could be a source of a breach, and since it’s my job to keep the family safe, I should check it. Can you show me where it is?”

“Over here somewhere." Jenna heads to the back corner of the cellar. "There’s a rack that is a secret opening used during prohibition.”

I follow her. "Did you ever go inside?" I keep my voice light, though my fingers itch to grab her shoulders and demand answers.

"No." She frowns, still searching. "Ronan wanted to, but I was too scared. It was dark and smelled musty. Plus, I didn't want to get in trouble." She stops near an empty rack. "Here.”

"That's incredible," I say, moving closer to examine it. "You must have been quite the explorer as a kid."

"I guess." She wraps her arms around herself again. I wonder if it’s guilt that is causing her to fold into herself. But is it guilt over betraying my family or simply nostalgia for her childhood friendship with Ronan?

I tug at the rack, pulling it open to reveal a door. I open it and look inside. I’ve never seen this, but I know about it because Flint used this tunnel to get into the home to save his wife, Lucy, last year. Does Jenna know about that?

“Anyone use this now?” I ask, proud at how I’m able to keep my voice from revealing my horror at what Jenna did.

“I don’t think so.”

“I’m told something happened last year.” I study her reaction.

She shrugs. “There’s been a lot of odd goings on over the last year. I don’t know that it has anything to do with this tunnel.” She glances toward the exit. “I should get back to work?—”

"Actually, you could help me with something. I need to talk to Ronan about these tunnels."

"Why?" Her eyes widen with concern.

"Security reasons. Anyone could get into the house through this. And tonight would be a prime night to do it. Could you find him and send him down here? Tell him I found something important."

Jenna hesitates. "I don't know. Mrs. Kean was very clear about staff not bothering the family during the party."

"This is about keeping them safe." I cup her face, knowing exactly how to play her loyalty to the Keans against her, and I don’t feel guilty about it one bit. Well, maybe a little. "You want to protect them, right? Like they've protected you and your mom?"

"Of course." She nods, determination replacing uncertainty. "I'll find him right away."

"Just be discrete. We don't want to alarm the guests." I press a quick kiss to her forehead.

I watch her hurry up the stairs, my hand already reaching for my weapon. Everything's falling into place. The tunnel, Ronan, my revenge. Yet something twists in my gut as I think of Jenna's smile, her absolute trust in me.

I shake it off. There's no room for doubt now. Ronan will come down those stairs, and I'll finally make him pay for what he did to my family. Then I’ll use the tunnel to leave, as planned.

As soon as Jenna's footsteps fade, I pull out my phone and tap the secure messaging app my brothers and I use.

Target incoming. South cellar tunnel confirmed.

My fingers hover over the keys before adding, Will have clear shot. No witnesses.

Phoenix responds first with a thumbs up. Then Ash sends,

Car parked on road, keys on floorboard.

Flint's message comes last.

Sure about this? No turning back.

I think of Jenna's innocent description of finding this tunnel, how she handed that information to Ronan like a gift. And yet, I can’t leave her vulnerable to him.

I'm sure. See you on the other side.

I check my weapon one last time, ensuring the silencer is secure. The wine cellar feels different now, no longer the place where Jenna and I just made love, but the beginning of my family's resurrection. These stone walls will witness another death, but this time, it will be justice, not murder.

I position myself in the shadows beside the tunnel entrance, where I'll have a clear sight of the entrance to the wine cellar. Years of training with my brothers kicks in. Steady breathing, loose muscles, mind sharp and focused. I’m ready.

Now all I need is for Jenna to deliver Ronan right into my hands.

Footsteps echo down the stone stairwell. My grip tightens on the gun as Ronan enters the wine cellar, followed by… my blood runs cold. Jenna trails behind him, wringing her hands. Fuck. I didn’t want her to see this.

"This had better be important," Ronan snaps, adjusting his silk tie. "I have guests to attend to."

I can’t worry about Jenna now. I lift my gun and point it at Ronan.