Last Chance

by Christy Reece

  Gun steady in her hand, she stalked over to him. “Yes, you are.”

  Cursing, he pulled away from the girl on the bed and turned around. “You want some of this, too?”

  Since shooting off a certain body part would hold too much appeal, she refused to look down at him. Instead, she motioned with her gun. “Get on the floor.”

  Sneering, he turned back to the helpless girl on the bed. “Go to hell.”

  “If you don’t think I’ll shoot you, think again.”

  Apparently even with a gun pointed at him, her threats didn’t impress him. The young girl was crying; McKenna refused to look at her. Getting rid of the raping bastard was her first priority. Since subtlety hadn’t worked, she went with a more aggressive move. Drawing closer to the bed, McKenna jumped and delivered a hard, controlled kick to the man’s flabby arm. He tumbled off the bed, landing with a nice, satisfying thud on the floor.

  Backing away from him, she taunted, “Now do I have your attention?”

  With a roar, he lurched to his feet and took a step forward. Pulling her knife, she threw it, hitting him in the meaty part of his shoulder. The knife wasn’t long enough to do major damage, but she expected it to hurt like hell and slow him down. It did. He howled in pain, his eyes wide with shock.

  Taking a pair of handcuffs from one of her pockets, she threw them at his bare feet. “Handcuff yourself to the bedpost.”

  His hand holding his wound, he continued to stare at her, not moving to take the handcuffs.

  Arching her eyebrows, McKenna lowered her gun and pointed it at his naked crotch. “It’s a small target, but I think I can hit it.”

  That got him moving. Bending down, he picked up the handcuffs and put them on, attaching one end to a bedpost.

  She finally turned to the young girl, who was now sitting up, her arms wrapped around a pillow to cover her body.

  “You okay?” McKenna asked softly.

  Tears pouring down her young, ravaged face, she nodded.

  An agonized scream came from the room next door, piercing the tense silence. Pulling her knife from the man’s shoulder, McKenna ignored his vicious curse of pain. She shot a glance at the girl again. “Wrap the sheet around you, go out to the hallway, and wait for me.”

  Not waiting for a reply, McKenna dashed out the door and ran to room fifteen, where horrific screams of pain continued. She shoved the door open. What she saw had her rushing into the middle of the room before she knew it. A girl lay facedown on the bed, her long blond hair hanging over the side. She was spread-eagled and nude, each limb tied to the bed. Two men stood on either side of the bed. Both were nude and held whips. And both were taking turns using them on the girl’s bare back.

  The scene before her morphed into a scene from eight years before. McKenna’s mind went into shutdown mode. Raising the gun, she shouted over the young girl’s screams, “Stop!”

  Neither man appeared to have heard her. Her eyes went to the larger, older one. Not only did his eyes gleam with an unholy lust, but he was fully erect, sexually excited by whipping the girl.

  With a low growl, McKenna sprang, taking him to the floor. She heard the other man shout. The roar of fury in her head was so great, she barely felt the stings of the whip on her back. She knew the other man had turned on her. Right now, her priority was the pervert she was choking to death. The stranger beneath her had Damon’s face. She tightened her grip, barely conscious of the pain on her back or the purplish tinge of the man she choked.

  “McKenna! Let go.” Hands pulled at her arms. Reality returned. Her breath coming in ragged spurts of panic, she rolled off the man and crawled away from him. She turned to see that the other man was on the floor across the room, apparently unconscious. Dylan had taken care of him. The man McKenna had almost choked to death lay wheezing several feet from her.

  With silent efficiency, Dylan rolled the gasping man over and handcuffed him. Then he went to the girl and untied her.

  McKenna sat frozen on the filthy floor and watched it all take place. She’d never had a flashback. For eight fucking years she’d been able to suppress that humiliating and physically painful event. And today, for some reason, the memories had returned as if it had just happened.

  “You okay?”

  Dylan stood several feet away. Most male LCR operatives treated her that way. Early on, they’d sensed she had a problem being physically close to anyone. And today Dylan had more reason than before to stay away from her. She’d behaved like a maniac. And an amateur.

  Unable to articulate a word, McKenna managed a nod. She had known that at some point her past would catch up with her. She just hadn’t expected it to happen this way. Somehow she’d always thought that Damon would find her and she’d have to take him out. Or she’d finally find her backbone and go after him. Never had she considered that a flashback would throw her for a loop. Not only had she almost killed someone in a rage, but the victim had still been in danger. While she’d been whooping up one guy, the other one could easily have killed the woman. And it would have been her fault.

  She watched as Dylan spoke into a cellphone. The authorities would be here soon. Her mind told her she needed to get up and move. Her body refused to listen.

  “McKenna?” Dylan said quietly. The concern in his eyes almost undid her again. He knew she’d lost it. If she hadn’t been so numb with shock, she would have been mortified. She never, ever showed the real McKenna. No one was allowed to see the scared little girl behind her façade of toughness. Today Dylan had seen that and so much more.

  A furious inner voice snarled: Get off your ass! Hands pressed on the floor for balance, McKenna got to her feet. Her legs felt like soggy pretzels. Her teeth gritted and her jaw tight, sheer determination alone made her move forward.

  “The police will be here soon. You need to get going.”

  Another bit of information LCR knew about her, though no one ever talked about it. Being seen by the police, by any government official, was something she avoided at all cost.

  She took a trembling breath, feeling the need to at least apologize. “Dylan, I’m sorry I—”

  “Hell, little girl, if you’re going to go all sloppy on me, I might just have to carry you out of here.”

  If her mouth hadn’t been stiff, she’d have smiled. Dylan only called her “little girl” when he wanted to piss her off. It usually worked like a charm. Today it just made her want to sit down and cry. Damned if he’d see that, too.

  “What about the other victims?”

  “They’re comforting each other. They’ll be fine till we can get them medical attention.” He shot a look at the young woman on the bed. Wrapped in a sheet, her hands covering her face, she sobbed softly. He turned back to McKenna. “I’ll stay with her. You need to go.”

  McKenna nodded and forced her legs to move toward the door. Before walking out, she stopped and looked back at Dylan. “Tell Noah that—”

  “Noah will be in touch with you for another job. This was a glitch. Got it?”

  Gratitude brought unexpected tears to her eyes. She turned away before he could see. “Thank you.”

  Feeling as though she’d been whipped all over again, McKenna trudged through the hotel, not seeing anything but the blankness of her own thoughts. She would go back to the tiny hotel she was staying at, hole up for a few days. When she reemerged, she would be McKenna once more. No longer broken, no longer defeated. No longer a victim.

  five

  London

  Lucas stared down at the numbers before him. When he’d taken over his family’s empire, he’d had some lofty goals. Reading mind-numbing numbers sure as hell wasn’t one of them. But in this case he had no choice. Someone was stealing a considerable amount of money from Kane Industries.

  Five years ago, he’d assumed control of Kane Enterprises. Taking over that early hadn’t been in his plan, but it had been his only option. And he had the deepest regrets that he hadn’t come on board sooner. Not because he wanted to run a mul
tibillion-dollar organization, but because it was what his 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 ultra-secretive 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, heart-wrenching snag: his father had died.

  He’d known all along he’d have to leave the agency eventually. His 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 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 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 hav
e 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 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.