Page 54 of Storm and Tempest

Jax didn’t want to believe that the president’s taskforce had been compromised, but it would explain why communication seemed to have shut down. “You realize that just means wherever we point our target, we’ll hit one of you. So I guess we can’t miss.”

The smirk dissipated.

“Here. Overseas. Doesn’t matter where we aim, right? Because you’re everywhere.”

“Walk away.”

Jax said, “I might have been convinced to let it go. Live and let live, and all that. ButDominatustook my wife. Now there’s nothing that will compel me to walk away. Not ever. Not until I find her.”

Samuel stared at him, and the skin around his eyes flexed.

“This is where you offer to get her back for me, and in exchange my people and I leave your organization alone.” Jax paused. “Unless you don’t have the authority to do that, because you’re just an underling. Like an errand boy.”

Samuel’s expression hardened, but he said nothing.

“Is Hadley above you in the hierarchy, or is there someone else I should be talking to?” Jax waited a beat, then stood like he was going to leave. “Seems like this has been a waste of my time.” He tried to look disappointed.

“I’m not going to fall for it. Just to save face.” Samuel paused. “You think I’ll simper and try and convince you I’m someone important? We all play our role. Who I report to makes no difference.”

“That and the fact you’re all divided up into little sects that have no real authority on their own while one person, or a conclave, holds all the power.”

A tendon in Samuel’s jaw flexed.

“Kind of sad, isn’t it? You’re part of this huge organization changing the world, but you’re just one of the expendable masses.” Jax grasped the back of his chair and stared at Samuel. “At least with the CIA, you were important.” He wandered to the door, antsy to stretch his legs and check on Maizie, then turned back. “I guess we’ll find out how they feel about you when you don’t show up, or check in.”

He gave Samuel a second to respond, but the guy just glared at him.

Jax shut the door and glanced both ways down the hall. No one could see him.

He dragged in a breath, then tried to exhale all the fear he felt not knowing if he would ever see Kenna again. Or who she might be when he did get her back.Dominatuscould have done anything to her.

He refused to believe the fabrication that she was having some kind of illicit relationship with Buzard—or whoever had been in that video Ramon’s friend received. Or the implication of that bar owner, that she was trading in the worst kind of vices.

Zeyla had been right that this was psychological warfare. More and more ways to undermine them and cast doubt on what people knew about Kenna.

Two of the lawyers from Hann, Anthony & Associates rounded the corner. One he didn’t know, and the other was a woman he’d seen before. The familiar one said, “We’ll watch the door. Make sure he doesn’t escape.”

“Thanks.” Jax nodded. “I won’t be long. I just need to give him time to think about what’s going to happen to him.”

The woman he didn’t know said, “Sure you don’t want us to ask him some questions?”

“Maybe later.” He headed for the room where he’d left Maizie and found Sandra handing out coffee, while Elliot and Maizie had their laptops side-by-side.

Four rectangular tables had been arranged in a square, nothing in the middle.

Thankfully, the FBI agent was years older than Maizie, so Jax didn’t have to worry about her navigating a crush—or a romance—that might actually go somewhere while Kenna was gone. Jax was technically her dad by adoption, but that didn’t mean he was ready for her to be dating.

Maybe he would never be ready.

“Anything new?” He went to the carafe, on a trio of cupboards with a Formica countertop. The smell of caffeine drifted up and filled his nose, which just made him think of Kenna. He turned and sipped the drink, leaning back against the edge of the counter.

“Actually, yes.” Maizie looked up from her laptop. “There was this one company among the list of businesses Elliot was investigating. Most of what he had overlapped with the companies I know are connected toDominatus. But he had a few different ones. Including a charter company, like for private flights.”

Sandra stared at her quizzically, like she wasn’t quite sure what to make of the teen.

Maizie continued, “Ramon and Zeyla went to check it out in case they used one of their planes to transport Kenna out of the airport.”

Jax managed to nod. “Good.”