Page 106 of Dust and Ashes

Gunshots cracked off behind him, from somewhere outside. Kart’s body jerked. Blood bloomed in the center of his chest, and he fell to the ground.

An FBI agent appeared at the door. “Sorry we’re late.” He rushed in. “Jaxton?”

“I’m good.” Jax faced off with Navarro. “We need to get Stairns to the hospital.”

The second FBI agent stepped over Kart’s body, then searched him for weapons and ID.

The first one crouched in front of Kenna. “Stairns?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Let’s get you to a doctor, yeah?” He lifted her friend, who grabbed for Kenna’s hand.

“Don’t worry. Just go with them.” She shook her head. “I’ll get her back.”

The guy carried Stairns in his arms to the door, and the other agent got what he’d collected from Kart. He checked outside, then watched out for Jax as Kenna stood. She barely had the strength to push herself up the wall but rallied and went to stand in front of Navarro.

Jax went to the door, then turned back. Gun raised and a lethal expression in his eyes. “Kenna?”

“We can’t just leave him here with his money.” Six million—or however much it was after Ramon took some out. “He should be arrested.”

“Come with me so we can get Stairns to the hospital.”

This man was responsible for her friend’s fate. He’d let the sheriff in here. If Maizie was lost and Stairns didn’t make it, then Navarro would be the reason they were lost.

His eyes glinted. She saw a flash of Navarro’s teeth, and his shoulders turned. The intent telegraphed in his expression and the twist of his body.

She flung up her left hand.

Navarro’s knife sliced across the blade of her forearm. Kenna cried out.

Jax pulled the trigger on his weapon, and Navarro hit the tile.

She gasped and held her arm to her front, backing up.

Jax ran over. He pulled Navarro’s phone from his pocket, straightened, and slid his arm around her. “Come on, Kenna.”

They stumbled together to the door.

His voice rumbled in his chest, under her cheek. She heard him say, “What were you thinking?” Then her awareness swam, and she heard his words as though below the surface of water and he remained above it. Free while she drowned.

But she couldn’t.

Stairns…

Maizie…

Hot wind whipped her hair around her face. She barely felt the sting of the cut on her arm. Jax walked her to the car, and she tumbled in beside Stairns. Her former boss sat against the rear passenger side door. He’d lost so much blood he looked dead.

Kenna scrambled across the seat and pressed two fingers to his throat.

She felt his pulse—barely.

Kenna didn’t like the noise that burst from her throat. Jax tugged her back against him, half in his lap. Lying awkwardly against his side. She tried to twist around. “I’m hurting you.”

“Shhh.” He wrapped his arms around her and held on, the hold not unlike a straight jacket. Both his arms covering her arms, keeping her from moving. Flailing.

Losing it.

“We need to put pressure on.”

“We’ll be there in five minutes,” one of the other agents said.

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