Page 91 of Every Which Way

“So, you displeased them, and this is your punishment.” Kenna motioned with her chin at Garnet’s injuries. Kenna had covered the swelling on her face with makeup, and it was less noticeable than it had been the day before, but it must be clearly visible if Garnet picked up on it. “I know more about your life and how things work than you probably realize.”

“I know you think you do.” Garnet sipped her drink, turning to survey the barrels and then the wine behind the glass. “But if you did, you’d want what I want.”

“And what’s that?”

“To set fire to this whole place.”

“So you can escape, free and clear?”

Garnet glanced at her. “I’ll be in here burning along with the precious drinks. The priceless bottles that should be in a museum.”

“Will it put a dent in their operation?”

“Nothing will do that. I’ll be an inconvenience at best, but I’ll have made my point.”

“What if I can make you a better offer? The chance to take them down once and for all. To stop this company from continuing to victimize people and make the world what they want it to be.”

Garnet said, “You think you can do all that?”

“I know trying is better than the life you lead now.”

Garnet huffed, almost laughing but not quite. “And the punishment for failure will make me wish I was never born. I should know. I’ve already experienced it.”

She was trapped, defeated by a lack of hope—because it had been extinguished. There wasn’t much Kenna could offer that would change her mind. But she had to hope because if she lost that, then she was no better than this woman.

Out of options.

Forced to live a life by someone else’s dictates.

“They need you. That’s why they have to keep you in line.” Kenna let that sink in for a moment. “Otherwise, you would mean nothing. The things you do wouldn’t be important. Now that there’s only one of you, you’re doubly valuable.”

“After I’ve proven my loyalty to them.”

“So fight back. Live your life your way.”

Garnet said, “That sounds like a great idea.”

“Come with me. Help me take them down.” Kenna moved to the table so she could set her drink down. So they could get out of here and make a plan to finish this.

“My way. Remember?” Garnet tossed her glass at the table, shattering it across the surface and spilling alcohol. She grabbed Kenna’s cup and did the same thing. “I think I have a lighter in here somewhere.” She rummaged in a clutch on the stool.

“You can’t?—”

“My way.” She whipped around and stared at Kenna, rage in her expression. “Remember?” Garnet lifted a lighter and flicked it on. “I’ll give you a one-minute head start. There’s a door at the far end of the room.”

“Don’t kill yourself. Help me stop them.” What more could she do to implore this woman? To convince her to help?

Garnet tossed the lighter at the table, and the alcohol went up in flames. “Run, little mouse.”

ChapterTwenty-Four

Kenna stumbled out the door, onto gravel. Tiny, jagged-edged rocks cut into her feet. She raced across the gravel behind the house, past a huge set of stone steps that came out from the door and split at a balcony to hug the wall. A person could descend in either direction. Or simply stand at the rail and look out over the expanse of the back lawn.

She reached the grass and slowed to a stop.

A cop raced down the steps after her, hand on his gun. She lifted her hands, palms out. “I don’t have ID. I just have no shoes, and those rocks hurt.”

He was younger and had an FBI vest on. “You were at the office talking to Miller.”

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