Page 51 of Burning Justice

Kane hit the brakes and steered to the side of the road. He threw the car into Park and unbuckled both of their seatbelts, then dragged her over the center console onto his lap.

“You can’t fix everything.”

“I can try.” He tugged her close, his arms around her, being careful of her injured hand.

If she put up a fight, it was only on principle and it didn’t last long. He wasn’t going to turn this into a battle, even though that was the way she was wired.

“Let go,” he said. She’d been holding on to all of it for so long she probably didn’t even know how. “Let it go.”

She sobbed, swiping her face with her good hand. “I don’t need to do anything. I’m not going to com-plain.” A sob interrupted her. “I’m not going to wail about how t-terrible it is. This is what I do. I s-survive this stuff.”

“I know.”

“I got myself out.”

“I know.”

“I killed that guy to get away because he gave me no choice.”

“I know.” He held on to her, rubbing a hand up and down her back. “You got out, and you hid long enough for me to find you.”

“I would’ve made it on my own.”

“But you didn’t have to.” Kane felt tears burn in his eyes. “You know I wouldn’t have left you out there alone.”

“I know.” She gripped a handful of his shirt and held on. “I knew you’d be there. All of you. That the Trouble Boys wouldn’t let me down.”

Her words settled in him with a note of disquiet.

She still saw the Trouble Boys as a team, drawing a line of distinction between her and them instead of considering her and him.

“The rest of the team isn’t here.” His arm settled around her waist, his hand on her hip. With the other, he touched her cheek. Swiped away a tear. “Just me. And you.”

“Kane.” She whispered his name.

“No matter what.”

“I know that.”

“Do you?” He needed an answer. She knew what he was asking. “I feel like I’m putting it all on the line, waiting for you to give a signal. A green light. I know it’s probably better to wait until the mission is over and we get our lives back. But I nearly lost you today.”

He’d seen Elias in that bus, dragging her away.

Kane had flashed back in his mind to being a captive of Elias and his men. Just for sport. Not for any other reason except that he could. Those men had entertained themselves by cutting and burning his back, shredding Kane down bit by bit while he’d plotted and planned how to escape.

But he hadn’t rescued himself. Not the way Maria had.

His team had come for him.

“I nearly lost you,” he said again.

Her breath caught in her throat. “You didn’t. I’m right here.” She leaned in, just a little. “With you.”

Kane’s hand tightened on her hip.

He waited.

She eased forward, bracing against his chest. Doing what she needed to do to keep her other hand from getting bumped. Maria leaned in while the rain pounded on the car and lightning lit the interior. He saw the light in her eyes a second before she touched her lips to his.