Page 22 of House of Soot

Maybe I’ve fallen too fast, too easily, but after years of holding back, of loving from afar, I want to embrace this feeling with both hands. I want to hold on to it, cherish it, give myself fully over to it because I trust Blaise with my heart.

10

BLAISE

My 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 inthe 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.

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