Page 84 of Every Which Way

Bruce sighed. “Roxanne will recognize us both.”

“I’m more worried about the other people at the party.” Her phone rang, so she slid her thumb across the screen. “Yeah, Maze?”

“I got the guest list. I’m adding your names, but you’re not going to like this.”

Kenna frowned. Out the window, the sky was more clouds than stars. The road was darkness and headlights. Brake lights. Streetlights. All of it ruined what nature should look like at night.

Maizie might need the Airstream, but Kenna needed open sky. Maybe Wyoming or Utah. Someplace with no one for miles and nothing but stars overhead.

“Senator Woodford is attending, which you might think is a big deal, but also on the list is Adrielle Jaxton and Elaine Caliveri.”

“Laney?” Jax’s sister and mom would be at the party? “Are you serious?”

Bruce pulled off the highway.

“They’re on the list.”

Kenna said, “They’re supposed to have protection on them, and they’re walking right into the lion’s den?”

Bruce gripped the wheel. “It’s their world. Isn’t it?”

Maizie said, “I should call Jax and tell him what’s going on.”

“Thanks, Maze. Anyone else on the list I should know about?”

“A federal judge. The lieutenant governor from Wyoming. Business leaders. College professors. Stairns said ‘captains of industry,’ whatever that means.”

“Law enforcement?”

“Maybe. I’m still running names on the… Yikes, this guy is the general of the Colorado National Guard. When I saw Adrielle’s and Laney’s names, I called you right away.”

“Thanks. I’ll make sure they’re safe, and I’ll get them out. Bruce can take care of Amara.”

Maizie said, “Stairns said if you come across the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, give them a wide berth.”

“Copy that.” She spotted the turn up ahead. “We’re here.”

“You have comms.” Maizie hung up.

Bruce pulled into the drive and went through the open gate between two brick pillars with stone lions on top. He slowed to go down the long drive lined with cars. The drive circled at the end, with a fountain in the center. The two-story house was lit up. A valet took guests’ keys at a stand out front.

“Guess this is it.” She tucked her phone into the glove box.

Bruce said, “Try not to stab anyone.”

“That’s it? That’s your advice.”

“You go for the family. I’ll take care of your mom.” He pulled up at the valet stand.

Kenna said, “Try not to get hypnotized again, or I’ll stab you.”

He just grinned.

ChapterTwenty-Two

Bruce escorted her through the front door. She half expected someone to announce their names to the ballroom, but with the number of guests here, that would become tiresome.

The expansive ceiling had arches several feet apart, all the way down to two halves of a staircase that met on an upper level opening to the right. It seemed the party was going on up there also. People were moving up and down the stairs, and music was coming from the center of the room, where a stringed ensemble played in front of the fireplace.

---