Page 30 of Burning Justice (Chasing Fire: Alaska #6)
Kane didn’t want to be nervous, but this was her father. He was pretty sure he was supposed to ask for permission under normal circumstances. “And you disapprove?”
Rodrigo shook his head. “Quite the opposite.”
Kane relaxed a fraction, thankful he didn’t have to be so nervous now. “She’s in the hospital getting checked out.”
“Good. She hit that table pretty hard,” he said.
Kane hadn’t seen it, but he’d heard the whole conversation after the call he’d made suddenly connected. It had taken him a minute to realize they didn’t know he could hear and she wasn’t talking to him. Then he’d used it to give the others with him intel on entering the boat and taking down Elias.
Things could have ended far differently.
Kane said, “My friends and I have been watching out for her for two years. That has to count for something when I say that I have a way you can disappear. I have a friend. He’s connected.
I mean to the top.” Crispin was…Kane didn’t even fully understand what the guy’s job was.
Not officially. “This won’t be witness protection.
It’s a job, if you want it. A life, and the understanding that the US government will be protecting you. Off the books.”
“In exchange for me continuing to create deadly substances.”
“I was instructed to be clear that the job is optional, but it is in the country’s best interest to ensure your safety. You can work for the sake of the stability and peace of the world, or you can not work another day in your life. That choice will be up to you.”
Crispin had discussed it with Kane, Hammer, and Saxon when they’d turned over the canister to him. Kane had pointed out that it was safer to know where the guy was and what he was doing.
“You will likely be monitored. But that goes both ways. You get to feel safe, and so does President White.”
Rodrigo’s eyes flared. “I’ve always liked that guy.”
Kane smiled.
“And if I accept this offer? The FBI will let me go and I disappear?”
Kane tipped his head to the side. “We have to sneak out the fire exit. There’s a car in the alley waiting for us.”
Rodrigo chuckled. “This is the life my daughter has chosen?”
Kane felt his cheeks heat. “I guess so.” He coughed, not really sure what that was supposed to mean.
“Very well. I’ll choose it also.” Rodrigo stood. “I choose life, Mr. Foster.” He held out his hand.
Kane shook it. “Welcome to the family.”
The older man chuckled.
Kane sent a text. A minute later, Crew and Tristan came in the front door of the Anchorage FBI office, arguing loud enough Rio stepped out of his office and went to go see what the fuss was about. It also drew the attention of two admin staff members and another agent.
Kane and Rodrigo hurried down the hall and used the exit door, climbing into the back of the rental Toyota. Hammer hit the gas, and they peeled out of the alley. “Hospital?”
“Drop me off.” Kane looked at Rodrigo. “Would you like to say goodbye? It might be a while before you two see each other again.”
“Perhaps you could tell her I’ve missed her greatly, and we could set a date. For dinner or some such.”
Saxon coughed, and it sounded interestingly like the words wedding invitation. Which wasn’t what Kane needed to be thinking about right now.
“I can do that.” Kane nodded.
Hammer pulled up in front of the hospital, and Kane went in alone. He got directions to Maria’s room and detoured to the gift shop. One giant teddy bear and a bouquet of flowers and he was ready.
He knocked on the door.
“Come in.” Her voice was muffled.
He eased the door open, and she stirred on the bed. “Did I wake you?”
She shook her head, rubbing her eyes with her good hand.
“How are your fingers?”
“You’re just going to ask that and ignore the fact you’re holding half the gift shop?”
Kane frowned. “It’s not that bad.” He walked to the bedside. “Some company.” He set the bear by her side and then handed over the flowers. “And something to make the room brighter.”
She eyed him. “Are you okay?”
“Me? Sure.” He settled on the edge of the bed, smoothing down the blanket by her side.
“You’re nervous. You’re making it weird! I knew this would happen.”
He knew how to fix that.
Kane leaned down so their faces were close. “Want me to drag you onto my lap and kiss you again?”
Her eyes flared. “Flowers are fine.”
“Your dad accepted the offer. He wants to have dinner, or anything really. He wants to see you.”
“Thanks.”
He kissed her gently. “You’re welcome.”
“I have a couple of cracked ribs.”
“Ouch.”
“They’re going to make me stay overnight for observation.”
“Want me to bust you out? Crew and Tristan taught me how to do it.”
She chuckled. “I was thinking more like pizza and a movie at the hospital. Until they kick you out.”
“They can try and kick me out. They’ll find out it’s not that easy.”
Maria touched his cheek, her fingers warm. She scanned his face. “Was he okay?”
“He seemed…better. Maybe he’s just resigned to still having limited choices because of who he is. But the point is, he gets to decide for himself now. He won’t be a prisoner. More like…a guest of the US government.”
“Where is he going to live?”
“I guess we’ll have to find out,” he said. “Do you want to be nearby?”
“What do you want?” She paused. “We get our lives back. Where do you want to go now that you’re alive again?”
“Last Chance County. At least for a visit.”
“Good, because I want to meet Ridge.”
Kane said, “I’m trying to persuade him to come up for the end-of-season party once they get the Midnight Sun Saloon fixed up. I heard you guys did a number on it.”
Maria winced. “It was pretty well destroyed.”
“We’ll help fix it up.”
“Thanks.”
“Hey, we said we were in it with each other. You help me, I help you. I figure it’s worked pretty well so far.”
“Plus you love me,” she pointed out.
“Hmm. I think I did say that. Well, you know, it was in the heat of the moment, so there’s no telling?—”
Maria tugged the pillow from behind her head fast enough to whip it around and whack him upside the head before he finished talking.
“Fine! I yield!”
She quit pummeling him with the pillow.
“I love you.”
“Just checking.”
Kane grinned. He helped her put the pillow back behind her head and kissed her again. “I’ll say it every day if you want to hear it.”
She eyed him.
“Every hour. Every minute.”
“That might get tired. You wouldn’t want to wear it out.”
“I love you.”
She chuckled. “Good, because otherwise this would be an awkward conversation, and I’d get my heart broken again. I’ll be crying in my Bible study tomorrow morning, reading all those weepy psalms where King David is crying and telling God he’s gonna slap all his enemies in the face.”
“Or…” He dragged the word out. “You could read all the verses about kindness and joy.”
“Hmm. I guess I could do that.” She dragged over the bear and hugged it against her. “For the sake of the bear.”
Kane laughed.
“I love you.”
He leaned down so their noses were touching. “Good.”
“Saxon and Hammer are never going to let us live this down.”
“I don’t care.”
She smiled. “Good. I don’t either.”