Page 3 of Enticing Kane

The security was tight but unobtrusive. To the right was a sort of grand staircase and an elegant, vintage elevator—both of which could take you up to Cerberus’ operational hub and safe rooms. To the left was a massive set of double doors, which led to the interior of the club and its dungeon.

Kane was led to the elevator, where Fitz used his thumbprint to engage it and hit the button for the floor where Kane assumed the offices were located. When the car stopped and doors swooshed open, it was all Kane could do not to whistle in appreciation. It looked like a cross between a war room and a high-tech office. Monitors lined the walls, displaying real-time data feeds from around the world, while a group of analysts sat at workstations, monitoring everything from terrorist movements to corporate espionage.

“This is where the magic happens,” Fitz said as they entered the room. “But you won’t be spending much time here. Your work will be in the field.”

Kane nodded, taking it all in. He had expected something impressive, but this was on another level. Cerberus wasn’t just some back-alley operation—it was a well-oiled machine with resources and reach that rivaled most and exceeded some governments.

“Your first assignment is already lined up,” Fitz said, handing Kane a tablet. “It’s in Syria. I know you’re familiar with the region.”

Kane took the tablet and scanned the briefing. It was a straightforward mission—join an archeological dig being run by another operative’s sister. There was a rumor that the dig was being targeted by both the local militia and any number of terrorist groups. But there was more to it than that. Kane could read between the lines. This was about more than just protecting the woman; it was about sending a message to the militia, letting them know that Cerberus was watching.

“I’m not crazy about this,” Kane admitted, handing the tablet back to Fitz. “It feels… personal.”

“It is,” Fitz agreed. “But that doesn’t make it any less important. And if you do this, it’ll help build trust with the team. They need to know they can rely on you, and you need to know you can rely on them.”

Kane thought about that for a moment. He wasn’t used to working with a team. His years as a sniper had taught him to operate alone, to trust only himself. But he also knew that if he was going to make this work, he would have to adapt. He would have to build relationships, something he had avoided for so long.

“Fine,” Kane said. “I’ll do it.”

Fitz nodded, satisfied. “Good man. You leave next week. Meanwhile, you’re welcome to stay here, or we can put you up in a five-star hotel. As a member of Cerberus and a man who already has play privileges at Baker Street, you are cleared to play here, as well. I think you’ll find the subs here are on a par with those at Baker Street.”

“I’d prefer to stay here.”

“Good man. I’ll have someone see you to your room and let them know you may be playing here tonight. The kitchen is already open. You can call down and have anything you like sent up or head down to the lounge to eat. I’ll make sure everyone knows to expect you.”

Kane didn’t say anything more as he was led to his quarters. The room was large and luxurious. He had to admire Fitz’s style and that the room contained all the amenities he would need for the night. He dropped his bag on the bed and sat down, running a hand through his short, dark hair.

As he stared at the blank wall in front of him, Kane felt the weight of everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours. He had gone from being a Marine sniper, alone in the desert, to joining an elite organization with global reach. It was a lot to process, but Kane wasn’t one for introspection. He knew what he had to do, and he would do it.

But as he laid down to grab a little shut eye, his mind drifted back to the desert, to the quiet solitude of his last mission. He had been alone for so long that he had forgotten what it felt like to be part of something larger than himself. Now, he was about to find out.

Tomorrow, he would begin a new chapter of his life, one filled with uncertainty and danger. But for the first time in a long time, Kane didn’t feel alone. He felt… something else. Something that he couldn’t quite name but knew he needed.

And with that thought, he closed his eyes and let sleep take him, knowing that when he woke, the world would be waiting for him to make his mark once more.

Chapter Two

Maggie

Somewhere in Kansas

Present Day

Dr. Margaret “Maggie” Dillon stood on the porch of her family’s sprawling heritage ranch, the wide Kansas sky stretching endlessly above her. The air was thick with the scent of hay and earth, the sounds of cattle lowing in the distance, mingling with the wind rustling through the tall grass. It was a scene she had grown up with, a part of her as much as the blood in her veins. Yet, she had always felt a tug, a yearning for something more—something beyond the rolling plains and the predictable rhythm of ranch life.

Her family, the Dillons, were as Kansas as it got. Generations had worked this land, and those who didn’t were in law enforcement, like her brother Matt, or some a blend of both. Maggie was the odd one out, the rebel. Instead of following in her family’s footsteps, she had chosen a path that took her to the farthest corners of the earth. While her siblings wrangled cattle and upheld the law, she delved into the mysteries of ancient civilizations, unearthing the stories of people long gone.

Her parents had never understood her fascination with history, with the ancient and the buried. But Maggie couldn’t shake the thrill she felt the first time she’d held a shard of pottery, thousands of years old, in her hands. It was a connection to something timeless, something larger than the small, insular world she had grown up in. Archaeology had captured her heart, and she had never looked back.

Maggie’s phone buzzed, pulling her from her reverie. She glanced at the screen—a message from Matt.

See you at the club tonight? Need to talk.

She sighed, already anticipating the conversation. Matt had been grumbling ever since she told him about her upcoming dig in Syria. He didn’t like it, not one bit. He’d given her the usual spiel about how dangerous it was with the region’s instability, especially now. But Maggie had always been stubborn, and this dig was too important to pass up. She’d been working toward it for years, and now that it was finally within reach, she wasn’t about to let her little brother’s overprotective streak hold her back.

She sent a quick reply confirming she’d meet him, then pocketed her phone. There was a twinge of nervousness as she thought about Club Southside, the place where Matt wanted to meet. It wasn’t the kind of establishment she frequented—hell, it wasn’t the kind of place she’d ever even thought about going to. But Matt had been a member for a while, and his enthusiasm for the club had piqued her curiosity. She wasn’t exactly sure what she was walking into, but Maggie had always been one to jump into the unknown with both feet.

Later that evening, Maggie stood outside Club Southside, looking up at the unassuming building. As her plane had a stop in Chicago, Maggie had decided to spend a day or two in the Windy City to check in with her brother, Matt. It didn’t give much away from the outside with its simple, dark facade and discreet signage listing Cerberus on the top line and Club Southside on the bottom. If you didn’t know what you were looking for, you could easily miss it. But inside, she knew, was a world entirely different from the one she’d grown up in.

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