Razing Kayne

THIRTY-NINE



Kayne finally got his shit together and stepped out of Trace’s office a few minutes later. Two men in suits stepped in front of him, blocking his path. “Officer Dobrescu, you need to come with us.”

When Kayne lost it, Trace and Rafe had quickly cleared the room. He wasn't quite sure how they’d managed it, what with all the posturing and yelling going on around him from people demanding answers, but he thought it might have been at gunpoint.

Kayne crossed his arms and looked down at the taller of the two agents. “F*ck you! If you have anything to ask me, you do it right f*cking here. But while we're at, it I have some questions for you. If you knew this goddamned sick son of a bitch was here, why were you letting him run around? Furthermore, you useless bastards have been sitting around for weeks, and yet when Volkov does finally make a move, you let my wife and child slip through the net?”

Kayne leaned in until he was inches from the guy’s face. “If anything happens to my wife or daughter because you all are too busy tripping over each other’s dicks to work together and do your goddamned job, I will personally—”

Rafe materialized beside him and slapped a hand down hard on Kayne's shoulder. He talked right over him. “What he's trying to say is now would be a really good time for all of us to sit down and play show and tell. Why don't we take this into the conference room?”

“I'm the agent in charge,” the suit in front of Kayne postured.

Rafe got in the man’s face, all affability gone. “Not any-f*cking-more. I'm gonna give you the same message the Chief is giving your little InterPol witch. We've played it your way, and you f*cked it up. Now we're taking command. Y'all are gonna be good little Super-Secret-Squirrels and sit down, answer our questions when they’re asked, shut the hell up when told to, and then stay the f*ck out of our way while we clean up your mess. Conference room is that-a way.”

He nodded, and amazingly, the suit turned on his heel and marched off. His partner followed.

Kayne leaned in close, so as not to be overheard. “Is that really what the Chief said?”

Rafe’s smile was dangerous. “I was paraphrasing what the Chief will say, you know, when he gets around to it. Saving us some time. Besides, I don't have to be nearly as diplomatic as the Chief. He's stuck serving at the pleasure of the town council, and I'm convinced that gaggle of old cronies doesn't even remember what pleasure means, much less feels like.”

Kayne managed a halfhearted chuckle. “Remind me never to piss you off.”

“Trust me, you've already got enough enemies. Let’s go. I've been itching to shake these boys down.” Rafe rubbed his hands together in delight.

Kayne shook his head. “No shit. Jesus, I didn't even know half these people existed an hour ago, much less hated me for being born.” It had been over an hour since Jess and Gracie disappeared. He found himself praying to a God he still wasn't sure he believed in for their safety.