Stronger Than You Know by Lori Foster
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“I WANTTOgo with you,” Kennedy said, and he heard a frantic note in her voice.
“Not a good idea, babe.” Reyes paused in the middle of sorting his gear to press a kiss to her mouth. God, he loved that mouth. Loved her ass, too, as well as that particular obstinate expression she was giving him now.
Her soft blond hair, her blue eyes. Her stubbornness and strength.
Hell, he loved every part of her, everything about her, all the things she made him feel and the ways she’d changed him. She’d become the center of his world and he didn’t mind at all.
“Reyes—”
“Kennedy,” he teased back. Even if she wasn’t in a teasing mood, he sure as hell was.
The day had finally come to put the plan into action. It was made easier by Golly’s watchdogs, who now haunted the gym and the streets around it.
The idea was that he’d stop in at the gym with Jodi, just long enough for them to spot her. Shortly after that, once the goons had a chance to notify Golly, he’d head out to a more remote area, where they could try their luck at ambushing him again. This time Reyes planned to be ready. He’d already chosen a nice high point where he and Jodi could wait them out.
He’d pick them off one by one without hesitation or a single moment of remorse.
For the other problems, meaning Golly’s cohorts, Madison had found locations for them by using hoodie-boy’s plates. The girl was a whiz at tracking. Hoodie-boy met with one person, and that led them to another person, and on it went.
He, Cade and Sterling would round up all of them. With Madison on watch, none of them would get away.
Once it was over, Kennedy would be free to choose whatever life she wanted. He planned to convince her to choose a life with him.
“You have it all covered,” she insisted. “You said so yourself.”
“True.” It was as planned out as it could be. “But we have to split up. I’ll be with Jodi. Cade and Sterling will get the other creeps. Madison will keep an eye on Golly at the motel, and bam, it’ll be over.”
“See? It’s safe,” Kennedy reiterated. “You know Jodi will be more comfortable if I’m there with her.”
“There are too many things that can go wrong.”
“Reyes.” She slipped up against him, her arms around his neck. “If it’s not safe for me, how is it safe for Jodi?”
I’m not in love with Jodi. Damn it, he was so close to having it all that he didn’t want to blurt out a half-baked declaration now. He wanted to do it the right way.
The way Kennedy deserved.
He settled on saying, “Jodi knows how to shoot.”
“I can shoot.”
He gave her a level look. “Practicing a few times is not the same as using a gun in a high-pressure situation.”
“So I’ll be a lookout.”
Damn it, he wanted to know she was tucked away some place safe, not out in the thick of it. Yes, he was confident of his ability, but shit happened. He couldn’t bear it if it happened to her again. “Kennedy—”
“I’ll get her geared up,” Sterling said as she stepped through the open door of the suite. “Come on, Kennedy.”
Smug, Kennedy blew him a kiss and hurried after his sister-in-law.
Reyes was right on her heels. “Now wait a damn minute.”
She turned, a desperate expression on her face. “I swear I won’t get in your way. I won’t cry and I’ll follow orders to the letter.”
“Ah, hon...” He closed the space between them. “I’m not worried about any of that.”
Sterling stood there, arms crossed. “She wants to be with you, you dolt.”
“I know that.”
Undeterred by his dark frown, Sterling continued, “I wouldn’t let Cade leave me behind.”
“You,” he said, “aren’t natural.”
“Because I’m female? Well, look at you, being all sexist.”
Cursing a blue streak wouldn’t help anything, but Reyes did it anyway.
Kennedy touched his face. “I keep telling you. I feel safest when I’m with you.”
He glared at Sterling, hoping she’d give them a private moment. She didn’t budge. Frustrated enough to make his hair stand on end, Reyes stared at Kennedy a long minute. Best-laid plans and all that. His had just gone horribly awry. “If that’s true,” he said, feeling Sterling’s smile as she listened in, “then maybe you should plan on staying with me.”
“Yes! I knew you’d see reason.” She started to go.
Reyes stopped her. “I didn’t mean just today, babe.” Watching her closely, he saw her eyes flare. “I mean after this is over.”
“After?”
Let Sterling watch, he didn’t care. Swooping in, he kissed Kennedy, taking his time, moving his mouth over hers, teasing his tongue along her lips and then into her mouth. She clung to him, and with a soft groan she reciprocated.
When he lifted his mouth, she looked dazed.
Reyes smoothed a hand over her hair, letting his thumb lightly brush the bruise on her temple. “Stay with me.”
She bit her lips, then slowly smiled and nodded. “Of course I will. Thank y—”
Another kiss stopped her from thanking him.
“Ahem.” Grinning, Sterling said, “Not that the show isn’t great, but we’re running low on time. So what’s it to be? Want her in a vest and armed, or do you plan to lock her in a closet?”
Running a hand over his head, Reyes turned away, immediately paced back and cursed. “You’ll stay right where I put you?”
Kennedy nodded.
“You swear you know how to shoot?”
“Adequately.” She winced. “Can’t promise I’ll hit anything, but I can definitely return fire if necessary.”
“You’ll stay low, stay safe and—”
“Yes and yes.” Grabbing him, Kennedy squeezed him tight. “I’ll be right back. Don’t you dare leave without me.”
MADISONSATINthe library, her laptop in front of her, watching all the players. Reyes, with Kennedy and Jodi, would reach the gym in the next fifteen minutes or so.
Cade and Sterling were at the back of an old house, slowly closing in on where two of Golly’s cohorts had holed up.
Golly hadn’t moved from the motel, though two men had come in to see him. It was sheer luck that a camera on the connected diner caught the front of his cabin. The picture was dim, but she made it out just fine.
When the two men left, she noted that one of them carried a heavy duffel bag. Suddenly she had a very bad feeling about things. She watched the men until they got into a car, then she wrote down the license plate number and did a quick, secure search.
Matthew Grimes.
With a name in hand, she extended her search and found that the guy had a long record, similar to Golly’s, and lived locally. Why hadn’t she known about him sooner? Was he someone newly brought into the schemes?
Her bad feeling grew.
Her dad walked in, and, being so attuned to his children, he immediately knew something was wrong.
“What is it?” Parrish asked, hurrying around the desk to look over her shoulder.
“I don’t know.” Madison skimmed all the players again. The car with the two men left in a hurry. Because her father encouraged them to share misgivings—he was a big believer in instincts—she laid out her thoughts.
“This is the first I’ve seen Grimes. Why would Golly need a new hand at this point?” She looked at her father. “Unless his plan of attack has changed?” A terrible thought, given everything was already in the works. Both her brothers were out there, Sterling, too, and now she felt like she hadn’t judged the situation well at all.
Parrish, always methodical, stared at the screen for only a few seconds before making a decision. “Call the detective. See if he knows anything about Grimes.”
Glad to have a valid reason to reach out to Crosby again, Madison lifted her phone and, with the number memorized, dialed him. Knowing her father would want to listen in, she put the phone on speaker and set it on the desk.
He didn’t answer until the fifth ring, and he sounded harried. “Detective Albertson.”
Watching the screens, Madison saw the driver of the car take an exit that would lead him to the general area of Reyes’s gym. Alarm bells went off in her head. In cases like this, she didn’t believe in coincidences.
If the gym was his destination, and she’d bet it was, he’d arrive within minutes of Reyes.
“It’s Madison McKenzie.”
Crosby missed a beat before saying, “Ms. McKenzie. I’m surprised to hear from you.”
She rolled her eyes at his absurd deference. Whether he’d enjoyed it or not, she’d kissed him. He could certainly use her first name. “You probably wouldn’t have,” she admitted, “not after that insult you dealt me.”
Her father’s brows went up.
She shook her head at him, letting him know it wasn’t anything to concern him, then forged on. “The thing is, Crosby, I have a situation and I’m hoping you can help me.”
“Hang on one second.”
She heard movement, then the sound of a car door closing, followed by the start of an engine.
“I was just on my way out. Crazy busy at the moment, but I can talk while I drive.”
“Thank you.” She considered what to say, yet knew the outcome would be the same. “Now, I don’t want you to get angry.”
“That pretty much guarantees it right there,” he growled. “What the hell are you up to now?”
He said that with so much accusation, she huffed. “Matthew Grimes. Do you know the name?”
Crosby surprised her with amped-up anger. “Damned right I know him. I’m headed to his last known location right now. How the hell do you know him?”
When Parrish gave her a nod, she confessed, “I’m keeping tabs on Golly. Grimes just left him.”
“Jesus, Madison. You know where Golly is and didn’t tell me?”
How could the man sound both hurt and frustrated by that when he’d made no effort to stay in touch with her? “We’ll have to cover that later, Detective. Right now, I’m...concerned.”
“As you should be. I knew Grimes hung with Golly so I’ve been keeping tabs on him. Last night the weasel went to six different stores buying up enough ingredients for several homemade bombs.”
Madison caught her breath. The duffel he’d been carrying.
Leaning forward, hands flattened on the desk, Parrish spoke before Madison could. “He’s headed toward my son’s gym right now. How close are you?”
“Son of a bitch,” Crosby exploded. “Your family has a lot of explaining to do when this is over.”
“How close?”Parrish repeated in a hard demand.
“I’ll call it in. Tell Reyes to clear everyone out of there.”
“I’m organizing now. Don’t make me regret reaching out to you.”
Walking away, Parrish used his own phone to call Reyes.
Madison turned back to the phone. “Crosby?”
“Yeah?”
“Promise me you’ll be careful.”
He gave a gravelly laugh filled with affront. “Don’t worry about me.”
She’d worry if she wanted to. Irate, she glared at the phone. “Would it be too much to ask to be kept updated?”
Seconds ticked by, then he said evenly, “You haven’t seen fit to give me your number.”
Her heart skipped a beat. True, her calls came in as private, but she’d love for Crosby to have it. “I’ll text it to you now.” Why did it feel as if they’d just come to an understanding? “You’ll contact me once you’re at the gym?”
“I’m not going to the gym, but I’ll let you know once it’s been cleared.”
“Then—”
“You’re going to tell me what’s going on,” he stated, leaving no room for negotiation. “And you’re going to tell me now.”
REYESHADJUSTpulled up to the curb when his phone rang. It surprised him to see it was his dad calling, not Madison or Cade. Surprised him, and made him uneasy.
Making a quick decision, he pulled away from the curb and answered the call. “What’s wrong?”
“Get away from the gym.”
“Already doing that.” He checked his mirrors, not yet spotting any trouble.
“Two men left Golly, headed your way,” Parrish said, his explanation short and to the point. “Detective Albertson says the driver went shopping last night for the makings of a bomb.”
“Damn.” The ramifications settled in on Reyes. He had a gym full of innocents, and two women in the back seat of his truck.
“Albertson is on the way. I assume he’ll alert other authorities.” Parrish hesitated. “I want you to abort the plan. Given you three are the target, stay away from the gym. Divert to Golly’s motel.” His voice lowered. “Get the bastard.”
“You’ll get everyone out of the gym?”
“It’ll be my next call. Albertson will clean up that mess.”
Reyes tightened his hands on the wheel. “Got it.”
“Watch your back.”
“Always.” Before explaining anything to Kennedy and Jodi, he backtracked by going two blocks down, then two blocks over. The women patiently stayed silent.
Once he was headed in the right direction, he laid out the situation for them.
Kennedy sat forward to touch his shoulder. “Someone will tell Cade?”
“Dad or Madison, but his plans won’t alter. Cade is still on to close the net.”
Nodding, she sat back again, quiet as she’d promised to be.
Jodi whispered, “This doesn’t feel right. Golly doesn’t want to blow me up. He doesn’t want me dead at a distance.”
Reyes tended to agree. “It’s personal for him.”
Jodi’s voice grew urgent. “He’s trying to catch us unaware.”
Yup, exactly how Reyes saw it. “But we won’t let him, right?”
“No, we won’t.” Kennedy took Jodi’s hand. “Trust Reyes. He knows what he’s doing.”
Damn right, he did. “I don’t think anyone spotted us, but I want you two to keep watch.” Giving them something to do would make them feel more in control. “Tell me if you see anything suspicious.”
With no real sign of nervousness, Kennedy said, “Will do.”
Jodi remained silent. He could only imagine how she felt. The girl had been all set to use herself as bait, and now the plans were upside down. Shit happened. It wasn’t the first time he’d had to adjust to changing conditions, but that didn’t make it easy.
When he was near the motel, he called Madison hands-free on speaker. “All clear?” he asked.
“I haven’t seen Golly move. But Reyes, I don’t feel right about any of this.”
“I know. Same.” He glanced in the rearview mirror at Kennedy’s set expression. She was doing her utmost not to look unnerved. Because he knew every business on the road, Reyes said, “I’m going to put them both in a restaurant.”
“No!” Jodi said, immediately objecting.
Kennedy shushed her. “Let him do his thing, okay? He knows best.”
Her confidence felt good.
Madison agreed with Jodi. “Golly might have contacts in every area business. I think you should keep them close.”
He hesitated but knew she was right. Away from him, either of them could get grabbed. He’d die before he let that happen, so sticking close likely was the way to go. Deciding on a quick compromise, he asked, “Where should I park so that they’ll be near, but not too close, and you’ll have a constant view of my truck?”
“Three spots down from Golly’s cabin is best. It’s the third one from the office, and I believe the other two are empty.”
“Huh. Wonder if Golly rented them to ensure his privacy.”
“Makes sense.”
Reyes parked beneath a security lamp. Though the night was dark, the lamp hadn’t yet come on. Odds were it wouldn’t. Not much in the motel seemed to be in good working order.
“Kennedy?” Madison said.
Leaning forward, Kennedy said, “I’m here.”
“Why don’t you get behind the wheel in case a hasty exit is necessary?”
She looked at Reyes, got his nod and agreed.
The parking lot was fairly quiet. In the office, Reyes could see a desk manager backlit by a lamp, and he appeared to be alone. Seeing the place up close, he was surprised it was even still in business. What had probably been nice cabins a decade ago were now more like hovels in need of serious repairs. The gravel lot had deep ruts and potholes, and an area that should have been grass was now snow-covered weeds.
“It’s a dump,” he said to Madison. “You sure it’s legit?”
“A grandson inherited it, and it’s gone downhill since then.”
Shame.
Jodi snapped, “Can’t we get on with it?”
“Getting there.” Reyes studied the cabin. Curtains were drawn over grimy windows. His bad feeling escalated. “I’m not going to the front of the cabin. I’ll circle around back and see if there’s another way in.”
While watching for any sign of attack, he opened the door and got out. Turning, he motioned to Kennedy to take over as driver. She quickly removed her coat and tossed it in the back seat, then slid behind the wheel.
Jodi, he noticed, had a Glock in her hand and a stark look of resolve on her face.
“Hey.”
She glanced at him.
“No mishaps with the gun, okay?”
Nodding, she went back to studying the area, her uneasiness palpable.
Knowing he couldn’t put it off any longer, he touched Kennedy’s chin. “Lock up behind me. If anything happens, drive away. Do not try to play my protector.”
Before agreeing, she said, “Swear to me you’ll be okay.”
“Course I will.” He stole a fast kiss. “When this is over, you and I have plans to make.”
Reyes’s steps were silent as he moved in the shadows toward Golly’s cabin. At the farthest side of the ramshackle structure he spotted a small, high window that he guessed to be in the bathroom. Around the corner, he saw a larger window and then the door. Tightly closed curtains kept him from having a view inside.
That in itself wasn’t suspicious, yet tension prickled up his spine.
He backtracked to the small window. Aging cobwebs covered the sill, and a crack traveled upward from the bottom right corner. For most, the window would be too high to be accessible. His height and overall physical fitness served him well now. Catching the ledge with his fingertips, he levered himself up for a peek.
The room was dark and it took a moment for his eyesight to adjust. The bathroom door was shut, closing it off from the rest of the cabin. He was considering how he might enter through the window when a slight movement inside drew his gaze. He levered up a little higher for a better view.
Stunned, he realized that Golly, fully dressed, was stretched out flat in the narrow bathtub. Why would he... Shit.
Before the thought fully formed, he understood why everything felt off.
The front door was booby-trapped, likely with a bomb. Had he busted in, as he’d originally planned, he’d have been seriously wounded—and Kennedy and Jodi would be on their own.
Kennedy.
Silently he dropped back to his feet and, ducking low, went back to the front of the building. Gun in hand, he saw both women still in the truck, exactly as he’d instructed.
Beyond them, though, two shadows lurked.
No way would he let them get anywhere near Kennedy.
Flattening himself to the side of the building, he scanned the area, ensuring Golly didn’t have more henchmen creeping around. He didn’t see anyone else.
The men seemed to be waiting on something. Probably the explosion.
Picking up a rock, Reyes took aim and let it fly. It hit the man hunkering in the shadows closest to the truck. With a rank curse, he jerked around, giving up all attempts at stealth. So did the second guy.
Kennedy must have spotted them, because she put the truck in gear, prepared to move if needed. Damn, he was proud of her.
He waited, wanting the men to get just a little closer before he stepped out. Once they were within range, he’d have all the advantage he needed.
Then the unthinkable happened.
One of the men snarled, “Fuck it,” and took aim at the truck, planning to shoot Kennedy and Jodi through the windows.
Terror put Reyes on autopilot. He stepped out with his gun in his hand, firing off a shot that sent the man stumbling back until he tripped over his feet and dropped. One more shot, and Reyes ensured he wouldn’t be getting up.
The second man ran, disappearing into the darkness.
Furious that he’d allowed Kennedy to come along, Reyes started for the truck, his only thought to get her to safety.
The second man had already circled back, and now he shot at Reyes. Diving for the cover of the truck, Reyes barked, “Down!” to both women, then peered around the side of the truck.
He was a crack shot, better than good. It was the one aspect of their training where his ability trumped Cade’s.
Reyes watched the darkness, spotted the target peeking out, squeezed his trigger and put one right through the bastard’s head.
With all the gunfire, cops would now be on their way. Even if the desk manager hadn’t called them, someone would have. It’d be best if he could—
The passenger side of the truck opened and Jodi stepped out.
Alarmed, Reyes straightened enough to see her. “Jodi!” If there were more men around, she’d be an easy hit. “What the hell are you—”
Grim faced, her jaw clenched, she lifted her Glock.
At first, Reyes thought she was aiming for him, but when she fired beyond him, he immediately turned to face the new threat.
The impact of her bullet propelled Rand Golly backward against the side of an empty cabin. He must have left through the back door and moved up the yards before stepping out to the lot. Pain twisted his face and he slumped, but didn’t go down.
Jodi’s bullet had hit him center mass, so there was only one explanation. A bulletproof vest. Still hurt like hell to get hit, yet it wasn’t a killing blow.
Slowly Golly grinned at them...and showed the bomb in his hand.
“Get down,” Golly ordered Jodi. She didn’t move. Damn her, she actually took a step forward. “If I drop it, it explodes,” he warned.
Curling her lip, Jodi stared at him. “An impact bomb? Really? How much reach does it have?” she asked in a dead voice. “Are you willing to kill yourself, too?”
“Yes,” he hissed, his expression a morbid mix of pain and anticipation.
Kennedy, bless her practical, levelheaded heart, put the truck in Reverse and very slowly began backing away, enabling Reyes to keep pace with her. He wanted to reassure her, but he didn’t dare take his gaze off Golly.
With an effort, Golly regained his feet, his twisted expression triumphant. “To avenge my brother, I’ll kill all of you.”
“Your brother,” Jodi sneered, “was a smelly, disgusting, whiny little prick, and he sniveled like a bitch while I killed him.”
Roaring, Golly straightened even more.
Sirens sounded in the distance. It was all going to hell fast.
“Jodi,” Reyes said in his calmest, most even tone, despite the urgency humming through his veins. “Kennedy is going to be extremely pissed if you get hurt.”
“Keep her safe,” Jodi said.
Kennedy shoved open the passenger door and snapped, “Jodi, get your butt over here right now or I’ll never forgive you!”
That command surprised both Reyes and Jodi.
Seeing the indecision on Jodi’s face, Reyes promised her, “I’ve got it.” When she reluctantly nodded, he said, “Now run.”
Bolting away, Jodi sprinted for the truck. Reyes heard the truck door slam.
Golly, the bastard, tried to react in time, lifting his arm to throw the bomb—and Reyes shot him.
Deliberately, he didn’t make it a killing shot.
No, he took out Golly’s shoulder so that the bomb fell from his hand. A look of horror crossed his ugly face as he realized what had happened.
Satisfied, Reyes dove behind the truck.
Golly screamed a split second before the blast of sound, the rush of fire and the scattering of debris drowned him out.
Reyes heard the pellets hitting the truck, felt something sear his shoulder, and prayed Kennedy and Jodi weren’t hurt.
Ears ringing, he slowly came to his feet and saw both women ducked down on their seats. Golly was on the ground, bleeding in multiple places. His sleeve was shredded—and so was his arm. It was probably the ragged, gaping hole in his neck that had killed him.
Doing a quick scan of the area, Reyes didn’t spot any more threats. Other than the horrified desk manager, they were now alone.
The first sob alarmed him. Expecting the worst, Reyes jerked around and found Jodi with her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking while Kennedy tried to soothe her. She kept rubbing Jodi’s back and twice hugged her.
She looked up and met his gaze, her smile sad, and gave Jodi another squeeze.
Jodi wasn’t hurt, then. Likely it was an emotional overload now that the danger had ended.
Police swarmed into the lot from different entrances, lights flashing and sirens blaring.
And, damn it, Detective Albertson led the way.
Reyes set his gun aside, locked his hands behind his neck and waited.
There’d be no end of explanations to give, but the threat was now over and that’s what really mattered.
Full of frowns, Crosby got out of his car and nodded toward Golly’s body. “Rand Golly?”
“Yes.” Reyes nodded to the other side of the lot, behind the truck. “Two other bodies in that direction. So you know, there are more weapons in my truck.”
“I see.” Crosby rubbed his face and said something to two of the officers. They headed for the bodies Reyes had indicated.
“I thought you were going to my gym.”
“I sent others. Everything is fine there, and we now have several arrests.”
Reyes had no idea what was going on, but at least his gym was safe. “I see.” He frowned. “How is it you’re here, Detective?”
Smile tight, Crosby said, “Your sister.”
“No shit?” It wasn’t like Madison to trust anyone other than family.
“I didn’t give her a choice.” As he approached, he took in the blood on Reyes’s shoulder. “You’re hurt?”
What bullshit. No one took choices from his sister. If Madison opted to share with Crosby, it was a strong indication of her trust...which meant Reyes could trust him also.
Slowly, watching Crosby in case he objected, Reyes lowered his arms. He, too, glanced at his shoulder. Blood soaked his shirt, but the pain was minimal. “Little shrapnel from the bomb. It’ll be fine.”
“Your brother rounded up several men, only he managed not to kill them.”
“Cade is smooth like that.”
Looking very much like a man in charge, Crosby took in the scene. “Golly had a bomb?”
“Threatening Jodi with it, yeah.” He looked Crosby right in the eyes and said, “He planned a lot of damage. I had no choice but to shoot him.”
“Your choice could have been to notify me.”
He gave a noncommittal shrug. “Didn’t know he had a bomb, or I might have.” A huge lie. “Besides, my shot didn’t kill him.”
“No, it just caused him to drop the bomb, as you knew it would?”
Reyes said nothing. His methods had been efficient—he wouldn’t apologize for them—and he wouldn’t explain further, not until he spoke with Madison and got a handle on these new dynamics. A cop. What the hell was his sister thinking?
Lower, so the officers wouldn’t hear, Crosby growled, “Do you realize the clusterfuck your family has created?”
He sure as hell wouldn’t indict his family. “You wanted Golly.” He jutted his chin in the direction of the body. “Well, there he is.”
Reyes waited for Crosby to arrest him, and was still waiting when Kennedy left the truck and launched herself at him.
“She’s obviously upset,” Crosby grumbled. “Take care of her.”
Smiling, Reyes slowly gathered Kennedy close. More and more it became apparent that Crosby had a very soft spot when it came to women.
An admirable trait.
While the cops did their thing, Reyes held Kennedy, thinking of all the things he wanted to say, but first he had to prioritize. “Is Jodi okay?”
She nodded against his chest, her hold tightening even more. “She will be, thanks to you.”
“And you?” It wasn’t easy but he set her back enough to tip up her chin. “I’m proud of you, Kennedy. Again.” Pretty much always. “You did great, babe.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Wrong. You had the foresight to back up the truck so I could use it as cover. You got Jodi’s stubborn butt out of harm’s way. You ducked when you needed.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “You were levelheaded and calm, and I’m proud of you.”
Her lips trembling, she rested her forehead to his chest and mumbled something low.
“Hey, you okay?”
She took a solid step back so that his arms dropped to his sides. Her eyes widened when she saw the blood on his shoulder. “Oh, my God, you’re hurt!”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Voice rising, she snapped, “Why is it never anything when you’re hurt, but it’s a big deal when I am?”
Wow, she’d been so calm up to that point that her agitated tone took him by surprise. Gently Reyes cupped her face. “Maybe because you mean so much to me?” He touched his mouth to hers again, lingering a few seconds this time. “Swear to God, Kennedy, it hurts me the most to see you hurt.”
She hesitated, her gaze on his injury. “You promise it’s not bad?”
“A tiny sting, that’s all.” He kissed her again. “As long as you’re okay, I’m fine.”
“Reyes.” Releasing a long breath, she glanced around at the activity, then briefly at Jodi, who now stood beside Crosby, peering down at Golly.
Turning back to him, she gazed into his eyes and said, “I love you.”
Reyes felt his face go blank. “Say again?”
“I love you. So damn much, and I know I always will.” Her lips trembled. “Seeing you hurt devastates me, but I guess it’s bound to happen again.”
Holy shit, the lady had terrible timing. “You love me?” He had a difficult time grasping the words, coming out of the blue like they did.
Her chin lifted an inch. “I just thought you should know.”
Of all the... Slowly he grinned. “Way to blindside me, babe.”
“Sorry.”
Reyes hugged her off her feet, turned her in a circle, then kissed her in front of gawking officers, a disgruntled detective and her smiling friend.
“Get a room,” Jodi said, laughing.
Kennedy freed her mouth. “Oh, Reyes.” She looked stunned. “Despite all this, Jodi just laughed.”
“So she did.” Jodi would be all right. The girl had a backbone of steel and a survivalist’s instincts.
And she had Kennedy, the biggest asset of all.
When he realized Kennedy was shivering, he stepped to the truck, grabbed her coat and helped her into it. Then he led her over to Crosby, where the front desk manager was busy rattling off what he’d witnessed.
All in all, the dude made it sound like Golly was a lunatic and that Reyes had saved the day. Pretty accurate, really.
A cop quickly led the manager back to the office so they could talk.
Crosby looked at Reyes. “I’m guessing you know the drill.”
“Arresting me after all?”
“No. But I need statements from all three of you.” He gave an apologetic smile to Kennedy. “You can’t keep her glued to your side.”
“Wanna bet?”
Rubbing the back of his neck, Crosby said with insistence, “I gave you a few minutes, but now I need to sort this out.”
Reyes was about to argue—because seriously, Kennedy wasn’t going anywhere without him—when a sleek black car pulled into the lot. Recognizing it, Reyes breathed a sigh of relief. His dad had arrived.
“Now what?” Crosby grumbled.
Parrish McKenzie brought a whole lot of consequence with him. As he climbed out of the car, he looked like a stately senator and carried himself like a benevolent king. Better still, he had the instincts and ability of a warrior.
Content with how things were rolling out, Reyes said, “You can talk with Kennedy, but my dad will be with her.” He bent to Kennedy’s temple. “Everything is fine. I’ll be back with you in just a few minutes.”
Her gaze searched his, maybe because he hadn’t yet returned her declaration. Soon, he promised himself. Very, very soon.
ITWASFOURin the morning when they finally got to bed, still at Parrish’s house. Kennedy hoped she’d get a good long break now, because her system wasn’t cut out for such constant cloak-and-dagger drama.
Reyes ended up with three stitches in his shoulder, and a mess of colorful bruising. A tiny sting, he’d said. Ha! The man had a small gouge taken out of his flesh. She supposed she’d have to accept that he wasn’t one to complain.
He was usually too busy protecting, nurturing and being all-around awesome.
They’d found pieces of shrapnel from Golly’s bomb scattered everywhere, including embedded in the side of Reyes’s truck.
Recalling the awful shape of Golly’s body, she knew she could have lost Reyes. He’d saved Jodi by risking himself, but he had survived. Given his personality and vocation, she’d have to focus on that.
Jodi was back at the hotel, where she’d stay for another week until a more permanent residence was ready for her, though she could now come and go as she pleased. They’d offered her alternatives, but she no longer minded the fancy suite—as long as it was temporary.
After her heartbreaking cry, she’d done an amazing about-face, looking forward to the future and, thankfully, glad to be alive. There was a new optimism about her, a zest to see what the next day would hold.
She’d be meeting with many people over the next week, including Reyes and her, to help her figure out the next steps. Kennedy was determined to make Jodi feel secure.
Just as Reyes had done for her.
Cade and Sterling had grabbed their targets without a hitch, which had led to information indicating a much larger trafficking network.
Parrish had made the decision to clue in Crosby so he could tie up all the loose ends. Kennedy discovered that the senior McKenzie had made allies with a few different people in the legal system—and some in political circles.
It seemed to her that Crosby had just been included in the hush-hush details of the McKenzie family enterprise. She knew Madison would be happy about that—if things progressed as she preferred. She’d put her money on Madison.
Now she and Reyes were stretched out in his bed, only one dim light breaking up the darkness. Tucked close to his side, Kennedy couldn’t stop touching him. And kissing him. Though he kept smiling at her, he hadn’t said anything about loving her.
She didn’t mind. He’d had a lot on his plate dealing with Crosby, talking to his family and being very attentive to her. She didn’t regret telling him she loved him, either. At that moment, she wasn’t sure she could have held it in anyway. Honestly, she wanted to tell everyone, him, his family, Crosby...the whole world.
She, Kennedy Brooks, once an emotionally damaged woman forever trying to prove she was okay, disinterested in men, repelled by the idea of sex, now loved an alpha guy who epitomized danger—and she couldn’t keep her hands off him.
Voice low and drowsy, Reyes said, “You beat me to the punch, you know.”
“Hmm?” She loved his soft chest hair and the hard muscle beneath it. And his scent. Nuzzling against him, she breathed deeply, filling her head with that delicious smell.
“I wanted to do things right, not in the middle of chaos. Wasn’t easy, but I was hanging on to my patience—then bam.” He patted her backside. “You let me have it.”
Smiling, Kennedy tucked her face under his chin. “Is this about me telling you I love you? Because I’m glad I did.”
“I’m glad, too. Hell, more than glad.” He fondly caressed one bottom cheek. “I love you, too, you know. I more than love you, actually. I want to marry you. Grow old with you. Maybe someday have little McKenzies with you.”
The smile turned into a grin. “A rascal boy like you,” she murmured, imagining it.
“Or a smart, strong girl like you.” He kissed the top of her head.
“You really see me as strong?”
“I think you’re the only one who doesn’t see it. Your strength is quiet, steadfast, honorable and loyal.”
He believed it, she knew...and she was starting to believe it, too.
“I want to share holidays with you, Kennedy, here at my dad’s place, or even at your folks’ place in Florida if you want. I will meet them, right?”
Filled with contentment, she nodded. “Yes.”
“Good. So I want all that. Everything. From now until the end of time.” He gave her a squeeze. “You love me enough to want that, too?”
“Yes.” Teasing him, she said, “More than enough.”
“Let’s be clear here, okay? I’m the type of guy who’s going to hover.”
Was that supposed to be news to her? Playing along, she leaned up to look at him. “Meaning?”
“Meaning you go off on your own a lot, and I don’t think I have the temperament to deal with that. How would you feel about me tagging along to play bodyguard?”
“Or sex servant?”
His slow grin warmed her. “Yeah, I can be a multipurpose kind of travel companion.” More seriously, he asked, “You wouldn’t mind that? I don’t want you to feel smothered, but seriously, babe, I’d turn into an old man with gray hair if I was left behind to worry about you.”
She kissed his chin. “I’ll be happier keeping you near. But what if I have to travel and something comes up here? Your job isn’t exactly nine-to-five.”
“I know. And once you’re scheduled, you couldn’t just change things.”
Clearly he’d given this a lot of thought. “Ideas?”
“Yeah. How would you feel about an actual bodyguard?” He rushed to add, “Only when I can’t go along.”
“Hmm.” Having lived a life where she knew how easily things could go wrong, she actually liked the idea.
“Someone low-key,” he promised, “who’d blend in and would still keep an eye on things. Someone you and I would research extensively.”
“If I agree, will you agree to keep me informed of your jobs? To never keep any aspect of the danger from me?” She propped her elbows on his chest. “It’ll be easier for me if I know what’s going on.”
Reyes trailed his fingertips down her spine. “Honestly, I never thought I’d enjoy talking shop with anyone outside the family, but with you it just comes naturally.”
“That’s a yes?”
“Ah, babe.” He cupped her backside in both hands. “Right about now, I’d promise you anything if you’d just agree to marry me.”
Giving him a thorough kiss, she murmured against his mouth, “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He immediately relaxed. “Way to keep me in suspense.”
“I love you, Reyes. More than I knew was possible.”
“Same.” This time his kiss was long and deep. “It’ll be light soon. We should probably get some sleep?” He said it like a question, and judging by his wandering hands, sleep wasn’t the number one thing on his mind. But as usual, he was a considerate, awesome, incredible man.
And he was all hers. “Who needs sleep?”
His hazel eyes immediately warmed. “Well, not me. But if you do—”
Kennedy straddled his hips. “I have a better idea.”
“Hell, yeah, you do.” He drew her close and kissed her in a way guaranteed to scorch her.
Yes, she was a little tired; she was also enormously happy, and she couldn’t think of a better way to start their new life together than by making love to Reyes.
Now, tomorrow and always.
Read on for a sneak peek at Watching Over You, the next thrilling novel in the McKenzies of Ridge Trail series by New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster.
