Page 23 of Kane's Bounty
“Where will it take us?”
His eyes widened in surprise. “That’s up to you. Where is your grandmother?”
She realized she trusted this bounty hunter more than she had trusted anyone in years. He didn’t care about the stones. His only concern was keeping her alive and doing right by his duty. She could understand that. “She’s—”
He stopped her by squeezing her arm hard. “Close your mind, Lena.”
She did as he said and followed his gaze to the sandy-blond man walking toward their table. It was Wade from bar in Savannah. His dull eyes remained focused on Kane and his thin lips were turned up in a grin.
He pulled a chair out from another table and straddled it facing them as if they were old friends. “You’re not the easiest man to track down, old friend.”
“That was the point, Shamus.”
Wade’s face turned down in a quick frown and then he switched back to the fake grin again. “I’m going to take this woman in, Lakeland. I don’t want you to get hurt, but it’s me or Banta and I think she’d be better off with me, don’t you?”
Lena’s heart was pounding. She might have run, but Kane had the stones. Even so, she thought of running. She could get the stones back later.
“Who are you working for?” Kane asked.
“I can’t say.” Wade looked pleased that he had a secret, as if he felt important for keeping something from Kane.
Kane studied him for a second. “Government? What does the government want with her?”
Wade looked as if he’d lost his best friend. His eyes narrowed and his mouth turned to a pout. Lena thought he looked ridiculous and nearly laughed.
Kane shrugged and answered the question she assumed Wade was thinking. “You never could close your mind off, old friend.”
Wade pounded his fist on the table, making Lena jump.
The waitress brought the tequila shots and the conversation stopped. Kane paid the bill and Lena downed a shot before the waitress had walked away. The fiery liquid burned down her throat and chest. She wanted to down the other immediately, but didn’t think it was the right time to get hammered. She was likely going to have to run soon.
Wade downed a shot. “I need this girl, Kane. If you don’t give her over, I’m taking her.”
Kane drank a shot. “Now we both know that’s not going to happen, Shamus.”
“Stop calling me that. I hate that name.”
Kane smiled and waited while Wade drank the last shot.
“The people who want her are real serious,” he said in a loud whisper.
“Banta?”
Wade shook his head, looked around and signaled for the waitress. He made a round motion toward the table.
The waitress came over with four more shots a minute later. Kane paid the bill.
Wade took another shot and another. “Banta works for her ex.” He pointed to Lena. “Ain’t that something? I mean, I don’t like my ex none, but I wouldn’t be sending a freak like Banta out after her no matter what she’d done.” He drank down another shot.
Lena didn’t say anything. She watched with great interest as Shamus Wade drank his fifth shot of tequila. He then turned to her and looked between them. “You don’t got the hots for her, do you?” He rubbed his face. “Kane, I thought you were better than this. This one is trouble from the get-go.” He started to slur his words.
“I’m aware of that.” Kane gave her a smile.
A moment later, the last shot sat empty on the table. Kane had already ordered four more shots and they arrived just in time. Wade drank another two as if he were a chain smoker lighting his next smoke.
“Perhaps you should stop drinking those, Mr. Wade,” Lena suggested.
Wade looked at her as if she was an alien. He picked up another shot and had some trouble getting it to his mouth. His head lolled to one side.
