Page 50 of Kane (Ghost Ops #4)

“This is what you wanted with the fifty bucks you won? Are you sure?”

Daphne stared at the man she loved as he grinned back at her. “Yup.”

“Fifty dollars worth of hot dogs, ice cream, and a red, white, and blue cowboy hat that you intend to wear while we walk around town and enjoy the Independence Day Fest? Are you sure you don’t want these star sunglasses too?”

“Good idea,” he said, snatching those up and motioning for her to pay the grinning man behind the counter.

She shook her head but shelled out twenty bucks for the hat and glasses. They’d already spent twelve dollars on hot dogs and sodas, and he wanted ice cream. As soon as she was done paying, Kane grabbed her hand and they kept walking to the ice cream booth.

It was a beautiful afternoon in Sutton’s Creek. Yes, it was hot, but the humidity was manageable for once. Daphne had put on white shorts and a blue cropped top and she wore a straw sun hat with sunglasses. She was cute and stylish. Kane, meanwhile, looked both ridiculously handsome and ridiculous.

They made their way over to the shady sidewalk in front of the Dawg where they’d set up their chairs for the parade and fireworks later.

She’d been surprised that the guys wanted to be there for the fireworks after what Kane had said to her about looking for active shooters, but apparently they’d all decided it was their duty to attend and show support for the town that supported them and their business.

“Good grief, Kane,” Rory said when she saw them. “Are you auditioning for the part of Yankee Doodle Dandy or what?”

Kane licked his cone. “I’m spending Daphne’s money. She lost a bet, and since she’d never spend it on anything ridiculous for herself, I’m doing it for her.”

“You are succeeding, sir,” Rory said.

“Thanks. Y’all want anything? I still need to get a necklace with flashing lights before it gets dark. And maybe one of those giant foam fingers.”

Daphne rolled her eyes but inside she felt warm and gooey. Kane made her happy. Since he’d admitted he loved her, he had no problem showing it. Holding her hand, putting his arm around her, kissing her forehead randomly when they were with their friends.

Backing her into a dark corner and kissing her senseless when nobody was looking.

She loved being loved by Kane Fox. It’d been worth every moment of the angst and pain she’d had to endure to get to this place in her life.

Diana Corbin had come to the range yesterday and given them an update.

The O’Malleys were finished. Her father and many of the people under him had been arrested.

Jackson had been caught with the shipment of Stingers and wasn’t talking.

Diana wanted to know who they were intended for, but Jackson wouldn’t roll over.

Even if he did, it wouldn’t get him freed.

Though it might help in his sentencing. Not that he seemed to care since he knew he’d be a dead man walking no matter what.

His human trafficking operation was at an end, too. The people who could be rescued would be. It wasn’t perfect, but it was something.

Josephine O’Malley was also in custody, according to Diana, and would be prosecuted with her family. There was always the chance someone from her old life would see her in Sutton’s Creek, but she was officially Daphne Alison Bryant and always had been.

Daphne didn’t know what magic Diana had worked for that, but the ID Kenny made had somehow been government-approved along with her background.

She needed to get new—real—documents, but she was legit.

She worried that someone would come looking for her eventually, or that her father would send assassins, but Alex had stepped in to assure her that wasn’t happening.

Her father’s influence was at an end and the remaining crime bosses were dividing the territory between them.

Nobody was interested in her. Those who were would be in no position to do anything about it. Ever.

She decided to stop worrying and start living. She would always look over her shoulder, always keep her self-defense and shooting skills up to date, but hopefully she would never have to use them again.

She even thought she might like to teach a class, give women the perspective of another woman who’d had to defend herself using those skills.

And of course she was angling for turning the range into an event space as well.

Alex had promised to consider it—right after he’d given her a raise and told her she was their official bookkeeper now, if she wanted to be.

She did, and they were looking for someone for the front desk, though she was happy to continue there until they found the right person.

A man limped toward them with a woman by his side. Warren Trigg had been released from the hospital the day after the showdown with Jackson. He had a black eye, but he was smiling. He waved when they got closer.

“Afternoon, y’all.”

Daphne and Kane had gone to the hospital to see him. Jackson had threatened to cut off his fingers, but they hadn’t succeeded before Kane and the guys stormed the warehouse. Thank God. He was beaten and bruised but he would heal.

Daphne had been devastated by what her brother did, but Warren told her he didn’t blame her for it.

She had come to save him when she didn’t have to, and she’d pushed for his release.

Not only that, but God had a reason for everything He did.

And then the nurse—Gabby—had smiled at Warren and he’d smiled back.

Now she was at his side, holding his hand, and Daphne was happy for him if something good had come from the experience.

“Hey, Warren. How are you feeling?”

He squeezed Gabby’s hand. “Better every day. Ribs hurt. Hurts to laugh. But I’m happy.”

Gabby stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek and he blushed.

“Want to sit with us? We have extra chairs.”

Warren and Gabby exchanged a look. “That would be lovely. Thank you,” she said softly.

“You need anything, buddy?” Kane asked. “Hot dog? Hamburger? Ice cream? Bottle of water? Happy to get it for you.”

Warren shook his head. “Thanks, but I’m good. Appreciate it though.”

Kane put a hand on Warren’s shoulder. He didn’t squeeze, because he was too mindful of Warren’s condition to do so. “You got it, man. You change your mind, let me know.”

Tears pricked the back of her eyes as Kane wrapped an arm around her and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “Love you,” he said.

“You’re sweet, you know that?” She had to swallow the knot in her throat.

“Not sweet,” he said in her ear. “I take care of those I care about. He’s in the club now.”

“Really?”

“He’s a decent guy, like you said. And he could have made you feel worse than you already did for what happened. He knows it wasn’t your fault, no matter what you think, and I gotta give the guy his due for not blaming you. He could have made my woman feel like shit but he didn’t.”

Daphne sniffled. “Are you ready to sit down or do you need to get that necklace? Or maybe head over to Colleen’s booth to get your palm read?”

“Let’s sit with our friends for a while.”

They sank into their chairs and watched kids playing in the fountain in the town square. Paisley Allen was there with her daughter, a cute little girl named Violet, and she waved when she saw them. Violet waved too when Paisley said something to her.

Daphne leaned her head against Kane’s shoulder and sighed happily. This was the life she wanted. Small town, with best friends and a man she loved. Maybe one day they’d have their own little girl to play in the park with. Or a little boy.

A boy with Kane’s eyes. A girl with her hair. Didn’t matter to her which they got. They’d be happy either way.

“Got you something because I knew you wouldn’t buy it for yourself,” Kane said, jogging her out of her daydreams.

“What’s that?”

He pulled two pieces of paper from his shirt pocket and handed them to her. Daphne snorted when she realized what they were.

“The cemetery walk and kombucha tasting tour? Really?”

“Hey, she’s an old lady hustling for a living. And we might have fun. Especially if Reba drinks too much kombucha and falls into a grave again.”

Daphne threw her head back and laughed. Then she flung her arms around his neck and kissed him.

“You’re the best kind of fun, Kane Fox. And you’re mine.”

He nuzzled her ear and nibbled the lobe. “Always, Sunshine. Gonna marry you one day. Soon as the mission is done. You willing?”

“Yes, I am. Always. My heart is yours.”

Kane would guard her heart fiercely. He would protect her. He would love her.

His lips brushed her forehead and then he tucked her into his side again. She sighed.

Belonging . It was the most incredible feeling.

Ethan watched Paisley Allen and her daughter frolic in the fountain. He pretended not to, but he was aware of every move Paisley made. Had been since the first moment he’d seen her in the Dawg when Emma had introduced her as the new librarian.

She’d recognized him, he was certain. But now she pretended like she didn’t know him, like she’d never met him before. Like their paths hadn’t crossed in the most intimate of ways long before either of them were living in Sutton’s Creek.

He wanted to confront her, make her acknowledge him.

And he wanted to stop this awareness in its tracks, go back to the way things were before she showed up and made him question everything he knew.

But that, he feared, was impossible. Change was on the horizon.

Time to buckle up and hold on for the ride.

Thank you for reading Kane and Daphne’s story!