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  Joshua laughed. “Come on. The FBI is watching Thorn. You can go and see your girl. Tomorrow we can give Thorn the good news. By then, his investors should realize nothing financially appealing is going to happen with Cross Enterprises. In fact, without Porter’s investment, their stock should plummet by the time the stock market opens in the morning.”

  “Where are you going?” Kane asked.

  “I am taking Rose to dinner and then seeing her to her own safe house.” Kane’s expression must have been comical, because his brother laughed. “I like the old lady. She’s got spunk. Besides, Banta is not done with our family yet, little brother.” He turned to Kane and said, “I like Lena too. That’s one brave woman. You’re lucky to have her. I sure hope you know it.”

  “It’s a fucking miracle, her loving a guy like me.” Kane’s chest tightened. He liked the idea that Josh thought of Lena and Rose as family. Hell, he liked the idea of family, period.

  “You’re damned right it is.” Joshua laughed again. He slapped Kane on the back. “I’m happy for you.”

  “Thanks. I guess I’m going to have to find another line of work. If the vision is true, I’ve got responsibilities.”

  “You can consult for the FBI. I’ll talk to some people. You get to do what you do best and you don’t have to agree to anything you’re not comfortable with.”

  “Thanks.” The tightness in his chest returned.

  Joshua smiled and slapped him on the back again.

  * * * * *

  He arrived at the Mandarin Oriental and found four FBI agents present between the front door and the elevator bank. When he arrived at the top floor, he was met by two more agents outside the hotel room door. They recognized him and allowed him to pass. He knocked.

  A moment later, Lena opened the door, wearing the fluffy white hotel robe. A bright smile transformed her face from wary to elated as soon as she saw him. She grabbed him by the shirt and dragged him inside.

  Once the door was shut, she asked, “Did he go for it?”

  “Lock, stock and barrel.” He pulled her into a tight hug and slid his lips across hers.

  She responded, opening her mouth and dragging her tongue across his lower lip. Groaning, his own tongue merged with hers and his hand slid up through her silky hair to clutch the back of her head and deepen the kiss.

  She was breathless when he broke the kiss. Her eyes filled with passion, she took a step back. “I wasn’t sure if he saw that the false vision slipped into a true one. I tried to cover it up.”

  “We couldn’t see the vision through the cameras.” His heart sped up from more than the power of her kisses. “What do you mean, it slipped?”

  “A real vision of Oscar being hunted down by someone in a long coat came through. I changed the face to John Porter as quickly as I could. I don’t think he noticed, but I couldn’t be one hundred percent sure.” She walked over to the bar and picked up a glass of red wine. “Do you want one?”

  He shook his head. “Anything stronger back there?”

  “Whiskey, vodka, gin… What do you want?” She leaned over so only the top of her head was visible over the long wooden bar.

  Kane made his way over and sat on one of three stools. “Vodka… He must not have noticed. As soon as he got in his car, he called to make the buy on Cross and then brokered a deal for some heavy-hitting mob guys.”

  She put ice in a glass and poured his drink. “I hope so.”

  He let the sharp, cold liquid burn down his throat. “Any idea who was after him or why?”

  “No. I looked at the vision again when I got back here. It’s not you and it’s not Banta. It must be one of the investors he’s about to cost millions.”

  “Or someone else Thorn has pissed off over the years.”

  Lena came around the bar. Her hair was loose and wild around her face. “I guess that’s possible.” She stepped between his legs. “I feel as if I’m in over my head.”

  He brushed a stray hair away from her face. “This will be over tomorrow, baby.” He ran his hand over her skin where Thorn had slapped her. “No bruise.”

  She shook her head. “It wasn’t much of a slap.” She shrugged. “It won’t be over for a long time. When he goes to trial, I’ll have to testify.”

  “How did you get this room again?” He changed the subject.

  “I told the FBI if they didn’t give me another night in the room, I might be forced to plead the Fifth when the case came to trial.”

  Kane laughed. “You would never do that.”

  She wound her arms around him and rested her head on his chest. “No, but they don’t know that. They have so much invested in this case and now they’re all hyped up with the new charges, they don’t want it to all fall apart because of some crazy ex-wife.”

  He breathed in her warm, clean scent. His cock instantly came to life behind the fly of his jeans. “I do like this room.”

  She pushed away and looked around the elaborate hotel. “It’s a bit too posh for my taste, but I thought the FBI should pay a little for having left me in prison all that time when they knew I was innocent.”

  He pulled her back against him. “You’re damned right they should.”

  “Are you hungry? I can order room service.” She tried to straighten, but he held her tight.

  “Not yet. I think we’ll be hungry later.” His cock pressed harder in an effort to get out.

  “Oh?” She turned her head up. A smile lit her eyes. “You have something else in mind?”

  He slid off the stool and pulled her ass forward so she could feel his arousal. “I have something else in mind.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Everything that had happened during the past two days had been worth it for the moment when Kane pulled her into his arms. Instinct told her to run fast and far. She wished she could go somewhere Oscar Thorn would never find her. She just kept telling herself she was doing all of this so she and Kane could have a future together. The vision of their daughter and her belly full of a second child was imprinted in her mind. She didn’t know how they would live. She questioned the idea of being with a man who hunted people for a living. Still, she wanted the life in the vision.

  “You look worried,” he said. His eyes bore into hers, searching for answers, yet he made no attempt to get them out of her mind.

  She loved him even more for that and rested her ear on his chest. His steady heartbeat soothed her. “I’m just thinking about the future.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “Can we worry about it a bit later?”

  She could feel his cock hard against her abdomen. She reached down, unsnapped the button of his jeans and slid the zipper down with a satisfying zip. Her hand reached inside the elastic of his boxer-briefs and coiled around the hard, smooth shaft, tugging gently. “I think the future can wait for this.” She gave his cock another pull.

  He growled in her ear. Her pussy pulsed, making her want to squeeze her legs together and heighten the sensation. Instead, she pressed her hips forward.

  Kane reached down and around and lifted her by her ass. She screamed in surprise and instantly wrapped her arms and legs around him to balance herself. He walked forward until she was pressed against the wall. Her robe fell open. The head of his cock pressed at her slit and the zipper scratched her inner thigh.

  His mouth was on her neck and all thoughts of the zipper were replaced by the delights of his mouth and tongue as he kissed from her pulse to just behind her ear. She tilted her head to one side so he had better access. His tongue traced a path around her ear and his warm breath had her gasping and clutching at him. She tightened her legs, pulling the head of his cock inside her.

  His moan muffled her cries as his mouth found hers in a deep kiss. He gripped her tighter with one arm and tugged at his jeans until they puddled at his feet. His underwear only made it far enough to hug his hips, but it was enough. He slid his shaft home and they both called out as her wet canal stretched around him.

  Not movin
g for a long moment, he said, “Good god, Lena. You feel so good.”

  “Mmm. You know there’s a bed just in the next room.”

  His hips pulled away and pressed forward again, making her cry out. “Too far,” he said.

  He continued to pump and thrust. Her body tightened and she held him. When he stopped and looked at her, she didn’t know what he wanted. He pulled away and her feet touched the ground. Her entire body leaned toward him, wanting to bring him back inside her. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  He pushed his shorts down, stepped out of them and his jeans and whipped his shirt off over his head. His body rippled with muscle. She touched his tight abs and lower to his shaft, where it stood out straight, looking for her pussy. “Nothing’s wrong. I just know you won’t come that way. I have to see you come, Lena.”

  His words nearly had the desired effect on her. Her entire core clenched with need. He took her hand and led her to the bedroom. She watched him climb onto the bed and lay on his side watching her.

  Smiling, she climbed up, pushed him to his back and straddled his lap. She planned to sink down onto his cock immediately, but Kane had other ideas. He slid his hands under her thighs and pulled her forward toward his chest. He glided his body down at the same time until she had one knee on either side of his head and he was grinning up at her.

  Confusion mixed with interest as she watched his tongue lash out and lick her pussy. She grabbed hold of the headboard to keep herself upright. He pulled down on her thighs so she sat more firmly against his searching mouth. He drew her clit in and suckled, then licked and teased. Her hips moved forward and back, unable to keep still while his lips and tongue brought her so much pleasure. Sensations started in her clit and spread out to every cell in her body. Blood coursed through her ears as if it were a roaring ocean. She could barely hear the sounds of her own cries. Her throat was dry and sore, but she couldn’t stop the screams and groans as he brought her higher. The tightening deep within her pulsed until it finally shattered into a million sparks that ignited her. She screamed his name and he sucked hard on the sensitive bud until the waves of her orgasm subsided.

  He licked and it was too sensitive. She couldn’t bear for her clit to be touched. She quickly dismounted his face and slid down to press her body against his, licking her juices off his chin and tasting her salty come. Shaking slightly from the aftereffects of the orgasm, she kissed him deeply, then rested her cheek against his chest.

  “That’s better,” he said. “I love it when you come.”

  She smiled and pushed her hands on his chest so she could look down at him. “Good, now fuck me.”

  Kane laughed. “I also love it when you talk dirty.” He flipped her over onto her back and pressed himself from chest to hip against her.

  Lena lifted her knees and his cock was at her entrance. He slid forward enough to tease her pussy with his engorged head. “Kane, I need you inside me.”

  He groaned, threw his head back and drove home. She was so juicy, he met no resistance. He moaned her name before sliding back to just his tip and forging forward again. Lena lifted her hips to meet every thrust. She could feel another orgasm building inside her pussy. She wanted to open her mind and extend their lovemaking, but fear kept her from pursuing it.

  If Kane minded being excluded from her thoughts, he gave no indication. He pumped into her wetness over and over again. His big cock stretched her and her canal begged for more. His strokes grew faster and more forceful. Lena reached between them and rubbed her clit as Kane slammed forward again. Her orgasm encompassed her. The walls of her pussy convulsed around him and he came in a rush of grunts and juices.

  Lena pressed hard on her clit, extending the rapture while Kane pumped a last few times and filled her completely.

  He rolled over, pulling her with him. She tucked in against his body and reveled in satisfaction. “Now I’m hungry.”

  “Me too,” he said, laughing.

  * * * * *

  She’d been able to eat and sleep for the first time in weeks. Kane’s arms were the perfect blanket, his chest the perfect pillow.

  She didn’t dream at all. The bed was shaking. She thought it must be an earthquake. Her eyes opened. Kane was already out of the bed.

  “What’s happening?” she asked.

  He tossed her the pair of jeans and the T-shirt left on the chair. “Get dressed.”

  “What is it?”

  “Banta.”

  Her body started trembling. His face was once again in her mind. The whites of his eyes and those black centers drilling into her painfully…

  Kane grabbed her by the shoulders. His voice was soft, but there was no doubt he was yelling at her. “I know you’re afraid. Get dressed now.”

  She did as he told her, then pulled her boots on. Kane went to the hotel door first, gripping her by the wrist and pulling her along. He had his cell phone in his hand, dialed and hung up.

  “Is he in the room?”

  “Not yet.”

  “The FBI?”

  Kane shrugged. The clock on the wall said four twenty-three. Her heart was in her throat. “Maybe you’re wrong. It could be someone else. Wade?”

  “I know the difference,” he said. “Besides, Banta came after me this afternoon.”

  She pulled her hand away from him. “You didn’t think that was important to share?”

  He looked out the peephole in the door and then all around the room, searching. “We were having a great evening. I didn’t want to spoil it.”

  “Men are such assholes,” she muttered. “In the future, ruin the evening.”

  He stopped at the bar and picked up a metal lamp. He pulled the cord, tossed the shade away and unscrewed the bulb. Giving it a swing, he walked over and handed it to Lena. She took it. It was heavy in her hand. Whatever it was made out of would make a fine dent in Banta’s head. She nodded.

  Noticing the gun in Kane’s hand, she bit down on her fear. “Now what?”

  He pushed her back so she was in the corner of the room. It was the one spot when the door opened that she wouldn’t be seen. “We wait.” He moved to stand on the other side, where he had an open shot at an intruder.

  “Wait for what—”

  The words were barely out of her mouth when the door shattered. Whatever weapon had been used to blow the hole in the door, the effect was stunning. The door literally hung on its hinges with a giant hole in the center. Lena’s ears rang and she had to bite her lip to keep from screaming. She held her lamp with both hands and kept her mind tightly shut. Smoke wafted in from the hallway. As it cleared, Banta stepped through the destroyed door.

  Lena had hoped to never see the giant man who had violated her ever again. Her body trembled at the sight of his back and shoulders. He ran forward toward Kane. Kane fired twice, but Banta kept charging.

  She didn’t know if the bullets had hit their mark. If they had, they didn’t have much effect. Banta and Kane tumbled to the floor. Lena moved closer. It was dark. She couldn’t tell who was winning. She thought she saw some kind of mask on Banta’s head. He looked as if he was a space alien she’d seen in the movies. Kane was on the bottom. She rushed forward with her lamp. By the time she crossed to them. Kane was on the top. She backed away.

  Again, she noticed some strange mask on Banta’s face. She ran the three feet to the wall and hit the light switch.

  Banta screamed and tore the mask from his face. It was enough distraction for Kane to pull the giant’s other hand from around his neck. Lena’s eyes adjusted quickly. Banta clutched at Kane’s head.

  Kane’s eyes were wide. She ran forward and bashed the back of Banta’s head with the lamp. He stilled, but didn’t go down. She hit him again and again. He fell to one side. She kicked his head and back.

  She wanted to keep hurting him. Lifting the lamp one more time, she felt it pulled out of her grasp. It hit the carpet with a thud. Kane’s arms wound around her and pulled her away. Tears streamed down her face and a high-pitch
ed scream tore from her mouth. Kane turned her body into his and pulled her tightly against him. He was saying something, but she had no idea what it was.

  Other voices joined in.

  Rage and despair entwined and her body shook violently. She didn’t know how long she stayed that way. It was probably only a few minutes.

  When she opened her eyes, she was cradled in Kane’s arms and they were seated on the couch. Blake and Joshua were in the room along with FBI, police and hotel security. Troth Banta lay unmoving on the carpet with blood all around him. EMTs rushed into the room.

  “Is he dead?” she asked.

  Kane kissed her cheek. “Incredibly, no. I shot the bastard twice and you beat him over the head with a metal lamp and he’s still not dead.”

  Joshua walked over. He was shaking his head and smirking. “No, but even if he wakes up, he’ll be in prison for a long time.”

  “Go shower, Lena. We still have one more thing to take care of today. That is, if you’re up to it?”

  She wiped her face and looked over at the immobile body of the man who tried to destroy her and kill Kane. It was empowering to have fought back. She took a deep breath. It was definitely time to put an end to her past and move forward. People were swarming around the room, doing various things. “Don’t I need to give a statement or something?”

  Agent Blake came forward. “You’re not going to leave town in the next few minutes, are you, Ms. Cruz?”

  She looked at Kane. “I’m not going anywhere but to see my ex-husband today, Agent Blake.”

  “Well then, you can get cleaned up and dressed. We can get a statement from you after that.”

  The hot water poured over her and she started to relax. It was almost over. She kept telling herself, she only had to hold on a little while longer. The bathroom door opened and closed. She didn’t even bother to open her eyes. She knew it was Kane and she knew he was worried about her.

  “I’m okay.”

  “Really?”

  She looked at him leaning against the glass shower enclosure. His eyes were bright blue and questioning. Dark marks had begun to show around his neck where Banta had tried to squeeze the life out of him. She shuddered at the idea she could have lost him. “I actually feel better than I did before.”