Page 77 of Long Road Home

The fact she was witnessing her worst fear right in front of her face wasn’t something she could dwell on. How was she supposed to appreciate what she had if she never actuallyhadit? They’d barely spent any time together, and now he could be dead?

Kenna cried out as she stood.

She kept running, skidding in spots.

Kenna headed for that open door. She couldn’t even make sense of what had happened. Had the guy on the office roof been a spotter for someone else? She couldn’t work it out.

She spotted movement in the airplane doorway. A tall man stepped into view, holding on to the side of the opening.

He jumped down onto the snow, lowering into a crouch before he stood up.

Alive.

Unhurt by the look of it, but not even wearing a coat over his sweater and pants. His eyes widened as he saw her tear across the space that separated them as fast as she could. “Did you see?—”

Kenna slammed into Jax, and they caught each other.

Chapter Twenty-Two

“I’m fine.”

“I’m not!” Kenna screamed the words against Jax’s shoulder, then realized she was being ridiculous. She shoved him away. “Go get your coat!”

Jax’s white smile flashed in the dark.

“Is anyone hurt? We have to get out of here before anything else happens.” They also needed to talk through all of whatever on earth that had been. “Inside is probably warmer, though.”

“Not really.” He shuddered. “Why is itfreezing?”

“It’s called winter.” He wasn’t in San Diego anymore. “Do you at least have a base layer on under that?”

“A what?”

Kenna winced. “This is gonna be rough.” She looked back at her vehicle. “Maybe I should run over and get the car.”

“I’ll do that in a second.”

She looked down at his shoes, then up at his face. “It’s slippery. You’re not going to be running anywhere.” Kenna climbed into the plane, which immediately looked odd. Upside down meant the seats were hanging from the ceiling,but that meant the men were easier to find. Two marshals and a man in cuffs, all dressed so she’d never have pegged them as anything other than regular men. At least they had coats. “Someone checked the weather before the plane took off.”

“I have a coat.” Jax nudged her arm as he passed, a gentle and playful jab she liked a lot.

One of the marshals said, “This her?”

“Yes, sir.” Jax nodded. “Marshal Pilsborough, Kenna Banbury.” Pilsborough had a beard. “And that’s Marshal Destain.” He motioned to the clean-shaven one. “And their friend here, who you can call Jim.”

“Sheriff’s department.” Kenna indicated her badge. “Deputy Banbury, I guess. If you need that. Kenna is fine, though. What about the pilot?”

Jax shook his head. “We need to get moving.” Who knew who they might run into on their way down to Chicago, or wherever she was saying goodbye to them.

On that thought, she went to the nearest window and lowered the shade so she could look out. “Whoever hit the plane could be on their way over.” She spotted a car. “In fact, they’re headed this way now.” Under her arm, she took a photo of the prisoner with her phone.

Maizie would get his image right away.

As Kenna watched out the window, the car fishtailed on the runway. Another plane was coming in for landing. Then she remembered she’d called 911 for the office guy who’d been tied up.

“First responders should be inbound,” she said, “but I don’t see any sign of lights and sirens.” How much longer till they got there?

Jax said, “Got a radio?”

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