Page 52 of Dust and Ashes

“How very…progressive.”

He snorted. “That’s about as progressive as an old codger like me gets. But truth is, it was for a vacation Elizabeth and I took right after I retired. While you were in the hospital, back when you got shot. And it came in handy coming down here to get you, so I guess it was worth it in more than one way.”

She followed his lead to a kitchen type break room, and through that to a bathroom.

Stairns said, “I’ll wait out here. Obviously. But I just want you to know I’m not going anywhere.”

Kenna turned back, one hand on the door handle while she leaned her shoulder against the frame on the other side.

A litany of questions ran through her mind. How he had permission for them to be here. How he got her out. What deal he’d made with Navarro.

All that came out was, “Stairns.”

He waited.

She didn’t say anything, wondering if she even could. No words seemed to want to come from her mouth even if she’d known what to say right now.

“You don’t ever have to thank me for anything. I’ve already told you that.”

Burning-hot tears gathered in Kenna's eyes. She clicked the door shut before they could fall and splashed cold water on her face, gasping against the need to cry. A lump built in her throat. She swallowed it down, splashing more water. Drinking some and ignoring the fact she probably was crying whether she wanted to admit it or not.

It wasn’t like anyone would blame her. Even if she had been raised to believe tears were a sign of weakness, they were still a perfectly understandable reaction. Instead of disparaging them, she chose to acknowledge how she felt. That way she could decide whether the feelings she had were true or not.

There was nothing to be afraid of in this bathroom. There was nothing to be afraid of in the break room—it was just Stairns, and Kenna was grateful.

She was safe, and this was only a byproduct of the fear. The relief of being rescued. A way for her nervous system to bleed off the adrenaline of stress and process the fact she was free now.

Jax was alive.

Both of them were safe.

Kenna stripped, dug in the backpack Stairns had given her, and found a washcloth, soap, and a full set of clean clothes. Maizie must have packed it for her. She tied up her hair and cleaned off, scrubbing her skin for probably longer than she needed to. And making a puddle of soapy water on the floor.

When she was changed, Kenna stuffed everything back in the backpack and took it with her. “We should probably burn all this.”

He grasped it and slung the strap over his shoulder. “Elevator.”

Kenna found it, knowing he was giving her the chance to lead the way so she could feel as if she had some semblance of control over anything in this situation. So she could experience the freedom she had now, even if only in a small way.

Kenna hit the button for the second floor.

When the doors opened upstairs, she glanced both ways and spotted a couple of FBI agents outside one of the rooms. Jax had a protective detail keeping guard over him, and she wanted to get their badge numbers. Have Maizie run their names. She’d know if they were the kind of agents who cared enough to do a good job of protecting him.

Both acknowledged Kenna and Stairns on approach. They shifted toward her, and she said, “So they know who I am?”

But they still left her with Kart and rescued their agent.

“Gentlemen.” Stairns tugged something from his pocket, which he handed over.

She glanced at him. “What’s that?”

“Our IDs.”

“You have two minutes.” The agent handed both cards back to Stairns. “No more.”

“I appreciate it,” Stairns said.

The agent made a face. “Only because I owe you.” He shot Kenna a look. “Make it fast.”

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