A Matter Of Justice (Grey Justice #4)(55)

“No. But it’s not like I realized I was missing anything. Everything that happened seemed normal to me. I didn’t know anything different. At least, not until…”

“Until?”

As clear as if it were yesterday, she remembered that monumental, life-changing moment when she met Grey.

“Did you know that Grey’s parents were in the same kind of business as the Grey Justice Group?”

“No. Grey never talks about them.”

“They were part of an organization called The Justice Seekers. It wasn’t a government-sanctioned group, but they were able to get away with certain things an ordinary citizen might not.”

“Is that how you two met?”

“Yes, but see…I was the villain in the scenario. Grey was my mark.”

“Why?”

“Reed was contracted to assassinate an important government official. I didn’t know the details, only that Grey’s parents somehow thwarted the hit. It not only cost Reed a lot of money, it embarrassed him. His pride was bruised.”

“And he used you to get to them.”

Even though she was na?ve in many ways, Kennedy had been around long enough to see where the story was going.

“They were too careful, too prepared, to be caught by Reed in a normal way. So, he decided to use their son instead.”

“You lured Grey? How old were you?”

“I was fifteen, though I lied and said I was seventeen. Grey was seventeen... Actually, he wasn’t Grey then. His name was Liam. His parents were Natalie and Andrew Bishop.” She smiled and added, “You’re the only one I’ve ever told that to.”

“I wouldn’t tell anyone.”

“I know that. Anyway, I stalked Grey for several weeks, learned his routines. When I decided I knew what I needed, I went for him.”

“How?”

“I knew the route he would take from his home to his classes. I knew the time. I simply arranged for a flat tire. Even back then, Grey was a knight in shining armor. He stopped to help.

“I guess you might say we had chemistry right off the mark. We started dating. He was…” Her heart lurched a little as she remembered. “He was both a gentleman and a gentle man.”

“What happened?”

“Exactly what Reed and I planned. Grey and I dated for several months. He was a bit private, but I played him brilliantly. When he finally took me to meet his parents, I knew he was already half in love with me.”

“You didn’t…I mean, you wouldn’t…”

“No, I didn’t kill them outright. Reed wanted them for himself. I arranged for the meeting. They walked into a death trap that I set up.”

“How?”

“I charmed them, just as I charmed their son. They believed I was neglected, mistreated. I came up with this elaborate lie that my parents were abusive, didn’t care for me. It was a poor-little-rich-girl scenario, and I played it like I was born for the stage.”

It still hurt to talk about it, but backing away from the truth never solved anything.

“I arranged for them to meet my so-called parents at my so-called home. The Bishops didn’t say anything, but I got the impression they were going to ask if I could live with them. Grey would have been going away to university soon, and…” She swallowed past the giant lump in her throat and covered her awkwardness with a shrug. “They were just that kind…that good.”

“What happened?”

“I realized too late that I couldn’t go through with it. I screamed, tried to warn them. Reed wasn’t having it. He killed them both.”

“And Grey?”

“He was at school. The authorities called him.”

“What happened to you?”

“Reed was furious. I was punished for my betrayal.”

“Punished how?”

“He choked me until I passed out. When I woke, we were back at Hill House, in the training room.”

“What did he do?”

“He beat the bottoms of my feet with several different instruments. I had been punished like that before, but not quite so severely. When he finished, he walked away. He knew I couldn’t walk, so he didn’t worry I would leave.”

Tears shone in Kennedy’s eyes. “How did you get away from him?”

“I waited until everyone went to bed, and then I crawled out of the house.”

“Oh, Irelyn,” Kennedy said softly.

She rarely thought about those horrific hours anymore. The pain had eventually gone away. She had healed. The pain of what she did to Grey and his parents was much less bearable.

“There was a telephone kiosk down the road. I called Grey, and he came to get me.”

“You crawled all that way on your knees?”

“My knees. My ass. I would have crawled my way across England to get away from the bastard.”

“Did Grey know what happened? About Reed? The setup?”

“Not until I told him.”

“You could have lied.”

“No, I couldn’t. I was through lying. I was willing to take whatever punishment Grey wanted to give me. I deserved death. I deserved every hateful, hideous punishment he might want to inflict on me. Instead, Grey gave me a new life.”