Page 45 of Now or Never

Jax shifted in his seat.

Petyr dipped his head. “I’d be obliged for your assistance.”

She wasn’t even going to touch that, not coming from him. “I’m busy. Apparently, I have cases.”

And a suspect, but she wasn’t going to tell them that she had seen the “ghost” young man from the platform where she’d been held in a hospital up north in Boston. Or that he’d killed Megan Tiller. Given their usual tactics, if they got their hands on him again they would bring him back in the fold and then get him to kill on their behalf, which wouldn’t solve anyone’s problem. It was far better for Amara or someone else in Kenna’s family to end his deadly antics. Either by turning him over to the police, which was Kenna’s preferred result, or by being forced to take his life.

“I’m not surprised you care nothing for my fate. Despite what we are to each other.”

Of course, he was going to bring that up. “Don’t.”

Petyr flicked a hand in Jax’s direction. “Did you tell him?”

“It isn’t a secret, but no. You’re not some sordid part of my life. You’re no part of my life at all.” In her defense, she didn’t consider him credible and she’d been dealing with a whole lot of huge stuff in her heart and mind. “Despite what you think we are to each other.”

“I am your father, Kenna.”

She touched Jax’s shoulder just to steady herself. “At least you didn’t use the wordseedlike last time.” She made a gaggingmotion. “But calling yourself something doesn’t make it true, and it doesn’t make me care.”

“The test was clear.”

Clear as mud. “Yeah,Dominatushas never faked a DNA test before. It must be real.”

“Deny it all you want?—”

“Petyr.” She cut him off, and Jax reached up to put his hand over hers. “So what if you’re my biological sperm donor? You aren’t part of my life, you never have been, and you never will be.”

“I could keep you safe.”

“You’d be using me to keep yourself safe.”

“I cannot be certain my enemy would respect our ways. It may be he who is targeting our offspring. Attempting to turnDominatusin a direction we were never meant to go.”

“So I save the kids from being killed, you fix your problem and become the leader, and then my focus turns to taking you out. After all, you just becameImperatoris.” She stared at him.

“So be it.”

Kenna shook her head. “You’d accept it simply because you believe I’m your daughter.”

“If you wish to end my life, I will not try to stop you.”

Jax’s fingers flexed around hers. He pushed back his chair and stood, disconnecting them for a second before he took her hand again. “I’d like to say it’s been a pleasure, but it’s certainly been informative at least.”

“I’m not finished.” Petyr looked at her. “You insist on having that piece of trash in your association.”

She glanced at Jax. “He’s talking about Bruce.”

The president’s sharp intake of breath was audible.

“They don’t like him.”

“Seems like a good reason to keep him around,” Jax said. “Unless there’s reason we should be wary of him?” He glanced around.

Petyr said, “He will betray you.”

“Then it’ll be our fault for trusting him.” Kenna shrugged. “And none of your business.” She glanced at the president. “Thank you for your time.”

As if she’d asked to be here.