Page 103 of Now or Never

Kenna let the tears fall, because it was a beautiful moment.

Their cat had been on the step of the RV when she and Jax had returned. All the neighbors had wanted to know who they were and why they’d been kidnapped by the military. After the president broke her story as the truth things got even worse, and now no one would leave them alone. The RV park had been inundated with reporters just hours later and many were still camped out there. At the base, some of the captives the general had been holding did media interviews. Most were currently receiving medical care ahead of being freed, and more than a few had been reunited with their families—which the president also took credit for.

Jax shifted to stand in front of her. “You okay?”

“What on earth are we going to do about this?” She had no desire to go to war with the president of the US.

“How about we have a baby, enjoy this season of our lives, and worry over what we’re going to do about it later?” He tipped his head to the side.

“Maizie is in danger.” Kenna bit her lip. “Someone will come for her.”

“You think any of us is going to let anything happen to her?”

Kenna shook her head, blinking back tears. “God protected us, and the baby. He’ll protect her, too.”

“I know He will.” Jax held out his hands, and she stood, moving into his arms.

Kenna touched her lips to his and decided not to worry about anything.

Until it was time.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

The convoy of vehicles driving through the gate of the private airport consisted of two cars and an RV. Dawn was barely breaking, and the Learjet on the runway was about to begin startup procedures. The pilots walked around the plane, doing preflight checks, while the five passengers waited in the yellow glow of the open hangar door.

The man in the center wore a suit, and watched the RV pull up. Park. Two men got out of the cars—one dark-haired man who walked with the stride of a predator, and the other an older guy in a Hawaiian shirt. Neither was the kind a person would want to run into when they had ill intentions.

Kenna stepped out of the RV, Jax beside her, and they crossed to speak with Petyr. He studied them as they approached.

“Leaving?” The question was redundant, but Kenna needed an opener and “good morning” didn’t seem right.

“There is nothing more to do.”

“You have the treaty?”

He shook his head. “She likely burned it. Isn’t that what presidents do with papers they don’t like?”

“And there’s nothing you can do?”

“I tried. That’s why I stayed so long, I was hoping I’d be able to convince her to rework the agreement.”

Kenna wondered if that was the first honest thing he’d ever said to her. “And all that business about who is my father?”

The skin around his eyes flexed.

Kenna tugged her big coat tighter around her. He needed to take off soon, before the snow started. They were supposed to get four inches here today.

“To be the grandfather of the first offspring of a new generation is a great honor.”

Kenna scoffed. “You mean it gives you leverage against everyone else.”

He said nothing.

“Is she theImperatorisnow?”

“That position is only decided by popular vote.” He scratched at his jaw, and she noticed he had stubble there. Too stressed out to shave.

Kenna wasn’t sure she wanted to have any sympathy for him. This man wasn’t a positive part of her life. He’d shown up in it during her worst moment in recent years and hung around like a persistent sore she couldn’t get rid of.