by Tia Didmon
Dante glanced at the men. “The warriors are very self sufficient. They have been building their own houses growing their own food for years.”
“I got the impression they are meat eaters.”
“They are but they eat similarly to humans with a balance of vegetables and grains. Jessica, you are not really interested in the warriors eating habits. Tell me what is bothering you. It isn’t my distaste for bovines.”
She shook her head. “No... what is Jenner doing here?”
Dante turned to gaze out the window. “I was not aware he was coming here.”
Jess recognized the hard look on his face, whatever it was. It wasn’t good.
The loud bang muted the door chime as Jenner entered. He closed the door with his face on Jessica. “I need a word with you.”
Laura looked between the two of them. “You can use Ed’s office.”
Jess followed Jenner into the tiny room with a single desk with stacks of papers on top of it. She noticed the small open safe as Jenner closed the door. “What’s happened?”
Jenner’s eyes were hard. “I think you have some explaining to do.”
Her heart sped up. “What do you mean?”
“Tell me who Sam Krane is to you,” he said in a low voice.
Jessica’s heart stuttered. “He’s the man that raped my mother. She testified at his trial and is the reason he was incarcerated twenty-three years ago.”
Jenner searched her face. “I know that Jessica.”
Jess swallowed hard. Jenner hadn’t called her by her full name in years. “If you know, why ask?”
“There is more to your involvement with Sam Krane than your mother’s rape.”
Jess frowned. “Why would you say that?”
“Because he was just murdered.” Jenner said in a low tone.
Jess sucked in a breath. “If your thinking I had something to do with his death, then...”
Jenner held up his hand aggressively. “I know you didn’t murder him. You were with Dante when he died.”
“I don’t understand.”
“PURE killed him Jessica.”
Jessica recalled the information she had on Same Krane, nothing indicated a connection to PURE. “Was he psychic?”
“No.”
Jess could tell Jenner was waiting for something. “How do you know PURE killed him?”
“They left a card, addressed to you on his body.”
Jessica’s chest squeezed. “What did it say?”
Jenner leaned toward her. “Next time it will be someone you care about.”
Jess released a stuttered breath. The threat didn’t surprise her and Jenner knew it. He was too good an agent for her to lie. Besides, she respected him too much for that. “I see.”
“That’s all you have to say. What the fuck is going on here Jessica? What is your connection to Sam Krane besides your mother’s rape and how the hell does it connect to PURE?” he snapped.
Jess stood immobile. Her mentor, a man she respected was looking at her like she was a traitor. She expected it, knew it would happen yet the disgust on his face was a knife in her chest. “I can’t tell you.”
Jenner’s eyes went up. “Pardon me.”
“I’m sorry.”
Jenner raised his voice. “That was not a request. That was an order.”
Jess nodded. “I know.”
Jenner held out his hand. “Give me your badge and your gun. You’re suspended until further notice.”
Jess pulled out her badge, she caressed the silver raised lettering one more time before handing it over. She removed her gun and handed it to Jenner.
Jenner looked at the badge. “I never saw this coming Jessica. Not from you. I can’t even express how disappointed I am that it came to this.”
Jess nodded. “I know Jenner. This isn’t your fault. You were the best trainer and friend I had.”
She watched his eyes squint, realizing she had referred to herself in the past, but It didn’t matter. She was at the end. Seeing her betrayal in the eyes of the people she respected the most only made her fate easier.
“Make arrangements for new lodgings before the end of the month,” he said coldly.
“I will.”
He walked away without another word.
She watched him go into the shelter waiting room and talk to Dante. He put his hand on Dante’s shoulder. She was thankful she hadn’t heard the conversation, though she had a good idea how it went.
Dante’s eyes flickered red as he met her gaze. He snapped Jenner’s hand off his shoulder as he stormed toward her.
She knew what was coming. She grabbed her phone and sent off a quick message to Darnell just before the office door slammed open and Dante’s fire red eyes bored into her.
He growled low. “Tell me it isn’t true.”
Dante’s demon was furious. It wanted to rip Jenner’s arm off for insinuating his bride was a traitor. The look of sheer defeat and sadness on Jessica’s face however made his beast uneasy. There had to be a mistake. A reasonable explanation for this misunderstanding. It took him a moment to realize she didn’t answer him. “Tell me it isn’t true Jessica,” he repeated.
She looked away. “I can’t.”
His demon screamed. NO! Dante however was used to betrayal. He encouraged his demon to stand down. To let him get the facts before deciding her fate. He slammed the office door. “You willingly helped PURE. The Ladon.”
She glanced up quickly. “No, I didn’t willingly do anything. I had no idea who or what the Ladon were when this started.”
Dante felt his demon retreat. The betrayal too painful for the beast to bear. He watched her flinch at the hollow tone in his voice. “If you value my life and those around you at all, you will tell me everything.”
Jess shuddered. “My brother gambles. He got himself into debt with the wrong people. By the time he came to me, it was too late.”
Dante face was like a stone. “Explain.”
“I guess he missed several payments before they no longer believed he would pay the money. They were going to kill him. He said he’d do anything.”
“What did they ask of him?”
Jess sighed. “They learned about me. That I worked for the PIA. They knew the PIA’s true mandate and told Darnell everything. They demanded I work for them or they would kill both him and Maddie.”
“What did they want?”
“Information on you and Valen.”
“They came to you?”
“No, they sent my brother to make the deal. I never had contact with them until I arrived here.”
“They threatened his child.” Dante said.
“Yes.”
“Who threatened her?”
“He said the owner of the Casino was named Louis.”
“Louis Lestant,” Dante said.
Jessica nodded. “I didn’t know that at the time but yes, he is the owner of the Ladon’s Lair Casino.”
“Then what happened?”
Jess shrugged. “I didn’t have the kind of money Darnell had gambled away so I agreed to do as they asked. I didn’t know you or Valen or realize what was at stake. I only knew Maddie and Darnell’s life was in jeopardy.”
“What information did you give them?”
Jess frowned. “That’s the strange part. They have asked for nothing. I thought they wanted information about demons but now that I know they are demons I don’t understand what they want. They killed Maddie’s dog, tried to abduct her, and sent me warnings and I still don’t get it.”
Dante’s eyes narrowed. “That’s why Darnell brought her to stay with you. She was in danger.”
Jess nodded. “Yes.”
“Did you have anything to do with the DK10 abduction?”
Jessica’s eyes widened. “No, I never agreed to hurt anyone or steal any weapons. I didn’t know they existed before Kiki told us.” She let out a breath. “Darnell called me after the theft. He said a Ladon entered our apartment pretending to be Je
nner and tried to abduct Maddie. They fought, and the alarms went off and he left.”
“Did you give them your credentials?”
She shook her head. “No, I didn’t.”
“When did you meet with them?” Dante asked.
“I didn’t. I talked to Draven on the phone but never met him.”
Dante’s stomach rolled at the sound of Draven’s name. His demon stirred in anguish. “Do you know where they are?”
She swallowed loudly. “No, but they aren’t far away. The DK10 transmitter activated a few miles from here. When I stopped to determine the direction, Draven called me. He claimed he could see me. I don’t know where they are but it’s close.”
“Did you report this to Jenner or any PIA supervisor?”
“No,” she said.
Dante held his rising emotions in check. “Did you request the transfer to LA in order to carry out this assignment for PURE?”
She didn’t blink. “Yes.”
She hadn’t lied once. He had asked her the truth countless times, and she hadn’t trusted him. Believed in him. His demon growled through the pain. “I will ask Jenner protect your family, especially the child. Good bye Jessica.” He walked away while his demon howled in pain.
Chapter 10
Jess could barely hold back her tears as she got in her brother’s brown station wagon. The door squeaked as she slammed it shut. She just wanted this whole business to end. Draven would kill her but at least Maddie and Darnell would be safe. She watched Darnell glance at the shelter with a twisted smile on his face. “Get us out of here.”
They drove down the road for a few minutes before he spoke. “What happened?”
“They know everything. We will have to find a different apartment unless you want to return to Seattle.”
Darnell frowned. “I guess killing Sam Krane had an adverse effect. No matter, I have arranged for new accommodations. Maddie is there now.”
Her eyes widened. “What are you talking about? PURE killed Sam Krane.”
Darnell sneered. “I killed him Jessica. He raped my mother and was about to live a life of freedom. I promised dad I would take car of it when the time came and I did.”
“PURE left a card,” she said.
Darnell shrugged. “Draven asked me to. We thought they’d be protective of you if your mother’s rapist was murdered and linked to you. I didn’t think they’d kick you out on your ass. I guess you aren’t that great in the sack.”
Jessica heaved. “Why are you saying this to me? Everything I have done has been to protect you. I have given up my career, my life for you and Maddie.”
Darnell huffed. “You haven’t given up your life... yet.”
Jess felt the tears roll down her eyes. “I just left the only man I ever loved.”
Darnell sneered. “A blood demon! You finally spread your fucking legs, and it’s for a monster. You’re more screwed up than I thought.” He pulled the station wagon onto a narrow dirt road lined with miniature trees.
Jessica’s mind was racing to override the crushing emotions. “Where are we going?”
“To your new home,” he said snidely.
He stopped the car in front of a small rickety house and got out to stand at the bottom of the stairs.
Jessica approached him, glancing at the white paint peeling off the wooden siding. Then glanced in the shelter’s direction. It couldn’t have been over five miles away. Her tracker blipped, she pulled it out of her pocket forgetting she had it. “Darnell what have you done?”
He smacked her. “Don’t talk to me that way. You are nothing. You were born of evil and you will spend the rest of your life making up for it.”
She didn’t block his punch. His fist connected with her cheekbone with such force, she heard the crack in her head. She felt her body slam to the ground before the darkness took her.
Jess woke up with pain splintering through her brain and the smell of cigarettes and stale beer in the air. She looked around the rundown front room, remembering that Darnell had brought her to the old house before he hit her. Jess tried to push herself up from the tattered tan sofa but stopped when the room began to spin. She scanned her surroundings from a prone position, looking for Maddie as pain radiated from her cheek. Her gaze resting on Darnell as he approached the couch.
“Finally, I was thinking I hit you to hard. I didn’t realize you were such a lightweight,” he sneered.
“What’s going on Darnell?” she slurred.
“Get your shit together Jess, I need you sharp and don’t get any ideas about taking off. I’ve ensured your compliance and trust me you don’t want me to show you what that means,” he said.
Jess tried to swallow but her throat felt like brittle parchment. “Why do this?” she croaked.
Darnell sneered. “You know the answer. You have been our parent’s perpetual shame for years. How could this end any other way?”
“That wasn’t my fault,” she said. Her guilt as hideous as the day she’d found out the truth.
“Do you think that matters?” he asked
She recalled her conversation with Dante. “No.”
Darnell huffed. “At least your honest.”
Jess stared at her brother, seeing his true depravity for the first time. Had it had always been there? Had she ignored the signs because of Maddie? “What happened to you? Was this ever about a gambling debt?”
He laughed crudely. “It’s true, I lost a shit load of money at the Ladon’s Lair Casino but that only got me a personal introduction to Louis Lestant. I had the means to pay the debt if I sold off Dad’s investments. He left me everything, including the investments mom wasn’t aware of.”
Pain shot through her face when she frowned. “Then why?”
“I asked Louis if there was something, I could do for him. He offered me an alternative with a bonus I never expected.”
Jess let the betrayal wash through her. “You and Maddie were never in danger. You did this to save money?” she asked.
Darnell grabbed her. His fingers bit into her shoulders. “I did this because I despise you.” He released her. “Mother loved you despite what you are. Dad hated you. Every time you hit the honor role in school. Every merit badge and the countless awards made mom so proud and dad sick.
Jess blinked away the blurriness. “Dad made me well aware of how he felt.”
Darnell smirked. “I know, I enjoyed your little conversations with him.”
“He was disrespectful to our mom too,” she said.
“Of course, he was. Look what she allowed to happen. Women need to be put in their place, but that’s something you never learned.”
“Does your archaic thinking include your daughter?” she asked.
“Maddie was nothing more than an obligation. Her mother was a drug addict and a whore. She used her pregnancy to get her hooks into me. To take her worthless ass off the street.”
Jessica’s heart ached. “Janelle was a kind person. She had a rough upbringing.”
Darnell sneered. “Her mother was a slut and so was she. Apples don’t fall far from the tree do they Jess?”
“She loved you and Maddie.”
“Janelle let me put that needle in her arm. I told her it was the best thing she could do for Maddie. She knew it was her last hit.”
Jess felt the wave of nausea roll through her as tears rolled down her cheek. “You’re sick Darnell. Let me help you.”
Darnell laughed. “Help me? You don’t get it Jessica. I sold you. We just needed you discredited with the PIA so they weren’t looking for you. I will be a CEO with Ladon Enterprises and after you have fulfilled your contract. I’ll have my final reward.”
As bitter as the betrayal her anger overshadowed it. “You used Maddie...”
Darnell leaned in aggressively. “Maddie has never been more than an inconvenience but you and mother doted on her so she was another card to play. Dad said you would be easier to manipulate with your attachment to her and he was right. I
wish he were alive to see you now.”
Jess sneered. “I’m sure dad would be proud you’re just as disgusting as him.”
Darnell’s hands clenched into fists. “You’re as good as dead.”
Jess tired of the charade. “Go ahead. Kill me then.”
Darnell’s eyes narrowed in a sick form of glee. “No. You need to provide a baby Ladon or two before you they will allow you to die.”
Jess slapped him. “I will never...”
Darnell stood. “Maddie honey can you come in here!” he yelled.
Maddie ran into the room, immediately going over to Jess. “Auntie Jess are you okay. Your face looks really bad. Dad said a man attacked you.”
Jess looked into her sweet innocent face. She couldn’t bring herself to rip away the child’s innocence. “I’m okay, baby.” She pushed herself into a sitting position despite the ringing in her ears.
Darnell smiled. “Honey show auntie your new bracelet from the C4 company.”
Maddie held up her arm with the meticulously crafted explosive that looked like plastic bobbles. The blinking light accented the childlike effect.
Jessica’s heart sunk. “How could you?” she whispered.
Darnell steered Maddie back to the bedroom, telling her to play until he called her, before turning back to his sister. “We wouldn’t want you to use that TK of yours. Any disruption and Maddie’s new jewellery goes boom.”
Jess wanted to blast him. She could feel the power rising with her fear but needed to control herself. She was prepared to die, but wasn’t about to leave Maddie with the monster that stood before her. “What do you want me to do?”
Darnell smiled, he heard the defeat in her voice and was enjoying her destruction. “Before you start your new career as mommy dearest, you need to steal bullets and a deactivation code from the PIA.”
“They suspended me.”
“You still have access to the building. They will expect you to go talk to director. You are going into PIA headquarters and stealing what we need for the DK10.”