“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 ofDominatus. 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 fromDominatus. 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 theirfreedomand 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 allowDominatusto 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 ofDominatustaking 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.
