Page 65 of Storm and Tempest

“You’re welcome to come and help, but I’ve got this if you’re working.”

A lot went unsaid in that comment, and Jax appreciated the nonchalant way Stairns worded that—without making him feel guilty about staying in Arizona trying to find Kenna.

After they’d gone over all of it, Jax realized it was time to exit the freeway. “We’re a couple of minutes from the hospital.”

“I’ll let you go, then,” Stairns said. “Update after.”

“Sounds good.” Jax tapped the dash screen.

He didn’t want to wonder how Stairns had kept him talking for the purpose of distracting him. Allowing Jax something to focus on so that he didn’t continue in the thought spiral that had him spinning down into…he didn’t want to think about where that ended up.

Not when his arm stung from the knife injury and he could use a little of that oblivion right now.

Jax pulled the car into the parking lot and found a space. Ramon looked up from his phone, and Maizie closed her laptop.

He glanced at both of them, more than grateful he didn’t have to do this on his own. “Let’s go.”

Chapter Eighteen

“I’m good here.” Maizie settled at a small round table for two with her laptop, her backpack on the second chair. Good way to keep someone from sitting there in this busy hospital lobby with a wall of glass windows, arched ceilings, and a fancy coffee bar on one side.

“I don’t like leaving you.” Jax crouched by her chair.

She tipped her head toward him, an expression he wasn’t sure about in her eyes. “You need to look for her, and I can wait here and work while you do it.”

He wasn’t sure if that put her in harm’s way or kept her out of it. “I should’ve called Bruce.”

Ramon moved to stand behind the backpack, where he’d have a view of the door. “He’s grilling Amara on what she knows about Kenna. Sounds like it’s a real knock-down, drag-out fight.” He focused on the entrance, and when Jax looked at him, he lifted his chin.

Jax glanced at the front doors of the hospital and saw Zeyla heading toward them.

Ramon said, “She wants to find Kenna as badly as we do.”

Maizie glanced over her shoulder, some wariness on her face. But not fear.

“Are you good with her hanging with you?” Jax asked.

Maizie whispered, “She looks like she wants to kill someone, but she’s on our side.”

“That’s who I want protecting you.” He touched her shoulder. “But only if that’s what you want.”

Zeyla strode up to them, her dark hair in two Viking braids hanging over her shoulders. She wore wide-leg black pants and a white cropped T-shirt that revealed a belly button ring. Boots on her feet.

He figured she wore no other jewelry because it could get ripped off in a fight.

“Thanks for coming.” Jax straightened.

Zeyla cocked a hip. “Even though you had no idea I would be here? Seems like there’s a lot of that going around.” She rolled her eyes. “For the record, my mom said she told you about the texts. I can’t believe she didn’t. I thought you knew. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you for letting me know.” Jax glanced at Maizie and saw more of that odd look. “What is it, Maze?”

She shook her head. “I want to say, but I can’t.”

Zeyla dragged over a chair from another table and sat with Maizie. “Being here is better than listening to Mom and Bruce arguing. We can get a latte and get to know each other.”

Now that was a scary proposition.

“I have work to do,” Maizie said. “We can get to know each other later—like, after Kenna has been found.” The confidence in Maizie’s voice made him smile. She looked at him. “Can you grab the comms from the side pocket of my backpack?”