Page 46 of Storm and Tempest

Amara’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I have three others.”

Ramon started to move by him.

Jax slammed a hand on the guy’s chest. “If you kill her, we don’t get information.”

As much as he wanted to rage at Amara right now, he was also surprised to find himself the voice of reason with Ramon.

He was still processing the fact she’d been receiving images of Kenna. “I can’t believe you never told me you have images of her.”

His gut burned.

Amara stood there, looking a little guilty at least. But not much.

Ramon’s body tensed. “I can’t believe you never toldus. You think we wouldn’t want to know about Kenna?” His voice rose in volume. “You’re a piece of work.”

“Ramon.” Jax had to get answers, not just go around and around with accusations.

His friend said, “I don’t think you understand what I can do to get information. She might wish she was dead.”

“But we aren’t going to do that.” Jax could guess well enough what the guy meant. Having worked for a cartel in Mexico for years, Ramon was a wildcard at best, and thankfully they were on the same side in this. But if Ramon committed a crime, Jax couldn’t exactly ignore it, even if he had turned over his badge. “Maybe don’t incriminate yourself in front of an FBI agent.”

“I thought you were suspended.” Amara eyed him. “Or did you quit?”

Jax didn’t back down. “And I thought you wanted Kenna back with her family, but I guess I was wrong.”

Amara’s expression hardened. “She’s alive because of me.”

Ramon shifted, standing behind Jax’s right shoulder. “Explain.”

Jax lifted his brows.

“Fine,” Amara said. “I made it obvious enough that it was me who ran Elliot off the road. Foolishly I thought you might like to know that Kenna is alive. That I didn’t kill Agent Adams, and Ithoughtyou’d know I am on your side.”

“Where is she?” Jax asked.

“I have no idea.”

Jax shook his head. “Not good enough.”

“She’s alive. Even if you did find her, which is impossible because no one has any idea where she was taken, then she dies. They’ll kill her if you even start to get close. You stay away and she lives. Got it?”

“We aren’t going to agree on this.” It was how Amara had worked her whole life, or at least Kenna’s whole life. Staying away in order to protect Kenna. But that hadn’t been what she needed, because Jax and Kenna had talked about it at length.Amara did what she wanted. Nothing could change what had already happened.

Kenna had needed this woman in her life so she could have a mother. Not a memory, or a headstone for a dead woman. But did Amara stop long enough to realize that?

No, she hadn’t.

“I’m going to get her back whether you help me or not.” Jax wasn’t backing down. Ever. “Why didn’t you at least tell me you were being coerced into working for them in order to keep her alive?”

Ms. Romeo hadn’t moved or said anything. He figured she was acting as counsel—but he didn’t know who she was representing here. Amara didn’t seem to need anyone to tell her what to say or not say so as not to incriminate herself. Zeyla remained quiet as well. Ramon might know more about where she was at with all this, given they’d spoken at the house. Otherwise, she kept to herself. Another enigma it would take time to figure out.

Amara said, “Would you be inclined to admit it if someone had you over a barrel and you had no way out?”

“Except it seems like everyone apart from us knows, because no one else here is surprised to discover you’re aware of Kenna’s condition.” He motioned between himself and Ramon. “First off, how about you explain better what happened with Elliot.”

He should be furious with her, but grief was like a wave that dampened the fire of his anger and put it out. He wanted to demand to see more pictures of Kenna.She’s alive.He needed to tuck that thought close to his heart so he could save the feeling. If Amara sent the images to him, Maizie would see them. She would know that Kenna was alive.

The search for her would be renewed, because Maizie wasn’t going to let images get past her without a thorough analysis ofthe elements in the image—and where they’d come from. Now that the information was out, they might get a real lead.