Page 117 of Every Which Way

Charlie dove out of the row he’d been in and slammed into the person, knocking them into the opposite row, colliding with chairs that went flying. She couldn’t hear anything except the ringing in her ears.

She watched for them to rise up above the chairs so she could see what was happening. But they didn’t.

Kenna looked back behind her for the judge, but he was nowhere to be found.

If they were raiding this room, what about the cabin? What about her mom and sister? By doing this, they could be signing the death warrant for her family if Woodford had left instructions that they were to be killed immediately if anything happened.

Hot tears rolled down her face.

Her hold on Woodford must have slipped a little because he shifted. His hips came up. Then his foot swung up, and he kicked up toward his backside. His shoe caught her shoulder, and she cried out, moving out of his reach. She didn’t let his head up. He would probably bite her.

Out of the smoke, Maizie moved to the chairs over where Laney and her mom had been. She might’ve said something to Kenna. All she saw was mouthed words tossed in her direction with a glance. She heard none of it.

Kenna kept up her two-handed grip on Woodford’s fingers. He thrashed again and stilled. Passed out? His hand would relax, and he would let go of the switch if she wasn’t careful. But it would be far easier to keep the button pressed down with him no longer fighting her.

She allowed her hands to relax a little but didn’t let go of the button. She put all of her attention on holding it down.

Listening to the ringing in her ears.

Keeping Laney and Adrielle alive.

Someone touched her face. She lifted her chin, tears still rolling down her face. Jax spoke to her, but all she could do was shake her head. He frowned.

“It’s a dead man’s switch.” She spoke slowly, forcing the words out. He had to know what was happening.

Jax flinched. He reached back on his belt and pulled out plastic ties, which he used to circle Woodford’s hand and keep his fingers on the button.

Finally, she could let go.

Kenna slumped back, moving her leg off Woodford’s shoulders. She had no strength to get up and laid on the floor instead, staring up at the ceiling. She turned her head to see Jax shouting orders to others. Maizie ran over with her phone, typing on the screen. She held it close to the switch in Woodford’s hand and glanced at Jax, saying something. He squeezed her shoulder.

Kenna couldn’t hear what they were saying and couldn’t get up. She couldn’t ask where Stairns and Ramon were or what had happened to Jax’s dad—and Bruce, who’d been shot in the chest and left for dead.

Tears leaked from the corner of her eye.

Jax glanced at her for a second, then said something to Maizie.

They weren’t going to be able to take the explosive collars off. Not without…the key. Kenna rolled over and pushed up. Her arms didn’t like that, so she just scooted along the floor in the wedding dress. Probably getting it dirty.

The whole getting married business was ruined for now anyway, so she didn’t worry about it.

She tugged his suit jacket out from under him and dug in the closest pocket.

Jax set his hand on her arm. She looked at him, and he shook his head, silently asking,What?

She motioned turning a key, then touched her collar, then pointed to where his mom and Laney were.

“There’s a key?”

Jax helped her search the senator’s pockets. The guy was unconscious, but she didn’t want to be next to him when he woke up. Not without the knife in her dress.

She patted her front and made sure it was there.

Jax came up with the key from the senator’s pocket, touched her cheek, and leaned across the unconscious man to touch his lips to hers.

Woodford shifted.

She fell back, and the senator lifted a gun with his left hand. Jax’s holster was empty.

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