Page 105 of When He Hunts

“On a scale of one to five.”

Kane flinched. “He’s gonna try and kill us while we sleep then, huh? This is on you, man. I warned you not to keep secrets from him but then you fucking blasted your way past me, and nowI’mthe bad guy, too, and?—”

“Secrets are a pain in the ass. Sometimes, though, you have to keep them.” Soon enough, there was one secret in particular that he would have to reveal to Kane. A few bits of new intel had been giving him cause for concern. Currently, the situation was still under control, but the more Gray learned, the more worried he became. The worry he felt centered around a witness who had once gotten extremely close to the so-called Heartless Kane Harte.

So-called…because Kane actually did have a heart. He’d just given it to a woman long ago and then let her walk away. Or perhaps,lethadn’t really been part of the equation. When Anastasia had entered witness protection, she’d been taken from Kane.

Perhaps he should go ahead and give Kane a heads up about the new developments that seemed to be happening with her. Not like he wanted two of his best friends both pissed at the same time. Dealing with a furious Ronan was hard enough. Dealing with a rage-filled RonanandKane? That could be a nightmare situation. “So, Kane, you need to?—”

The door opened. “Got the meeting address. Got the meeting time. Let’s roll.” Ronan was completely cool. No, more like ice.

Gray peered around him to assess the prisoner.

Cameron was crying.

“What did you do?” Gray wanted to know. “And is it going to bite me in the ass?” Though he had already started to think that maybe he needed a change from the FBI. So many suffocating rules all the time were annoying the hell out of him.

And there is so much darkness growing in me.

“Didn’t have to do a thing. He was happy to talk with me. We were in the same gang once upon a time. Brotherhood and all that.”

“He’s a fucking psycho!”Cameron shouted. “He’s the one who belongs in handcuffs!”

Ronan winked at Gray. “I’m a psycho who knows where Marcus Aeros is lurking. Let’s get the party moving.” He stepped forward. Then stopped. “By the way, there is a price for tonight’s work, Gray. I’m not doing this shit for free.”

Oh, he’d never doubted that he would owe a debt.

“When I said I wanted out, I meant it. I will not be separated from Luna again. Make that happen.”

Sure. He’d just wave his hand and make a miracle happen. No big deal. He’d turn a hitman into an upstanding member of society in a blink. No sweat.

Ronan had already passed him.

“You needed to tell me something?” Kane asked.

Yeah, he did. But… “Hold the thought?” Because maybe he should put out one fire at a time. If he told Kane now, Kane might run straight for Anastasia. Such a move could prove unnecessary at this time. Better wait longer and see what additional developments occurred. And, hell, Gray could use his backup. He trusted Kane a thousand times more than he trusted any FBI agent. He was well aware that this night’s mission could explode in his face. And if things were going to explode, Kane was always exceedingly good at handling the fire.

Plus, if he needed to work a miracle for Ronan, Kane was just the man to help with that particular job.

She stoodin front of the open trunk. Her hands were cuffed. A knife was strapped to her ankle. A taser hidden in the pouch of her borrowed sweatsuit. And?—

“A gun is right here,” Ronan told her. He pointed just behind the left taillight. “You remember how to get out of the cuffs?”

Luna nodded. She’d had to prove—three times—that she could get out of the trick cuffs. A quiet and very watchful Kane had provided the cuffs.

“I’ll be driving the car. I’ll be with you every second.” A promise from Ronan.

They were outside of the airport. The rain had let up, but every now and then, a rumble would roll through the air. The lightning was in the distance now. And they had a killer to go see.

“Luna…” He pulled her close. “I can face him alone. You don’t need to do this.”

A point he kept making, but she shook her head. “You got Cameron to give you all the instructions for the trade-off. I’m supposed to be in the trunk on arrival.” The car they were using had been waiting at the airport just for Cameron. Marcus and his guards would be expecting this particular vehicle. “The guards will check to see if I’m there. If I’m not inside, you won’t get past them.” She had to go with him.

He needed her to end the nightmare.

“I just want you safe,” Ronan said.

“I am safe with you.” Even locked in a trunk. Though it was not exactly ideal. Far from it, in fact.

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