usually worked like a
charm. Today it just made her want to sit down and cry. Damned if he'd see
that, too.
"What about the other victims?"
"They're comforting each other. They'll be fine till we can get them
medical attention." He shot a look at the young woman on the bed. Wrapped
in a sheet, her hands covering her face, she sobbed softly. He turned back to
McKenna. "I'll stay with her. You need to go."
McKenna nodded and forced her legs to move toward the door.
Before walking out, she stopped and looked back at Dylan. "Tell Noah
that--"
"Noah will be in touch with you for another job. This was a glitch.
Got it?"
Gratitude brought unexpected tears to her eyes. She turned away
before he could see. "Thank you."
Feeling as though she'd been whipped all over again, McKenna
trudged through the hotel, not seeing anything but the blankness of her own
thoughts. She would go back to the tiny hotel she was staying at, hole up for
a few days. When she reemerged, she would be McKenna once more. No
longer broken, no longer defeated. No longer a victim.
51
Christy Reece
Five
London
Lucas stared down at the numbers before him. When he'd taken over
his family's empire, he'd had some lofty goals. Reading mind-numbing
numbers sure as hell wasn't one of them. But in this case he had no choice.
Someone was stealing a considerable amount of money from Kane
Industries.
Five years ago, he'd assumed control of Kane Enterprises. Taking over
that early hadn't been in his plan, but it had been his only option. And he had
the deepest regrets that he hadn't come on board sooner. Not because he
wanted to run a multibillion-dollar organization, but because it was what his
father had wanted.
Phillip Kane had been a healthy, robust sixty-four-year-old. With his
zest for adventure, fine food, and young women, he should have had many
more years to enjoy himself.
From the time he was in diapers, Lucas had known he was expected to
take over his family's business at some point. He'd never questioned if it was
the right thing for him. It was what it was. Until he'd been given another
choice.
His interests had always been eclectic. Sharpshooting and martial arts
were two hobbies he not only enjoyed but excelled in. Never had he
considered that his skills would catch the eye of anyone, especially an ultrasecretive government agency called IDC, International Deep Cover. He'd
been instantly intrigued.
His father had taken some convincing, mostly because of worry for
his only child. But he'd been proud, too, knowing that his son was serving
the country he loved. Having his dad proud of him had meant a hell of a lot.
Lucas had taken to life as a government agent as if he were born to it.
The training had been intense and grueling. Bruises, dehydration, sleep
deprivation, and exhaustion were the norm and should have made him
question his decision at least occasionally. Not once did he regret it. No, the
job wasn't always fun, but damn, it had been challenging. He'd been a
natural and would still be in the service if not for one major, heartwrenching snag: his father had died.
He'd known all along he'd have to leave the agency eventually. His
52
Christy Reece
father expected it of him, and despite his love for his country and his belief
in the cause, he'd been prepared to do the necessary thing for his family.
Circumstances had worked differently.
He had planned to serve ten years and then would leave to work
alongside his father before he took over completely. Instead, five short years
later, his father was dead and Lucas had to take over leadership.
Lying beneath one of his latest bunnies, Phillip Kane had just stopped
breathing. A barroom joke to many; a devastating blow to Lucas, who'd
adored his father.
Like most people, Phillip Kane had both good and flawed features.
Bringing home a new wife every few years, his father had confused his son.
As he grew into a man, Lucas had seen the depth of
charm. Today it just made her want to sit down and cry. Damned if he'd see
that, too.
"What about the other victims?"
"They're comforting each other. They'll be fine till we can get them
medical attention." He shot a look at the young woman on the bed. Wrapped
in a sheet, her hands covering her face, she sobbed softly. He turned back to
McKenna. "I'll stay with her. You need to go."
McKenna nodded and forced her legs to move toward the door.
Before walking out, she stopped and looked back at Dylan. "Tell Noah
that--"
"Noah will be in touch with you for another job. This was a glitch.
Got it?"
Gratitude brought unexpected tears to her eyes. She turned away
before he could see. "Thank you."
Feeling as though she'd been whipped all over again, McKenna
trudged through the hotel, not seeing anything but the blankness of her own
thoughts. She would go back to the tiny hotel she was staying at, hole up for
a few days. When she reemerged, she would be McKenna once more. No
longer broken, no longer defeated. No longer a victim.
51
Christy Reece
Five
London
Lucas stared down at the numbers before him. When he'd taken over
his family's empire, he'd had some lofty goals. Reading mind-numbing
numbers sure as hell wasn't one of them. But in this case he had no choice.
Someone was stealing a considerable amount of money from Kane
Industries.
Five years ago, he'd assumed control of Kane Enterprises. Taking over
that early hadn't been in his plan, but it had been his only option. And he had
the deepest regrets that he hadn't come on board sooner. Not because he
wanted to run a multibillion-dollar organization, but because it was what his
father had wanted.
Phillip Kane had been a healthy, robust sixty-four-year-old. With his
zest for adventure, fine food, and young women, he should have had many
more years to enjoy himself.
From the time he was in diapers, Lucas had known he was expected to
take over his family's business at some point. He'd never questioned if it was
the right thing for him. It was what it was. Until he'd been given another
choice.
His interests had always been eclectic. Sharpshooting and martial arts
were two hobbies he not only enjoyed but excelled in. Never had he
considered that his skills would catch the eye of anyone, especially an ultrasecretive government agency called IDC, International Deep Cover. He'd
been instantly intrigued.
His father had taken some convincing, mostly because of worry for
his only child. But he'd been proud, too, knowing that his son was serving
the country he loved. Having his dad proud of him had meant a hell of a lot.
Lucas had taken to life as a government agent as if he were born to it.
The training had been intense and grueling. Bruises, dehydration, sleep
deprivation, and exhaustion were the norm and should have made him
question his decision at least occasionally. Not once did he regret it. No, the
job wasn't always fun, but damn, it had been challenging. He'd been a
natural and would still be in the service if not for one major, heartwrenching snag: his father had died.
He'd known all along he'd have to leave the agency eventually. His
52
Christy Reece
father expected it of him, and despite his love for his country and his belief
in the cause, he'd been prepared to do the necessary thing for his family.
Circumstances had worked differently.
He had planned to serve ten years and then would leave to work
alongside his father before he took over completely. Instead, five short years
later, his father was dead and Lucas had to take over leadership.
Lying beneath one of his latest bunnies, Phillip Kane had just stopped
breathing. A barroom joke to many; a devastating blow to Lucas, who'd
adored his father.
Like most people, Phillip Kane had both good and flawed features.
Bringing home a new wife every few years, his father had confused his son.
As he grew into a man, Lucas had seen the depth of
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