Stronger Than You Know by Lori Foster

CHAPTER FOUR

REACHINGOUT, REYES smoothed the hair she’d mussed, liking the softness of it, the warmth. Freed from all restraints, it skimmed just past her shoulders. “All right.”

Gulping the rest of her mug, she said, “None of that, either. My sluggish system doesn’t know what to make of it.”

Tenderness joined the affection. “Here, let me get you a refill.”

“My hero.”

As he fixed his mug, he asked, “Didn’t sleep well?” He couldn’t recall her waking, but then, he’d slept soundly himself.

“I don’t remember a thing.” She sighed heavily. “Odd, right? You’d think something so unfamiliar...”

The words trailed off. Did she mean sleeping with him was unfamiliar? Or sleeping with anyone? To find out, he asked, “Unfamiliar?”

She shook her head. “Doesn’t matter how I slept. I always struggle in the morning. For sure, finding a guy at the john jolted my heart, and I’m not sure I’ve recovered yet.”

“Next time,” he promised, sliding back into his seat, “I’ll go downstairs so you can have the connected bath.”

She was just about to sip again, but at his words, she slowly lowered the mug. Wide blue eyes stared at him agog.

“What?”

She blinked twice. “Next time?”

A slipup. He had no idea what would happen next. “Figure of speech.”

For two seconds more, she continued to stare at him, then gave an accepting nod and went back to consuming her coffee.

“Breakfast? I can do bacon and eggs, or pancakes.”

“I’m not a big breakfast person.” She idly turned the mug. “Please don’t misunderstand. I get that this was an intrusion on your private space, and it’s awkward for me as well, so I’m not hinting.”

Damn. Unsure what to say, Reyes just waited.

“What am I going to do today? I mean, will it be safe for me to use my credit cards? I can set up a long-stay hotel, and public transportation will be fine for a while, at least until I can get my car and get things sorted with insurance. But is it okay for me to do that?” She chewed her bottom lip. “Again, not to impose on you, but everything still feels very unsafe to me.”

Tackling her points in the same manner she had, he replied, “I know you’re not hinting. The number one thing, though, is that you’re not alone in this.” He wouldn’t let her out of his sight if he didn’t know it was safe. Cade would find out what he could, and then, he assumed, he’d get her set up somewhere other than the run-of-the-mill hotel scene. “I agree, it’s probably not safe. I didn’t have a chance to tell you this yet—” and he wasn’t sure until this moment that he wanted to tell her “—but the guys who came after you last night are dead.”

The coffee mug nearly slipped from her hand. She quickly set it down. “Dead? You hurt them that badly?”

“No. After we left, someone shot them.” He touched his forehead. “And whoever it was wanted to make sure they wouldn’t recoup.”

“Oh, my God.”

The ringing of his doorbell further startled Kennedy, who nearly jumped out of her seat.

“Shh. It’s okay.” He nodded at the security screen mounted on the wall beside a cabinet. “It’s just my nosy sister.”

She turned and stared. “I thought that was a TV.”

“Nope.” Pushing back his chair with a resigned sense of his future being forever altered, he said, “Finish up your coffee. I’ll be right back.”

At first she appeared ready to protest, then she glanced down at her clothes, wrinkled her nose and shrugged. “I’m not ready to move, so no arguments from me.”

The second he opened his door, Madison breezed in, her laptop in hand. “What took you so long? Don’t try telling me you were in bed because I know Cade already spoke with you. And being you’re in your drawers, I assume you haven’t showered yet.”

“Haven’t done much of anything yet.” But, yeah, with his sis underfoot, he definitely needed some jeans. “Kennedy is in the kitchen.” Which wasn’t so far away that she couldn’t hear their every word. “Don’t spook her while I get dressed.”

“I don’t spook that easily,” Kennedy called back.

That prompted Madison to smile. “I like her.”

“You don’t even know her.”

She hefted her laptop. “Wanna bet?” Without expounding on that, she hurried toward the kitchen, leaving Reyes undecided on which way to go.

Should he run interference between the two women to ensure Madison didn’t overstep? Or would it make sense to face the situation in more than snug boxers?

The idea of clothes won out, so he rushed up the steps, taking them two at a time. If he left them alone too long they’d probably start plotting against him.

Grabbing up his discarded jeans from yesterday, he yanked them on, and then did the same with his badly rumpled T-shirt. While zipping and snapping the jeans, he headed back down in time to hear Madison ask, “Who’s Jodi Bentley?”

A lengthy pause gave him time to reenter the kitchen before Kennedy finally said, “Just a woman I know.”

Having helped herself to coffee, Madison surveyed Kennedy while sipping. “Hmm. I’d say it’s more than a mere acquaintance.”

Still slumped in her seat, Kennedy shrugged. “We share a similar background, that’s all.”

“Both of you were trafficked?”

The bald way his sis tossed that out there made Reyes want to muzzle her.

Kennedy, however, merely gave her a long look. “Is this a show of your research skill?”

Pinching the air, Madison said, “A tiny example. There’s more.” Opening her laptop and quickly typing, she spun it around to show a shadowy figure next to a car.

Breathing a little deeper, Kennedy lost her relaxed posture. “That’s Jodi.”

“Yup.” Touching the screen in the far right corner, Madison said, “And there’s your fire.”

“Jodi was there?” As if clearing away her shock, Kennedy scowled. “How and where did you get that photo?”

“There’s a security camera at the all-night diner on the corner. It picked up the image.”

“They gave you their footage?”

“Ah, no.” Madison checked a nail. “Not exactly.”

Reyes rubbed a hand over his face. Ignoring his sister, he sat down and took Kennedy’s hands. “Remember, I told you that Madison is the researcher? Well, she’s better than good.”

“You didn’t say she hacked private businesses.”

Not at all bothered, Madison stated, “I hack anyone—when I think there’s a good reason.”

“You,” Reyes said, shooting her a look, “need to pull back a little.”

“No.” Adamant, Kennedy freed her hands and squared her shoulders. “I want to hear it all. I need to know what I’m up against.”

“Well, as to that,” Madison said, “you, alone, aren’t up against anything.” Munificent, she spread out her arms. “You now have some of the best backup you’ll ever find, short of calling out the military.”

So many emotions stole over Kennedy’s features. Shock, resistance, horror... And hope.

Clearing her throat and making a wild grab for composure, she asked, “Why would you want to help me?”

“I don’t mean just me, since my siblings will most certainly be involved.” Madison elbowed Reyes. “Now would be a good time for you to say you’re in.”

He held up his hands. “I’m in—but I had already told Kennedy that.”

“As to why I’d help, it’s because you’re eyeball deep in a huge conspiracy, and I can’t quite sort it all out. Jodi had something to do with it, but maybe not everything.”

“Jodi is a very nice person,” Kennedy insisted. “She’s also a victim, and sometimes misguided.”

“Yes, I have it all in my notes. Is she capable of killing two men? I believe so.” She waited for Kennedy to confirm it, and when she didn’t, Madison continued, “Do I think it was her? Not necessarily.” Rapidly switching the photos, she pulled up another that showed a dark, ancient sedan. “I tracked your friend by the plates on her car. No such luck on this one, but notice the person returning to the car? Dressed all in black. Hand inside his jacket—as if returning a weapon to a holster.”

No way could Reyes miss the relief on Kennedy’s face. “So you don’t think Jodi shot them?”

Madison’s smile showed her triumph. “Obviously, you know she’s capable, which puts to rest the issue of whether or not she could. But did she?” Madison shrugged. “It’s also possible she was working with this other person.” Again she watched Kennedy.

With no reaction at all, Kennedy waited.

“Or not. We’ll have to sort it all out.”

Chugging the rest of her coffee, Kennedy stood. “I need to shower, dress and figure out where I’m going, so if you two will excuse me.” She didn’t wait for a reply, just skirted around the table and headed into the guest room, closing the door with a firm click of the lock.

“Huh.” Madison sat back. “Will she scurry out a window?”

Hell, he didn’t know if that was her intent. “Not without setting off an alarm.” His sister had done exactly what he’d feared. She’d come on too fast, too strong. Sometimes Madison forgot that not everyone lived in a cutthroat world of murder, mayhem and retribution.

Reyes rubbed his eyes, then dragged his hand down his face. “How bad is it?”

“Scale of one to ten? I’d say an eight or nine.”

“Damn.”

“Yeah. She’s in deep doo-doo.” Madison did a few more page scrolls. “Many of these places she went were innocuous enough. I was even able to find a few of her recorded speeches.” She glanced up. “I sent those to you, as well as a digital copy of her book.”

“Her book?”

“A memoir of having been trafficked. Tragic stuff, but she’s sold really well.”

“What do you title something like that?”

“No One Is Safe: The Sad Truth of Human Trafficking. There’s a whole chapter on monsters among us. Very insightful stuff. I could almost feel her terror in some of those chapters, but she’s also very plainspoken on how she’s dealt with it.”

His stomach cramped. Yes, he should probably read it to get a better understanding of what Kennedy had gone through. Not that he didn’t already know the worst of it. He’d saved enough women and kids, as well as some men, to understand the harsh impact trafficking had on a person.

For that person to be Kennedy? Whole different thing.

“She’s a terrific speaker,” Madison said. “Very down-to-earth with workable info. She doesn’t look like a celebrity, doesn’t dress like one, either.” Madison brought up an image of Kennedy onstage in jeans, with a nice blouse and blazer. “Because she seems like one of them, young people listen to her. They can relate. On this last trip, she got a lot of questions. Twice, after a lecture, she agreed to meet privately with students.”

He’d listen to at least one of the speeches as soon as he could. “Anyone sketchy?”

“I don’t think so, at least not obviously so. She also went to dinner with one of the professors at the college.” Madison glanced at him. “A man.” She went back to her laptop.

Everything masculine in Reyes went on alert. “What man?”

“Like I said, a professor. He seemed okay, but obviously I’ll look into him more.”

“Yeah, you do that.” And in the meantime, he’d find out...what? Kennedy wasn’t his. He didn’t even want her to be his.

Ignoring his turmoil, Madison continued, “This friend of hers, Jodi Bentley, is more than a little misguided. It appears she’s playing vigilante.”

Since Reyes and his siblings did the same, he wouldn’t condemn her out of hand for that. “Details?”

“She drove one guy off the road. I think she’d planned to kill him, but a cop was nearby and arrived before she could. Turned out the guy had outstanding warrants for kidnapping and suspected murder. Jodi claimed he’d been chasing her, and since it fit, no one questioned it.”

“Sounds to me like she did the world a favor.” And, yeah, it worried him.

“Another guy went home with her from a bar, and he was never seen again. Friends of his at the bar said she’d come on to him hot and heavy. She claims they went to a park to boink, he got too rough and she walked home. That time she had a black eye, so again, there weren’t a lot of questions asked.”

“But you’re suspicious.”

“I’ve got six or seven more stories like those, but the real kicker?” Again she spun the laptop around for Reyes to see. “This isn’t the first fire she’s been near.”

“Holy shit.” Eyes glued to the screen, Reyes took in the grainy image of a young, scrawny woman standing on the sidewalk among other spectators, watching a home go up in flames.

Madison tapped a finger over the woman. “She’d been renting the house down the street for only a month. Right after the fire, she moved.”

Tension crawled into his neck, along with a rush of determination to his blood. “You think she’d want to hurt Kennedy?”

“Not really, but something isn’t adding up. Is she capable of killing? Yes. Is she familiar with fires? Evidence makes it seem so. Did the poor woman have a horrific background? Most definitely. Let’s just say it bears more investigation.”

“What about the other guy you saw on the scene? The one who appeared to be tucking away a weapon?”

“Without plates, he’s a little more difficult to track.”

“Only a little?” Even though Reyes had witnessed his sister’s tech magic, there were still times when she left him awed.

With a shrug, she closed her laptop. “I’ll be going through other camera feeds to see if I can pick up anything else, but it’s doubtful. I’ve already looked at the most obvious ones without luck.”

“Let me know—”

“ASAP if I find anything. Naturally.” Then she tipped her head. “So, you and Kennedy.”

“No.” Reyes pointed at her. “Do not do that.”

Her secret little smile set off alarm bells in his head. “I hope you like her, because she’ll need to stay with you for a while.”

His molars clenched. “I’ll find her a secure place.”

“No place is secure enough if she’s alone.”

“Bullshit. I can tuck her into a protected facility and have her stay put.” Even as he said the words, he knew he was full of it. He didn’t want her on her own, alone and afraid.

Even more than that, though, he didn’t want his family manipulating him. Sure, Madison might have altruistic motives, but that didn’t mean she knew what was best for him.

Arms folded, Madison narrowed her eyes. “Oh? For how long, because this won’t get wrapped up anytime soon. You want her ‘staying put’ for a month? Two?”

He shot back, “You want her to live with me that long?”

Clearly disappointed in him, she shook her head. “This might be a good time to remind you that she lost nearly everything. She has a suitcase of stuff, and nothing else. Any photos, artwork, all her clothes—anything and everything personal, gone.”

Shit. Turning his back on his sister, Reyes walked to the kitchen patio doors to look out. Aspens in fall shades of butter yellow, golden amber and crimson red dotted the landscape, mixed with russet scrub oak brush and backlit by a sky made vivid blue by the morning sunrise. This home was his retreat, his and his alone. It was where he worked out his frustrations, sparing the rest of the world—and his family—his occasional foul mood.

“You want me to turn my life upside down for Kennedy.” Madison didn’t just want it, she expected it.

“If you have a better idea, go for it. Just know that, left on her own, she doesn’t stand a chance.”

Pressing his forehead to the cool glass, Reyes held silent. He knew what he had to do. Hell, what he wanted to do. Once his sister hit the road, he’d get the ball rolling.

That didn’t mean he had to embrace the damn implosion of his carefully constructed life.

When a door closed a little too loudly, he turned fast, but realized right away it wasn’t an entry door, but the bedroom door.

Which had already been closed. Unless...Kennedy had come out and they hadn’t heard her.

But, of course, she would have heard them.

He and Madison stared at each other.

“Oops,” his sister said. “Guess the girl has stealth.”

“Time for you to go.” Otherwise, Kennedy really might try crawling out the window.

Already standing and gathering her purse, Madison said, “No problem. By the way, it’s safe enough for her to use her phone, but she shouldn’t send any texts or emails detailing her location. Whoever is on her, they’re not tech savvy enough, or connected enough, to do much digital tracking, but we can’t rule out a hacker. However, she should avoid all areas familiar to her because I have a feeling Jodi, or her goons, might be watching for her to pop back up. It could be dangerous.”

“Unless she’s with me.”

Satisfaction curved Madison’s mouth. “Unless she’s with you.” She came over to kiss Reyes on the cheek. “Good luck.”

Knowing he’d need it, he said, “Thanks,” and walked her out. After watching her drive away, he knew he couldn’t put it off any longer.

It was time to explain things to Kennedy, whether she wanted to hear him out or not.

“WHERETHEFUCKis she?” Delbert O’Neil demanded as he paced, occasionally taking a deep draw on his cigarette. Kennedy should have been in her bed. She should now be nothing but cinders. Instead, she was unaccounted for, and that meant she was still a threat to him.

Thanks to her he’d lost everything, including his life savings. Wasn’t it enough that he’d had to start over, that for weeks while hiding out he’d gone with little to eat?

By God, it should have been enough.

Yet every time she opened her damn mouth at a high school or college campus, she risked exposing him again.

“We’ll find her,” Golly said, despite all evidence to the contrary. “If it hadn’t been for that damned ape who came after her, we’d have her right now.”

Del liked the sound of that even more than her dying in her sleep. He’d get some payback on the bitch...and then she could die. He rubbed the snake tattoo on his neck and wondered why it felt like a tightening noose.

Twice, Kennedy had done this to him.

“Relax,” Golly ordered, his twisted smile full of anticipation. “I have a few street informants watching for her to pop up. She can’t lie low forever. Even if she tries that, eventually she’ll have another speaking gig and we’ll be able to grab her then. That, or else Jodi will lead us to her. She’s as good as yours.” He prodded his tongue through a hole where two teeth should be, repulsing Del. “And the other one will be mine.”

DRIVENBYPRIDE—stupid, foolish pride—Kennedy continued stuffing her few belongings back into the suitcase.

She had to leave. Of course she did.

Reyes had made it clear that he didn’t want her here. She had no right to further disrupt his life. Not only that, but his sister made her uneasy. Madison was tall, slim, incredibly beautiful—just like her blasted brothers—and she was every bit as cocky, too. Maybe not with physical ability, but the woman understood her skill. A skill she had used without apology to invade Kennedy’s life.

Did the whole damn family have to be overachievers? Were they all lethal, even Madison?

She’d met Cade a few times at the gym, and it took no more than a single glance to know he owned any situation he was in. The man was even taller than Reyes, so he had to be six-five. His sweeping gaze missed nothing, and calm confidence could be his middle name.

Whereas Reyes was brash, Cade was quietly in control.

And Madison was cheerfully certain.

Who were they anyway?

The tap at the door made her stiffen. There’d been several times in her life when she’d been horribly lost. Very alone. Frantic and uncertain what to do.

This was quickly turning into another one.

Girding herself, she walked to the door and opened it with what she considered admirable nonchalance. “I’m almost done.”

His frowning gaze went over her and then to the bed, where her suitcase lay open. “Almost done with what?”

“Getting ready to leave.” The nervousness sounded in her tone, though not overly. “Would you like to drive me somewhere, or should I call...someone?” She had no idea who she could call.

A muscle ticked in his jaw. Stepping in, he filled the spare bedroom with his size, his presence, the sheer magnetism of him. “Let’s talk.”

“I don’t think so, Reyes. Truly, I appreciate all you’ve done. You’ve gone above and beyond, and it’s time I quit cowering and instead acted like an adult.”

Folding his arms, he leaned against the door frame. “Pretty sure you always act the adult. I’ve never seen otherwise. At least, not until shit went sideways, and you’re not equipped to deal with it, honey.”

“Yes, I know.” He was equipped, but also unwilling. “I’ll work it out.”

Not moving, he asked, “How?”

Why did he have to press her? Going back to her suitcase, she jammed in the overflowing clothes and started to zip it shut. “I’ll hire someone.”

“No.”

“No?”Temper spiking, she turned on him. “What do you mean, no? It’s not up to you.”

“Sure it is.” He pushed away from the door frame.

Oh, hell. Kennedy backed up, which effectively froze him in his tracks, at least for a few seconds.

Quickly recovering, he strode forward. “I would never hurt you, so don’t do that.”

“Then quit crowding me.” A dumb thing to say, since he was still a few feet away.

“This,” he bit out, leaning into her space until their noses almost touched, “is crowding you.”

His hazel eyes glittered gold, fascinating her. She put one hand flat to his chest and said succinctly, “Back off.”

To her surprise, he did, jerking around and running a hand over his hair. “You’re not going anywhere, all right? That’s just dumb.”

“You arrogant dick.”

He turned again, this time presenting a slow grin. “What did you call me?”

“You heard me well enough.” Where had she left her laptop? Her phone? “I know this is all a joke to you, and I’m aware I come off as less than savvy in dealing with the scum of the earth, but I’ve survived the horrors of trafficking, and I’ll figure this out, too. The almighty Reyes McKenzie can tell me goodbye with a clear conscience.”

Back to being the arrogant dick, he stared at her. “That’s even dumber than talking about leaving.”

For the love of... Taking a stance, she asked, “Which part?”

“All of it, but especially the part where I think you’re not savvy. Saying something dumb and being dumb are two very different things. Trust me, I have no illusions about your intelligence.”

Well, that was something at least. “Good. So you know I can deal with—”

“Nope.”

His attitude infuriated her, and she stayed chill only by an act of sheer willpower. She even got her stiff lips to smile. “Again, it’s not up to you.”

“We agree you’re smart, right? So,” he continued before she could say a single word, “a smart woman wouldn’t budge from where it’s safe.”

“Maybe not, but a proud woman wouldn’t stay where she’s not wanted.” She lifted her chin. Let him deal with that. “I clearly heard you say you could stick me somewhere safe. Let’s go with that.” She unfolded her arms to hold them out in concession. “I promise I will stay put. You won’t even have to twist my arm.”

Reyes worked his jaw. “Here’s the thing. You don’t really know what I want, since I didn’t know until just this second. All that bullshit earlier with my sister was just me blustering.” He moved in again, this time taking her shoulders.

Why did he have to be so big? Damn near a foot taller than her. And solid. Good God, the man was like chiseled stone, only warm.

“I want you here, Kennedy. In fact, the only problem is that I want you a little too much.”

Her eyes flared. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m a dude. You’re a woman. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

She shook her head. “A big fat no on that.”

“Yeah, I already ruled it out, too, you being dependent on me and all.”

“I am not...” No, she wouldn’t lie. At the moment, she was dependent...somewhat, damn it.

“It wouldn’t be ethical. And then, of course, there’s your background.” He eyed her. “You still struggle with that? I’m guessing you do. Who wouldn’t, right? But you have to know the last thing I’d want to do is make you uncomfortable, or put you on the spot. And never, not under any circumstances, would I pressure you.”

“You’re pressuring me now.”

“To stay.” His hands kneaded her shoulders. “I meant sexually. To keep you safe, I’ll definitely pressure you if I need to.” He bent his knees a little to look more directly into her eyes.

Damn him, he was potent. In fact, she found herself leaning into him a bit.

“I’ll do whatever it takes then. I want you to know that, okay? Sometimes that might mean me giving orders.”

“I don’t think so.”

“And sometimes you’ll have to follow those orders.”

“Like hell.”

“But I’ll always have a good reason, and hey, if necessary, I’ll apologize once we’re safe again.” He tried one of his charming smiles on her. It was more effective than not. “Deal?”

Unable to help herself, Kennedy slumped forward until her forehead came into contact with his firm chest. Holy smokes, he smelled good. “I had just resigned myself to leaving.”

Carefully his arms closed around her. “I know. Have I convinced you to stay?”

Still inhaling his delicious scent, she asked, “So now you’re giving me a choice?”

“I’m not into kidnapping, so maybe.”

The “maybe” made her laugh. He was so outrageous. She lifted a hand to rest against his shoulder. “I’m scared and, as you said, I’m smart enough to know I’m out of my depth. So, yes, I’d like to stay.” For now. “I haven’t yet locked down any new engagements, so my schedule is open.”

“You were taking time off? A vacation?”

“Actually, I was only going to work on my next book. I can set up in here so I’m out of your way, okay? You won’t even know I’m here.”

He snorted. “Trust me, I’ll know.” His palm moved up and down her spine, both soothing her and making her far too aware of him as a man. “You’re writing another book?”

“With all the digging your sister did, you surely know that already.”

He tried to lever her back so he could see her face, but when she resisted, he hugged her instead. “Yeah, I knew you’d published one book. Didn’t know you were starting another.”

“The results of trafficking go on and on.” She still wasn’t over it. She didn’t think she’d ever be over it. “For anyone recovering, it might be helpful to know the resources that are available, the things I’ve done to help me feel more in control of my life, and to know that difficulty sleeping isn’t uncommon.”

He pressed his mouth to her temple. “You slept all right last night.”

Because she’d been with him. Likely the difference was in not being alone, but telling him that might obligate him to keep her close each night, and she wouldn’t intrude on him more than she had to. “Usually I hear every little sound, and once I do, I can’t just assume it’s the house settling or the wind stirring branches. I can’t assume it’s anything less than an intruder.”

“Even though it never is?”

She went still. Knowing she had to tell him soon didn’t mean she was ready to do it now. Of course, an astute guy like Reyes didn’t miss much.

This time his hold on her shoulders was too firm, and she couldn’t stop him from pressing her back the length of those long arms. His probing stare dissected her. Grim, he demanded, “When?”