Page 38 of One More Chance

One pushed back his chair and stood. “This conversation is over.”

Chapter Eleven

Daylight seemed harsh after the dim light of that dining room in the basement. Wherever they’d been, she was glad to be out of there. Even if they’d been summarily dismissed. No more conversation. No more exchanging information. Thanks and goodbye. The rest had disappeared through different hatches in the walls, leaving Four to walk them up to the surface.

Kenna had tried to ask him questions, but he hadn’t answered. Not even a “goodbye” or “nice talking to you.” Not one word.

As soon as they stepped out, he closed the door behind them.

“What did One give you?”

Kenna opened her hand. How her husband knew that man had given her anything with just a handshake was anyone’s guess. “A card with a phone number on it. Nothing else.”

Jax asked, “Are you okay? I know you were hoping they might give you answers as to what happened to you.”

“They also gave us an address.”

“You remember it?”

She nodded, pulling out her phone. She sent the address and the phone number to Maizie so her assistant could run downboth and then grabbed Jax’s hand. “Let’s get Bruce and get out of here.”

“We’re checking out that address? They all but admitted they killed that woman just so she didn’t give away anything about you.”

“They wouldn’t have said they killed someone in front of an FBI agent. That would have led you to arresting them.”

“You think I would’ve been able to do that?”

He didn’t like feeling powerless any more than she did. Something else they had in common. “I don’t think they’re bad guys we need to take down, but they’re definitely not harmless.”

“Neither are you, and I haven’t arrested you yet.”

She grinned at him. “What do you think Bruce has been up to while we were led on a goose chase and given the runaround?”

Jax smiled back. “With Bruce, I’m not sure I want to guess.”

“Probably a good call.”

“You really trust him? I mean, he hasn’t exactly let you down before, but you’ve been in situations where he should’ve had your back, but he didn’t.”

“The people I trust are…less than the fingers on my hand.” Was he one of them? “I guess there are degrees even of that. Full trust? You. Ryson and his family. Maybe it’s just you since I don’t see him much.”

“We should go visit them at the holidays.”

“I’d like that.” There were others, like Maizie and Ramon. People she put a whole lot of faith in. But she’d been burned before.

She squeezed his hand and pulled open the door for the main hall. Moving from the outside scorching temperature into the air-conditioned indoor space made bumps appear on her arms.

“Your arms do seem better with all this.”

“I know.” She looked down at her forearms while they were tucked in this little entryway together, between the exteriordoors and the ones that led into the dining hall. A small alcove with a noticeboard covered with event flyers, one about a missing cat. “I’m trying not to think about it, but they almost feel…fine.”

“That’s a good thing.” He touched her shoulder, his hand sliding over so his thumb could swipe her cheek. “The stronger, the better. Considering you expend your life to help people and right the wrongs of the world. If you can do that with a little less pain, I’m okay with it.”

“Even if the trade-off is that evil wins?”

He leaned close. “Don’t let it.”

“Easy for you to say.”

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