Page 38 of Kane's Bounty
She turned her head.
Kane clutched his upper arm. “Go,” he yelled.
She pushed the horse faster in spite of the thick foliage. Ducking her head did little to keep the limbs from scratching and bruising her arms and legs. Finally, the woods ended, leaving them exposed. She checked for traffic and took off at a gallop across the street. She tucked up and jumped the wood fence, heard Kane come down cleanly and kicked the thoroughbred into a gallop across the cow pasture.
When they reached the next line of trees, she jumped down from the horse, took the bridle off and left it on the ground. Kane did the same and they took off running. About twenty feet later, they found themselves in a small yard with a very large barn.
Max’s barn had been painted bright red with white trim, just as if it was a picture postcard, but when she opened the large door, they were in a very elaborate garage complete with over a dozen cars of various makes and models, and all in mint condition. Some of the cars were up on lifts with other cars beneath them.
“The keys are always in them,” she said.
“Is this guy nuts?” Kane gaped at the cars. “These cars are worth millions.”
Lena laughed. “Max is different. He doesn’t like locked doors. I used to grab the Corvette all the time when I was a teenager. I think he knew, but he never said.”
She pointed to a black 1971 hardtop. It was perfectly polished and gleamed in the open doorway. Kane whistled his appreciation.
“Do you want to drive?” She leaned into the open window and pulled the keys out of the glove box.
He tossed his duffle into the back and jumped into the driver’s seat. “Damned right.”
Lena smiled and got in the passenger’s side.
Kane tore down the drive and onto the paved, winding roads of western New Jersey. He headed northeast. Lena closed her eyes and let the wind whip around her.
There was some relief in not having possession of the stones. She knew it wouldn’t stop Oscar, nothing would. He would find her and he would eventually find her grandmother, but this would slow him down.
She felt Kane’s hand wrap around hers and hold it while he sped north on the New Jersey Turnpike toward Boston. Her trial was in a few days. They had no proof of her innocence. The only thing she could hope for was an honest judge who was not in Oscar’s pocket. It was more likely she would go to prison, and once there, Oscar would find a way to manipulate her.
Kane’s gentle squeezing of her hand gave her some comfort. It was late when they pulled off the Mass. Turnpike. The day had gone on forever. Lena watched as Kane expertly made his way through the small town and pulled up to Fairfield Inn and Suites. He pulled in front of the doors of the hotel. “Stay put.” Pulling a jacket out of his duffle, he shrugged into it.
A few minutes later, he returned. They drove the Corvette around to the back of the building and slipped into the side door with the key card. The people at the reception desk never saw Lena, which was the point. Her face had been on television. She might be recognized and that was the last thing they needed.
The room had two queen-size beds, a desk, a dresser and a flat-screen TV. Lena ignored all of it and walked directly into the bathroom. She turned on the shower, stripped off the clothes Joshua had brought her, grabbed soap and shampoo from the vanity and stepped under the hot spray of water. She felt as if the day had begun a week ago. Her muscles ached and her mind was numb.
It was no surprise when Kane stepped in behind her. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back against his hard chest. He kissed her neck and took the shampoo from the small sill where she had placed the bottle. A moment later, his fingers lathered up her hair, massaging her scalp. When he’d finished, he directed her to stand under the spray and rinse out the soap. Then he tore the bar of soap from the paper wrapper and carefully washed her. His hands caressed every part of her body, leaving nothing untouched. It was stimulating and sweet at once. He made no move toward sex, but only washed her, knowing she was too tired to do it herself. When he’d finished with her, he washed himself. She watched, but didn’t touch him. He was done in minutes, rinsed the soap off them both and turned the water off.
He stepped out of the tub onto a small mat, grabbed a towel and dried off before tying the towel around his hips. With another towel, he dried her from shoulders to feet. She spotted the long red cut on his upper arm. Guilt flooded her as she stepped out and took the towel from him.
“My god, you were shot. I completely forgot. I’m such an ass.”
He looked down at the wound. “It’s just a scratch, not even bleeding anymore.”
“I should have remembered.” She was the most selfish person on Earth. How could she have forgotten he was hurt?
He smiled. “It’s nothing. The bullet barely grazed me. Don’t worry about it. Come on, let’s get some sleep.”
Lena looked in the semi-fogged mirror and ran her fingers through her dark hair. Blue smudges marked the skin under her eyes.
He took her hand and led her back to the bed.
Lifting the covers, he waited for her to climb in before tucking himself in behind her. She could feel his hard cock pressed against her ass, but he didn’t try to make love to her. Within seconds, Lena’s eyes shut.
* * *
She felthim in her head before she woke up. He nudged her gently, lovingly. Having Kane in her head was as if a warm blanket had been tossed over her mind. It reminded her of coming home after a long time away. Opening her eyes, she saw the sun was not yet up. The digital clock on the nightstand told her it was four ten in the morning. Lena rolled over so she faced him. His hand slid down over her ass and pulled her tightly against him.
“I want you,” he said against her ear.
