Page 119 of Storm and Tempest

Kenna reached over his shoulder and grasped the back of his T-shirt, holding him close in a way he figured she didn’t intend to let go—or let him get far. It was almost like a hug, but where she needed to hold on. Desperate to keep him near. Her eyes wide. Dazed and a little in awe of the fact he was here.

“Forever?” Her gaze scanned his face. “Maybe not at the hospital. You know how I feel about those.”

Jax would’ve smiled then, but he couldn’t stop himself from leaning down and touching his forehead to hers. “Love you.”

She gave a slight chuckle. “Keep talking. This feels way too much like every dream I’ve had recently.” She shivered. “Like I’m going to wake up any moment back in that room.” Her breath hitched. “With that dead man. The doctor.”

Buzard. “You did kill him in Arizona. Maybe there are more. I don’t know if they’re clones, or just really close copies of the genetic profile. I don’t really care.”

“Me, either,” Kenna said. “Is he dead?”

“I suggested MSI get information from him. When I can check in with Bear, I’ll find out what they decided.” Jax blew out a breath, shaking his head.

There was so much to fill her in on, but at the same time, he didn’t want to talk. He’d much rather curl up beside her, hold her, and just rest in the fact he had her back.

“Distract me.” She squeezed his hand. “I don’t want to think about him.”

“Wait until you hear about the woman who looked like you, running around causing trouble. She’s dead. Maybe I shouldn’t thank God for that, but I want to.” Jax’s skin itched, but being here with her made it so much easier to fight the effect of withdrawal.

The doctor had given him something, part of the detox protocol he’d established. Someone who worked at the platform had been stealing whatever the drug was and selling it on the side in Alaska, causing enough of a problem that the doctor had not only identified the issue but found a way to treat it.

Thank You.

Again.

I’m not going to stop saying that. Not ever.

He leaned back far enough that she would be able to see his face. “You won’t be waking up in that room ever again.”

“I want you to tell me everything, but I also just want to shut my eyes.” She smiled, the relief on her face a visceral thing that sank into him.

“You don’t have to be scared about waking up back there. Nothing is going to happen to you.” He smiled back. “I want to promise that nothing will ever happen to you again, but that’s not within my power to make.”

“Make it anyway.”

He traced his thumb over the curve of her cheek. “Nothing will ever happen to you again. I’m going to make sure of it.”

Kenna drew his face down to hers, her hands on the sides of his head. She pressed a kiss to his lips, and he stayed there, enjoying that simple connection when it had been so long. When things had so much weight to them, what with the pregnancy and the worldwide scale of their enemy, and it had all been horrible on an epic scale. All he had needed for months was this small thing that so many people took for granted.

He slid his mouth to the side and stayed with their cheeks touching. Breathed.Thank You.

“The doctor said the baby is doing fine. Better than fine.”

Jax couldn’t help thinking it might be because Buzard had done something to their baby, some genetic experiment. But he still thanked God for a healthy child. “That’s good.”

Her hands squeezed, like a reflex. “I know.”

He opened his eyes.

“Surprise.”

Jax started to smile.

“It’s a girl.”

He let those words resonate in his ears even though he’d already known. “We’re having a girl.”

“Yes, we are.”