Page 76 of The Enforcers: KANE

But so did paranoia. Kane had his own stash of weapons beneath the floor in his cabin. Jace and Israel knew about it, but he didn’t think anyone else did. Except maybe Rafe, who knew everything about everybody.

He lifted the cutaway floorboards and touched the fingerprint reader to open the lock on the container below. He pulled out his assault rifle, ammo, a few grenades, a sidearm, and his combat knife, which he strapped to his leg. He added a sniper rifle and scope to the pile—it wouldn’t hurt to do some recon before he went in.

And maybe take out some guards.

He loaded his combat vest and shrugged it on, then went out the back door of the cabin and into the woods, making his way to where the armored trucks were parked.

If he was going to misuse Enforcer equipment for a personal mission, he might as well go all out.

He stepped out of the woods and made his way to the nearest truck—and stopped dead. Rafe was leaning on the front fender in full combat gear. Waiting.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Kane demanded.

“Dude,” Rafe said. “You didn’t think you were doing this by yourself, did you?”

“How did you even know Selina contacted me?” Kane asked.

“Seriously?” Rafe said. “I know everything.”

“Selina specifically said come alone,” Kane said. “If I don’t, she’ll kill Rachelle.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Rafe said. “Not to be Danny Downer, but she probably didn’t say she wouldn’t try to kill Rachelle even if you did come alone. And even if she did say it, you would be trusting the word of an evil psychotic bitch because…”

“‘Try’ is the operative word there,” Kane said. “There’s no way I’m letting anything happen to my mate.”

“Well, duh,” Rafe said. “Us either.”

Us?

The rear doors of the two trucks opened, and the whole security team filed out, geared up and ready for battle. With them were Jace, Emma, Jesse and Sophia.

As Kane stood there, speechless, Israel came out from between the trucks and stood in his usual place, just behind Kane’s left shoulder.

It was as clear as if he’d said it out loud. I’ve got your back.

Kane turned to Jace. “Are you crazy? You can’t send in the full combat team. It will tank Silverlake with the Council. ”

“Send them in?” Jace snorted. “More like, I’ve been interrupted all morning by a stream of people demanding authorization to come. As a courtesy only, by the way, because they all pretty much told me they were doing it whether I said they could or not.”

Kane looked around, stunned. His team members were all standing at parade rest, awaiting orders. “You’d do it for any of us, boss,” one of them said.

“Have done it,” another added.

Emma spoke up. “You led teams that saved my life twice,” she said. “Even when you thought I was nothing but trouble.”

“You kept Nash and his people from killing me in the woods, before you even knew why I attacked him,” Sophia put in.

“And you led the team that saved Terin’s and my butts when Beckenham tried to kill us,” Rafe added. “Now it’s your mate, so—you know. We’re there.”

Kane felt a burning in his chest. Shit. He was getting all girly and sentimental, and he couldn’t do that. Not right before a mission.

He cleared his throat. “You all really want to do this?” he asked, his voice husky.

There were nods and murmurs of agreement all through the group.

“Yup,” Rafe said. He gazed at Kane, challenge in his eyes. “All you have to do is ask.”

Anger and frustration raced through him. Fucking Rafe. He should have known there was a catch. Putting his hands on his hips, he said, “I’m supposed to humiliate myself? Is that what you want?”