Page 31 of Burning Justice

It hadn’t been simply to wish her grandfather a happy birthday.

Nor did Kane believe she had anything to do with what was happening.

Raine swiped at her cheeks. “I needed to talk to his second-in-command. My grandfather’s lieutenant.”

Sounded like they were military. Or Mafia.

“I needed to know who killed my father.”

Sanchez flinched. “Someone killed your dad?”

Kane reached over and grabbed her hand, holding on to it so she had an anchor. She needed the Lord to be her firm foundation. But if Kane could help, then that had to be part of why God had put him in her life.

Raine said, “He wasn’t even a good guy. He never treated my mom right, and she hated him until the day she died. But he was my father.” Her voice broke. Raine cleared her throat. “My grandfather isn’t going to be around much longer. When he’s gone, I won’t have anyone.”

“I’m so sorry.” Sanchez gave Raine a hug.

When she stepped back, Kane said, “Did you find out who killed him?”

Raine nodded. “But it won’t do me any good. Even if my grandfather said I should tell him where to find the guy so he can kill him. It isn’t going to bring my father back. And having him in my life never did me any good anyway.”

Kane said, “I know what it’s like to love someone but not like them. Loyalty is loyalty. But it still breaks your heart.”

Sanchez glanced at him.

No, he’d never told her about his mom and dad. In fact, there were a lot of things he hadn’t told her. After all, it wasn’t like she needed to know when none of it was pertinent to the mission at hand.

But the longer things went on, the more he found himself wanting to tell her.

Wanting to show her who he was.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do. But I know it’s not as important as what you’re doing,” Raine said. “Can we go back to base now?”

Kane looked at Saxon.

The guy didn’t seem appeased but moved for the driver’s door. “Let’s go.”

Raine got in behind him.

Kane held the door for Sanchez. She stopped before getting in, holding him with that steady gaze. The one that made him want to tell her everything.

“Maybe you can share that story sometime.”

Kane said, “Maybe.” Far as he could see, they were a little preoccupied with finding a canister and stopping a terror attack. “Elias is here.”

She nodded. “That means they needed the big guns. Someone to get this done.”

“Agreed.” He nodded. “Now all we have to do is figure out how to stop it without anyone getting caught in the crossfire.”

Sanchez lifted up on her toes and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Thanks, Kane.”

She slid into the seat, and he shut the door. For the moment he was alone on the highway, he allowed himself a smile. Just that one acknowledgment that, for a split second, he’d had it all.

Everything he wanted.

But duty always came first. The mission, and Sanchez’s search for her father, would always be a higher priority for both of them.

Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be, and God wanted to teach him how to let go.

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