Page 129 of Storm and Tempest

“That might be a chance we have to take,” Kenna said. “If we can’t find the remote that will open the door.”

Bear shifted and pulled out a phone. “Earl Jonas is calling me.” He tapped the screen and held the phone in front of his face. “Let those women go, and I won’t put a bullet in your head. If you hurt them, you havenoleverage.”

“No?” Earl Jonas said. “Seems like all I have to do is wait for backup to descend.”

Descend. Interesting choice of words there.

Jax whispered, “Helicopter.”

Hollace headed for the door, talking into his radio.

Jonas continued, “They’ll take care of you, and I’ll get to walk away. Over your dead bodies.”

“That isn’t going to happen,” Ramon said, loudly enough Jonas would hear. “Let them go, and we might not kill all of you.”

“Hmm. No thanks.” The line went dead.

“We know how they’re going to approach.” Bear glanced around. “Let’s make a stand. He’ll be forced to come out eventually.”

Hollace said, “Nothing incoming yet. We have no idea how many people there will be, or if it’s even a chopper.”

“You won’t like my idea.” Ramon slammed the desk drawer shut and stood.

“Try us,” Kenna suggested. “We’re brainstorming. There are no bad ideas.”

More MSI guys came in the room, and since Hollace and Bear didn’t react with lethal force, Jax figured they were on the same side.

Ramon eyed her. “He thinks we’re going to fight them all. That’s what he wants—he’s planned for it.”

“So what do we do?” Bear shrugged.

“Set the house on fire,” Ramon said. “No way to get in, no way to fight them.”

“With them inside that room?” Jax said. “They’ll suffocate.”

Ramon didn’t seem worried. “Unless it’s the kind of panic room that’s sealed.”

“He could kill them,” Jax countered.

Kenna glanced at him. “Whatever we do, there’s a risk he retaliates and hurts them.”

“There’s a risk Zeyla will hurt him, and I hope she does.” Ramon folded his arms.

Hollace said, “We can blow the gas line and the water at the same time. Trip the system so there’s fire and it’s working on putting it out.” His tone indicated it was a question.

“Can he see us?” Jax pointed at the panic room door. “Or can we fake a fire?”

“We have no idea,” Ramon said. “You’re no fun.”

“Decide fast.” Bear strode to the door. “There’s a chopper incoming.”

Jax glanced at the sealed door to the panic room, or hidey hole, or whatever Mr. Jonas had installed behind his study. Some firefighter tools would come in handy right now.

Dark-gray smoke drifted out of a vent, high on the wall.

He told Ramon, “Seems like someone beat you to it with the fire idea.”

Chapter Thirty-Five