Page 68 of Kane's Bounty
“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.”
“Because you whacked that asshole on the head three times?”
She grinned and continued to let the hot water wash away the events of the morning. “That helped, but I think it’s because this is nearly over and I can go back to a normal life.”
He stepped fully dressed into the shower. She took a step back. His eyes changed and his mouth turned down in a frown. “Define normal,” he demanded.
His shirt and jeans were getting wet, but he didn’t seem to care.
Lena reached up and touched his bristled cheek. “I have no idea what normal means anymore. I know whatever it means, I want you to be part of it. If that’s what you want.”
She let her hand drop and looked down at the water swirling around at their feet and rushing down the drain. It was the first time she noticed he hadn’t put shoes on earlier.
“I’m giving up hunting.”
She didn’t know what she’d expected him to say, but that was not it. “Why?” Her heart would not stop pounding. It was a wonder she could hear him at all with the blood rushing through her ears.
“It’s no life for a family man.” He reached out and touched her flat stomach.
Her body hummed at his touch. “Is it what you want?”
He stepped closer and the full force of the rain showerhead poured over them both. “I want you.” He touched the side of her head. “When you’re ready, I want this.” His fingers trailed down to her abdomen and lingered there. “I want the life we saw in the vision.”
“I…I want that too.” Her words were breathless and stuttered.
There was a knock at the bathroom door. Joshua’s voice called, “Um, you two should save whatever you’re doing for another time. We’re on a bit of a clock here.”
Kane smiled down at her.
She started to giggle and couldn’t stop.
“We’ll be out in a minute,” Kane called back.
* * *
They didn’t talkas they rode the elevator to the top floor, nor did they wait for the receptionist to announce their arrival. The Lakeland brothers, Agent Blake and Lena walked into Oscar Thorn’s office and closed the door.
Oscar stared up at them. His eyes focused on Lena in her burnt-orange silk dress. Her hair was pulled up in a French twist and she kept a look of serenity on her face.
Lena walked forward and sat in one of two leather chairs in front of the desk. Blake took the other one. Kane and Joshua stood by the door.
“What the hell are you doing here?” He said it to the room, but his eyes stayed on Lena.
“Agent Blake has been kind enough to allow us to come along,” Lena said.
Blake cleared his throat and took a piece of paper from the inside pocket of his jacket. “It seems you’ve been using your influence to do a bit of insider trading, Thorn.”
Oscar smiled and looked from Lena to Kane. “I’ll be out in a year and I’ll come after you. If she testifies against me, you’ll always be looking over your shoulder. You don’t want Banta coming after you.”
Kane pushed off the wall and took a step closer to the desk. Lena saw him out of the corner of her eye. She didn’t turn to see his face, but from the way Oscar pushed his chair back, she knew Kane looked deadly.
“Banta has been neutralized. You will be in prison for the rest of your life. You see, some bodies have been discovered on some of the properties you own. I’m afraid the charges against you will hold far longer terms than just insider trading.” Oscar’s face turned a pale white.
Blake said, “Oh yes, the FBI will be charging you with the insider trading, but there are some local law enforcement agencies waiting outside to take you into custody.” The agent shrugged. “Their jurisdiction, I’m afraid.”
