Page 35 of The Enforcers: KANE

And the more time she spent with him, the less comfortable she felt with that. His pack were good people, and from the conversation she’d picked up during the barbecue, they’d worked hard for their reputation as top-notch Enforcers.

There was no way he could get involved with a woman who worked for an illegal clandestine group who interfered in shifter affairs. It would destroy him with the Council. It could take down his whole pack.

She had to finish this job without Kane finding out about her part in it. Once Selina had been neutralized, Rachelle would leave the Agency for good.

And she’d tell Kane everything.

Until then, it was better if they didn’t get too involved.

When they got back to the main compound, some of the pack were sitting around the fire pit, roasting marshmallows. One man was sprawled in a lawn chair a little apart from the others, drinking a beer. As soon as Kane caught sight of him, he stopped walking.

“Why don’t you go on up to Emma and Jace’s and change?” he said. “I need to talk to somebody.”

Rachelle nodded and went off, watching as Kane approached the man in the chair. He got up when he saw Kane, and they clasped forearms and did a bro hug. Kane grabbed the guy’s neck and rubbed his knuckles on his head.

Wait. Did serious, austere Kane just give one of his pack a noogie?

Rachelle was so fascinated by watching Kane acting like someone’s brother that she was halfway to Emma and Jace’s before she realized she’d left her stuff in Kane’s cabin, and had nothing to change into. She changed direction, heading over to Kane’s. She’d just drop the suit off at Emma’s after she got dressed.

* * *

Kane and Israel walked off across the field. “Man, it’s good to see you, bro.”

“Where’s Rachelle?” Israel asked.

“Getting changed. She’ll be out in a minute.”

A silence fell. They were often silent together, but this silence didn’t have the ease of most of the others.

“So you really found her,” Israel said softly. “That’s great, man.”

But he was looking down at the ground. Kane touched him on the shoulder. “This doesn’t change anything,” he said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with Raven. But you and I will always be brothers. And I’ll still be there for you. You know that, right?”

“Sure,” Israel said. But he didn’t sound convinced. He looked up at Kane. “I’m happy for you,” he said. “I know how you felt when you thought she might be dead. I’m really glad you don’t have to carry that load anymore.”

Kane nodded. “Yeah.” A grin stole onto his face. “She even made me have some fun today.”

“Get outta town,” Israel said. “And it didn’t make your head explode?”

“Fuck off,” Kane said affectionately. “But I can’t take too much of that shit.”

He sobered up. “But I’m still worried about Wolf,” he said. “He can’t handle me getting too close to anyone. At least, anyone who won’t bleed him if he gets out of hand.”

“You don’t think he’d hurt Rachelle, do you?” Israel said.

“He’s not going to get the chance,” Kane said. “But if he can’t be near her…well, intimacy isn’t exactly my strong point, but I’m pretty sure a wolf out for blood isn’t what most women want in a relationship.”

“You might be surprised,” Israel said. “She might be able to settle Wolf.”

“Maybe,” Kane said. But he was pretty sure Selina had broken Wolf beyond repair.

* * *

Rachelle was halfway through changing when Kane walked into his room. She had no shirt on, and her bare boobs were hanging out for all to see.

Kane stopped dead, his eyes going wide. “Sorry,” he said. “I thought you were over at Jace and Emma’s.”

Rachelle knew she should put her shirt on, but she felt like she was frozen in place. Kane seemed to be having the same reaction; he was staring like he knew he should look away, but he just couldn’t.