Stronger Than You Know by Lori Foster

CHAPTER FIVE

GOINGOVERTHEdetails made her nerves jangle, adding a quiver to her voice that she hated. “A month ago, I heard someone on the balcony off my apartment.” That struck her with new awareness, and she gave a humorless laugh. “Or rather, what used to be my balcony. I got up to look, as I always do.” Unable to hold his gaze, she stared down at his chest and whispered, “There was a man there. He’d just climbed over the railing.”

“Damn.” Gathering her against him once more, Reyes gently rocked her. “He didn’t get in?”

Kennedy shook her head. Retelling this was so much easier while Reyes held her. “I had my gun in my hand—”

Back she went again so he could do another long stare. “You have a gun?”

She gave him a “duh” look. “That night all I had was a small .38 with a laser pointer, but now I also have a Glock.” She blew out a breath. “Stupidly, I’d left my phone on the bedside table. All I could do was stand there staring at him, the gun aimed, the red dot on his chest until he smiled at me and vaulted back over the rail.”

Again he hugged her. “You called the cops?”

“Yes. They came right away, took a description and looked around. In the end, they wrote it off as a likely burglar and promised to drive by often for the rest of the night, but I couldn’t stay there. I went to a hotel, and the next morning I bought additional security stuff for all around the apartment. Alarms for everything. Bars for the balcony door and windows.” She cleared her throat. “I also bought a screamer—one of those little handheld things where you press a button and it makes a loud, piercing noise? Plus, I got a stun gun.”

His mouth firmed in disapproval, but what did she care? She’d needed protection, and she couldn’t rely on anyone else.

“The cops didn’t know your history or they’d have—”

“What? Protected me from the boogeyman? We both know it isn’t that easy.”

He smoothed a hand over her hair. “Yeah, we do.” Glancing at her suitcase, he asked, “You have the weapons on you?”

“Yes.” She never went anywhere without them, not even when she traveled. It was why she always checked her bags.

Moving to the suitcase, she opened it again, lifted aside a sweater and a pair of jeans, and removed the heavy firearm case that held her guns. Gingerly she set them out.

Not so gingerly, Reyes lifted them with an expert touch, looking them over. “Plenty of ammo?”

“Yes.” She lifted away the egg crate foam to show the bullets beneath.

“Where’s the stun gun?”

“In my purse now. I got it out of my luggage once I left the airport, before I got my ride.” Exiting the room, she went up the spiral staircase on light feet to reach his bedroom. Her heart beat a little faster, now for entirely different reasons.

Reyes came in behind her. He must have returned her weapons to the case, because he was empty-handed. It didn’t surprise her that he hadn’t made a single sound on his approach. The man moved with stealth even when there was no reason. It seemed to be an intrinsic part of his psyche.

Being in a bedroom with him again caused her to babble. “Here it is.” She put her hand in the grip to show him how she’d use it. Much like brass knuckles, it allowed her a firm grip. “I like the way this one is made. Instead of having to poke someone with a long stick, I just squeeze the handle and it works, plus it has a really bright flashlight. See the spikes? Those can be removed, but why would I?”

“Never know when you might need to gouge someone.”

The deadpan way he said that put her on edge.

Carefully, he closed his hand over hers and relieved her of the weapon. “Tell me what else is going on, okay?”

She probably should, but first she needed out of the bedroom. Hurrying past him, she trotted back down the stairs and...wasn’t sure where to go. Her gaze bounced around, taking in her options. The kitchen, then.

Her butt had just settled in a chair when Reyes appeared in the doorway. “So.” Lifting one brow, he asked, “Are we done racing around the house?”

Feeling like a fool, Kennedy nodded.

He gestured at the chair opposite. “If I grab a seat, you won’t bolt out of the room?”

“No.” At least, she hoped she wouldn’t.

With his hands raised to look less threatening—the ass—he came forward and eased into a chair. “I didn’t mean to spook you.”

Kennedy snorted. “You didn’t.” The memories did. The harsh reality of the threat did. The insidious fear did. Best to get it all said. “A few weeks after the prowler on my balcony, there was another incident in the grocery parking lot. Middle of the day, other people around.” Her mouth went dry, remembering the brazenness of the attack. “I was loading my groceries into the back seat and a guy asked for my cart. I said sure, took the last bag, and while my hands were full he started shoving me into the back seat. Another guy was already getting behind the wheel. My car is keyless and the fob was in my purse over my shoulder, so he started the engine with no problem.”

Something violent glittered in Reyes’s hazel eyes. “Clearly you got away.”

“I tried to scream.” Her throat grew tight, so tight she couldn’t seem to get enough air. “But he put his hand over my mouth and I thought he would crush my jaw. I dropped the bag I was holding. A can of peas fell onto my lap.”

Quietly, calmly, Reyes listened, his gaze locked with hers as if to offer silent support.

“I used that can to bash in his face.”

“Yes!” When she startled at his exclamation, he moderated his tone. “Good for you, honey.”

For some reason, his praise made her feel better. “Blood went everywhere. It looked like I’d fractured his eye socket. His nose was crushed.” She swallowed heavily. “I hit him again.”

Slowly Reyes smiled. “Good girl.”

At any other time, that patronizing phrase might have offended her. Now? It just felt nice to know he approved of her actions.

She took pleasure in saying, “He screamed, loudly enough to draw plenty of attention. I quickly joined him, and soon people were swarming around us. A black car screeched up next to mine, the two of them jumped in, and then they were gone. The whole thing probably lasted less than three minutes, but God, Reyes, it felt like a lifetime. I knew what would happen, what they would do, and that made it worse.”

“I’m so damn proud of you,” he said with gruff sincerity. Slowly, he slid his hand, palm up, across the table. Offering her his touch. A connection.

How could she resist? Clearly she couldn’t, so she placed her much smaller hand in his and was immediately engulfed in his comforting strength.

“You know how hard it is to keep your head when being attacked, but you did it, Kennedy. You fought hard, and sometimes that can make all the difference.”

Nodding, she squeezed his hand. “Or no difference at all.”

The truth of that hung between them.

Watching her, he lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “All those workout sessions at my gym are starting to make sense.”

No reason to fudge the truth any longer; Reyes now knew it all. “I know I’m small, and not all that strong, but there are ways to slow a man down, right? That’s what I was trying to learn. I can’t best a man, but if I can thwart him, then I’d at least have a chance to get away.”

He seemed to come to some decision. “No more talk about leaving here, okay? Not until we have this all wrapped up.”

“That could take a long time.” Or it might never happen.

“Nah. Like Madison said, you have a team at your back now. So let’s come to some agreements.” He turned as businesslike as Reyes could. “One, you’ll stay here, and no more talk of leaving. Done and done. Two, I’ll get your car for you, but you have to give me your word you won’t take off.”

She didn’t want to go anywhere alone until she knew it was safe, so she shrugged. “No problem.” The thought of ever again being held in captivity paralyzed her with fear.

“Three, we’ll spend the next few days replacing things you lost, starting in about an hour. I’ll be your escort-slash-bodyguard-slash-whatever, and you’ll be patient with me. Agreed?”

Her mouth twitched. “You’re not so hard to be around, now that I know you better.”

Disbelief narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, okay. Believe that if you want.”

Just by being himself, he’d lifted her mood. “Which part?”

“That you know me.”

Ah, so he didn’t deny being difficult. “You’re still an enigma?”

“A deadly wraith in the night, capable of almost anything.” He grinned.

“Almost anything, huh?”

The grin morphed into a tender smile. “I’m not capable of hurting you, Kennedy. I need you to know that.”

Just as quietly, she whispered, “I do.”

Satisfied by that, he said, “Four, when I have to be at the gym, you’ll go with me. I can instruct you so you’ll know some lethal shit, and when Cade is around, he can give you some pointers, too.”

A workable solution, except that... “I can’t keep up that pace for eight hours.”

“I know. I have an office there with a private bathroom, comfy chair, secure browser and a small fridge. It’ll be yours to use until I wrap up my day.”

She honestly didn’t know what to say, so she settled for, “Thank you.”

“No thanks necessary. I do what I do, when and how I want to do it.” He released her to stretch, which, yes, made her stare. He said, “I need to shower and shave and all that. Start a list of anything you might need. We’ll knock off what we can today. First, though, we’ll stop somewhere for breakfast. You might not be a fan, but I always put fuel in the tank before I tackle the day.”

“All right.” Thinking out loud, she said, “I have a pen and paper in my laptop case. I’ll get started on that right now.”

“Hey.” He touched her arm. “You can use your laptop, and even your phone if you want. But don’t contact Jodi. Let’s see if she reaches out to you.”

“She is a friend, you know.”

“If you say so, but she was there at the fire, so why hasn’t she reached out, if for no other reason than to make sure you’re okay?”

“I don’t know, but I’m sure there’s an explanation.” She really needed to make it clear about poor Jodi.

Reyes didn’t give her a chance. “We’ll discuss it tonight, maybe on a conference call with Cade and Madison so we can put our collective heads together. How’s that sound?”

She wasn’t at all keen about the idea. Yes, she trusted Reyes, but there was so much she didn’t know about him, and it seemed that every new thing she learned only created more questions.

As he started out of the room, she realized he wasn’t waiting for a reply anyway. “Make yourself at home. I’ll be right back.”

Then he was gone, and she was left thinking about Reyes. About all he was doing for her.

And about him naked in a shower.

Things were going to get horribly awkward, and she couldn’t even blame Reyes. It was her own fault—for finding him so fascinating.

CADECALLEDWHILEthey were still on the road, and since he wanted to talk about Jodi, Reyes put the phone on speaker. “I told Kennedy we’d go over this tonight.”

“It needs to be now,” Cade said. “Jodi was scoping out the gym this morning.”

The hell she was! When Reyes glanced at Kennedy, he saw the same surprise on her face that he felt. “Was she watching for Kennedy?”

“That’s the safe assumption. Maybe she’s hoping to touch base with her.”

Kennedy was already shaking her head. “I never told Jodi about the gym. If she knows, it’s because...”

Reyes didn’t need her to finish that thought. “She’s been keeping tabs on you? I’m liking this chick less and less.”

Madison interrupted, saying, “Be nice, Reyes. She’s Kennedy’s friend, and she was once a victim.”

Very quietly, Kennedy whispered, “Being a victim isn’t something that stays in your past.”

Reyes gave her a sharp look. “Meaning?”

Kennedy gave a slight lift of her shoulders. “You recover, you regain your strength—but you also learn, which means you don’t forget, you rarely let down your guard, and trust doesn’t come easy.”

“My wife would very much disagree with you,” Cade said.

Kennedy’s eyes widened. “Your wife was—”

“Yes.” He paused. “And she’s the strongest person I know.”

“I’m sorry, but strength doesn’t obliterate the aftereffects. We push on,” Kennedy explained. “We survive, and we put a pretty face on things, but for the rest of our lives we know exactly what can happen. Most people never give the risks a thought. They go through each day with the easy assumption that they’re fine, that they’ll always be fine, with no grasp of how quickly their safe, normal existences can be destroyed.” She drew a breath. “But I know. Those who have survived it know. And we don’t let ourselves forget.”

The sobering words brought down a repressive silence to hang thick and heavy in the air. Reyes reached over to clasp her knee. She covered his hand with her own.

Connected, he thought. He and Kennedy connected in ways he never had with any other woman. Damn, that was so unusual, it sort of shook him.

“You’re right,” Cade murmured. “It changes a person.”

Reyes asked, “Is that what happened with Jodi?”

“Yes.” Kennedy stroked over his hand, tracing along the hard ridges of his knuckles, then down to the sensitive skin between. The provoking touch didn’t feel deliberate, but rather a necessary distraction to her own thoughts. “I met her four years ago, when she was only twenty. I’d had one of my first speaking engagements at a college, and afterward, as I was leaving, I sensed her following me. She was this sullen figure, half-hidden under an oversize hoodie. I knew something was horribly wrong. It was there when her eyes met mine, and how she looked at me.”

“How was that?” Reyes asked.

“With desperation.”

He appreciated that his brother and sister stayed quiet so Kennedy could forget they were listening in. Not that she would. She was too sharp for that, and far too aware of her surroundings. Their silence offered only the illusion of privacy.

“I rarely take risks with other people, regardless if they’re men or women, young or more mature.”

“You shouldn’t.” Reyes found her touch incredibly distracting. “Evil has no gender or age.”

“I know.” Her explorations trailed along his thumb. “But something about Jodi was different. More vulnerable. She needed me, so I invited her to lunch. She doesn’t trust most people, either, and still she came with me, and we ended up talking for two hours. I got the distinct impression that she’d mostly given up on life.”

“If that’s so, why was she at the college?”

“My guess is that she was looking for something, anything, to give her purpose so she wouldn’t dwell as often on what she’d gone through.” Giving up her intent study of his hand, Kennedy shifted away and crossed her arms. “That’s why I took up speaking, you know. It makes me feel like I’m helping.”

“Is that also why you write?”

“It’s cathartic,” she said. “Spelling it all out helps me understand it, and gives me a sense of control. Jodi hadn’t found a direction yet. She was still floundering in her fear and hatred. Once we became friends, I think it helped her.”

“You’re not sure?” Reyes asked.

“Jodi disappears for long stretches. Sometimes a month will go by before I hear from her. Then I’ll get texts for three days in a row. I just never know with her.”

“So,” Cade said, “we can’t be certain why she was checking out the gym.”

“She was stealthy about it,” Madison said. “Hanging out across the street, trying not to be obvious.”

Kennedy stared at Reyes. “There have been times when Jodi thought I was in trouble, and she acted without discussing it with me.”

“Example?” Cade prompted.

“One time after I’d spoken with this gigantic group, a guy asked me out. He was loud and obnoxious about it, saying he’d help me through all my troubles, like I was a joke.” Her mouth firmed. “Overall, I ignored him. Things like that happen sometimes. A lot of people get uncomfortable with my story. Guys try to laugh it off. Girls make snide comments about it, as if I’d brought it on myself.”

“Immature, clueless brats,” Madison commented, though not with any heat.

Kennedy agreed. “They’re young and dumb, and thankfully, reality hasn’t yet knocked them down. What they say doesn’t matter much to me.”

Much? In that moment, Reyes wanted to protect her from everyone and everything, even mouthy college knuckleheads.

“Jodi takes the insults to me more personally. Apparently, she was there that day, and she waited until she found the boy—”

“Man,” Cade corrected. “If he’s college age, he’s a man and should behave like one.”

Kennedy’s amused smile slipped into place. “I get the feeling that being a man might mean something different to you and Reyes.”

Reyes couldn’t deny that. His father had treated him like a man before he’d ever become a teenager. From a young age he’d been taught that stupidity wouldn’t be tolerated and cruelty was an unforgivable sin, most especially where women were concerned.

“Anyway,” Kennedy said, exasperated with them all now that his siblings were speaking up. “Later that night, she caught him alone and hit him in the back of the head. He ended up with a concussion and twelve stitches.”

Damn. Reyes didn’t blame Jodi for wanting to defend her friend, but that was a pretty harsh way to go about it.

“You know it was her?” Madison asked.

“I didn’t, not at first. The police contacted me after some of the other students told them the guy had been hassling me. I was at the hotel restaurant having dinner, so they knew I hadn’t done it. At the time I didn’t have a clue what might have actually happened. Later, though, when I thought about it, I got a... I don’t know. A hunch? I contacted Jodi the next morning and found out she’d been in the audience when she told me how much she’d enjoyed my talk.”

Reyes frowned. “Does she live near the college where you were speaking?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure where she lives. She seems to travel a lot.”

Maybe, Reyes thought, she traveled to follow Kennedy. Creepy. “You asked her flat out about the guy?”

“Yes. She didn’t confirm it, but neither did she deny it. Basically she repeated back to me one of the things I often say in my lectures—that no one has the right to treat you as if you don’t matter.”

None of them said anything for far too long.

Finally Madison spoke up, directing her comment to Reyes. “I’ve put a few safeguards in place. When she comes near the gym again—and she will—we’ll know it right away.”

“I suggest the direct approach,” Cade said.

Kennedy stiffened. “What does that mean?”

“I’ll go up to her and find out what she’s doing.” Reyes lifted a shoulder. “No biggie.”

“Absolutely not!” Turning to half face him, Kennedy insisted, “I’ll call her and—”

“No,” Reyes said.

At almost the same time, Cade and Madison echoed him.

“If she’s involved in the fire,” Madison explained, “our way is better.”

“And if she isn’t, no harm done,” Cade said.

Kennedy gave him a dark frown. “You and I will discuss this later.”

“My brother is smart, Kennedy. You can’t strong-arm him just by getting him alone.”

Reyes grinned at Cade’s observation. Would Kennedy try to badger him into doing things her way? Probably.

Less blunt than Cade, Madison said, “We really do know what we’re doing. Trust us, okay?”

Kennedy’s eyes narrowed. “Actually, I have no idea what you’re doing. Now might be a good time to tell me.”

Of course, no one spoke up. Grunting, Reyes muttered, “Thank you for nothing” to his brother and sister. “I’ll handle it, okay?”

“Sounds like a plan,” Madison said. “Enjoy your day.”

“Don’t go overboard,” Cade warned. “And keep me posted.”

With the call ended, Reyes put his mind to choosing a place for breakfast. He scanned the streets, looking for somewhere that wasn’t too busy.

“Well?” Impatience crackled in that single word Kennedy threw at him.

How come everything she said or did made him want to grin? For such a small woman, she sure packed a lot of attitude. Even in such an untenable position—with thugs after her, a sketchy friend and the loss of her possessions.

“How about I give you the broad strokes?” Hopefully, that would appease her. No way could he share the nitty-gritty. Other than immediate family and, of course, Bernard, his father’s assistant, chef, butler—and now cat kidnapper—no one knew the details of their operation. Yes, Cade had confided in Sterling, but only because he’d fallen in love with her.

Even thinking it made Reyes curl his lip.

He and Cade were alike in many ways, but they also had a lot of differences. For one thing, Reyes had no intention of getting married. Not now, maybe not ever.

“If you’re thinking of lies to tell me, don’t bother.”

Her derision tickled him even more. He was grateful to see that all the turmoil hadn’t dented her dominant persona. “Nah, I wasn’t. Just ruminating on my life, I guess.” He glanced at her, saw she looked more confused than ever, and laughed. “So here’s the big picture. My family works to rescue trafficked victims, sometimes with the law, sometimes not.” Often not, but yeah, he probably shouldn’t go into that yet. “It’s like a task force, covering a lot of ground. Rescue, counsel, financial assistance, all that.”

Cutting right to the chase, Kennedy asked, “Have you killed anyone?”

Damn, way to throw a guy off guard. “I’m not sure that’s part of the broad strokes.”

“I’d like to know.”

“Yes?” He rushed to add, “Only assholes who really deserved it.”

The funniest thing happened. Instead of being outraged, Kennedy gave him a firm nod, and whispered, “Good.”

Whew. What a relief to know she wasn’t horrified.

Then she said, “Of course, you’ll understand that Jodi feels the same way.” She gave him a placid smile. “She feels everyone she’s hurt also deserved it.”

Everyone she’d hurt? Well, hell. The day just totally soured.

EVENAS KENNEDYwondered what Jodi might have gotten into, she felt the need to defend her. Dread warred with loyalty. If Reyes knew it all, would he feel honor bound to see Jodi locked away? She’d never be able to bear that.

With the hope of making Reyes really understand, she formulated her thoughts. Luckily, Reyes didn’t press her. Not yet anyway. He waited until they were seated on the terrace of a trendy local restaurant outside Ridge Trail before ramping up the questions.

“Let’s hear it, but keep your voice low.”

Looking around, Kennedy wondered who he thought might hear. It was a cool morning and few people were lured by the mountain views. Those who had ventured outside were at the other end of the terrace.

“Isn’t it amazing how quickly people grow accustomed to things? It’s absolutely beautiful out here, yet the crowd is inside.” She shook her head.

“Have you gotten used to the scenery?”

“No. I’m still in awe whenever I look at the mountains.”

“Me, too.” He waited while a young man brought them water, offered coffee and left behind menus. “You shouldn’t drink so much caffeine.”

“I lost everything last night. No bitching about my coffee.”

He grinned. Without perusing the menu, he asked, “Know what you want to eat?”

She’d never been here before, but obviously he had. As she skimmed the selection, the pricing staggered her. “Um...you remember that I’m currently penniless, right?”

His expression softened. “We’ll get that sorted out later, okay? For now, it’s my treat.”

Glancing at the French toast, she winced. On top of his offer to replace her necessities, the meal seemed extravagant. “Not to be crass, but covering my expenses—for now—won’t strain your finances?”

“Nah. It’s all good.”

Giving up on the concern, she laid aside the menu. Fine. He’d chosen the place, and he seemed familiar with it, so why should she grovel over breakfast? “Yes, I know what I want.”

“Perfect. I’m starved.” He lifted a hand and within seconds the young man was back.

Kennedy ordered the French toast, fresh berries and bacon.

Reyes requested the same, and added scrambled eggs and home fries.

How he stayed so ripped while consuming so much food, she couldn’t imagine. Of course, he ran a gym and was physical all day long, which probably explained it.

“Now, before our food gets here, spill the beans. What nefarious stuff has Jodi gotten into? Don’t fudge the truth or leave out anything. I need to know what I’m up against.”

Yes, to be fair, he needed to know everything. After a fortifying sip of her coffee, she cleared her throat. “First, let me explain something about Jodi, okay? Unlike the place where I was held—” and basically rented out “—Jodi was outright bought and owned by a man who was, from what she’s said, pure evil.”

“Any man who participates in trafficking is evil.” He held up a hand. “Still, I get your meaning.”

“There were times he closed Jodi in a small room in the basement. It was his idea of punishment if she wasn’t performing up to his standards. Once, he left her there for two days. No food or water. By the time he let her out, she said her spirit was broken. She only wanted to eat, bathe—and to never go back to that room.” Fingers of red-hot rage clenched around her windpipe, forcing her voice to a ragged whisper. “No matter what she did, though, he found reasons to lock her away again and again. She never knew if she’d be punished for an hour, a day, or if he’d leave her there to die. Jodi said that was the worst torture of all. Not knowing.”

As he often did, Reyes reached out to her. His strong fingers closed oh-so-gently around her forearm, then trailed down until he could hold her hand in his own.

It astounded her that his touch helped so much. For a second there, she’d gotten lost in the details of what Jodi had suffered.

Putting her left hand to her chest, she counted her heartbeats. The combined facts that she was alive and that Reyes planned to keep her that way helped her to find her composure.

“You do that often,” he said softly.

She’d been staring blindly at the table. At his observation, her gaze snapped up to his.

When he nodded at her left hand, she realized his meaning.

Never before, not even to Jodi, had Kennedy explained the small gesture that signified so much. It was private to her, central to her struggle with a past that still haunted her today.

“Containing your heart?” he asked, his tone still amazingly gentle.

With his hand offering safety, his hazel eyes showing so much understanding, the words just came out. “I’m feeling my heart beat.”

His thumb moved over her fingers, but he didn’t say anything.

“It’s dumb,” she said, feeling a little self-conscious.

“No, it’s not. Anything that reminds you you’re alive is a good thing.”

Oh, wow. He actually got it. An emotional tsunami hit her. She couldn’t speak, so she nodded, and Reyes didn’t press her. He continued to watch her, almost like he’d never seen a woman before—or maybe like she fascinated him in some way.

A bizarre way? She hoped not.

Just then, their food arrived, relieving her of the awkward moment. He took care of thanking the server, commenting that it smelled good, asking for more coffee and, in the process, giving her a much-needed moment to clear her head.

When they were alone again, she said, “Thank you.”

He chided her with a half smile. “No more of that, remember?”

“I can’t help it.” He was just that wonderful. Far more than she knew a man could be, especially a big buff alpha like him. “You can’t know how much I appreciate... everything.” Most especially the way he grasped her innermost thoughts.

“Does that make it better?” he asked, shaking out her napkin and leaning over to put it in her lap, overall pretending that she wasn’t frozen still. “Talking about it, I mean.”

“I don’t know.” The speaker in her came forth, and while she cut into her French toast, she began to ramble. “I’ve never really talked about my personal experiences. What I share in my speeches is a general impression that applies to a lot of people, in a lot of situations. The specifics of what happened to me... I’ve put some of them in my book. Writing things and saying them aloud are very different.”

“Maybe you need to talk about them more.” He forked up a bite of egg. “With me.”

Yes, with him, she probably could. From the start, Reyes had been different. Cocky, yes, but with the ability to back it up. Assured, but in a very nice, take-charge way.

Concerned, and that was what had worried her most. She’d worked hard to regain her life, and Reyes saw right through the facade to the hyperaware, ever-vigilant, still very afraid girl who knew that, alone, she didn’t stand a chance against the cruelty of the world.