Page 16 of Storm and Tempest (Brand of Justice #13)

“Tricks of the trade.” Bruce chuckled. “A magician never reveals his secrets.”

“Any tricks to find Elliot, and Kenna?”

“I wish I could.” Bruce’s tone rang with a grief so strong that Jax could taste it.

She was gone, but she wasn’t dead. Jax refused to believe it.

His phone buzzed with a text from Ramon.

Jax read it, then said, “Amara and Zeyla are at Elliot’s sister’s house.”

“Then let’s roll.” Bruce pulled the passenger door open.

Jax didn’t know how Kenna’s team ever found all the things they managed to find.

It was entirely possible he shouldn’t ask about the tricks of Bruce’s trade.

All of them had skills—Ramon and Bruce. Even Maizie.

Since most of their methods might not be within the bounds of the law, he figured he probably didn’t want to know.

But he thought about it the whole way, and half an hour later pulled into a neighborhood of older homes with neat lawns and chain-link fences.

One had an ocean of flamingos on the artificial grass between the house and the fence.

Bruce’s car was parked in the cul-de-sac, at an angle at the curb, which meant Ramon was here.

Another vehicle sat on the drive. The giant rental truck Sandra had at Elliot’s house was parked on the street—and probably needed returning.

Jax, followed by Bruce, entered the front door. “Ramon!”

“Kitchen!”

Jax found the crowd in the kitchen. Amara and Zeyla, Elliot’s sister and Ramon—with his gun in his hand by his side. He lowered his weapon. “What’s going on?”

“Amara was about to explain,” Ramon said.

Elliot’s sister, Sandra, looked freaked but lifted her chin. “I’d like to hear it as well, but that’s only because I’m not going with you until you tell me what’s going on.”

Amara shook her head, looking disappointed. “It would’ve been easier if you just complied, Sandra.”

“Do people do that often?” Ramon asked.

Zeyla shot him a look.

“Amara?” Jax needed her to talk, or he was going to tell Sandra that Amara was responsible for her brother’s disappearance.

“I’m here to take you to your brother,” Amara said.

Sandra gasped. Jax glanced at Amara. “He’s alive?”

Amara nodded.

Jax said, “You’re the one who ran him off the road.”

She needed to admit it so they could start being honest with each other. Not only because Sandra deserved the truth, but also because Jax wanted to know what she hadn’t yet told him.

Sandra yelled, “Where is he?!”

Zeyla turned and walked out the back door. Ramon went after her, and Bruce shifted closer to Amara. Adjusting the huddle. Jax crossed his arms.

Amara said, “He’s safe, and staying with people I trust. I can take you there. And I’m sorry, but you won’t be able to leave for a while.”

Sandra shook her head. “What’s going on?”

“I can explain on the way.” Amara shifted, motioning to the door. “We should hurry.”

“Great,” Jax said. “We’ll escort you just in case, and you can explain everything once Sandra sees her brother.”

Amara looked at him. “I don’t know where Kenna is.”

“I hope you’re being honest about that, at least, even if you haven’t been honest about much else.

But considering what else you lied about, I’m not sure I’ll ever completely believe you.

” How could he? She’d manipulated them, thrown Kenna to the wolves without the knowledge to protect herself from Dominatus , and might be the reason why that group had her now.

She might have been able to stop it. Had she at least tried?

Bruce said, “Have you lied, Amara?”

She whipped around and looked at Bruce. “I never lied.”

“But you withheld the truth,” Jax said. “So it’s time for answers.”

“I want to see my brother.” Sandra turned and grabbed her purse from the counter. “Take me to him now. Then you guys can talk after, because I don’t care about whatever this is. I just want to see Elliot.”

Bruce gestured. “You can both ride with Jax and I.”

Sandra followed Bruce out.

Amara stared at Jax, lines around her eyes. She seemed fatigued. As if the weight of everything lay heavy on her shoulders. But he didn’t know if it was guilt or just the stress of what was going on.

“We could be working together.” He stared at her.

“With the FBI?” She barked a hollow laugh.

“I just quit. So I guess you don’t have to worry about that now.” As if that had been a problem. More like it was a convenient excuse. Could he trust this woman? Maybe not further than what he was able to verify.

Amara shook her head. “Once a fed, always a fed.”

“Do you know who has Kenna, or where she is?” He waited, and in the silence studied her. The woman was an enigma he didn’t know how to unravel, but he had to. Kenna’s well-being and both of their futures counted on it.

“She’s alive.”

Jax sucked in a sharp breath. “Is she with Elliot?”

Amara shook her head. “I’m doing what I can. I’m doing everything I can.” A sheen of tears filled her eyes. “You don’t understand, but I’m doing all I’m able to do. For her.”

“I would understand if you’d bothered to explain it rather than keeping everyone in the dark.

Instead, you tell me how hard you have it.

How much stress you’re under.” Jax slammed a hand on his chest. “As if it’s nothing that I don’t know whether to grieve or keep searching.

I don’t know who to trust. I don’t know how to find her. ”

Jax closed the gap between them, unwilling to check his anger.

“WHERE IS SHE?” he yelled.