Page 7 of Storm and Tempest
“I’m not part of your team.”
“Bro, that hurts.” Ramon went to the passenger door. “Get in and drive.”
Chapter Three
Jax slammed the driver’s door shut, completely unapologetic of his bad mood. The sound echoed against the concrete under the overpass like a gunshot. He needed a flashlight so he didn’t trip over something, but Ramon didn’t offer him one. Before he could ask where the others were and why this meeting was happening under a bridge, a car turned the corner across the asphalt expanse and headed for them. Maizie. Another car pulled in behind it.
He leaned against the car and probably came across as relaxed. Or at least ready.
Instead, on the inside, he was roiling. Everything in him had burned hotter and hotter as he drove here, not listening to whatever Ramon had been saying. Not when all he could think about was Kenna showing up at a bar topurchasea person. As if life could be bought or sold.
It was though, far too much in this world, but that didn’t mean itshouldbe.
His fingers curled into fists by his sides. No way would Kenna ever get involved with something like that. At least not voluntarily. It was entirely possible she’d been brainwashed. They’d seen it before with people captured byDominatus, andhe’d read about it from the reports his agents had written after the silo operation. There had been people down there—in that decommissioned missile silo turned into a research center—who had been under the influence of a drug that made them compliant. By all accounts, they’d been little more than zombies who had to be woken up as it were, and then they’d snapped out of it.
Could that be what had happened?
His mind spun with the implication. With questions he had no answers to, followed by even more questions. Like how on earth he was going to get her back.
Moisture gathered in his eyes, and he turned his head. They’d probably believe he was scanning to make sure this clandestine meeting at an out-of-the-way place wasn’t under surveillance, and not that he had to blink away the tears in his eyes.
Multiple car doors slammed, and he turned to watch Maizie and Bruce wander over.
Maizie said, “Jax?”
He knew that tone, even if the dim light obscured the expression on her face. The young woman sounded nervous, but that didn’t mean there was a problem. He’d become pretty good at reading her over the past few weeks, but it was too soon to find the good in this situation.
Gratitude could come after they found Kenna.
“I’m good.” He pushed off the side of the car and went to sit on the front quarter panel, his entire body heavy with exhaustion, wanting to avoid the heat under the hood. “What’s going on?”
Ramon stood to his left.
Bruce approached, causing Maizie to turn slightly so he wasn’t in her blind spot. He said, “Amara and Zeyla got tied up doing something.”
Jax didn’t even want to talk about Kenna’s mom and sister—or her aunt and cousin. Whatever those two women were to Kenna, they were the closest thing she had to extended family.
Kenna and Zeyla had never even had a conversation, since they’d only met when Zeyla had been unconscious. The young woman was recovered now, and rebuilding a life. The mom, Amara, was more of a wildcard than anyone Jax had ever met. The woman made Bruce look normal.
Jax didn’t want to need their help finding Kenna, but what other options did he have? “Why are we here?”
He’d just been given some of the worst news of his life, and he was expected to make nice with Kenna’s team? He needed to hit the gym, lift something heavy, and push all the thoughts and questions out of his mind. Then he would eat something and fall into bed.
Tomorrow he would do it all over again. Every day looking for a break in this case.
How did Kenna do it?
Maizie said, “Ramon has this friend. She’s a reporter.”
Jax glanced at Ramon. “Afriend?”
“From my short stint at the FBI.” He shifted his stance, shoving his hands in his pockets. Drew out his phone and checked the screen. “She received an anonymous email, untraceable.”
Jax looked at Maizie.
“I tried from my laptop at home. I didn’t want to use the Bureau’s network in case someone discovered it, or there was a virus embedded in the video.”
“Let me guess, Kenna is on it. Trafficking young girls forDominatus.”
