Page 29 of Storm and Tempest

“Andrette, she’s gone,” he said, “and an agent is missing as well. Elliot Adams would never have left his sister. Not without calling. Something happened to him.”

“Because I sent him after her.” She drew in a choppy breath.

“And you didn’t push hard enough to find out what happened.”

“I couldn’t.”

“You could have,” Jax corrected. “You didn’t.”

“Icouldn’t.”

There it was. “Why not? Why couldn’t you push and push until you got to the truth.”

“Don’t ask. I can’t tell you.” She moved to step away.

Jax caught her elbow but held it gently. “This is my wife.”

“And my children.”

He sucked in a breath. “They were taken?”

She shook her head.

“Then you should’ve shouted to anyone who would listen. Something is wrong in the office. Someone is covering up crimes.”

“I can’t help that. There’s nothing I can do.”

“Why not?” He let go of her arm. Neither moved. “What’s going on with your kids?”

“I got a text. A threat.” She gasped. “If I made a fuss about Kenna, or about Special Agent Adams, my children would die.”

“Did you trace the number?”

“It came through unregistered. I ran a trace on it at work, and it came up as a payphone in New York City, probably what the number used to go to.” She blew out a quick breath. “The next day my kids said a man came up to them while they were waiting for the school bus. He gave them a note to give to me.”

“Did you keep it?” Testing it for trace evidence was a longshot, but they had to try.

She shook her head. “Burned it.”

Jax sighed, shaking his head. “They got to you.”

“They knew I wasn’t going to work for them. So they threatened to hurt my children, which means they’re the most horrible kind of people you can imagine. But they know I wouldneverbetray my oath.”

Until it became personal, and she risked the life of her family. “I understand.”

“But you still think I should’ve said something.”

“I understand,” he repeated. After all, she’d taken the risk of telling him now. “Take some time off, take your kids, and go out of town. Somewhere safe.”

“Henry already took them to his brother’s house. They’re as safe as I can make them.” She touched her forehead and winced. “I want to help you find your wife. I really do. But I can’t do anything that’ll jeopardize my family.”

Jax relaxed a fraction. He would’ve done the same.

“Andrette, you said yourself they’re as safe as you can make them. There’s a sister out there who needs to know what happened to her brother. I want my wife back. But this is biggerthan just me.” Meanwhile, his heart was about to burst out of his chest. “And it’s bigger than you.”

He wanted to scream or start a fight. Run hard and fast, sprinting toward Kenna. But he would just be running. A bullet fired with no aim. A rocket with no course plotted.

How can I find her?