Stronger Than You Know by Lori Foster

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

DURINGTHELATEAFTERNOON, they headed over to see Jodi. Kennedy had insisted on seeing her friend, against protests from everyone except Reyes.

He, at least, knew her well enough to understand this was something she had to do. She wanted to be close to her, to hug her, to literally be there for her.

Parrish wanted her to wear dark sunglasses because of her concussion, though, honestly, the effects of it weren’t nearly as bad today. Madison had given her a puffer coat to wear, so she wasn’t cold. And with Cade and Sterling trailing them, she wasn’t too nervous, either.

Reyes was in full-blown protector mode, meaning he constantly scanned their surroundings without talking much.

Little by little, Kennedy was starting to grasp the complexities of their operation and how they all worked together, complementing each other’s efforts, giving physical and emotional support wherever needed.

That morning, before she’d even made it out of Reyes’s suite, Cade had gotten the window on the truck fixed. Soon as she and Reyes had joined the others in the kitchen for a light breakfast, Madison presented new info she’d uncovered, specifically locating a few small-time thugs with a past association to Golly. They were still local, therefore it stood to reason that they might be working with Golly again.

They’d decided it was worth checking into, and another two hours were spent going over the names, records and current residences of each of them. It was a thorough discussion, with all possibilities covered.

The process had kept Kennedy enthralled.

Reyes’s family was a unit, and she admired that.

Though Madison had her information perfectly organized, she didn’t seem as chipper as usual. Kennedy would bet it had something to do with the detective, but since no one else mentioned Crosby, she didn’t, either.

She’d sat beside Reyes, of course, and when Madison passed him full color images that she’d printed of the thugs, Kennedy was shocked to recognize one of them.

“It’s him.”

All eyes turned to her. “Him, who?” Reyes asked.

“The man who was on my balcony. Remember, I told you about him?”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes.” She’d never forget that face, not after the way he’d terrified her.

Briefly Reyes explained about the incident that took place before the fire. “The police thought it was an attempted break-in, but Kennedy never bought that.”

“Not with the way he stood there smiling at me.” The memory disturbed her all over again, and she muttered, “I had my gun, but was too frozen to do anything other than aim at him.”

Sterling grinned. “Likely that was enough.”

“Given you have a history with him, that almost guarantees he’s tied to Golly,” Parrish decreed. “Which also casts suspicion on any close associates of his.”

“I’m on it,” Madison had promised. “I’ll have more by the end of the day.”

Now in Reyes’s truck with the afternoon sunlight reflecting through the newly replaced window, she was glad Parrish had provided the glasses. They served the dual purpose of protecting her eyes from the glare and shielding her tumultuous thoughts from his discerning gaze. Not that she wanted to keep anything from him, but with him so attuned to their surroundings, she didn’t want to distract him, either.

As if he’d just read her mind, he asked, “Doing okay?” without glancing at her.

She accepted that nothing much got past Reyes. “Much better today, thank you.”

“Headache?”

“Not too bad.” She looked at the bruise on his forehead. “You?”

“A-okay, babe. Like Dad said, I have a hard head.” He took an exit to an industrial area.

Kennedy saw numerous restaurants, stores and a convention center. A few miles down he pulled into his father’s hotel, which really was swanky with elaborate grounds now glistening under the white snow.

Driving around a small, ornamental lake, Reyes parked in a private-access garage. Her tension grew as they entered through a heavy door with a biometric lock.

“You weren’t kidding about the security.”

“No one other than my family accesses this part of the garage or building.” With his hand at the small of her back, he steered her into a private elevator. “Nervous?”

“Anxious about seeing Jodi,” she admitted. With Reyes she felt comfortable sharing her worries, so as the elevator climbed, she didn’t hold back. “She’s unpredictable. I don’t know how she’s going to react to everything.”

“We’ll figure it out, I promise.”

We.It truly felt like they were partners in this. Having Reyes at her side meant more than she could ever express to him. She’d gotten used to going it alone...and now she didn’t have to.

He saw his generosity as no big deal. To Kennedy, it was the greatest gift she’d ever been given, and was far more than she’d ever dared to hope for.

“I don’t want to startle her,” Kennedy said, getting out her phone. “I told her I’d text when we were here.” She sent the message as soon as they stepped out of the elevator. Then she gazed around in awe. They were in a big foyer of sorts that ran the length of a long hall. Windows at one end overlooked the parking lot and main road.

She saw only one door, meaning this entire space was for the suite they’d given Jodi? Remarkable.

When the door opened and Kennedy got a look at Jodi, her stomach plummeted.

Her friend looked like a shadow of herself. Had she slept at all? Eaten? Combed her hair? She’d been afraid of this, and now she was doubly glad she’d come to see her in person rather than just calling or doing a video chat.

“Hey,” Jodi said, her tone so sullen it bordered on antagonistic.

At the moment, none of that mattered. Kennedy was so glad to see her, pugnacious attitude and all, she grabbed her up in a spontaneous hug.

Predictably, Jodi went stiff.

That didn’t matter, either. “Oh, it’s good to see you, to know that you weren’t hurt in the scuffle.” To know she hadn’t found a way to sneak out on her own. Of course the McKenzies had all assured her on that score, but hearing it and seeing it were two different things.

Jodi huffed. “Would have been tough for me to get hurt when your ape was busy ripping them all apart.”

“I didn’t rip,” Reyes jokingly protested. “I demolished. There’s a difference.”

Jodi pressed her back. “But you?” Her gaze moved all over Kennedy’s face, and when she focused on her bruised temple, she flinched. “Damn, Kennedy, you look like—”

“Hell, I know.” She briefly hugged her again. “Have you heard the whole story?” She wasn’t sure how much Reyes or Cade had shared with Jodi.

“Ha! They didn’t tell me much of anything except that you were okay and I had to follow orders.”

“That pretty much covers it.” Summarizing greatly, Kennedy shared what had happened.

“I’m glad Delbert died,” Jodi said.

“Same, though I would have liked to have gotten hold of him first,” Reyes admitted. “Far as I’m concerned, he got off easy.” With a hand to the center of Kennedy’s back, Reyes began urging them both inside. “Instead of jawing out here, how about we get comfortable?”

“It’s your place,” Jodi said, strolling into the suite. “You can come and go as you please.”

“For now,” Reyes replied, “it’s yours. You don’t have to worry about anyone showing up without an invite.”

“You two did.”

Surprised, Kennedy said, “I messaged you first.” Then, because she understood Jodi’s attitude was part of her defenses, she quietly asked, “You don’t want to see me?”

“Sure I do. Just sayin’ that it wasn’t my choice to be here.” She shot a resentful look at Reyes, then walked across a wide entry to a beautiful living room furnished with a cream velvet couch and two armchairs. She threw herself into a chair, looking much like a ticked-off teenager.

On one side of the room was a dining table with six chairs, and behind that a wet bar and kitchenette. On the other side, an arched doorway led to a bedroom and bathroom. Through the open doorways, Kennedy saw that both rooms looked mostly unused. The couch faced a wall of windows with an impressive view of the Rockies.

Every inch of the space had top-of-the-line finishes, giving it the look of a designer home.

Though she knew Jodi couldn’t be comfortable here, Kennedy tried to encourage her by saying, “Wow, this is nice.”

Jodi shrugged. “In a gilded-cage kind of way.”

It almost embarrassed Kennedy for her friend to be so ungrateful. “Jodi,” she chided, wishing for a way to reassure her.

Reyes stalked over to stand in front of Jodi. Arms crossed and feet braced apart, he loomed. Kennedy had never seen him do such a thing before.

Finally he asked, “Got a death wish, Jodi? Is that it?”

Losing her slouched position, Jodi straightened as much as she could with Reyes so close. “Maybe death would be easier than waiting for fate to screw me over again.”

“Nah,” Reyes said. “Girl, you have to know if Golly gets hold of you, it won’t be an easy death.”

Appalled by that bit of verbal reality, Kennedy gasped. “Reyes!”

Both he and Jodi ignored her.

“You might not put any value on your life, but Kennedy sure as hell does. Come to that, so do I.”

“Ha!”

Reyes leaned down into her space and growled, “I’d like to rip Golly apart because of what he did to you.”

Anger shot Jodi out of her chair. Reyes straightened but didn’t back up, so she had to tip her head way back to glare at him. Given her short stature she barely reached Reyes’s shoulders, and he weighed more than twice what she did, making it a ludicrous standoff.

Full of pain and suffering, Jodi growled, “You think I don’t want that, too?” Her eyes turned red and liquid, her thin chest heaving. “Jesus, it’s all I want. I’d gladly die if I could take that miserable bastard with me!”

“Well, you can’t,” Reyes said softly, laying his large hand on her narrow shoulder. “I’m sorry, so fucking sorry, Jodi, but Rob Golly is dead after all.”

When Jodi would have lurched away in shock, Reyes held her still. Furious, she went on tiptoe to glare into his face. “Why would you be sorry about that? I wanted him dead! That’s why I killed him.”

He nodded. “You accomplished that much, and I swear, girl, I’m cheering for you.”

“Then why...?” As if Jodi knew there was worse news to come, the tears spilled over and she started gulping breaths.

“Sadly, the danger doesn’t end with him. But I know you’re strong. You’ve already proven that a dozen times over. I know you’re smart, too, so you’ll listen to reason.”

Giving one sharp, grave nod, she rasped, “Quit dragging it out. Let’s hear it, already.”

“What you need to know, what you have to understand, is that your life has value. Real, substantial value. Don’t let Golly take that from you.” He lifted his hand to briefly cup her cheek. “He’s taken enough. Don’t give him another damned thing.”

Angrily she dashed away the tears and then, wonder of wonders, she said, “Okay.”

“Thank you.”

“Why are you thanking me?” she asked with another huff.

“Because Kennedy loves you, and I don’t want to see her tormented by your stubbornness.” He grinned a rascal’s grin, dimple and all. “Now, how about we all sit down and talk this out?” Oh-so-gently, he led her to the couch where Kennedy sat.

Kennedy barely kept her smile contained. Every time she thought Reyes couldn’t get more wonderful, he outdid her expectations.

“Fine.” Jodi flopped back against the plush cushions and propped her feet on the glass coffee table. “Talk away. I’m listening.”

With Kennedy on one side of her, and Reyes on the other, Jodi was boxed in—but she didn’t get jittery about it like she usually would. Reyes had accomplished that much.

Kennedy half turned to face her. “Okay, so as Reyes said, the good news is that Rob Golly is dead after all.”

“I thought the body wasn’t there, though. How do you explain that?”

“Well...”It was so awful Kennedy hated to break the news to her. “It seems Rob has a brother. You probably never met him because he was in prison. Apparently, as soon as Rand got out he went to see Rob and found his body. I’m guessing it didn’t take a sleuth to find out from Rob’s friends that he’d had you, making you the most likely suspect.”

Eyes wide in disbelief, Jodi stared at her, then laughed. “A brother? You know, I think Rob talked about him every so often. There was even a photo of them when they were younger.” She laughed again, the sound rusty and mean, nowhere near humor. “I must have the rottenest luck ever. My life has been tainted from the day I was born. You’d be smart to stay away from me.”

Kennedy sat forward in a rush. “I care about you, damn it!”

She fell a little more in love with Reyes when he raised his hand. “And me. I’ll take it as a personal affront if anything happens to you, Jodi. So we’re not going to let it.”

“Terrific,” Jodi said. “I have a plan.”

Knowing the way Jodi thought, Kennedy groaned.

Reyes, being a little more diplomatic, said, “I’m open to ideas. Let’s hear it.”

“We use me as bait.”

“No,”Kennedy said.

“How?” Reyes asked at the same time. “Because losing you can’t be part of the plan.”

“You’re a hotshot, right?” Jodi smirked. “You and that big, quiet bro of yours. And, hey, let’s not forget the badass chick he’s with.”

“Er, that would be his wife,” Reyes said, then conceded, “although she is pretty badass.”

“So I’ll trust you three to keep me safe. You can handle that, can’t you?”

“Probably.”

“No,” Kennedy said again. “Out of the question.”

Still slouched in her seat, Jodi swiveled her head around to smile at her. “You’re my best friend,” she said. “My only friend. You matter to me a lot, Kennedy. Always know that. But I can’t do this. I can’t sit around and wait to see what will happen. This place might be nice, but the waiting... It makes me feel like I’m back in that damned cellar, not knowing what will happen or when.”

“Then we’ll stay somewhere together.”

Reyes went on the alert, but she couldn’t let Jodi feel alone now. “If I’m with you—”

“I’d still feel like I was crawling out of my skin. It’s the waiting, you know?” She gave a small, sad smile. “It’s not so much my surroundings. Not anymore. It’s that I’m not in control, and I flat out can’t stand it.”

“They’re working on it,” Kennedy tried to assure her, but Jodi was already shaking her head.

“Sorry, but I can either confront things head-on, or I can take off again. Those are the options I can live with. If I can get this over with sooner, while also having some really good backup, then hey, that’s the route I’d prefer.”

Desperate, Kennedy reached for her hand. “It’s too risky.”

Jodi slipped over to lean against Kennedy’s shoulder in an uncharacteristic show of affection. “Sorry, girlfriend. Really. But it’s not your decision.”

Kennedy looked from Jodi’s trusting expression—a sight seldom seen—to Reyes’s enigmatic gaze. He was leaving it up to her, she understood that, but he wasn’t objecting. “Reyes?”

He rubbed a hand over his face. “I wouldn’t want to do anything unless you’re okay with it.”

“But?”

“I get what Jodi is saying.”

Jodi grinned. “Damn, maybe I like you as a pal.”

Before she could get too excited, Reyes added, “I’d need time to plan, so we’re talking at least a few days.” In a sterner tone, his frown aimed at Jodi, he said, “In the meantime, I’d expect you to stay put.”

She crossed her heart. “No problem. I just need a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Kennedy felt as though the air had been compressed out of her lungs. She didn’t want to come off as a coward, but someone had to inject logic. “There’s no conceivable way to plan for every possibility.”

“No,” Reyes agreed, “and that’s something Jodi should consider.”

Jodi hugged Kennedy’s arm. “Don’t be a pill, okay? I need to do this. And just think, if we pull this off, I’ll be free.”

Temper flaring, Kennedy demanded, “Free to do what? To continue risking yourself? To continue chasing trouble?”

“Hiding from the world,” Reyes added. “Living half a life, all in the shadows.”

“Hey!” Sitting up in a huff, Jodi poked Reyes in the shoulder. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”

“I’m not taking sides, doll. But I have a solution that might please you both.”

Kennedy really didn’t want to hear it, but what choice did she have? She nodded.

Jodi shrugged. “Out with it.”

“We need some assurances.” Sitting forward, one elbow braced on his knee, Reyes pinned Jodi with serious intent. “We need your cooperation. We need you to want to make a better life for yourself.”

“You want to take over? Be my boss?” She started to rise. “Screw that.”

Kennedy caught her elbow. “Can’t you at least hear him out?”

Jodi was resistant, then finally flopped back in her seat. “Sure. Whatever.”

So. Damned. Stubborn.

And so hurt. It seemed Jodi was part anger, part open wound and part fear, with attitude holding it all together.

Reyes didn’t let it bother him. “My father funds some great initiatives for helping women who’ve escaped trafficking. We can go over the nitty-gritty another time, but the gist of it is that we can set you up with legit employment that you’ll enjoy, plus help you with a place to stay, any additional education or training you might need, and financial assistance to keep it going until—”

Already Jodi was back on her feet and angrily stalking away. “I don’t take charity.”

“Wouldn’t be charity,” Reyes said, “unless you choose it to be. A smart person would see it as an opportunity for a leg up. A way to improve her life. Plus, you could always pay it forward. The task force needs good people pitching in.”

Kennedy stood. “Jodi, please. Can’t you take that chip off your shoulder long enough to accept well-meaning help?”

She stood at the big windows looking out. “Then what? You’ll be rid of me?”

Catching on to one of Jodi’s worries, Kennedy softened her tone. “Then you’ll have a regular job with days off. We can spend time together—lunches, a movie. Shopping.”

“I don’t shop.”

“You’ll shop with me,” Kennedy insisted. “The point is, I want you in my life. I want a reliable relationship that’s based on mutual respect and affection, not worry or fear.”

In the smallest voice Kennedy had ever heard, Jodi whispered, “You can’t respect me.”

Reyes asked, “Why the hell not? I do. My brother does.”

Turning in surprise, Jodi stared at him. “Don’t bullshit me,” she said without heat.

“Doubt I could.” He came to stand by Kennedy. “Now quit being such a hard case and accept a friendly offering from people who care.”

“Your pa doesn’t know me, so how can he care?”

Kennedy spoke ahead of Reyes. “His father, who is a wonderful man, by the way, lost someone he loved to traffickers. Believe me, he cares—about me, about you, about every woman who’s ever been in such a horrid situation. You’re not the only one who wants to make a difference, Jodi.”

Reyes smiled at her with pride. “So passionate. And one-hundred percent correct.”

Jodi’s eyes grew glassy again. “Okay, fine. I’ll do it.”

“Yes!” Reyes stepped forward and swept her into a hug, shocking poor Jodi senseless. He seemed to catch himself and quickly set her back, but when he saw her slow grin, he laughed. “You’re a woman of your word, so I trust you won’t forget this conversation.”

“No, I won’t.” She gestured to the door. “Now go make plans, and keep me updated. The waiting is miserable.”

Obviously, Jodi wanted some time alone to digest it all.

Instead, Reyes rubbed his hands together. “Let’s get pizza first. I’ll send someone out for it.”

Jodi eyed him warily.

His smile never slipped. “We can stuff our faces and visit. Kennedy’s feeling as cooped up as you are.” He turned to her. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you, babe?”

Her heart felt too big for her chest. “Very much so.”

“There, you see? Surely you can suffer me long enough to eat?”

It took her a second, and then Jodi laughed, not a fake laugh, or one inspired by anger, but an honest, joyous expression. “You’re nuts—but okay, sure. I haven’t had much appetite, but suddenly I’m starved.”

“There you go.” He turned to Kennedy. “This’ll be fun.”

She was so overwhelmed, words stuck in her throat. The best she could manage was a nod. Reyes gave her a wink and went to the phone to call the lobby.

He’d won Jodi over so easily, just by being himself. Kennedy felt caught between a good laugh—and a hard cry.

She was afraid for Jodi yet ecstatic to see her so happy, madly in love with Reyes yet anxious about the future. It felt like she was on a wild roller-coaster ride of shifting emotional extremes—and she’d never been happier in her life.

With that realization came a new fear: If things ended with Reyes, then what? Would she be able to go back to her mundane existence of writing, speaking engagements and slogging through each day without enthusiasm?

If things ended, she’d be more devastated than ever before.

Thanks to Reyes’s influence, she was a stronger person now—but was she strong enough to survive that particular heartache?

Before it came to that, she’d tell Reyes that she loved him and hope it made a difference.

For now, she’d just enjoy seeing the smiles of the two people most important to her.

“YOU’RESUREHE’SDEAD?” Rand asked. “He couldn’t just be in the hospital?”

“He’s dead, all right. The news interviewed some witnesses who saw the car go off the road. Said he was carried out of the ravine in a body bag.”

“Did you check the local hospitals anyway?” He wouldn’t leave anything to chance.

“Just like you told me. Couldn’t find him anywhere. He’s dead.”

Rand smiled. Perfect. Delbert O’Neil had become a liability with his endless complaints and impatience. And that damned chain-smoking. The stench alone had been vile.

If Del hadn’t taken off when he did, Rand would have enjoyed cutting his throat while he slept.

Pinning the small-time thug with a glare, Rand asked, “Any news on Jodi?”

“Her car was towed, that’s all I know.”

“Hmm.” He rocked back and forth, thinking. The same behemoth who’d destroyed his men to protect Kennedy was likely protecting Jodi also. “Can you round up a few more guys?”

“How many?”

“Ten ought to do it.” Added to the ten he already had, they could cover a lot of ground. “Offer them a hundred dollars a day to keep on the lookout for Jodi or Kennedy. You still have photos of them you can share?”

“Yeah, on my phone.”

Rand tapped his fingertips together and prodded his tongue between his missing teeth. “Whoever spots one of them first will get a bonus of five hundred.”

“Sweet deal. I’ll get the word out right away.” He turned to go.

Rand waited until he was out the door of the cabin before he turned to the remaining man. This guy was a little more reliable. “I need some supplies.”

“Sure thing, boss.”

He went down the list of necessary items. “Don’t buy more than two things at any one store. Shop around in different places so you don’t draw attention.”

“Got it. Anything else?”

“Yes. Early evening, go by that construction site down the road and gather up anything that can be used for shrapnel. Nails, staples, broken glass. Even small chunks of rocks will do.”

Eyes wider now, the guy said, “Uh, boss, are we building a bomb?”

“We?” Golly smirked. “Do you know how to build a fucking bomb?”

He shook his head fast.

“I do, so yes, I’ll be building a bomb.” It wasn’t how he wanted to kill Jodi, but things were getting dicey now that Delbert O’Neil had screwed up the plans. He had to be prepared, just in case. “Get everything back to me tonight.”

With that clear dismissal, Rand finally found himself alone in the cabin. He, too, was getting tired of being cooped up. Shouldn’t be for too much longer, though. He’d either have his hands on Jodi, where he could enjoy his revenge, or he’d blow her into tiny bits. Either way, justice would be served.

He rocked a little harder as he imagined each scenario.

FORTWODAYS, they worked on the details of the trap. It wasn’t easy, but Reyes convinced Kennedy that it would be better for them to stay at his father’s house for now. She’d reluctantly agreed.

And she’d withdrawn.

Reyes knew it was her worry about Jodi, and maybe about him, too, that kept her mostly quiet. Soon as they wrapped it up and ensured Jodi’s safety, she’d relax again.

He hoped.

To keep up appearances, they went to the gym each day. Although he’d have preferred for her to stay at home, she refused, saying she felt safest with him.

A part of him relished her trust, and another part wondered if he was seeing the future laid out for him, how she’d always react to the danger inherent in his job. For himself, he wouldn’t mind. It was kind of nice having a woman who cared.

Yet he hated the idea of her continuing to live on edge—because of him.

That second day at the gym, she went to his office to look over her manuscript while he continued dealing with the public. She couldn’t resume her workouts yet, especially since his dad constantly warned her to take it easy.

If Parrish had his way, Kennedy would probably still be in bed. It was pretty remarkable how she pushed through, though. More from a sheer force of will to carry on rather than in a bullheaded way meant to prove anything to others.

A personality trait no doubt learned from her past.

With the colorful bruising on her face, Kennedy had gotten more than a few stares. She’d simply smiled and acted as if nothing had happened. So as far as he knew, no one had asked her about it. It helped that her warmer clothes covered her body, so the only mark showing was the one on her temple.

More than a little distracted with thoughts of Kennedy, Reyes almost did a double take when he heard one guy say to another, “Yeah, you just need to keep an eye out for either chick. You get paid by the day, and if you spot one of them, there’s a nice bonus.”

What were the odds? One guy was standing near the weight bench while another did some presses. They looked like many twentysomething guys who visited the gym, dressed in baggy sweatpants, dingy wifebeater undershirts and expensive gym shoes. Both had elaborate tats along their arms, and one had tats extending over his chest and neck. Stocking hats hid most of their hair, but judging by their brows, they both were dark.

Going for a casual vibe, Reyes whistled low as he started picking up discarded weights at the other benches to put them back on the rack, which got him close enough to glance at the small phone photo the standing guy showed to the one on the bench.

Jodi. Son of a bitch.

He didn’t react as he listened a little more closely.

“No, I don’t know the dude. Got the info from my buddy, Dub. You’ll check in with him.”

When he shared a phone number, Reyes committed it to memory long enough to get to the desk where Will, an employee, checked people in and answered the phone.

In his rush, Reyes rudely shouldered Will aside and grabbed up a paper and pen to jot down the number with the name. With that done, he murmured to Will, “Keep an eye on those guys by the benches. I’ll be right back.”

“Sure thing.”

Will was a good worker who knew to keep his mouth shut and his eyes open. He had no real idea what Reyes did for a living other than running a gym, and he didn’t ask. His loyalty had been tested numerous times already.

Reyes strolled to the office and handed the paper to Kennedy. “Call Madison and share this with her. Tell her I overheard a couple of knuckleheads talking about getting paid to look for you and Jodi.”

Startled, Kennedy looked up. “What—”

“No time for questions, babe. I’ll be back in a few. Stay here with the door locked. Got it?”

She nodded, stood quickly and followed him as far as the door, then closed and locked it behind him.

Thankfully, the men were still where Reyes had left them, and now they had a third man with them. He eavesdropped without hesitation.

“No shit? How many is he hiring?”

“Ten, I think, but I’m only supposed to round up five. So you in or what?”

“Yeah, sure. Where do I look?”

“We’re supposed to spread out in this neighborhood, especially here around the gym.” He glanced up Reyes.

Reyes nodded casually as he continued on by. When he reached the desk, in a low voice he asked Will, “You up for a side job? It’s worth a day’s pay.”

Brows up, Will said, “Heck, yeah.”

“When the kid in the gray hoodie leaves, see if you can spot his license plate number without being noticed.”

“What if he’s not driving?”

Yeah, that was a possibility. “See which direction he goes.” Clapping him on the shoulder, Reyes said, “Thanks.” He deliberately moved away from the men to the other side of the gym, where he had brief conversations with two women doing cardio, then a younger guy trying to bulk up his legs.

Though Reyes didn’t stare at the men, he was aware of them the entire time.

When two of them finally left, including the one in the hoodie who been doling out info, Will moseyed out and, damn it, Reyes started to worry. If Will was too obvious, they might catch on to him and then he could get jumped later.

It was a fact that a lot of street toughs hung out at the gym. Reyes didn’t discourage it. He owned the gym in this run-down section of town so that he could hear the word from the street.

So far, so good.

He was relieved to see Will cross the road to his truck, where he opened the door, got inside and rummaged in his glove box.

Good cover. He’d always appreciated Will as a smart kid, though he was probably twenty-two now.

A minute later he left the truck, locked the doors and jogged back inside. His nose and ears had already turned red from the cold, and he chafed his arms as he went to the desk, made a note and stuck it in the top drawer.

Smooth.

Holding up a candy bar that he’d brought out of the truck, he said, “Okay for me to take a break, boss?”

Will caught on quick, obviously. Appreciating how he covered his tracks, Reyes nodded.

Aware of the third man lingering inside and now watching them both, Reyes said, “No problem. I’ll cover out here.” Walking over to two regulars, Reyes took time to offer some instruction on a machine they were using incorrectly.

The third guy lost interest and left.

With the coast seemingly clear, the urge to check on Kennedy, to give the plate number to Madison, to follow after the knuckleheads all warred inside Reyes, but good training paid off, and he kept up the show of being nothing more than a fit gym owner interested in his clientele.

Good thing, too, because he spotted the gray hoodie goof peeking back in through the big front window.

Shame Golly had stooped to hiring scrawny troublemakers. Reyes would almost feel bad for schooling them on the error of their ways.

His issue now would be getting Kennedy out of the gym without them spotting her. He didn’t doubt that at least one of them was already aware of her, but he’d prefer not to engage with them tonight. It’d be better if he could get her out of harm’s way first.

Screw it. He went to the desk, picked up the landline and called Cade. His brother would be at the bar now, but he could work it out.

Making sure no one was near enough to listen in, and assuming the idiot peering in through the window couldn’t read lips, Reyes explained the situation to Cade.

Of course Cade had a solution. He always did. “I can have Sterling pick her up at the back door. If you’re ready to leave at the same time, you can follow behind them. Make sure Kennedy is wearing the sunglasses Dad gave her, and Sterling can bring a hat to stuff on her head.”

In that moment, Reyes realized something interesting. He loved coordinating with his family.

For years he’d told himself that he did it because he’d been groomed for it, he was good at it, and it made a difference.

Now he knew it was more than that.

He thrived on this shit.

Cade would always be the older brother he looked up to, and Madison would always be the baby sister he adored.

Working with them was not only rewarding, it was special in a way few families ever experienced. They weren’t just close, they routinely depended on each other. He knew his family would always have his back.

And because they understood that Kennedy was important to him, they had her back, too.

God, he was lucky—and until Kennedy, he’d never realized it. “Tell Sterling I appreciate it.”

“She knows, but I’ll tell her anyway.”

They figured out a time for Sterling to arrive, and after Reyes disconnected, he grinned. Done playing, he went to the front door, opened it and said to hoodie-boy, “What’s up, dude? You forget something?”

Like a deer in the headlights, the guy went blank. “What?”

“Saw you looking in. If you lost something, let me know. I’ll look around.”

Full of belligerence now, he said, “No, man. I ain’t lost nothing. Can’t a guy hang out?”

“Sure, no problem. It’s warmer in here, though.”

Lip curling, the guy turned and stalked away, going the opposite direction this time. So was he meeting someone? About a block down, he peered over his shoulder, and Reyes ducked back inside.

While he had a chance, he fetched the note Will had made and put it in his shoe. Once Will returned from his break, he thanked him again and finally went to Kennedy.

It really felt like things were coming together. Soon he’d remove all the obstacles, and then he’d tell Kennedy how he felt and ask her to stay with him.

Forever.