Free Bane by Brenda Jackson Page B

been a SEAL. A commanding officer. He was still alert and wore an intense look on his face. And it was quite obvious that even at the age of sixty-five, he was in great shape physically. He was ready for anything and could probably still hold his own.
    “Don’t need to know where you’re headed. The less people who know the better. Just be safe,” the older man said, handing Bane the keys.
    “I will, and thanks for everything, Mr. Holloway. I owe you and your family.”
    Mr. Holloway waved off his words. “No, you don’t. David told me and his brothers what happened during your last mission when you saved his life. Besides, any friend of my boys is a friend of mine. If you get in a pinch, just give us a call.”
    Bane didn’t plan on getting in a pinch, but figured it was best to accept the offer just the same. “I will, and thanks.”
    Crystal was already seated inside the new car with her seat belt snapped in place. The older man followed Bane’s gaze. “I understand that’s your wife who you haven’t seen in a while.”
    Bane nodded as he looked back at the man. “Yes, that’s right.”
    “And she waited for you to come back for all that time?”
    Bane nodded, remembering what Crystal had told him. She had kept her promise like he’d kept his. “Yes, she waited.”
    The older man smiled. “Then, you’re a very lucky man. Take care of yourself and your wife.”
    His wife
. He liked the sound of that. He was ready to finally claim her as his wife—but he had to keep her safe first. “I will. Again, thanks for all you and your sons have done. Are still doing.” He knew Flip and his brothers would be keeping an eye on Crystal’s place for a while.
    “Don’t mention it.” Mr. Holloway gave him a supportive pat on the shoulder before getting into the SUV to drive off.
    Bane quickly walked to the car, got inside, closed the door and locked it.
    Crystal glanced over at him. “Where to now?”
    He could hear the exhaustion in her voice. It was close to eleven. Probably past her bedtime. “A hotel, but not here in Dallas. Get some sleep. We’ll be riding for a while.”
    “Okay.”
    She didn’t ask where they were headed and as he started the ignition, he watched her lower her seat into a reclining position. He couldn’t stop his appreciative gaze from sweeping over her, taking in how the denim molded to her hips and thighs. At eighteen she’d had a slender figure. Now she was amazingly curvy with a small waist. Forcing his eyes off her, he adjusted the car’s temperature to a comfortable setting. It had gotten pretty cold outside.
    As he pulled out of the parking lot he saw her starting to doze off. She looked just as beautiful with her eyes closed as she did when they were open. This was what he had dreamed about, what he had craved. The two of them together again.
    Bane had driven a few miles and had made it to their first traffic light when he heard the sound of her chuckle. He glanced over at her and saw that her eyes were closed, yet a smile had formed on her lips. Was she having a dream or something? No sooner had that thought entered his mind than she opened her eyes, saw him looking at her and shifted upright in her seat. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
    “Nothing is wrong with me. You chuckled in your sleep just now.”
    A smile touched her lips. “I wasn’t asleep. Just resting my eyes. And I got to thinking that this is getting to be the norm for us.”
    “What?”
    “Being on the run. The last time we were together we eloped and were running from Sheriff Harper. Remember?”
    “Yes, I remember.” How could he forget? They had intentionally led everyone on a wild-goose chase thinking they were headed to Vegas when they’d married in Utah.
    “Now we’re on the run from heaven knows who.”
    “Doesn’t matter. We’re together again,” he said.
    She didn’t say anything, and when the traffic light changed, he moved forward. After a while he figured she’d dozed off...or as