Travis Justice

by Colleen Shannon

  Her gaze found John Travis. He stood, one foot propped behind him on the cave wall, and she got the feeling he’d been watching her battle Kai for some time. He was too far away for her to clearly see his expression, but she knew from his body language that he was moved, somehow. His motions seemed a bit sluggish and he finally pushed himself away from the wall and started rounding up his men and waving them toward the cave exit down the tunnel.

  Then she surged to her feet. “My God! The bomb.” She looked at her watch, but it had fallen off during the sword fight. She knew they couldn’t have more than a couple of minutes.

  Zach said, “I know. They tried to disable it, but none of us are bomb experts. Kai’s men all bailed when they realized Kai was going to let them die. They unplugged the damn thing, but it had some kind of wireless backup and came back online. We gotta get the hell out of here. We only have two minutes or so.”

  Hana bit her lip, looking down at what remained of Takeo’s father.

  Pulling her away, Zach growled, “Leave the bastard. He’ll be buried, all right. By his own hand. What’s more appropriate than that?”

  Zach was helping her out of the ring when the backup lights went out. Then they heard another generator kick in. In a split second, it went out too. Someone yelled from the direction of the clean room, “The counter’s gone dark! The bomb’s disabled!”

  Then a voice came over the intercom. A blessedly familiar voice that said, sounding uncannily like David Bowie: “Rangers, deputies, and Nakatomi: This is Major Tom to ground control. It’s safe to leave the capsule. All systems compromised. No bombs for you today, Kai the Magnificent.” Then Ernie’s voice took on its normal tone. “I hope you guys brought lots of flashlights.”

  And in the dark, an exhausted Hana took full advantage. To rest, to live. To love. Why else had she fought so hard?

  Grabbing Zach’s hand, she pulled him into her arms. She groped for his head to cup it in her palms. She felt his own lumps, and then she was kissing him, for she knew without him she wouldn’t be here.

  Somewhere, God really can open a window.

  And in that moment, the last of the shutters dropped away from her heart. For she knew that Zach could have killed Kai from a distance if he’d chosen to.

  But he’d let her fight her own battles, understanding, finally, that she not only had that right, but the obligation.

  And that, to Hana Nakatomi, was true love.

  * * *

  In the aftermath, after they recovered over ten million in cash, arrested fifty people, and confiscated all of Kai’s assets, destroying many kilos of various designer drugs. The operation was deemed one of the most successful ever undertaken in central Texas against the drug trade.

  After their initial conflict, Takeo and Abigail Doyle became fast friends. Abby had helped foil the men who surrounded their armored car in an attempt to take back Takeo. She coolly provided cover while the young tech guy took advantage of their armor and puncture-proof tires to simply drive away from the rain of bullets.

  By the time they returned some time later, John’s Rangers had rounded up the last of Kai’s men, including the would-be kidnappers.

  The bomb was carefully disabled by the bomb squad, and the last of the cavern’s contents, including Kai’s remains, were cleared away. He was buried in an unmarked grave. Only Hana, Takeo, and Ernie, along with Zach and John Travis, were in attendance at the brief service. Takeo put flowers on his father’s grave, clutching his mother’s hand tightly.

  Jiji’s funeral was small too, but with joy the order of the day, instead of sorrow.

  Ernie had explained things to the boy. Takeo was very young, but he’d been tutored in life by Jiji literally since he could talk. He understood that his father was a bad man and wanted to kill his mother, so his mother had been forced to defend herself. Nevertheless, John arranged family counseling for both of them.

  Abigail came around to Hana’s new home regularly. Ernie had been released from his immunity agreement with full pardons for all offenses, current and past. He’d started calling Abigail on various pretenses. She tried to avoid him when she could for the simple reason that he unnerved her. She’d never known a man like him, as she confided to Hana and Mary.

  Best of all, to Zach at least, John had agreed to let Hana and Takeo move in to their huge family mansion.

  He’d been reluctant at first. During the delicious meal Consuela cooked for all the family after the funerals, Zach had whispered something to his father. John had looked at Hana and Takeo, then away.

  Hana knew what they were discussing. Zach was aware she and Takeo had nowhere to go but Ernie’s. Her former sensei had offered to take them in, but he was a bachelor, with a bachelor’s lifestyle. So Zach asked his father to let them stay and informed him he and Hana were engaged.

  Despite the engagement, John remained reluctant about the arrangement. His reaction put a pall over the entire meal. Hana stood and reached out to take Takeo away, but Mary Travis threw her napkin down on the table and straightened to her full height.

  She looked down at her husband. “John William Barrett Travis, I seldom ask you for anything. And demand less. Today I’m not asking. They’re both staying. It’s my house too.”

  When John’s face set into lines that put Mount Rushmore to shame, Mary’s expression turned so severe that, for the first time, she showed her age. “Unless, of course, you’d rather I petition to make it only my house. In court.”

  John’s mouth dropped open.

  Zach too was stunned. His staying grip on Hana’s hand went slack.

  Hana glanced between John and Mary, seeing the power dynamic and wondering if she was interpreting it correctly. Had Mrs. Travis just threatened divorce?

  Mary didn’t even glance their way. Her steady blue gaze held her husband’s. She didn’t bother lowering her voice, either, as if she wanted both Zach and Hana to hear her next comments. “Look at him, John. Really look at him. He loves her. For the first time in his life he’s found a girl he can be happy with. And he’s not an easy match. Will you deny him that? And put her and her child in danger?”

  Zach grabbed Hana’s hand again strongly and pulled her to stand next to his mother.

  Mary put her arm around Hana. “Besides, we have a wedding to plan.” She enfolded Takeo too into their embrace. He wasn’t particularly appreciative, however, and soon scampered away to pet one of the Belgian Malinois still on duty outside.

  Then Zach moved to stand next to his father, extending his arm toward both women, as if to a vista. “Don’t you see it, Dad?”

  John was clueless. At first. Closing his open mouth, he gulped. “See what?”

  “They’re a lot alike. Other than their coloring.”

  Silhouetted by the commodious hall and creamy walls, black and white marble at their feet, the two women were both tall, slim, and regal. Even their bone structure, fine noses, high cheekbones and perfect mouths, were similar. But it was the steady character, strength allied with the clarity of logic and compassion, in their eyes of blue and black that really defined them as soul sisters.

  It was as if blinkers came off John’s eyes. “Holy shit . . . I never, that is, I didn’t know—”

  Despite being so moved that her heart was thrumming, Hana had to smile. “I’m not just a perp anymore?”

  And John Travis sighed heavily. “You might as well stay, then. Now, follow me. I’m not as stupid as I sometimes seem. I knew this was coming.” He beckoned and they all followed him into the study.

  Inside a long display case with discreet lighting and temperature control, lay the Nakatoni katana. Except it was no longer denoted as Attributed to Masamune, believed to be the Nakatomi family katana. Now the label read On loan from owners Hana and Takeo Nakatomi.

  Hana’s eyes filled with tears as she looked at her future father-in-law.

  “When you’re ready, we’ll change the name to Nakatomi-Travis. You don’t mind loaning it to the museum once in a while, do y
ou?

  Her voice thick with tears, she teased, “Why not Travis-Nakatomi?”

  Zach laughed as his father’s face turned red.

  Hana kissed John’s cheek. Realizing she’d been teasing him, he patted her hand.

  Mary laughed too, then caught her husband’s arm and dragged him from the study. As the door slowly closed, they heard her teasing, “Did it make your joints flare up to write such a big check, darling?” And then sounds of kissing, interspersed with Mary’s, “I love you, you old softie.”

  Then the door closed completely, muffling their voices.

  Inside the study, Hana’s eyes were still moist as she looked up at her fiancé. “He really bought out his partners? To gift the blade to me and Takeo?”

  Zach goaded her. “As long as your name is Travis.”

  She tilted her head to the side. “Who knows? Maybe I’ll decide to start my own gang. The Nakatomi-Travis Westside Ninjas.”

  Zach kissed her to shut her up, then drew back and looked at her seriously. “My dad has the strongest sense of right and wrong of anyone I’ve ever known. He and the guys got into the cavern in time to watch the last of your fight with Kai. He saw then in full, living color, like no argument could ever persuade him, that you belong to the blade, as much as it belongs to you. So he bought all his partners out. I knew, but I wanted him to tell you.”

  Hana smiled at him luminously, her black eyes as soft as the nights that awaited them. “I only have one request, darling.” She kissed his neck, one beating vein on each side, nibbling with tongue and teeth. When his breathing had quickened, she pulled back and smiled. “For the wedding ceremony, promise me you’ll come in a towel wrap?”

  And there, with the Nakatomi katana safely in its case, Hana pledged her troth to her fiancé in the age-old way of her ancestors.

  A stray ray of sunlight came through the study window, reflecting off the priceless blade. It still held minute amounts of blood and tears, though they could not be seen. For now, it rested, having assured the safety of its next generation.

  This time, it reflected back no battles of mayhem and murder, only love and devotion in the soft images of the entwined couple.

  It was the blade, after all, that had united them in times of strife. Now, it would continue its reign in peacetime as a legacy of two proud families born of the sword. As Masamune himself had intended when he tempered it repeatedly, the Nakatomi katana had helped forge a new destiny.

  And somewhere, both Jiji and William Barrett Travis smiled.

  Have you read the first of Colleen Shannon’s Texas Rangers books? Foster Justice is available now wherever ebooks are sold!

  One Riot, One Ranger . . .

  That’s the Texas Ranger motto, but when Chad Foster’s rebellious brother goes missing, it’s time to put his elite training to use investigating a crime that strikes much closer to home. Turning Los Angeles inside out to retrieve Trey and save their ranch from a ruthless land grab is a no brainer, even if it puts his badge at risk. His only lead is a heart-stoppingly sensuous exotic dancer with a very tempting butterfly tattoo, the woman who helped scam his brother out of their ranch. But staying on top of this redhead’s every suggestive word and sensual move means putting his case—and his heart—right in the line of fire . . .

  A Texas Ranger, complete with quarter horse, is as out of place in downtown L.A. as a lawman is in the bed of a suspect, but with both their lives at risk, Chad has to put his trust in the one woman who could bring him down for good, and pray that somehow hard evidence is really just a pack of lies . . .

  Don’t miss any of Colleen Shannon’s Texas Rangers books. Sinclair Justice is available now wherever ebooks are sold!

  Ranger Proud, Ranger Strong . . .

  Texas Rangers swear to uphold the law to the letter. But Captain Ross Sinclair isn’t about to play by the rules to destroy a major human trafficking cartel—especially now that the only chance to break this case just strode into his life with attitude as long as her gorgeous legs. Heiress Emm Rothschild is taking names and raising hell as she searches for her abducted sister and niece. And the evidence this wild-child turns up sets off a lethal chain of events—challenging Ross to keep her reckless determination and seductive daring up close and dangerously personal . . .

  Now a blindsiding betrayal has Emm heading straight into harm’s way. And Ross will have to put his badge and career on the line to get justice—and prove to the woman he loves that a Ranger’s word is a forever bond . . .

  “Intense romantic suspense with a sexy edge.” —New York Times bestselling author Tanya Anne Crosby on Foster Justice

  Visit us at www.kensingtonbooks.com

  Colleen Shannon grew up in West Texas where the skies are as limitless as the tales told by its many colorful residents. Surrounded by oil men, lawyers, and drillers in a community that has produced two presidents and many national leaders and businessmen, Colleen grew up reading and writing stories of every kind. After college when she married and was expecting her first child, she used a scrap computer to write her first romance. She sold it herself in less than a year, and at the age of twenty-six began a new career and never looked back. The strength of her first book led to her nomination by Romantic Times as Best New Historical Author. She went on to win or be nominated for many other awards, and her fifteen single title releases have appeared on numerous bestseller lists. She has well over a million books in print.

  Her newest series, focused on the modern Texas Rangers, is from Kensington. Colleen’s ancestor, a Texas Ranger, was one of the first people buried in Brown County cemetery, Texas. Another one of her ancestors was a signatory to the Texas Declaration of Independence.

  Learn more about Colleen and her novels at colleenshannon author. com.