There was so much for them to work through, thoughts would creep in during the weeks to come. Emotions would surface out of nowhere. Probably both of them needed to see a professional, so they could work through this separately and together. Whether that was Elizabeth or not, it needed to be someone. Just as long as they could ensure it wasn’t an agent of their enemy—something they were going to have to consider with everything that happened until this was over.
Someone behind them cleared their throat.
“No,” Jax said. “Go away.”
Kenna started to laugh, her dark eyes flashing with humor. “Wow, I don’t think I’ve laughed in…”
He figured he knew the answer to that. “The first of many to come. Hopefully a lifetime of it.”
Even if they had the fight of their lives on their hands. If they wanted to make sure their baby grew up safe, protected in a world where there was noDominatus, there was yet more work ahead of them.
He couldn’t walk away and hide, knowing they were out there. His family would always be on their radar. Agents would never stop coming after them, and their children.
“Guys.”
Jax reluctantly looked over his shoulder, the movement making him antsy. He shivered, rolling his shoulders, and let go of Kenna. But he stayed close so he could be near her, taking her hand when she touched his. Reluctant to let go of each other now that they were back together.
Ramon stood at the curtain. “We have a problem.” He handed over a cell phone. “It’s your father.”
Jax took the phone and saw it was on speaker. “Dad?”
“You found her?” His father’s tone rang with a tone Jax couldn’t decipher. Wasn’t he happy? Maybe this problem they had was overshadowing the relief.
Kenna squeezed his hand.
“Yeah, Dad,” Jax said. “I found her.”
“I’m sorry to do this. So sorry. Something happened.” He quit talking. “I’m so glad you got her back, but things have happened here. I don’t know how to fix it.”
“What is it?” After his dad didn’t reply for a few seconds, Jax said, “Dad?”
“Sorry. I’m in a closet, hiding.”
“At the MSI office?” Jax glanced at Ramon, who shrugged.
His dad said, “Yes.”
Ramon spoke quietly, “I couldn’t get Zeyla or Maizie to answer. I remembered the number to one of our burner phones. He’s the one who picked up.”
Kenna’s hand tightened in his when Ramon mentioned Zeyla and Maizie. He had so much to tell her about what happened since she was taken.
Ramon stared at Kenna. “It’s good to see you.”
She smiled at her friend, a sheen of tears in her eyes. “You, too.” She sniffed. “Pregnancy is making me emotional.”
Jax leaned over and kissed her forehead. He was about to ask his dad what was going on when the old man came back on.
“Okay, I think they’re gone,” his dad whispered. “I don’t know how to explain it. I got a weird vibe, and things went all tense here. The security guard just finished a sweep, so I should be able to leave this closet now. Preston told me to stay put.”
“Dad, where is Maizie?” Jax asked, aware of the tension in both Ramon and Kenna at the idea that the young woman might be in danger. Meanwhile, his skin hummed, and he was sweating more than he should be, his heart beating hard in his chest so he could feel it thump against his insides.I’m fine.Like saying that to yourself ever actually worked.
“That’s part of it,” his dad said. “I don’t know what happened, but things got worse. The first day after you left, Maizie started freaking out because she couldn’t get a signal from your watch, and Zeyla was right there with her. After the next day, when the team deployed to come after you, there were just a couple of MSI guys who stayed behind—guess they didn’t make the cut. Then yesterday, Preston and Jonas were in a meeting in the conference room, talking to someone on the screen. That’s when things went electric and everyone was acting weird.”
Jax nodded. “Dominatusmapped my face and got on a call with the director of the FBI to tell them that I switched sides.” He had to stop and roll his shoulders.
“Are you okay?” Kenna asked.
“I’m good.”