Page 31 of Storm and Tempest

His phone vibrated in his pocket, but he ignored it. Ramon was inside the building, and the guy could take care of himself. A glance at his watch told him he had a message from Bruce. Jax focused back on the conversation.

“I’ll help you find her,” Andrette said.

Jax shook his head. “Don’t put your family at risk. I need someone in the FBI who can pass me information.”

“The person in the FBI isyou, Jax.”

“Maybe not for much longer.” He needed the job to hold him together, but he could also see the writing on the wall.

The back door of the bar flung open and slammed against the siding before bouncing back. Two agents tossed Ramon out onto the ground, laughing their drunk butts off as he thumped onto the gravel. One of them muttered a curse about the guy, and the door shut again.

Andrette’s phone rang, and she answered, “Special Agent Herron.”

Jax rolled his friend to his back. “How did it go?”

Ramon groaned. “Better than you’d think. One of your agents is dealing. There are several alcoholics in the group. The alpha is some guy named Peterborough.”

“Interesting.” He had written the guy up a couple of times.

Jax held out his hand and helped Ramon to his feet.

Andrette had her gun pointed at them. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to do this.”

“What are you doing?” Jax held his hands up, not wanting to surprise her and wind up with her squeezing that trigger finger too hard.

“I have to do this. For my children.”

Ramon swung out, moving toward her at the same time he slammed his hand down. The gun went off, and the shot pinged off the ground. A piece of concrete slammed into Jax’s shin. He barely had time to yelp before Ramon shoved Andrette into him.

Jax held on to her.

Ramon had the gun.

“This never happened,” Jax said to Andrette.

Ramon didn’t like that idea. “I’m taking her gun.”

“No, you aren’t.” Jax didn’t let go of the agent in his arms. “This never happened, Special Agent Herron. My associate and I are leaving. You aren’t going to shoot us in the back.”

“She leaves first.” Ramon didn’t hold out her gun.

Andrette sobbed.

“I’m sorry your children are in danger, but nothing is going to stop me from finding Kenna.” He let go of her, Ramon handed over the weapon, and she raced away.

“Coercion?”

Jax nodded. “Let’s get out of here.”

As they walked to the car, periodically both glancing over their shoulders, Ramon said, “Are you going to accept that the FBI isn’t how you’re going to find her now?”

“I think I’m closer than ever to the truth. That’s why we got shot at earlier.”

“You stick around the Bureau and you’ll only get tangled up in a mess that’s designed to distract you.”

Jax wasn’t sure that was true.

“You want to find Kenna?” Ramon paused. “Maybe you should do this her way. Seemed to work just fine.”