Page 101 of Storm and Tempest

Ramon said, “Let’s go get your girls.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Cold sea spray arced across the bow of the little boat they’d rented, thanks to the MSI expense account. In fact, Jax owed them a whole lot right now. There was so much riding on this that he felt like he was being tugged in a hundred different directions, and he needed everyone to do their part or it would go sideways far too quickly.

“She’s gonna tie herself in knots making it up to you and Kenna.”

He didn’t look at Ramon, not really wanting to yell in reply to his friend over the sound of the boat motor and the water cutting under them. Not wanting to talk about Maizie, not even with Ramon.

The sun hung low, almost to the horizon, because it was after midnight in this part of the world where day and night seemed to be off-kilter most of the time.

“You can’t let her do that,” Ramon added.

Jax gripped the wheel, steering the boat to a dock he spotted on the west side of the island. One in a chain of islands that dotted this stretch of southern Alaska coastline. “I know.”

“You and Kenna, you’re better at forgiveness than most people.”

Jax glanced over, wondering if Ramon was ready to hear why that was. He figured the guy already knew, because Kenna had told him about her faith. In the quiet moments between cases, she had been steadily approaching the subject with him.

Ramon continued, “She needs to get that from you guys. Learn it. Live it.”

“You sound like a motivational poster.”

Ramon almost grinned but didn’t. “But if Maizie forgives the wrong person, it’ll be on you.”

“I got it.” Jax didn’t need his friend to tell him how much was riding on him and all of this.

Right now, Jax wasn’t exactly focused on what Maizie needed to learn as she matured. He was really only worried about her physical safety—which he’d entrusted to Zeyla. Jax had figured Zeyla was inclined to stay behind rather than face her nightmares for a woman she didn’t really know but wanted to. Zeyla knew how they all felt about Maizie, and if anyone might be able to stop her mother, then it was her.

“I’m sure you do, once you’ve found Kenna. Only then, you’ll be focused on your wife and her pregnancy, right?” The implication being that until he found her, Jax only cared about one thing. And the “I got it” was a maybe at best, and didn’t include Maizie.

He wasn’t sure he agreed with Ramon’s assessment of that.

Jax slowed the boat and came alongside the dock slowly, saying, “How about I explain it to you? You learn what forgiveness truly means. What surrendering your life to God simply out of gratitude for everything He saved you from really means. And then you don’t need to worry that you can’t teach her. You don’t have to worry that I’ll miss something because I’m focused elsewhere.”

“I’m not her parent.”

“You’re the closest thing to a brother she’ll ever have.”

“I’m an adult male who isn’t a blood relative.”

“The fact you pointed that out isexactlywhy Kenna and I have no problem with you and Maizie being close friends and acting like siblings. Because you aren’t going to do anything to hurt her.”

Ramon scanned the shore. “If someone does hurt her, I’ll string them up by their?—”

“Got it,” Jax said. “Bruce will probably help you. That way I’ll have plausible deniability when the cops come and knock on my front door, asking questions.”

“Just make sure you tell them Kenna was with you the whole time.”

Jax managed to laugh at that. “Let’s go find her.”

He was echoing Ramon’s sentiment when they’d left the MSI office hours ago, making their way north first by plane and now by boat. He grabbed a shotgun out of the hold, a pistol in his belt holster, and extra clips in the pouches on his vest. Among other things they’d pre-planned. No point giving away all the tricks they had up their sleeves.

Ramon tied up the boat, and they headed down the dock. “This is weird in broad daylight.”

“Waiting for dark in Alaska this time of year isn’t worth it. Keep your eyes open.”

“You’re supposed to say ‘head on a swivel,’ aren’t you?”