Page 46 of Storm and Tempest (Brand of Justice #13)

Chapter Thirty-Five

T he door to the panic room flung open, and smoke billowed out. Jax lifted his gun, aimed at the fire coming from in the room. Zeyla came out first, an angry look on her face. “Maizie.”

Jax didn’t see the teen, but Earl Jonas came out behind her. The MSI boss said, “No one fires, or I kill her! We’re leaving, and you’re going to let us walk out of here.”

Zeyla winced, hunching her shoulders, and Jax realized Mr. Jonas had a grip on the woman.

“Let her go.” Jax pointed his weapon at the MSI boss but couldn’t get a clear shot with Zeyla in front of him.

“Put the gun down!” He said it on a reflex, all his FBI training coming to the forefront with the adrenaline surging through him.

His mind cleared in a way it hadn’t been a moment ago, but no doubt it would be short-lived.

When this was over, he would crash, hard.

But right now, he needed to ensure the safety of two women he cared about a whole lot while making sure no one else got hurt.

Ramon grabbed Kenna’s chair and dragged it back, moving to stand in front of her. Protecting her in a way Jax couldn’t because he was on the other side of the desk.

“Let her go and put your gun down, Jonas.” Jax pushed out a breath. Where was Maizie? “I’m going to keep telling you until you comply. These guys won’t let you past. You aren’t leaving.”

The MSI guys stood more toward the door, their guns pointed at their boss. But did they have a clear shot? Did anyone?

Zeyla took another unsteady step.

Across the room a gun exploded, and Earl Jonas jerked back, falling to the floor. He nearly dragged Zeyla down with him.

Jax held out his hand, and she grabbed it. He dragged her past him, away from the door. “We need a fire extinguisher!” He ran into the room and searched around, spotting the flickering orange of flames in a pile of papers.

A cot in the corner had a blanket on it, which Jax grabbed and used to smother the fire.

“Maizie!” He searched around for her, desperate with panic that she might be hurt. He covered his mouth with his elbow and coughed. There was nothing he could do to keep himself from sucking in the flames. He coughed again and sank to his knees. “Maizie!”

Ramon shoved him aside and shined a flashlight around. “Here!” He dragged the young woman from under the cot across the floor. “Up we go.” He lifted Maizie and stood, leaving the room.

Jax coughed, trying to catch his breath. In the end he simply stumbled out and followed Ramon. Kenna stood by the door.

“We can’t leave.” Bear stood blocking the doorway, so much intensity in his expression Jax wanted to shrink back.

Kenna reached out her hand for him, and he tucked her under his shoulder, finding solace in her being close again. “She’ll be okay.”

He nodded, not sure if he was quite ready to believe it. Thank You . They had her back, and that’s what mattered. Their family was together again, no matter that their enemy had tried to tear them apart and destroy them.

Ramon squared off with Bear, Maizie still in his arms. “She needs a medic. Move!”

Bear shook his head. “Preston reported there’s a chopper on the roof and men coming down.”

Jax said, “What about local cops?” as Kenna leaned against him.

Bear gave them all a tight shake of his head.

“We can’t stay in here. It’s full of smoke.” The words caught in Jax’s throat, burning his tongue. “We need air.”

Bear glanced at Hollace. “We’ll find a place for you to hole up. Sit tight until we take care of it.”

“Fine.” Whatever it took to get things moving.

Keeping Kenna close to his side, Jax followed Ramon, who acted as if holding Maizie in his arms was no trouble at all, like he could walk around carrying her forever if he had to. Jax blinked away the burn of tears in his eyes and looked over his shoulder. “Zeyla?”

“I’m right behind you guys.” Tears streamed down her cheeks through the ash, making twin paths of moisture on her dirty face.

Bear led them to a sitting room with two walls of windows. “All of you sit tight.”

Ramon laid Maizie on a short velvet couch. “I’m coming with you.”

Bear didn’t argue.

The two men rushed out, leaving the others with Maizie.

Jax went to the couch and brushed Maizie’s hair back from her face. “Wanna wake up for me, kiddo?”

Kenna sat by her feet.

Zeyla took a seat, running her hands down her face. “Setting a fire seemed like a”—her breath caught, and she coughed—“good idea at the time.”

Jax glanced at her. “Ramon had the same one.”

“That’s why it seemed so crazy in my head.” She sounded as if she was trying to smile, but it never reached her face.

Kenna touched the hem of Maizie’s pant leg, and the girl’s eyes fluttered open, her gaze distant at first. But as they waited, she focused on them. Glanced between them. Gasped—and then coughed it out, shaking the whole couch.

“Easy. We’re almost out of here, okay?” Jax touched her arm.

Maizie moved her arm, and he thought she wanted him to draw away, so he lifted his hand. She grabbed his fingers and held on. “Jax.” Her gaze settled on Kenna, and her eyes filled with tears. “Kenna.”

“I know.” She swiped a tear from her cheek. “You okay, Maze?”

The girl curled up, crying, and held out her arms for Kenna. They collapsed against each other in a hug and held on, both of them letting the emotion flow. Jax heard a sniff and pretended he didn’t notice Zeyla crying.

Gunshots echoed across the house. Both the women stiffened and pulled out of the hug. Jax had his gun in his hand before they separated.

“I’ve got you covered.” He started to turn toward the door.

Maizie touched his shoulder. “Love you, Jax.” She leaned down and kissed his cheek.

He forgot all about the gunmen, and the guys fighting on their behalf, as his mind filled with thoughts of Kenna and Maizie and the family they were building together. “Love you, too, Maze.”

She sniffed.

Kenna touched his cheek.

Someone stepped on a creaky board in the hall. Jax spun around in his crouch so fast he nearly fell over, but managed to catch himself and remain upright.

He got his gun up about the same second Preston came in, followed by Jax’s father. Jax slumped to the floor, his back to the couch where Maizie and Kenna sat. Preston had a pistol by his side, and neither of them looked tense.

“Hey, guys.” Jax blew out a long breath, and someone touched the back of his head, running a hand through his hair.

Preston came over and hugged Kenna.

Jax’s dad crouched in front of him, a soft look on his face that Jax had never seen before. “You did good, buddy. You did real good.”

Jax stared at his father, more tears burning in his eyes. He rubbed his nose and realized that was his gun hand. “I need to stop crying.”

His dad shook his head. “Cry all you want.”

Jax closed his eyes for a second, saying the biggest thank you of his life to the Lord, who had brought them all back together.

He heard Preston talking quietly to Kenna, filling her in on what had been happening.

He sat with the feeling for a minute, giving himself a second to absorb the fact they were all back together. Alive and free.

No matter what happened in the months and years to come, they had this moment to remind them of what God could do. That He would bring them through it, walking beside them and guiding them as they kept going. Never quitting. Never backing down. Always fighting.

For their brand of justice.

Zeyla said, “You good, Maizie?”

“Thanks to you,” she replied. “All of you.”

Jax glanced over his shoulder. “Anytime.”

She bit her lip.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s over. We’re all safe.” He could turn to her, on the floor where he was sitting by the couch, and they could hash this out. But Jax just didn’t have the energy to do that.

“I’m still sorry I kept things from you,” she whispered.

He nodded. “We’ll figure it out.”

Movement by the door caught his eye. When he turned, he saw Ramon at the door, lines of tension across his forehead. “We’re clear.”

Bruce appeared behind him, peering around his shoulder. Jax was pretty sure he saw Amara, too, out there in the dim light of the hall.

Ramon said, “You guys ready to roll?”

Jax nodded. “Thanks.”

“As if you have to thank me.”

“I will if I want to.”

Maizie giggled behind him, leaning on his shoulder so she could stand. Ramon held her hand and helped up Zeyla at the same time.

Jax said, “Who is going to help me off the floor?”

His father smiled.

Zeyla put her arm around Maizie, and Ramon came over to Jax. His father and Preston shifted closer.

Kenna put her hand on his shoulder. “I’ve got this.”

She leaned on him the same way Maizie had and stood before him. Hand held out. Pregnant with his baby, in need of a cheeseburger, hashbrowns, and a decaf cup of coffee.

Jax took her hand. What he didn’t do was make her hold up his weight.

He lifted up, sat on the edge of the couch for a second, then stood. He discovered he was more unsteady than he’d thought, which meant his instincts were right that he’d needed help.

Preston got on one side of him, Jax’s good arm around his shoulder. His father had Kenna put her arm through his, and they walked together, talking quietly. All of them headed for the door.

A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

He was pretty sure he was paraphrasing some translation of it, but the Bible verse from days ago popped into his mind. That’s what had happened, wasn’t it?

First, he’d tried to use the FBI to solve his problem and find Kenna, even bringing Maizie along.

Next, he walked away from them, and Kenna’s team had helped him try to solve the case.

He’d discovered far too many pieces he hadn’t been expecting in that puzzle, and betrayal had stung.

But in the end, it was the road that had brought him back to her—not even counting the fact his shoulder had been rebuilt in the process.

Just as long as Kenna and the baby were safe.

Add to that the fact that all of them were here and walking out together?

They had come through it stronger.

Thank You, Lord.