Page 45 of Kane (Ghost Ops #4)

Daphne shivered as a current of dread tiptoed down her spine.

She’d smelled his blend of vape in her hallway though she’d dismissed it because Jackson wasn’t the only person in the world using that blend.

She’d thought she was being paranoid. Clearly, she wasn’t.

He’d been there. Maybe he didn’t knock the door down and grab her because he wanted time for his missile bullshit first. Sell his Stingers and then sweep her up on the way out of town.

He wouldn’t have to stash her then, wouldn’t have to deal with people noticing she was gone and looking for her.

“He wouldn’t be alone. My father would send men with him—though he might have his own loyalists by now if he’s trying to make missile deals and listening to this Dashevsky asshole. No other sightings?”

“He also went to Colleen’s shop. She said she didn’t like him, that his aura was dark.

He bought a leather bracelet with some kind of crystal in it.

She babbled a lot about strength and evil, and I checked out after a bit.

But I remember she said she smudged her shop when he was gone.

And her and Reba performed a cleansing ritual, then drank kombucha and chanted to some goddess or other. ”

Daphne would have laughed if Colleen wasn’t correct about Jackson. Maybe the woman was kooky, but she certainly had her aura reading down if she’d intuited that Jackson’s was dark.

Kane brought over a plate piled with eggs, grits, and bacon. “Sit down and eat, Sunshine. Keep your strength up.”

Daphne sat and Kane put the plate in front of her, kissing her forehead again before returning to the stove. Ethan didn’t bat an eyelash, but then again he’d overhead the bit about spanking yesterday at the range so nothing was going to surprise him now.

“Come and get it, Ethan,” Kane told him.

“Oh, I don’t get a plate brought to me and a kiss? After the information I got for you?”

“Come get it and I’ll kiss you then.”

Kane waggled his brows. Daphne laughed.

Ethan shook his head. “On second thought, I’ll take the plate without the kiss.”

“Thought you might say that.”

The three of them sat down to breakfast, eating and talking about the Independence Day celebrations in town tomorrow.

Today, they were headed over to Chance and Rory’s place for chicken, hamburgers, and hotdogs on the grill.

There would be sides like Rory’s mac and cheese, Emma’s deviled eggs, Callie’s pasta salad, and of course cake from Kiss My Grits.

There would be other sides too, though Daphne didn’t know what.

Her contribution was money for ingredients.

The guys would play volleyball, because they were crazy that way. It was predicted to be almost ninety degrees, which meant shirtless volleyball. Daphne didn’t mind it, really. She didn’t think any of the women did.

Chance had erected a big above ground pool he’d gotten at Walmart that they could cool off in.

Rory had been dubious about it with a child on the way, but he’d promised to take it down again once summer was over.

Daphne had to admit it was nice to climb into it on a hot afternoon.

It was nothing like the pool she’d grown up with, but she probably enjoyed it more because she liked the people more.

After breakfast, she showered and dressed and picked up next month’s book club book—this one was about a hockey player and the woman who’d been hired to improve his image, very tame—and retreated to the window seat built into the dormer of Kane’s bedroom.

She’d gasped with delight when she’d found it, and though he didn’t have a cushion there, she’d taken a couple of pillows from the guest room and made a nice reading nook.

The house sat under ancient oak trees, which helped keep it cool along with the AC that had been added at some point in the house’s life.

From the window, she could see the range in the distance along with rolling fields and trees.

It was pretty and peaceful and she leaned back against the wall, book drooping as she yawned.

The stress of yesterday, the night with Kane, the uncertainty of where her brother was and what he was up to made weariness seep into her bones. She was too keyed up for sleep, though. Or so she thought until she opened her eyes to find Kane shaking her awake.

“Time to go, Sunshine.”

“Go where?” she asked, her brain still foggy.

“To Chance and Rory’s place. Unless you’d rather stay home?”

Home. She liked the way that word sounded. She wanted to ask how he meant it, but she wasn’t brave enough.

“No, no. I want to go. I just need a couple of minutes to get ready. How long did I sleep?”

“Couple hours. I thought you needed it so I left you alone.”

She palmed his cheek because she could. “Thank you.”

He kissed the inside of her wrist. “You’re welcome.”

I love you. It was on the tip of her tongue.

She bit it back and went into the bathroom to pee and brush her teeth, then put her hair into a ponytail since it was hot outside.

Her white shorts and navy blue t-shirt were wrinkled but she sprayed them with water from a mister bottle she kept in her overnight bag.

Mrs. Donovan had taught her that trick, and it worked.

Then she grabbed her tote bag with her book, bathing suit, and sunscreen, and headed downstairs.

When her phone rang, she almost let it go to voicemail. But that wasn’t right so she stopped and answered.

“Hey, Warren. I’m sorry I haven’t brought your car back yet, but this week has been crazy. I can do it today or tomorrow. When’s a good time?”

“Hey Josie. Guess I picked the right guy when I picked this dweeby douche, huh? He so helpfully had your number programmed into his phone. Daphne Bryant. Stupid name.”

Daphne stopped on the stairs, her heart in her throat. “Jackson. What have you done to Warren?”

Kane moved toward her, frowning. She locked eyes with him. He joined her on the staircase, wrapped his fingers in hers, and held on.

“Nothing yet. But I will if you don’t give me what I want.”

“And what’s that, pray tell?”

“Like you don’t know. Dad wants your copy of the files, and he wants you begging on your knees for him to spare you. Personally, I’d like to put a bullet in your head. But I’ll let you live if you give me access to those encrypted accounts you funneled money into.”

Daphne’s eyes widened. Kane frowned harder. She shook her head.

“What the fuck are you talking about? I don’t have any encrypted accounts. I wouldn’t be here if I did.”

Something clanged in the background. A man yelled in pain, and Daphne’s heart constricted.

“Wrong answer, JoJo. You stole a fortune for yourself and I want access to it. Oh, and I’ll take the files, too. Bring me the goods or there won’t be anything left of your nerd friend for anyone to find.”

Of course he’d think she stole money. It’s what he would have done if he’d been smart enough. She could keep denying it, but he wouldn’t believe her.

“Why? I could leave town. What makes you think I care what you do to him?”

Kane nodded his approval. He understood that she had to play it this way, and she was grateful he didn’t automatically think her a soulless monster.

“You care. You’ve always cared too much about people.

You stole Destiny from me. I know it was you.

” He blew out a breath and she knew he was vaping.

“ You don’t have the stomach, Josie. Never have.

Dad tried to toughen you up, but it didn’t work.

You’re weak. If he made you his heir, you’d fuck it all up. ”

“I don’t want the business. You can have it.”

“Like I need your permission. It’s mine, but I want that money.

So you bring me those files and you come prepared to give me access.

Maybe you don’t care about this jerk off, but I know you care about that barmaid and her brother.

The pretty doctor and her parents. Don’t want them paying for your negligence, do you? ”

Her eyes stung, her heart pounded, and she wanted to reach through the phone and punch him in the nuts. If she had a gun, she’d shoot him between the eyes. “Tell me where and when.”

“I’ll let you know. You try to run, and so help me God I’ll kill all the people you care about in this miserable shit hole. Understood?”

She ground her teeth. “Yes.”

“Good. I’ll be in touch.”