Page 40 of Kane (Ghost Ops #4)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“What the fuck possessed you to show your face?” Kane growled, whirling on her when Nathan Fader was gone again.

Daphne’s cheeks flushed, but whether it was with anger or embarrassment that she’d been so reckless, she couldn’t exactly say. She decided to focus on the anger.

“It was a spontaneous reaction. And it turned out fine, didn’t it? We know Jackson’s in town, and we know he’s looking for me.” She shuddered. “If you hadn’t been with me that night when we discovered somebody had broken in…”

She didn’t want to think about it. The place had been turned over fast and not thoroughly, so whoever it was had gotten interrupted.

They’d probably intended to return later that night when she was alone.

But Kane had insisted on going upstairs with her, then he’d taken her to the farm.

If she’d been on her own, she didn’t know what she would have done. Grabbed her go-bag and fled, probably.

But Jackson, or one of his men, had probably been watching the place, waiting for her to try and escape. The fact Kane had been with her had very likely put a crimp in the plan.

“Yeah, we would have found that out anyway. That was a risk you shouldn’t have taken, Daphne. No matter what that douche says, he has proof you’re still in town. He could run straight to your brother and confirm it now.”

She moved closer, until she was toe to toe with him.

He had to straighten to keep her head from bumping his chin.

“He’s not going to do that. If he loves Louanne, and I believe he does, he wouldn’t do that.

It was my brother who was taking advantage of her, pumping her with drugs so he could use her for himself before he started to pimp her out.

I got her out of there. Nathan Fader wouldn’t know about it if he wasn’t friends with Kenny. ”

She’d hadn’t really known Louanne well, but the night she’d found the woman sobbing in the alley behind The Diamond Queen because Jackson had decided to punish her by not giving her a hit of the drugs she was addicted to, Daphne knew she had to do something.

That’s when she made it her mission to discover everything her brother was up to. A search of Jackson’s office revealed the sick truth, but it wasn’t until she searched her father’s files that she confirmed he knew and didn’t care.

Her first priority had been to get Louanne out of Jackson’s clutches, which she’d done, taking her to her brother. Daphne had known who Kenny was because of his profession, but she’d never had any dealings with him until then.

He’d been grateful, and he’d offered to help her if she wanted out.

Turned out she did. Because she couldn’t stomach that life for another moment more than she had to. She also needed time and space to figure out how to bring the O’Malleys down for good.

Jackson had raged when he realized Louanne was gone, but he couldn’t find her. Kenny was too good at his job for that, thank heavens.

Daphne didn’t leave right away, because it took a couple of weeks to get her fake ID, but as soon as Kenny provided documents and a background, she grabbed a copy of her father’s files and left.

She even scheduled a weekend in New York City to give herself a head start.

Of course she didn’t go to New York. She left the airport in New Orleans and used the car Kenny had arranged for her.

It was the old hoopty she’d coasted into town with a few months ago.

It had served her well before its noble death.

Kane glared at her. “It’s still not a risk you should have taken. I’m trying to protect you, Daphne. We all are, and we need you to fucking cooperate and not do reckless shit!”

Her anger bubbled over. How dare he yell at her when he had his own explaining to do.

“When were you going to tell me you’re more than you seem, Kane? Huh? Was that ever going to happen, or did you plan to just let me feel guilty for lying to you when you’ve been lying too?”

Ethan poked his head through the door. “We can hear you two yelling at each other. FYI. Everything okay?”

Daphne took a step back, feeling like a porcupine whose bristles were standing on end. Kane didn’t look any less furious than she felt.

“It’s fine,” Kane said. “Daphne just showed her face to Nathan Fader, but it’s okay because he came to warn her that her brother’s in town. Absolutely no ulterior motives or anything. She knows it because he was so honest and truthful about everything else.”

“Uhh…” Ethan began.

“Fuck you, Kane,” Daphne growled. “You arrogant, lying, prick! ”

“Oookay then,” Ethan said. “I got a lady to see at a motel. Or did Fader tell you for sure that’s where to find Jackson?”

“He didn’t say where to find him,” Kane said. “I guess Daphne didn’t ask nicely enough.”

Daphne held up her thumb and forefinger. “I’m this close to kicking you in the balls.”

“Thanks for the warning. Now go ahead and try it and let Ethan watch me turn you over my knee and spank your ass.”

She barely refrained from launching herself at him. “You better not even try.”

“You liked it well enough the last time.”

“Aaaand that’s me out of here,” Ethan said before disappearing the way he’d come.

“You arrogant, stupid, bossy bastard,” she grated. “I thought you didn’t want anyone to know we were fucking, huh?”

“Oh for fuck’s sake,” someone groaned.

Daphne turned to see Alex standing in the doorway that Ethan had vacated.

Her face flushed even redder than it currently was.

Not that she could see it, but she damn sure felt it.

This had to be what those hot flashes Mrs. Donovan had complained about were like because she couldn’t imagine being any hotter in her own skin than she was right now.

“I thought we had an understanding about this, Kane,” Alex said. “As in don’t fuck with Daphne because we need her too much and don’t want her to quit.”

He did not sound happy.

“I know. I’m sorry. It just happened.”

Daphne closed her eyes as a fresh wave of irritation rolled through. “You had an agreement about me? About not asking me out or anything because you didn’t want me to get mad and quit?”

Alex managed to look uncomfortable. Which was saying something because the man was always cool, calm, and controlled. Even when he was grumbling about Diana Corbin, which he did every time she showed up.

“It seemed wise at the time. Kane isn’t exactly known for his ability to think long term.”

Daphne clenched her fists at her sides. That was the reason Kane had treated her like his pesty baby sister for so long? Because they had an agreement? Unbelievable.

“Honest to God, you are the most arrogant bunch of cavemen assholes in some ways, you know that? I’m a grown ass woman.

An adult. Responsible, legal, and, whoa—newsflash—capable of thinking for myself.

I get to say who I sleep with, not any of you.

If I want to throw myself headlong into a hot sexual relationship with a man, it’s my business.

And his, obviously. But the rest of you don’t get a say in it! ”

She finished that last part on a yell. Alex squinted as if waiting for more words, then opened his eyes when she didn’t say another.

“I’m sorry, Daphne. I thought I was protecting you from Kane’s charming habit of discarding women after a couple of dates, and us from losing you because he was a dick to you.”

She sucked in a breath, trying to cool her anger. “I appreciate the thought. But if everything goes well and I don’t die, I’d also appreciate the same respect for my personal autonomy that you probably give to all the men you meet while simultaneously thinking women need protected.”

“Ouch,” Alex said.

“Direct hit,” Kane said. “Think she smoked you.”

“I’m feeing the burn, believe me.”

Daphne whirled back to Kane. “And you’re no better.

You entered into this agreement to protect the poor little woman from making a mistake by giving her a choice.

For all the two of you knew, I’d have said no to any overtures and that would have been the end up it.

I was fucking dating Warren, if you’ll remember.

Or did you both think Kane is so damned charming he could have stolen me away with a crook of his finger? ”

“Uhhh,” they both said, shooting looks at each other.

Daphne held up a hand. “Just shut your faces, both of you.”

The men exchanged looks again. But they didn’t speak, and for that she was glad. It was silent for all of a minute before Kane opened his pie hole.

“None of this changes the fact you took a risk you shouldn’t have taken. Showing your face to Nathan Fader was reckless and dangerous. Even if all he wanted was to warn you, you don’t know that your brother won’t get information out of him one way or another.”

Daphne sighed. She had been reckless, but when she’d heard Nathan say Jackson was in town, she’d reacted without thinking.

He’d said he wanted to warn her, and she’d believed him because Jackson wouldn’t have sent him to smoke her out that way.

Then there was Louanne. Kane might not believe it, but knowing how protective Kenny was of his little sis, and how he’d made Daphne’s fake documents at a risk to himself if her father found out, she’d known Nathan truly knew him.

If he hadn’t, he wouldn’t have known the first thing about Louanne.

He also wouldn’t have known her name because it wasn’t the name she’d used when Jackson had her in his grip.

She’d been Destiny, not Louanne. Very few people knew her as Louanne.

Still, she’d reacted recklessly and she shouldn’t have done that. She lifted her chin.

“You’re right, I shouldn’t have shown my face.

But I did, and I’m not sorry because we learned that Jackson’s definitely in town, and that the queen of diamonds came from Nathan.

We also know he didn’t break into the apartment.

I don’t think it was Jackson either, but I believe he sent someone to do it.

I also think they would have abducted me if you hadn’t been there.

None of that absolves you from lying to me about your own shit, or from thinking you have a God-given manly right to make decisions for me. ”

Alex put up a hand to stop Kane from responding. It worked, which surprised her. Then again, in light of the fact they were a military team on special assignment, and Alex seemed to be the one in charge, Kane probably had to.

“It’s not his fault for not telling you about us.

We aren’t authorized to discuss it, but under the circumstances I made the decision to say what I could.

If Kane was the sort of man who spilled government secrets, even to people he cares about, then he wouldn’t be here.

Blame him for whatever you want, but not for that. ”

She folded her arms in a huff. “Fine. Then he doesn’t get to blame me either. I did what I thought was right by keeping my secrets close.”

“Not the same thing,” Kane growled.

“It is to me.”

His mouth opened. Closed. She didn’t know if he’d thought better of continuing the argument or if he realized she had a point.

“You two can continue this without me,” Alex snapped. “I came out here to say that Agent Corbin will be here at fourteen-hundred. Two o’clock, Daphne. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go stick my head in the microwave and save the government the trouble of shooting me later.”

Daphne blinked after him. “What was that about?”

Kane still looked like a thundercloud. “He’s the leader. Shit goes sideways, he gets blamed first.”

Guilt flared again. “Is it because of me? Will helping me get you in trouble?”

“We won’t get in trouble.” He rubbed his forehead. “Can you return to your cubbyhole before somebody else comes looking for you? Please?”

“Fine. But you know what? It’s pretty shitty that you let me feel guilty for not telling you the truth when you had your own secrets, orders or not.”

“I can’t help the way it makes me feel.”

“Same for me, you know? Even if you couldn’t tell me about your secrets, the fact you were mad at me for mine? That you let me think I deserved your anger?” She shook her head. “That’s some unbelievable gall right there.”

He didn’t say anything. Didn’t acknowledge she was right or apologize or offer an explanation. Her fury whipped higher.

“You know what? Maybe I don’t need you to decide whether we’re done or not. Because I’m not so sure I want to be with someone, even a fuck buddy, who can’t treat me like an equal. Have a nice life,” she said, breezing past him to her tiny office.

He didn’t try to stop her, which only made her angrier. She slammed the door and slumped into her chair, the fight draining out of her.

It was over between them as fast as it’d begun.