Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Sylvia sat across the table from Kenna, who was going to eat in front of the woman even if it was rude. Kenna grabbed a napkin and wiped some grease from the fries off her fingers. “Did you send the police on a wild goose chase so you could come here?”
The woman had a placid expression. Kenna wasn’t sure why she seemed to be able to tell that someone was a Dominatus operative. It wasn’t anything mystical or in her genetic code. More like the way they walked or held their heads. Like they weren’t quite comfortable being out in polite society.
Kenna was just mad this woman was interrupting their meal. Jax had his arms folded across his chest. Maizie had stopped working on her computer, and Preston had put his phone down. Even Nora was listening from the counter.
Kenna grabbed another fry and dipped it in her milkshake like this was a normal meal with friends. “Are you gonna answer the question?”
“We hardly need to be concerned with local law enforcement.” Sylvia had the edge of an accent that sounded European.
“Because you’re above the law, is that it?” Definitely a Dominatus way of thinking.
Sylvia glanced over at the booth where Maizie and Preston sat. “Do they have to be here?” Her attention settled mostly on Zeyla, who returned it with a death stare so cold it could have frozen water in a glass.
“Yes, they have to be here.” Kenna wasn’t changing any of her habits or negotiating with this woman. She could ask what this woman wanted and let her talk, or they could get right to the point. “Where is Ellayna?”
Sylvia held her hands clasped between her knees, and her legs were crossed one over the other. It gave her an elongated appearance—and made it look like she was cold. Probably because of the ice in her veins.
“That’s for you to figure out, isn’t it?”
Kenna tipped her head to the side. “So you aren’t going to help or give me a tip? Point me in the right direction, at least.” Or reveal that she had no idea.
But Dominatus prided itself on being in control of everything, or at least, knowing everything. So like the identity of the kidnapper. Or the place where they were being held…
Was that so hard?
“The rules of engagement prohibit me from giving you assistance.”
Kenna stared at her. Then she looked at Zeyla. “Any idea what she’s talking about?”
Zeyla didn’t look at her, she kept all her attention on Sylvia. Looking for any reason whatsoever to get out of her seat and intervene in the situation again. End the conversation. Possibly end Sylvia herself—with lethal force. “Wartime contingencies, or some kind of grand operation going on?”
“If I ask, is she going to tell me what’s going on?”
Zeyla asked, “Do they ever?”
“I am still here, and I can hear your conversation,” Sylvia said with a snooty tone. “It’s rude to talk about someone as if they’re not there.”
Kenna looked at her. “You know where Ellayna and her mother and brother are being held.” She crossed her arms. “Seems like I just had a conversation with someone else about them being an accessory to murder. Right. It was the guy you beat up, shoved in his trunk, and dumped on the side of the road where he wouldn’t be found for a while. ”
Sylvia’s expression didn’t change. The woman gave her nothing. “There are people in the world whose lives are important, and others are expendable.”
“I don’t believe that.”
Sylvia’s eyes flared at that. “You can’t possibly believe that others are as important to the world as you are.” She looked incredulous.
“What if I do?”
“Then you, at least, must believe that your child—”
“She’s not part of this. She isn’t part of Dominatus. You don’t get to use her. Not even simply to make a point.”
Jax’s body tensed, but he didn’t move.
Kenna said, “So tell me. Where do I find them?”
“You’re supposed to be the one that finds them,” Sylvia said. “Isn’t that what I said? Maybe you should listen.”
“Or what?” Kenna shrugged. “Seems like I’m doing fine not taking advice from Dominatus. Maybe you could all continue to leave me alone and let me live my life.”
“Is that a joke?” Sylvia looked like she wanted to laugh but wasn’t sure she should. “None of us are free.”
“Disagree.”
“Freedom is an illusion. People cling to their rights and their freedom and for what? So they can believe the lie and pretend they’re not beholden to the law or paying their taxes?”
“I thought you were above the law.”
Sylvia said, “We all swear allegiance to something.”
“And none of us is free?”
“Of course not. Every action has a consequence, for good or ill. One day, even our thoughts will be regulated, cataloged, and controlled. Society can’t possibly be left to govern itself.
Our leaders have to take more decisive action and make sure that insurrection is squashed before it erupts.
It’s the only way there can be peace and prosperity in the world. ”
Kenna stared at her for a second, trying to absorb the implication of that without it turning out in her mind like a dystopian future where a select few at the top controlled all humans against their will. Peace and perfection—on the surface. Below that, it was manipulation and subjugation.
She glanced at Zeyla.
“I wish I was surprised to hear that’s the plan.” Zeyla looked like she wanted to be sick.
Kenna turned back to Sylvia. “You think I’m going to allow my family to live in that world?” She would fight with everything she had to keep it from happening.
The battles she’d faced would be nothing in comparison.
“There’s no way the world will allow Dominatus to put a tracker in everyone’s mind.” She shook her head. “Good luck even trying to convince people it’s a good idea.”
If they needed her input, she planned to be in Wyoming at her cabin. Living a quiet life and raising her daughter with Jax.
Sylvia just stared at her. Probably confident that the slow creep of Dominatus taking over every facet of society would ensure their victory in the end. An insidious plan that spoke of great patience.
Kenna said, “That’s why you needed one of your assets in the president’s chair.”
She planned to vote for the not-evil candidate for the next election. Although, it wasn’t always so easy to tell. Life didn’t usually come with black-and-white decisions. Sometimes, it was about choosing the least bad option.
Sylvia shrugged very slightly, only barely moving.
Kenna figured if she could keep the woman talking, eventually the police would arrive, and they could arrest Wallace Lofton’s kidnapper.
But if they didn’t make it soon, Jax and Zeyla would have to detain her.
“So in the long term, it’s about total control over the human race?
It’s good to have goals. I have plenty of my own. ”
She prayed for wisdom as she spoke, asking God to give her the words to speak. That was better than allowing her anger and frustration to bubble up, borne of powerlessness, which would just give her an attitude.
Sylvia softened her gaze. “I’m sure you won’t be surprised to know that there are some of us who would fully support your participation. Your advice.”
“You think I’m going to what…join the board of directors or something?”
“It’s one option,” Sylvia said. “General Schnell was a key part of the group, as was Dr. Buzard, the senator that you murdered, and the director of the FBI.” She looked up and to the side, as if trying to think of more people in Dominatus that Kenna had killed.
Kenna said, “There was an asset in England. That was a tough fight. She was good.” And then Bruce had shown up to help her.
“The president is the one who took down Schnell, by the way. Schnell isn’t dead; he was simply shipped off to some military black site where he’s been buried.
His identity scraped from all existence. ”
“A little dramatic, isn’t it?”
Kenna asked, “Why doesn’t Dominatus do that with all their enemies?”
“We aren’t in control of the apparatus of justice, crime, and punishment. If we need to eliminate a dissenter, there are more decisive methods.”
“And yet, I’m still alive.” She refused to believe that everyone in her family was alive simply because they weren’t a threat.
“You carry one of the only children of—”
“Yeah,” Kenna cut her off. “I’ve already heard the whole thing. I’m so special. I’m practically the chosen one.” She laid a hand on her baby bump. “Or she is.”
“Did you pick out a name yet?” Sylvia asked.
“If I had, it wouldn’t be your business.”
Zeyla said, “You can refer to her as your worst nightmare. Because that’s what I’m going to train her to be.”
Maizie snickered. Jax’s tension cracked, and she knew he was about to say something.
“Our child isn’t going to be a part of this fight,” Kenna told Sylvia.
“And yet, she already is.”
“If you didn’t come here to tell me where to find Ellayna, you should just go. I don’t want to hear anything else you have to say.” Kenna sat back in her chair.
“This is a test you have to pass on your own merit. I can’t help you.”
A test?
Sylvia stood. “Someone threw your name in the hat. I guess all that’s left is for you to prove what the rest of us already know. That deep down you’re one of us.”
“You need to explain that.”
“You aren’t part of Dominatus yet, so why would I have to explain anything to you?” Sylvia left her chair pushed out and walked to the back hall, where she disappeared out the rear exit.
“Please tell me I can chase her down.” Zeyla shifted from the seat, grabbed the edge of the table, and planted one foot on the floor. Ready to move fast.
“And do what?” Jax sounded like he wanted to be sick. He touched two fingers to his forehead. “That was fun.”
She looked at him. “She gave us nothing.”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“What do you mean? She could have handed us a lead.”
“I think she wants you to get one yourself,” Jax said. “Because it’s a test.”
Kenna shook her head. “You think that means something?”
“She also mentioned the rules of engagement.” Jax looked at Zeyla. “Any idea what’s going on?”
“You aren’t going to like it.”
Kenna asked, “Do we ever?”
Zeyla almost smiled. “If it’s a test, it’s because Dominatus wants to know what you can do. You’re supposed to prove yourself to them.”
Of course, she’d volunteered to do that. She’d asked them to test her.
Kenna wanted to lean forward and plant her forehead on the table and groan a lot, but bending that way wasn’t an option right now. Instead, she opted to do it to the side and land with her forehead on Jax’s shoulder.
“Of course, they can’t leave me alone. Of course.”
He shifted and put his arm around her, drawing her closer into his side. “Who cares what they want, or what they’re doing. We’re still going to find Ellayna, right?”
“Yes.” She just needed to know where to look.
Maizie was back on her laptop. “Remember those articles about you on Sylvia’s hard drive?”
Kenna looked over. “I remember.”
“There were others about the president. So if this is a test, and she’s reporting back to the rest of them on your progress—”
Zeyla cut in, “Like a journalist, more interested in sensationalism than facts.”
Maizie nodded. “What if the president is also being tested? Hers is about health problems. Maybe she has to prove herself in her job.”
“I guess I could be grateful I’m not the only one in the spotlight.
But what is it for? Just to see what we’re made of?
” She already knew they were disturbed enough to do that.
So, it wasn’t super surprising that they would get their kicks from putting people under pressure and watching what happened.
“Makes me want to go back to Wyoming and hide in the cabin.”
Jax said, “You wouldn’t rest knowing Ellayna is still out there.”
Kenna closed her eyes. God, help us.