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“They took a lot of blood.” He rested the back of his hand on her forehead. “I can make you some tea.”
“Coffee would be great.”
He chuckled, then said, “There’s nothing on the cameras. Not even us coming back in. I think they just shut the system off, so it recorded nothing at the time they brought us home.”
Kenna let out a long sigh, curling the blanket around her and leaning her head on his shoulder. “We need evidence. Not just for the doctor but everyone working with him. Any one of them could lead us to theDominatus.”
“And you’re certain you want to go up against them?”
“I’m not sure we have the resources to go to war with a powerful group that has tendrils across the world, but I’m also certain I can’t donothing.”
Jax nodded. “I know what you mean. If I jeopardize my job using federal resources to help you, does it really matter? In the grand scheme, we’re doing the right thing. Even if it costs my career, there’s a whole lot more at stake than that.”
“If we succeed, we’ll gain a whole lot more.” Not that their victory was likely. But who would she be if she didn’t at least try? “This is about justice and being able to live our happily ever after without this over our heads.”
He nodded. “Right now, it’s about this cop you saw and the safety of two children.”
“Agreed.”
The doorbell rang.
She started to get up, but Jax told her to stay put. He set his laptop on the coffee table. “Bruce was quick.”
She watched the hall and heard the door open.
Jax asked, “Can I help you guys?”
She heard a scuffle, then more than one person came down the hall. Kenna couldn’t keep twisting to the back of the couch. “By all means, come in.”
There were two, then three…then four and five came in. All the men had gray in their hair except for the last two. The youngest were likely in their thirties. All of them wore suits. Shined black shoes—at least the ones whose feet she could see. Slicked back hair. The first man to enter moved to stand sentry in front of her TV unit. She pegged which one was the boss easily because he took the armchair. He had a ring on his pinkie, left hand.
Jax came from the front door, which was a good thing because she would’ve drawn the pistol under the couch cushions and demanded to know what they’d done with her husband. He came over and stood behind the couch where she sat, putting his hands on her shoulders. But it felt too much like what Earnest had done, keeping her in her seat even with the paralytic drug in her system.
She turned toward the man in her armchair and lifted one hand, lacing her fingers with Jax’s. “Like he said”—she tipped her head toward Jax—“can we help you guys?”
“I don’t often need to introduce myself, but I’ll make an exception in your case.”
Kenna nodded. “Obliged.”
“I’m Gregorio Santino. These are my associates, family members, and…coworkers.”
She glanced around. “And you’re in my house because…?”
“You know where to find my Nicola. You know who took her, and you’re going to get her back for me.”
“Just because I know who took her doesn’t mean I know how to find her.” Unless she looked for the kids and that led her to the doctor. Could she find both? But there were so many pieces missing to this puzzle. Like why the doctor had been taken or what Doctor Buzard wanted with her.
Nicola could be dead…
Or working for him.
“I suggest you rectify that, Ms.—” Gregorio glanced at Jax. “Mrs. Jaxton.”
“You can’t pressure me into doing what your men should be able to do.” She shrugged, motioning to them with a lift of her chin. Scattered around her living room so they looked imposing. Arms crossed so their upper bodies appeared more impressive. “Surely, you trust them to find Nicola more than you trust me. You wouldn’t bring them with you if they couldn’t get the job done.”
“You’re the last to see Nicola before she disappeared.”
Kenna shook her head. It wasn’t true, but she wouldn’t tell him about Dana and what she had seen. Not yet, anyway.