Page 62 of The Enforcers: KANE

And then she’d gone after Selina. She’d done it for him.

He nodded. It still hurt, but he understood about confidentiality. He hadn’t told her about the job he was working, either.

“And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about me. I just—I hate being a freak. And I never got close enough to anyone else that it was an issue. Only you.”

Only you.

The words cracked some of the ice around his heart. They both had so many secrets and wounds and scars, but maybe there could still be something there for them.

He nodded, and briefly put his hand around the back of her neck. “We’ll talk later,” he said.

She gave him an exhausted, hopeful smile, and his heart melted a little more.

* * *

They surrounded the house, watching and listening for any sign this could be Selina’s hideout. If it wasn’t, if there were no leads, they’d have no choice but to tell the Council everything.

Jace and Rachelle took positions beneath the boarded-up front windows, while Kane and Israel took the door—Kane as a human, and Israel as a wolf.

Through their comm system, Rachelle could hear Jesse’s quiet voice. “We’re in position.”

“On three,” Jace said. “One, two—go!”

They smashed in the front and back doors at the same time, and moved in. “Kitchen clear.”

“Dining room, clear.”

“Living room—holy shit.” That was Kane.

Rachelle moved in, Jace bringing up the rear. She swung around the corner into the living room, gun at the ready, and then stopped, raising the barrel so it wasn’t pointing at anyone.

Two people were chained to cots along the side of the living room. It was impossible to tell if they were male or female—they were covered in old blood, cuts, bruises and burns. The stench was hideous.

They began moaning and babbling as soon as they realized there was someone there, but they weren’t making any sense.

Rachelle couldn’t believe they could talk at all.

“Jesse, call for healers,” Jace said. He went over to one of the cots, and Rafe went to the other. Rachelle took a step forward. Selina’s energy was still so strong—stronger than she’d ever felt anyone’s energy before.

She walked forward and stepped on something round and flat. Kane leaned down and picked up a similar object off the floor. “Casino chips,” he muttered. “Silver Cloud. The bitch is taunting us.”

“If she isn’t here, she’s been here in the last six to eight hours,” Rachelle said. “Is there a basement?”

She kept walking forward, though, feeling pulled by the people on the cots. They were hurt. Not just in their bodies, but in their minds. She had to help them.

“Rachelle?” She heard Kane’s voice, but it was faint. This was more important. It was an imperative.

“I can help them.” She pushed up next to Jace. It was a man on the bed, she could see that now. A cougar shifter. Like Manny. She reached her hand out towards his forehead.

“Rachelle, don’t—”

She touched him.

A wall of pain slammed into her, knocking her across the room. She barely felt Kane’s arms close around her. Pain, screaming, evil, torment…the images and sensations overloaded her brain and nerve endings, and her body convulsed.

It went on and on and on. In between bouts of agony she heard the tramp of boots, and voices—some kind and soothing, others yelling at each other.

Carmichael. Why was he here? “You’re lucky I intercepted your call. What the hell were you thinking, letting her follow the trail like this? Her human form’s not strong enough…”