Page 92 of Long Road Home

Cecilia Warren had been Kenna’s roommate at Quantico. An agent everyone thought had gone to the dark side during an undercover operation had been reported as missing, the subject of a manhunt that never turned up anything. Cecilia had been his handler, and when Kenna met him in Mexico, the story he’d told her was far different from the official report.

Now she ran into a man who was prepared to testify against this dirty agent.

Because the marshals were building a case against her? They’d have to have brought it to the attention of the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility. But as much asshe wanted it otherwise, some people did live as though they were above the rule of law.

Like it didn’t even apply to them.

Kenna’s soul-deep sense of justice didn’t like it, which was why she’d been so determined to figure out a way to expose the corruption. But had Jax already managed that?

She didn’t like the distance between them any more than she did. But on her part, it was more that they had so much they didn’t disclose until it was essential. She wanted to figure out how they could do that differently. If she got the chance to remember this later.

Up ahead, she spotted a row of headlights facing them light. Christmas lights. “What does she have, Jax?” This was more like a holiday nightmare.

Looked like four vehicles. The row facing her had the semi winding around them, half off the road on the shoulder given how it was tipped to the right. Trying to get past them to continue. It wasn’t easy, but the driver got around the roadblock. Kenna didn’t figure they would be as able.

“A homestead close by, about a mile. But it’ll be rough going in this weather,” Jax said. “The owner’s name is Merrington.”

“We’re going,” Kenna said. “East or west?”

“East.”

She eyed the left side of the road, where a line of cars blocked oncoming traffic. Beyond them, and all around, nothing but white and the night sky with the muted sun rising in the distance to her right.

Kenna hit the gas and the SUV lurched forward, picking up speed. She’d have to time it right, but with no way to figure out when the right moment would be, who knew how this would go.

Guess it’s up to You.

The headlights rushed toward them.

At the last minute, Kenna dragged the wheel to the left, angling over to the car on the left-hand side. Headlights flashed across the right side of the SUV, and she felt the impact on the back corner.

The SUV swerved, and the embankment came up way too fast.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Kenna found herself in an odd moment of clarity. The vehicle bumped down the embankment, which turned out to be shallow, and lurched up the far side. Her mind cleared so she had no thoughts in her head to grasp. There was nothing but peace in that moment.

The peace she had in Jesus, permeating through her.

If they all died tonight, she would be laid to rest. And that seemed fitting—to call it “rest.”

It would happen with Jax here.

In tenderness He sought me.

The windshield showed her nothing but cloudy, snow-laden sky, then they lowered back down and hit flat ground. Kenna eased down the gas, forcing her foot to not mash the gas pedal and leave them spinning.

Pilsborough gripped the handle above the door on his side. Someone in the back yelped.

She leaned forward so her back was off the seat. Grasped the wheel tight. Drove up the hill on the left side of the highway, the snow getting deeper and deeper. “We aren’t going to get much farther.”

Was this really Merrington land, or would they fall short of safety?

She also had to wonder if bringing this situation to their doorstep was a good idea. Kenna didn’t like the idea of putting innocent people in danger, but right now they needed some serious help.

Whether that roadblock of cars were friends of the local guys from the airport, or colleagues of the men they’d left up at the cabin, she figured they would find out. And either way their intention was lethal.

The vehicle slowed despite her pressing down on the gas pedal. They were wading through deep snow now.

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