Last Chance (9 page)

father had wanted.

Phillip Kane had been a healthy, robust sixty-four-year-old. With his

zest for adventure, fine food, and young women, he should have had many

more years to enjoy himself.

From the time he was in diapers, Lucas had known he was expected to

take over his family's business at some point. He'd never questioned if it was

the right thing for him. It was what it was. Until he'd been given another

choice.

His interests had always been eclectic. Sharpshooting and martial arts

were two hobbies he not only enjoyed but excelled in. Never had he

considered that his skills would catch the eye of anyone, especially an ultrasecretive government agency called IDC, International Deep Cover. He'd

been instantly intrigued.

His father had taken some convincing, mostly because of worry for

his only child. But he'd been proud, too, knowing that his son was serving

the country he loved. Having his dad proud of him had meant a hell of a lot.

Lucas had taken to life as a government agent as if he were born to it.

The training had been intense and grueling. Bruises, dehydration, sleep

deprivation, and exhaustion were the norm and should have made him

question his decision at least occasionally. Not once did he regret it. No, the

job wasn't always fun, but damn, it had been challenging. He'd been a

natural and would still be in the service if not for one major, heartwrenching snag: his father had died.

He'd known all along he'd have to leave the agency eventually. His

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father expected it of him, and despite his love for his country and his belief

in the cause, he'd been prepared to do the necessary thing for his family.

Circumstances had worked differently.

He had planned to serve ten years and then would leave to work

alongside his father before he took over completely. Instead, five short years

later, his father was dead and Lucas had to take over leadership.

Lying beneath one of his latest bunnies, Phillip Kane had just stopped

breathing. A barroom joke to many; a devastating blow to Lucas, who'd

adored his father.

Like most people, Phillip Kane had both good and flawed features.

Bringing home a new wife every few years, his father had confused his son.

As he grew into a man, Lucas had seen the depth of loneliness in his father's

eyes. He never really knew what his father was searching for. Sadly, his

father didn't seem to know what he was searching for, either. Saddest part of

all was that he never found it.

The first year after his father's death had been horrific. Stocks had

been plunging already, but with Phillip's sudden death and his son's

unproven record, few people believed Kane Enterprises could survive. Five

years later, not only had they survived, they'd doubled profits in some areas

and many of the companies were now bigger than before. Kane's vast

interests throughout the world had made them a household name. Lucas

always tried to keep ego out of his success; however, he knew that his father

would be proud of him. And that gave Lucas some measure of happiness.

Yes, he missed the day-to-day challenge of the agency. He couldn't

deny that, but his loyalty to his family's empire had to come first. Kane

Enterprises employed thousands throughout Europe. He might not be saving

the world, but putting people to work, food in their bellies, and children

through college was a worthwhile endeavor. Just because it wasn't fun didn't

mean it wasn't worthwhile.

Though Kane Industries was just one part of Kane Enterprises, it was

a healthy, thriving part. But now someone was stealing without having

earned it. Since Lucas had taken over the reins, Kane Enterprises had

become known for its charitable endeavors as much as its moneymaking

ventures. By stealing from Kane Industries, this person was literally taking

food out of the mouths of needy people. Lucas didn't take too kindly to that.

After seeing the ugliest as well as the most beautiful of humanity in

his undercover work, Lucas's goals for Kane Enterprises were simple: take

care of his employees, help the helpless, and make the world a better place

for having lived in it. Idealistic? Yes. Lucas made no apologies for his

beliefs. He was both hated and loved for the way he lived his life and ran his

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business. Opinions didn't matter. He didn't live to please people; he lived to

be able to face himself in the mirror. If he had the means to help but didn't,

just what kind of lowlife did that make him?

McKenna would understand that kind of philosophy.
McKenna
. Lucas

raised his gaze from his desk and looked out the window. Canary Wharf was

spread out below him, but all he saw was the vulnerability and beauty of the

woman he couldn't forget. Where was she? How was she? He had done as

she requested. He had stopped trying to find her. She knew where he was.

Knew he cared for her. The rest had to be up to her.

He tried not to think about the danger she constantly put herself in.

He, more than anyone, knew that one wrong decision could end her life. She

was well trained and she'd chosen this life. He respected her decision and

admired her. In a way, he worried more for her mental stability than he did

for her life. She was hiding something deep within her. Something traumatic

and life-changing. He only wished she had trusted him enough to share it.

When he'd kissed her...Lucas closed his eyes. As usual when he

thought about that kiss, his heart raced and his body hardened. But when

he'd kissed her, he'd recognized that not only was she inexperienced in the

art of kissing, she was also terrified. Yes, the shaking of her slender body

could have come from arousal, but the fear in her eyes was something else.

She'd been afraid of him, but she was also attracted to him.

Having McKenna fear him cut deep. Someone had hurt his angel, and

whoever it was, Lucas wanted to tear the bastard apart. But until she came to

him, allowed him to help her, he could do nothing. He respected her too

much to ask her for something she wasn't ready to give. She knew where he

was...he just hoped she would come back to him, and soon.

With a sigh, Lucas looked back down at the glaring discrepancies in

the latest quarterly reports. Knowing he had no choice, he picked up the

phone. Time to call in the culprit and have him explain why he'd pilfered

over a million dollars from company funds.

* * *

McKenna opened her eyes and blinked at the bright light streaming in

from the high window across from her. Her bleary gaze took in her

surroundings. Single bed, ratty chair, cheap desk, ancient television.

Hotel...she was in a hotel in Marseille. What day was it?

She moved and then groaned at the stiffness in her limbs, the dull

throbbing on her back. How long had she been out this time? From the ache

in her sore muscles, it had been at least a day, if not more. Hell, it had been

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two years since she'd had that kind of breakdown.

With effort, McKenna got to her knees and looked around. She didn't

remember much of what had happened once she got to the room. Apparently

she'd collapsed as soon as she was inside. Thank God she'd at least had

enough sense to close the door before she passed out.

From past experience, she knew her legs wouldn't hold her yet, so she

crawled toward the bathroom. Emptying her bladder was the most important

issue at the moment. When she was done, then she would think about the

other stuff she had to face.

She reached the bathroom and managed to grab hold of the sink and

pull herself up. Taking care of the most important matters first, she relieved

the pressure on her bladder and then stripped off her clothes. A shower. She

had to get clean. She could feel his hands on her, his breath on her...she had

to scrub him off. It didn't matter that the event had occurred eight years ago.

It felt recent, like it had happened only moments ago. She had to get his

stench off. Now!

Stumbling to the shower, she pushed aside the curtain and stepped

inside. She twisted the knob and gasped. Ice-cold water gushed over her,

chilling her in an instant. She didn't back away. Not only did the shock of

freezing water wake her up, but the icy crispness immediately began to

cleanse something inside her. The something that had felt defiled and

corroded with filth every time Damon put his hands on her.

At some point, rationality would return. This might have been her first

meltdown in a while, but she used to have them all the time. She knew how

to deal with them. Perseverance was key. Just like any other hell. You hung

on with all your might, gritted your teeth, and survived.

Hot steaming water finally emerged. McKenna peeled the paper from

the cheap hotel soap and scrubbed her body vigorously. Sharp stings from

the whip marks on her back wanted to pull her into that dark abyss of

memory. She forced back the graphic images that flitted into her mind. After

she was clean, the memories would once again be vanquished and she would

be fine again. Seeing the young girl whipped was the only reason they had

returned so vividly. It was nothing more than that.

Seeking solace, McKenna pictured Lucas in her mind. And

amazingly, peace came almost instantly. His beautiful smile that made her

think of sunshine. Those silver-gray eyes that mesmerized and enticed. The

integrity and honesty that seemed a natural part of him. And the actual

caring and empathy she could see in him. All of those things and so much

more were Lucas.

And his kiss. That she'd had the nerve to kiss him was one thing; the

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reaction she'd had was something else. Most of her actions in life were born

of sheer bravado. She did what she had to do and refused to think too much

about it. And that's why she'd kissed him. Bravado had put her in his arms;

the incredible feelings the kiss evoked had kept her there. She had never felt

like that before. She'd heard and read enough to know that other people did,

but she'd never thought she could be one of them. Lucas Kane had made her

feel like a sensual, sexually healthy woman.

Realizing the water was cold once again and the soap almost gone

from her rough usage, McKenna turned the water off. Shivering, her limbs

weak, she grabbed the sheet-thin towel and briskly dried her body.

Her mind was back in automatic mode again as she pulled clothes

from her duffel, barely noticing their wrinkles. Looking attractive or even

halfway presentable had ceased to be important years ago. Dressing down

not only helped her disappear into a crowd more easily, it was a rebellion

against Damon. How many times had he told her he loved her femininity,

her girly ways? When she'd finally escaped him, she became the complete

opposite of what he admired about her. The fact that she couldn't be easily

recognized had been a small but satisfying snub to the monster. Not that he

couldt see the result, but looking so plain had given her spirits a boost.

Besides, looking attractive to anyone wasn't something she wanted anymore.

Except for Lucas
.

Lucas Kane was the first man in years to stir that kind of emotion in

her. Sure, there had been men she'd found attractive. Gabe Maddox had

caused a flutter of her heart every now and then, and Dylan Savage would be

somewhat amused to know she'd found him attractive, too. Finding a man

physically attractive was light-years away from what she felt for Lucas.

There was nothing about Lucas that she didn't find appealing. Not

only his looks but his commitment to making the world a better place. It

might sound trite unless you put something behind the words. Lucas did that.

How could she not admire a man who had every opportunity to be a spoiled,

careless playboy but chose to do something good and worthwhile with his

fortune?

Dressed now, she took a deep breath, knowing she needed to face

some facts. There was another man she admired, and she had let him down

mightily. Noah McCall was one of the few people she trusted in this world.

She pulled her cellphone from her purse. Now she needed to check to see if

he still trusted her.

She had one voice mail message...from Noah. McKenna pressed the

key to retrieve it, refusing to back away or flinch as she waited to hear

McCall's hard, grim voice telling her she'd never work for him again.

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Holding her breath, McKenna listened intently: "Call me."

Noah wasn't much on long messages or conversations, so she wasn't

really surprised at the brevity. However, he didn't sound pissed, so that was a

plus.

Speed-dialing his number, she waited, her heart a dull thud of dread.

"'Bout damn time you called in," McCall's gruff voice answered.

"Been busy."

"You up for a job?"

Her heart leaped. Maybe she hadn't totally screwed everything up.

"Yes."

"Good. Come here first." He ended the call.

This wasn't the first time he'd asked her to come to LCR headquarters