“I need to go talk to the fedsagain,” Jax said.
Maybe that was why he was mad. “I can go with you, if you want? I’ll explain that you had no choice but to leave the scene.”
Preston patted the shoulder of the seat. “Take a left here.”
Kenna complied. “Where are we going?”
“Tell Ryson to meet us at Bashevis diner on Sixteenth.”
“I’ll text him,” Jax said.
Zeyla said, “I am hungry.” When Maizie looked back at her, she said, “Adrenaline.”
Kenna saw the sign for the diner rotating above a squat building and pulled into the parking lot. The ground dipped under the car wheels, and she drove through a couple of potholes before she found a good space out of the light of streetlamps. In a dark corner, where their car might go unnoticed by black SUVs full of gunmen looking for her and her family.
The idea of that made her want to stay in the car, because she knew she was safe in here.
It gave her a small hint of what Jax was probably feeling right about now. Plus the adrenaline. Plus frustration. Plus wondering when the baby would come.
“Do we know what those guys wanted, apart from revenge?” She shut off the engine.
Zeyla said, “They didn’t ask. They trailed me when I left Sylvia’s building and followed me after I got in my car. Tried to run me off the road.” There was a short pause, and she said, “Thanks for showing up.”
Kenna waited.
Jax said, “No problem.” Then he said louder, “I was happy to help until the cavalry arrived.”
Kenna really wasn’t going to sit at home when her family was in danger—and she had a million-dollar armored car. “I need a milkshake.”
Jax said, “Stay put a second.”
The rest of them got out. He opened her door for her and helped her out of the front seat. She groaned as she straightened.
“Did you hurt yourself?”
She shook her head. “I forgot how uncomfortable it is doing defensive driving. I feel like I bruised my tailbone going up that curb.”
He shook his head, an incredulous look on his face. At least, from what she could see in the dim light.
“I love you.”
He chuckled, sliding his arms around her. “We should get inside. Not that it’s safer than being exposed out here.” But he didn’t let go of her, he leaned in and slid his nose along hers, giving her a distracting kiss that made her wish maybe shehadstayed at home. “I love you, too. Hopefully, I live long enough to enjoy raising our baby with you and having you drive me crazyfor years rather than expiring on the street because you gave me a heart attack.”
“I hope so, too.” She kissed him back, trying to be equally distracting to him as he was to her. “I love this car, too. We should keep it.”
He laughed, walking her over to the front door of the diner with his arm around her waist. His head close to hers. Muttering about how she liked to change the subject so she wasn’t under scrutiny.
Kenna wanted to point out that she wasn’t the one who’d been shot at, but now probably wasn’t the time.
Jax opened the door, and she went in first. The diner had a couple of customers and two waitresses. Kenna found Preston and Maizie at a booth in the far corner. As she crossed the room, Zeyla emerged from the back hall where the sign indicated the restrooms were. Kenna said, “This is where you come to eat?”
She liked the place just fine. It had a hometown feel, like a lot of the spots she’d eaten at with her dad growing up on the road while he solved cases—and hiding fromDominatusso thoroughly that she hadn’t even known they existed.
Preston was a billionaire. This wasn’t his usual scene. “You’ll see.” He looked pretty pleased with himself.
Kenna pulled a chair over from a neighboring table and sat with her back to the wall between the booth and the neighboring table. “Don’t ask me to slide in there. I’ll never get out.”
Jax sat at the table to her left, between her and the window. Or the door. Her protector. She reached out, and he held her hand.
