Page 44 of Storm and Tempest

“Great,” Jax said. “We’ll escort you just in case, and you can explain everything once Sandra sees her brother.”

Amara looked at him. “I don’t know where Kenna is.”

“I hope you’re being honest about that, at least, even if you haven’t been honest about much else. But considering what else you lied about, I’m not sure I’ll ever completely believe you.” How could he? She’d manipulated them, thrown Kenna to the wolves without the knowledge to protect herself fromDominatus, and might be the reason why that group had her now.

She might have been able to stop it. Had she at least tried?

Bruce said, “Have you lied, Amara?”

She whipped around and looked at Bruce. “I never lied.”

“But you withheld the truth,” Jax said. “So it’s time for answers.”

“I want to see my brother.” Sandra turned and grabbed her purse from the counter. “Take me to him now. Then you guys can talk after, because I don’t care about whatever this is. I just want to see Elliot.”

Bruce gestured. “You can both ride with Jax and I.”

Sandra followed Bruce out.

Amara stared at Jax, lines around her eyes. She seemed fatigued. As if the weight of everything lay heavy on her shoulders. But he didn’t know if it was guilt or just the stress of what was going on.

“We could be working together.” He stared at her.

“With the FBI?” She barked a hollow laugh.

“I just quit. So I guess you don’t have to worry about that now.” As if that had been a problem. More like it was a convenient excuse. Could he trust this woman? Maybe not further than what he was able to verify.

Amara shook her head. “Once a fed, always a fed.”

“Do you know who has Kenna, or where she is?” He waited, and in the silence studied her. The woman was an enigma he didn’t know how to unravel, but he had to. Kenna’s well-being and both of their futures counted on it.

“She’s alive.”

Jax sucked in a sharp breath. “Is she with Elliot?”

Amara shook her head. “I’m doing what I can. I’m doingeverythingI can.” A sheen of tears filled her eyes. “You don’t understand, but I’m doing all I’m able to do. For her.”

“I would understand if you’d bothered to explain it rather than keeping everyone in the dark. Instead, you tell me how hard you have it. How much stress you’re under.” Jax slammed a hand on his chest. “As if it’s nothing that I don’t know whether to grieve or keep searching. I don’t know who to trust. I don’t know how to find her.”

Jax closed the gap between them, unwilling to check his anger.

“WHERE IS SHE?” he yelled.

Chapter Thirteen

Let’s go.

That was all she’d said in answer to his question. As if his world wasn’t currently tearing itself apart—and he knew he was next. That he wouldn’t be able to hang on much longer before it all just…fractured.

“Elliot is down there.” Amara led them down a hallway, past several of the lawyers from Hann, Anthony & Associates. Five, if he’d managed to spot them all, standing around in khakis and polo shirts like this was a private security convention.

A lawyer he recognized stood beside a plain door in this plain hallway, the building an office and warehouse in a business district on the west side of Phoenix. Outside in huge letters on the exterior of the building was a fading sign for a plumbing supply business—and yet no one worked here.

“Oliver.” The lawyer, Lisa Romeo, nodded.

“Ms. Romeo.” He returned her nod.

Sandra said, “Is he in there?”