Page 22 of Burning Justice

Maria smiled, following Raine into the house.

Inside was at least ten degrees warmer than outside and smelled like coconut. The hum of people talking filled the air, and through an open arch, she spotted people all over, dressed in high-society party attire. A whole lot of suits and tuxes, tight dresses, and clinking glasses.

Someone moved, and she spotted a roaring fireplace, which explained the warmth.

She’d been a firefighter too long, because Sanchez would rather be sitting out under the stars, spending the night sleeping on the ground and eating MREs, than making small talk with the kind of people who filled this house.

She flicked her freshly curled hair off her shoulder and smoothed down the side of her dress.

“Raine!” An older guy in a suit with no tie strode over, one hand in his pocket. In the other hand, he had a short glass with amber-colored liquid, a ring on his index finger. His gaze moved through Maria and dismissed her.

Which was the idea.

Raine stepped into his embrace and held him for a second. “Happy Birthday, Grandpa.”

The older man chuckled. “You make it sound like I’m ancient.”

“As if you couldn’t still out-hunt me any day.”

“You better have your tags ready for the fall. I’ve got it all planned.”

“I bought a new scope for my rifle.” Raine grinned. “I’ve got it all sighted in.”

The older man chuckled. He let go of Raine and put out his hand. “Robert Howards. Good to meet you.”

“You too. I’m Sarah.” She had used the name often in the CIA as a cover. It slipped out now without her even thinking it through. “Happy Birthday, sir. It’s good to meet you, though I had no idea this was a birthday party.”

He kissed the back of her hand. “Don’t tell anyone it is.”

Maria smiled. “I should freshen up. Could you point me to the restroom?”

Raine actually looked relieved. She probably wanted a moment alone with her grandfather, given the house was packed with people.

“Down the hall to the right.” He pointed over his shoulder.

Maria wandered that direction, sauntering as if she had all the time in the world and was as relaxed as she could be at a party for the evening. Inside was far different. Her thoughts warred in her head, and she pushed them all back.

Her father might be here and he might not.

She would only know for sure by looking, so what was the point of wondering herself to death? She needed intel. Access to a computer. She needed to clone a phone and do a room-by-room search of the house. All things she’d done in the CIA.

But Kane hadn’t seen any of that. He only knew the officer who’d been captured and held for weeks. He knew the woman who’d failed and needed rescue.

It stood to reason he wouldn’t need her to help him when he was hurt. That he felt as if he always needed to be the strong one.

“Did you do that a lot in the CIA?” he asked in her ear. “Excuse yourself to go to the bathroom and then sneak around?”

She glanced both ways down the hall, then said quietly, “It’s a classic for a reason.”

He chuckled, and it sounded warm.

She didn’t want to like it. She didn’t want to need him with her or rely on him. After all, when this was over and he didn’t need to protect her, he’d go back to his life. She would be left to figure out why she hadn’t been able to keep it professional. Why she’d let him break her heart.

But she would have her father.

Finally.

Fifteen years of searching, and it would all be over.

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