Page 27 of Shadow Lies

Just like the animals in the wild. They had no regrets. No conscience.

That was what he aspired to now. What he wanted to do. Be like the beasts who lived in the mountains surrounding the monastery. It was all he could hope for.

“We can fix things,” she said.

“It’s not our job to fix things.”

“But if we can—” The gong disrupted her speech. She glanced at him.

“Warning gong. Practice is starting in ten minutes. Which is my cue to go.”

He realized this was going to be goodbye for good. Now that she’d gotten him to talk to Charley, she’d completed what she’d been sent to do and she’d be leaving China.

That saddened him. They’d shared more than memories and small talk. He’d shared things he hadn’t uttered to another living soul since he’d been ousted.

But the sharing was over now.

“Goodbye, Lexi. It was really good seeing you.” He hesitated for a second then pulled her into a hug.

The connection was as comforting as it was painful as it reminded him of all he’d left behind him.

He released his hold and stepped away. “Home safe. Say hi to your parents and your sister for me.”

Then he left, before it got any harder to do so.

ChapterNine

Alexis watched Kane walk out of the room—and out of her life—after what he probably had meant to be a final goodbye.

She didn’t feel sadness. She felt determination. She wasn’t leaving the monastery. At least not quite yet. Instead, she reached for the phone.

Her brain spun with all she wanted to say to Charley. To ask her.

She’d just navigated to the recent calls on the cell in her hand when the monk who’d met her out front and installed her in this office for the second day in a row arrived in the room.

He made a slight bow to her, then swept his arm toward the doorway. His silent way of showing her the door.

The problem was, she didn’t want to leave. Not yet.

“Can you—do you talk?” She touched two fingers to her lips for visual reinforcement. Why she’d done that, she wasn’t sure.

Even if he had taken a vow of silence, he’d still be able to hear her. She hoped he hadn’t taken that vow. She had a question and could use an answer that didn’t involve an impromptu game of charades.

He nodded. “Yes.”

“Can I—am I allowed to stay and watch? The kung fu practice, I mean.” She gestured toward the window that looked out on a courtyard where monks were beginning to assemble.

“Yes.” Another small bow preceded him sweeping his arm again as he moved through the doorway.

Figuring that meant she should follow him, she rushed to catch up. These guys moved fast. Of course, six hours of hard physical workouts a day would have them in pristine condition.

Kane probably worked out as hard here as he had with the SEALs. Charley was right. It wasn’t such a big surprise that Kane had ended up here.

And speaking of working out… by the time she and her escort had reached a stone terrace that overlooked the courtyard below, the exercise had begun. Row upon row of men moved in sync. Like a dance.

Peaceful and serene. Yet powerful. She noticed her personal escort remained beside her. Did he have to stay with her? Was he missing practice because of her?

“Does everyone join in the practice? Do you need to join them?” she asked, feeling bad if her intrusion was costing him his practice time.

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