Page 89 of Every Which Way

Kenna shifted her weight and brought her knee up between his legs. She knew she’d hit the jackpot when he doubled over and collapsed onto the floor. “Sorry, but it’s effective.”

He grabbed for her foot, anger suffusing his features. Crying out.

She jumped out of his hold and wound up kicking off the shoes. They’d been expensive but ridiculous. Not pricey enough for her to risk going back and retrieving them. She ran the few feet to the next door, the one that would get her into that back room at the top of the stairs.

Hopefully, Laney and Adrielle had managed to leave with no trouble. Her partner tonight was the first priority. “You read me, Bruce?”

“Loud and clear.” He sounded distracted.

“We’re bugging out.”

“And things were just getting interesting,” he said. “Thought that guy was going to proposition you right then and there.”

Kenna made a face. “I’m spoken for.”

Bruce chuckled. “Good for you, kid.”

They could talk about him calling her that later. After they got out of this. “What are you working on?”

“A treasure trove. I’m getting it all photographed so it uploads to Maizie or whatever y’all have setup.”

“If you’re in a lower level, it might not transmit until you’re topside. How far down did you get?”

“Subbasement four.”

Kenna blew out a breath. “So this place is even bigger than we know.” She ducked into the VIP room, trying to slip through without causing a scene. No one followed her from the hall, so she eased the door closed quietly. “Any sign of my mom?”

“No. Hang on. Someone is coming.”

“Forget what you have and get out. This situation is getting too hot.” He’d come here knowing that their enemy, this company, might be aware that he’d killed one of their high level assets. Considering she’d been trying to murder Kenna and Jax at the time, it was justified. But the company might hold a grudge against Bruce for protecting her the day she got engaged.

He would tell her he didn’t much care about the threat. He cared about the mission and their little group being safe. After that, he was going to take care of his own business with his former partner, or handler, whoever that guy had been. The rest of them would help, but they all knew this took precedence.

Through her earbud, she heard someone talking in a higher tone, like a woman’s voice, but couldn’t make out what they were saying.

She eased through the VIP room all nonchalant and got to the top of the stairs, scanning the room. As if she would find Laney and Adrielle in the ballroom somewhere. They should be long gone by now.

She held the rail and descended the carpeted steps like it was perfectly normal to do that in bare feet and an expensive dress.

When she was almost to the bottom step, the front doors of the building flew open and crashed against the wall. Police in bulletproof vests and waterproof jackets strode in, followed by armed tactical officers. She rounded the stairs at the bottom just as they announced themselves.

“FBI! Nobody leaves, nobody causes a fuss. Everybody stays where they are.” The guy in charge wasn’t Miller, but she figured he would be here.

No one paid any mind. Most of the crowd jogged themselves out of their surprise and started to head for the exits.

Kenna glanced over her shoulder and saw local police and state cops. Mostly feds, though. But local SWAT were good and not to be left out of the fun. The cooperation between agencies was heartwarming.

She found a door under the stairs and tried the handle, finding it unlocked. She nearly thanked God, but considering she was fleeing the police, maybe that wasn’t the best idea.I always need help though, and that’s what You do. So, I’m asking for wisdom. This thing could go sideways so easily. Maybe it already did, and I just don’t want to admit it.

She ducked through the door, and a few people rushed after her, trying to get away from the cops.

Kenna spotted a kitchen, all brightly lit, at the end of the hall. She smelled cooking meat, and the top of the wall at the ceiling seemed a little hazy with smoke. The people with her pressed against her back, so she stepped to the side and let them pass.

An open door opposite her, halfway down the hall, led to a lower level. She slipped into the stairwell, pulling the door closed behind her just as a cop came into the hall. He didn’t notice her. She shut the door silently and felt for the wall, picturing the stairs in her head. Dark wood, about two feet wide, a little spiral staircase for staff to use to get around the house. For all she knew, down here was only a food pantry kept below ground so it remained cooler.

She eased her way down in the dark, tuning her senses to the sounds around her. The muffled swipe of each footstep. Nothing above her, but then that quiet was severed by a thud and a distant shout.

She kept going, winding around. Until she was certain she had gone several floors.

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