AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Honestly, I’m not sure I do, Farnes. But that girl is family, and the only thing I care about right now is getting her back.” She headed for the open hatch, where the rain fell inside. It misted against her face like tears running down her cheeks.
He stepped after her. “If I’m risking the lives of my agents, I have a right to ask for intel.”
She glanced over her shoulder. “I didn’t ask for your help.”
And she didn’t look at Jax. He knew how she felt, and he was as determined as her to get Maizie back. What was there to say? Except to pray over this whole situation—and Stairns’ surgery.
Kenna climbed the ladder. It took a few seconds longer than she would’ve liked, but she found the boat in the distance. Below the deck, she could hear Jax and the agent arguing.
They followed the boat nearly all night.
Hours and hours of swelling ocean. The clouds dissipated until she could see stars. Then the first glow of sunrise coming up from below the horizon…and she spotted an island.
No doubt Elliot Preston knew they were behind him.
But still, she refused to do anything but press on. She had a gun. She had a vest, even though she couldn’t have cared less about personal safety right now. It was a means to an end—a way to keep going even if she was hit. A chance to tip the odds in her favor if she could take one more step. Cover one more bit of ground.
And get Maizie back.
“You really care about this girl.”
Kenna didn’t bother to look at the agent, whichever one of them it was. “Like I said. She’s family.”
The boat ahead of them stopped at a dock. Agent Farnes handed her binoculars, and she saw Maizie being led from the boat—carried, not walking on her own.
Kenna’s stomach clenched.
Two of the gunmen moved onto the deck of their boat and opened fire with rifles. A steady rattle of rounds spent in their direction. All that deadly intention backed up by firepower.
The agent piloting their boat made a sharp turn, and they all hunkered down. Bullets hit the water in front of them. “Get us closer!”
She wasn’t willing to give up. Not when they were so close.
Kenna looked up.
Jax pulled her back down. “Don’t!”
“We need to get to her.”
“I know that.” Jax turned. “Find a place we can swim to shore.”
The agents on board opened fire on the gunmen, giving enough cover for them to pilot away from them going parallel to shore.
Kenna couldn’t not look. She had to know what was happening. Her young friend was alive, wasn’t she?
Please tell me her life doesn’t end this way.
Kenna stood again and spotted her. “Maizie.”
Her heart caught in her throat as she saw the girl tumble out of the man’s arms. The guy carrying her reached for his gun. Elliot shoved him away and ran after Maizie himself.
“Run.” The word escaped her lips.
The boat rocked, caught up on a shallow sandbar.
Kenna launched up and jumped over the side. She splashed into knee-high water. “Maizie!”
The girl was too far to hear. She’d disappeared into the trees, racing out of sight. Running for her life.
