Last Chance (Last Chance Rescue, Band 6) - Softcover

Reece, Christy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0345517741 ISBN 13: 9780345517746

Verlag: Ballantine Books, 2010

Inhaltsangabe

Passion is their most dangerous move

Never say die
 
McKenna Sloan saved Lucas Kane’s life and then vanished. Lucas moved mountains trying to find her again, and finally McKenna relented—for one fleeting night. The truth is, McKenna’s life is all about the dark, deception-filled world of Last Chance Rescue, and for her, there’s no hope of love or Lucas. But fate, and Lucas’s determination, soon change everything. A kidnapped young woman, a lure to out a killer and the fierce need to bring a criminal to justice combine for one explosive event. For a woman who specializes in staying away from relationships and staying in the heart of danger, this is the most impossible mission of all. Because the odds are deadly, and the passion won’t die.

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Christy Reece is the author of the national bestselling Last Chance Rescue series. She holds a BSW from the University of Memphis and is a member of Romance Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. Christy lives in Alabama with her husband, two adorable canines, and one very shy turtle.

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Chapter One


Six months later London, England

He was tired of chasing a ghost. More than once he’d told himself she was a figment of his overactive imagination or a hallucination caused by too many blows to his head. That some three-hundred-pound bruiser by the name of Rudolph or Hans had rescued him, not a delicate-as-air blond angel named Ghost.

But she wasn’t a figment; he’d felt her, touched her, smelled her. And he couldn’t get her out of his head.

On his return from Brazil, he’d launched two investigations. One was to determine who else had been involved in his abduction other than Victor Lymes. The other was to find his mysterious rescuer.

The investigation into his abduction had taken less than a week. Lymes, working with two of the hotel employees where Lucas had been staying, had seen an opportunity and taken it. The plan had been to ransom him and split the earnings. The two conspirators had confessed immediately when confronted by the authorities. The two men Lucas had killed in Brazil had apparently been locals Victor had hired there. The case was wrapped up quickly, neatly. Quietly.

The second investigation hadn’t gone as well. It was as if the young woman who’d aided in his rescue didn’t even exist.

“Kane, do you agree?”

Lucas jerked his head around. Staring out the window like a daydreaming bored employee didn’t exactly inspire confidence. The twenty executive members of Kane Industries stared at him as if he had a third eye.

“Yes, the takeover should go through without a hitch. Just make sure we have jobs for everyone.” He made a pointed stare at Stanley Humphries. “If I hear that even one worker was displaced, heads will not be the only body parts rolling.”

The stiff nod of agreement was belied by the mutinous expression on Humphries’s face. Lucas noted it, adding to his growing list of concerns. The man had become increasingly belligerent and uncooperative over the last few months. Lucas knew he was going to have to do something about him soon.

Though Humphries wasn’t a member of the executive board, he’d been with Kane Industries for well over thirty years and had earned his spot in making decisions. However, Lucas had become aware of recent shortcuts and mismanagements that the man was directly responsible for.

When Lucas had taken over his family’s empire, he’d been determined to do a few things differently. That included making sure no one was adversely impacted as Kane Enterprises thrived. Humphries apparently didn’t like that concept.

Lucas needed to make a decision about the man’s involvement in future projects. Times like this, he wished for his father’s tough-minded decision making. Lucas could kick ass and kill with the best of them, but when it came to dealing with wayward employees, he was at somewhat of a loss.

Harbin Nickels, CFO of Kane Industries, stood. “I think that about wraps up everything we needed to review with you, Lucas. Anything else that comes up, we can go through your assistants. When do you leave for your trip?”

His mind occupied between finding a ghost and disciplining an employee, Lucas answered with a careless “A few hours” and then was silent.

He knew they stared at him for several seconds before they made their way out of the room. Being distracted wasn’t good for morale. A distracted leader led to uncertainty in his employees. He’d worry about that when he returned. Now he needed to get on his flight to Paris and talk with the one man he believed could help him.

Paris, France Last Chance Rescue headquarters

“Noah, did you give Micah another piece of chocolate?”

Before moving his gaze from the computer screen in front of him, Noah swallowed the remaining evidence. Turning to her, he gave his most innocent look. “Mara, why would you say that?”

Hands on her hips, amazing eyes flashing, Samara advanced toward him. “Because he’s as hyper as a wildcat. Angela’s with him in the conference room, chasing him around the table.”

Before he could proclaim his innocence of giving their two-year-old son chocolate, Samara added, “And because you have chocolate on your chin.”

He sighed. Nothing got past his Mara. “So come over here and lick it off for me.”

Her eyes darkened and she got that look on her face that could heat his blood in an instant. She came toward him and then stopped. “Wait. What time is Lucas Kane supposed to be here?”

Noah groaned and looked at the clock. “Fifteen minutes. Not near enough time.”

“Here.” She handed him a tissue from a box on his desk. “Get the chocolate off for now. We’ll stop at the store on the way home and get some more for later.”

He grinned, already anticipating the night ahead. “Deal.”

Settling into a chair across from him, she returned to the topic of their upcoming meeting. “So you really just want my observation on the man? Nothing more?”

“Right.”

“Are you planning on telling him you know McKenna?”

“No. Her association with LCR must remain private. But I want to meet with him before I mention his search to her. When she relayed the details of his rescue, it got me interested in him even more.”

“How so?”

“For a British billionaire, sounds to me like he handled himself a little too well. About as well as any LCR operative. There’s got to be more to him than just inherited wealth and a keen eye for the next moneymaking venture.”

“Think he has military training?”

Noah shook his head. “Records show that he spent most of his years collecting degrees and prepping himself to take over his family’s empire. No military training mentioned.”

“Perhaps he had someone train him. As high-profile as he is, maybe he felt he needed to know how to defend himself.”

“Could be. That’s where you come in. I want your impression. I may be biased.”

She smiled. “That’s because you’re protective of McKenna.”

“I’m protective of all my operatives.”

“True, but whether you want to admit it or not, you have a special fondness for McKenna.”

Noah couldn’t deny it. He did feel much more like McKenna’s big brother than her boss. Not that he was technically her boss, since she still wasn’t officially employed by LCR.

Though all active LCR operatives were freelance and could work when they wanted, he considered them full-fledged employees. McKenna, not so much.

LCR’s first encounter with McKenna had been unusual. One day, during the middle of an op involving the rescue of a young teenager, McKenna had just shown up. One of his operatives had been injured, unable to assist. McKenna had gone after one of the kidnappers, jumping on his back and taking him to the ground. Dylan had been on the op, along with Shea and Ethan. All three had regaled him with accounts of her bravery. Problem was, she’d disappeared as soon as the rescue was complete.

The second time she had assisted was in Paris. Based upon the description he’d been given, Noah had known this was the mysterious rescuer he’d been told about. He had cornered her before she could disappear. She hadn’t liked being trapped. Had been almost feral in her fear. They’d talked—or at least as much as he could get her to talk. That’s when he’d learned her name, McKenna. He’d also...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Ballantine Books
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2010
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 0345517741
• ISBN 13: 9780345517746
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 368
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: Nicht verfügbar