Page 18 of Storm and Tempest (Brand of Justice #13)

“That was intentional.” Elliot stepped out of the room.

“We decided to have evidence of me scrubbed from the system and planted the story that I transferred. That way no one would come looking and find me. Amara planned to get Sandra and bring her here so we can go into protective custody together.”

His sister side hugged him and stayed there, under his arm. Holding on to him. “I thought you were dead, but no one cared. They didn’t think they needed to look for you.”

“So it wasn’t whoever in the office is working for Dominatus who came up with the cover story?” Jax turned to Amara. “Did you use Maizie to plant the files in the FBI computer network?”

She shook her head. “Your girl is clean. Which means she’s likely a target like the rest of you.”

Jax didn’t like the sound of that, but it wasn’t a surprise since Maizie had been interviewed about that worm in the FBI system. Had that been Amara’s doing?

Jax sighed. “Now go back to the subject of Kenna.”

“I don’t know where she is, and I can’t even look for her, or they’ll kill her.”

“But you’ve discovered everything you possibly can from the photos and the accounts they were sent from?” Jax lifted his chin. “Send them to me.”

She tapped her phone, and his vibrated. She’d sent them to him over Bluetooth.

Maizie would see them automatically because everything from his personal phone connected to her system now.

The way Kenna’s had always done and how every photo she took was immediately uploaded.

He texted her to be careful looking into the source of the images in case Dominatus was watching for her.

“I’ve tried my best to keep you guys from getting caught up in this mess.” Amara rubbed the spot between her eyes. “So you can keep the freedom you have to search for her while my hands are tied.”

Zeyla said, “Are you getting a migraine?”

Amara shot her a look. Was she really mad because her daughter had said that aloud?

It wouldn’t surprise him if she had more secrets she hadn’t shared with the rest of them. But they should know it was better to be vulnerable with each other. Opening up made them all stronger.

Amara glanced at Jax. “I’ve been tangled up with Dominatus for as long as I can remember.

Once you’re in, there’s no getting out. That’s why they know I’m vulnerable.

They didn’t take Kenna so they could manipulate me into working on their behalf, but it’s a nice perk for them.

They know I’d never do anything that would lead them to harm her. ”

“Demand proof of life,” Ramon said. “The next time they contact you, tell them you want to speak to her. We can have Maizie trace it.”

“What do you think those photos were?” Amara paused. “And even if I can get her on the phone, or a video call, you aren’t going to be able to trace it. These people have better tech than the people who are making the cutting-edge stuff.”

They also had a computer program that allowed one person to pretend to be someone else on a video call. Even if they talked to Kenna, Jax wasn’t sure he would trust it.

Elliot shook his head. “I’ve been hearing all about these people for weeks. And I still can’t believe what all they are capable of, and what they’re doing, is true. It’s unbelievable.”

“Why you?” Jax asked. “Special Agent Herron sent you after the transport. That’s as much as I know. But you were targeted. Put in the middle of this.”

Elliot’s expression darkened. “I was investigating them. I just didn’t know it.”

“ Dominatus ?”

Elliot nodded. His sister shifted and withdrew from him, and he said, “I’ll explain it all.” He looked at Jax. “I work mostly white-collar crimes. Financial, usually.”

Jax nodded. “That tracks with the meetings I remember you from. Sorry I didn’t?—”

“Don’t be,” Elliot said, cutting him off.

“We’re past that at this point. Besides, there are more important things going on here than whether or not my manager’s boss noticed me in an ocean of agents.

” After a second of pause, he said, “I was looking into a series of connected financial companies. We’d had reports that they might be involved in some form of insider trading, or possibly even money laundering, so I was running down all the subsidiaries and other connected firms.”

“You got too close, and when they needed you to disappear, they had Agent Herron send you after the transport. And Amara here”—Jax glanced at her—“was supposed to—what—kill you?”

“I’ve taken enough lives,” she replied. “So I had Hann, Anthony & Associates aid me in securing Mr. Adams in this safehouse. The goal was to set him up with a new life, but Elliot wasn’t about to go without his sister.

He’s been helping us in the meantime with what he found in his investigation into those companies. ”

“And?” Jax glanced at Elliot. “Is it enough for probable cause?”

“Not for a warrant any judge is going to sign,” Elliot said.

“But it’s enough we can trace the money back to other companies that could be part of this conspiracy.

They’re spread all over. I couldn’t believe it when every time I turned over another rock, there were more companies connected. It’s huge.”

“I need a report of everything you’ve discovered.”

Elliot flinched. “We can’t turn this over to the FBI when you’ve already said they have agents in house, doing their dirty work. We’ll be giving it right into their hands.”

That wasn’t a bad way of labeling what Amara had done as well.

Certainly felt like “dirty work.” But that wasn’t who Jax was going to turn it over to.

“Let me worry about where the information is going to go. It’s time to be done keeping secrets and working separately.

We need to work together, or the people we care about continue to be targeted. ”

After a second, Elliot nodded.

Jax looked at Amara.

It was Ramon who asked, “Are you in, or not?”

And Elliot who answered, “They were going to have me killed, so I’m in for taking them down.” He glanced at his sister. “You feel like hiding here with me until we get sent somewhere safe?”

She said, “Get me a secure laptop and I’ll help.”

Elliot smiled. “Okay.”

Jax didn’t take his attention from Amara, who seemed to be allowing things to develop without her input. Because she wanted to be able to report back to Dominatus that things here had been out of her control?

“A nice speech isn’t going to win this.” Zeyla’s hands curled into fists by her sides.

Jax had never seen her so animated. In fact, he didn’t think he’d heard her say more than a few words.

She continued, “You think working this like a case, trying to catch them for tax evasion like they’re mobsters, is even going to work? This is psychological warfare.” She waved at her mom, then said, “These people carved me up.”

“Everyone knows how serious this is.” Jax stared at her. “Me most of all.”

“You?” Amara looked like she wanted to laugh. “You think you know anything ? I’ve been fighting these people since before you were born. I know how to play their game.”

“You really think this is a game?” Jax stared at her. “I want my wife back.”

“What do you think I’m trying to achieve?”

“We pull Maizie in,” Jax said. “We all sit down and go through everything. There has to be something to work with. We need a plan.”

They were going to break this case. He had no other options.

His phone started to ring. He answered, “Good timing, Maze.”

The teen gasped. “She’s still alive.”

Tears filled his eyes, and he turned away. “Yeah, she is.”

“I was so scared that they did something to her.”

“Me, too.” He sucked in a breath. “Pack up your stuff. I need you here. We’ve got a case to solve.”

“Okay, but I don’t want to leave Bruce hanging. He needed surveillance.”

Jax gripped the phone. “He caught up to Samuel Chistaine?”

“He’s snapping the trap shut now.”