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“It does when she has a gun trained on Jaxson.” I’d kept Jaxson’s secret from Ariella, but I hadn’t even considered mentioning it to the team. Should I have said something sooner? I ran a hand through my hair. It was too late now to second guess that decision. I couldn’t make another mistake, not with so many lives at risk.
“Ariella doesn’t know Emma’s involved with the off-gridders,” Jaxson said. “Means they could be using her to get to us.”
Would they go that far? “Did she call you or try to communicate with you?” I asked Jaxson. Those two had been close, and while right now there’d been an obvious tiff of sorts, she still would have gone to him if she was in trouble, right?
“No. I texted her, but she didn’t respond. Declan pinged her phone and said it’s turned off,” Jaxson said.
“They probably took everyone’s phone,” I said. “Hostage takeover 101.”
“Thank you for that.” Jaxson shook his head and stormed toward the truck.
“Where are you going?” I followed him as he opened the trunk and retrieved our tactical equipment.
Jaxson retrieved a bullet-proof vest and put it on over his shirt. “I refuse to sit on my ass and wait for SWAT to tell us how to do our job, or worse, the town sheriff. Are you coming with me?”