Page 97 of Every Which Way

Jax lifted two fingers in acknowledgment, scanned the room, and found her in the chair with Miller standing over her.

Miller stepped back, a pinched look on his face.

“Hey, buddy. How’s it going?” Jax clapped Miller on the shoulder. “Good to see you.”

“Sir.”

Kenna bit the inside of her lip to keep from smiling. “Don’t let that dirty agent go. You should get to the bottom of that.”

“Right after he uncuffs you.” Jax stopped beside her and stuck his hands in his pockets. Holding himself back from what he wanted to do.

Miller used a key to release the cuffs, taking them and walking away.

Jax held out his hand, and she stood, touching her lips to his. “You lost your shoes?”

She didn’t kiss him the way she wanted to right now, but it was enough in a room full of people where he had to be professional. “It’s been an interesting night.”

“You’re cold.”

“Can I have your coat?”

He smiled slightly, tugged off the badge, and slid his coat off. He helped her thread her arms through and then slid the badge onto his belt. “There isn’t anything I can do about your shoes.”

“You could piggyback me out to the car.”

He smiled, then tugged the lapels of the coat toward him and kissed her. “Wouldn’t that cause a stir.”

“I didn’t realize I was so cold. Your coat is warm.” She wrapped the edges around her. The wool fell to her knees almost, heavy and warm. “We need to find people. Get moving.”

“Maizie.”

She nodded.

Jax pulled out a set of keys. “There’s an Audi out front. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Thanks.” She took the keys and kissed his cheek.

Now that he was here, she had no desire to question Charlie or do anything else right now. But only in this moment. Tomorrow might be a different story, but right now she wanted to curl up in this coat and warm up. Afterward they’d all make a plan together.

She headed for the door. “Bruce.” Kenna checked that the comms earbud was still seated correctly so she could hear him if he spoke. “Bruce, do you read me?”

Outside, a crowd of cops had gathered on the lawn, so she couldn’t see the two bodies. Probably for the best. The human form didn’t do well hitting water at terminal velocity. Things got messy.

She stepped as lightly as she could across the gravel drive to the car that lit up when she clicked the button on the key fob. A man sat in the front seat. It took her a second to recognize Jax’s father.

He’d sent her out here knowing his dad was in the car?

Kenna pulled open the rear door and slid in. “Mr. Jaxton, how are you?”

“Kenna.” He glanced at her, twisting around a little in the seat so he could look at her. “I’m eager to hear word about my wife and daughter. Her husband is quite beside himself that he can’t reach her, and I’d imagine the children are worried.”

Laney’s husband probably wouldn’t have said anything that would scare them. “I lost track of them at the party. Perhaps they ran out of phone battery or got lost on unfamiliar roads.” He’d had a security detail on them, hadn’t he? Surely, they knew where Laney and Adrielle had gone. Or if they were still in the house. “Have you heard from the people who were protecting them?”

“They were dismissed for the evening.” Seemed like he had to force the words out. Like he didn’t want to tell her but knew he had to give her the information in order to get them back. “Adrielle didn’t want to bring them to the party. They were nearby, expecting a call to collect the women and take them back to the hotel.”

“So they could still be here. Do you have a way to track their phones and see where they are?”

“Both left the building earlier, and their phones stopped transmitting their locations just beyond the grounds of this residence.” He shifted in the seat, looking through the windshield. “Oliver asked me to lend you his cell phone?” He said it like a question, handing over the device.

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