Stronger Than You Know--A Novel

by Lori Foster

This time Crosby went down from the sheer momentum of the attack, but he didn’t stay down.

  Bounding back to his feet, he surprised Reyes by snapping to Madison, “Stay out of it.”

  “I don’t take orders from you,” she informed him without heat, and stepped into Reyes’s path.

  Frustrated, Reyes looked to Cade. “A little help?”

  Cade cocked a brow. “You want her pissed at me, too?”

  Curses burned the back of his throat. “I won’t kill him,” he promised Madison.

  “He’s being helpful, you idiot. Why don’t you just cool down and listen?”

  “Because he dared to come to my house.” Reyes advanced on his sister. “And you dared to let him in.”

  Suddenly, somehow, Crosby was in front of Madison. It so astonished Reyes that he came to an abrupt halt. “What the fuck?” He looked past Crosby to Madison, then almost laughed at her expression of chagrin. Grinning at the interloper, Reyes asked, “You’re trying to protect my sister?” If Crosby admitted it, Madison would probably flatten him herself. “From me?”

  “I’m the one you’re pissed at,” Crosby stated. “Focus on me. Not her.”

  Cade snorted a laugh.

  Kennedy stood there wide-eyed.

  “How sweet,” Madison said, immediately hooking her arm through Crosby’s and more or less stealing his attention. “Since I know your intent is in the right place, I won’t take offense.” She grinned triumphantly at Reyes. “There, you see? He’s an honorable cop, which is something I already knew, and which I wanted to explain to you, but you wouldn’t listen.”

  Reyes eyed them all—then held out a hand to Kennedy.

  Carrying his gun gingerly, proof that she wasn’t all that comfortable with firearms, she immediately hurried to his side. Voice low, she urged again, “Let it go, please. We need to talk.”

  Nodding, he took the gun and slid it into his back holster, then said to the others, “Go home.” Holding Kennedy’s hand, he turned and walked into the house. She kept trying to look back, but he didn’t let her.

  Cade, intuitive brother that he was, got to the door before Reyes could secure it. “Not on your life,” he said, pushing his way over the threshold. Giving Madison a look, Cade said, “Inside. Now.”

  For Cade, she did as she was told.

  Unfortunately, she brought Crosby with her.

  Kennedy kept both of her arms locked around one of his—like she thought she could restrain him?—and said, “If you’ll all excuse us a moment?” She began hauling him toward the guest room.

  Over his shoulder, Reyes glared at Cade. “Stay put.”

  “I’m not about to budge,” he promised. And, in fact, he stationed himself between Crosby and Madison.

  “Damn, he’s smooth,” Reyes complained right before he closed the door behind him.

  Kennedy immediately began explaining. “The detective brought a photo with him. Reyes, I think it’s the man who had Jodi.”

  Wow. Not at all what he’d been expecting. Quickly reevaluating the situation, he asked, “What makes you think so?”

  “Back when I first met her, Jodi described Rob Golly to me. He’s one of those balding men with a ponytail. Missing teeth. A weak chin. The photo matched all that.”

  Sadly, that description matched a lot of dudes. “That doesn’t mean—”

  She shook her head. “His name is unique enough to stick, right? And then there’s Crosby’s description of the house where Jodi was taken.” She turned away, her arms hugged around her middle. “He said he’s been tracking Golly for a while. The things he shared...” She shuddered. “Horrible, horrible monster. Jodi’s held it together only because she believed she’d killed him. If he somehow survived, if he’s still alive, it’ll destroy her.”

  “Or,” Reyes said, his thoughts scrambling ahead, “she already knows he didn’t die, and that’s why she’s worried for you. Whoever knows her might be exposed to his vengeance. Worse, anyone she cares about could be used against her.”

  Kennedy blinked at him. “I’m not worried about me.”

  He gave her a level look. “No reason you should be since I won’t let anyone hurt you.” He’d kill Golly and all his cronies before he’d let them lay a finger on Kennedy.

  She started pacing. “I need to copy that photo so I can ask Jodi if it’s him.”

  “Done. I’ll take care of it.”

  Staring at him, her jaw loosened. “It can’t be that easy. I got the feeling that Crosby suspects your whole family. He even made a veiled accusation about your father.”

  Ice skated down Reyes’s spine. His voice lowered to a rough growl. “What did he say?”

  “Just something vague really, but it was how he said it.”

  “Tell me.”

  She licked her lips, thinking. “Madison was trying to engage him in small talk. I think she was flirting.”

  “Doesn’t sound like my sister.” What the hell could Madison be up to? “She pays no attention to men.”

  “Well, she’s been paying a lot of interested attention to Crosby.”

  Probably Madison’s way of softening the guy up, taking him off guard, getting him to say too much. “How did that lead to my father?”

  “Madison wanted him to tell her more about himself, about the task force or something like that. He said he wasn’t on a task force, that his interest in Golly was personal. Instead of going into it, he wanted to hear more about her, you and Cade and your father, too. Something about your father being the head of it all.”

  Son of a bitch. “I should have killed him,” he snarled. Still might.

  Exasperated, Kennedy demanded, “Do you, or do you not, trust your sister?”

  “Do.” But she’d been flirting?

  “And you don’t indiscriminately kill men for asking questions, especially police officers.”

  No, but he could start. When she glared at him, he confirmed, “No, I don’t.”

  “Madison isn’t worried about him. When she saw him on the security cam, she recognized him. She opened the door and let him in without a qualm. I just... I don’t know him, and I didn’t think you’d want him here.” She shrugged helplessly. “So I texted you.”

  “Hey.” Reyes drew her against his chest. God, it felt good to hold her. On the drive back, he’d been running on a potent combo of instinct and adrenaline, anger and worry, unable to consider the possibilities of an intruder. “You did the right thing, babe. Anytime something feels off, even a little, I want you to let me know.”

  She dropped her forehead against him. “I’ve been here nearly a month, Reyes. This can’t go on indefinitely.”

  His first impulse was to ask, Why not? He bit back that automatic response real fast. Why not? There were a million reasons, number one being that he didn’t want a significant other. He liked his life of kicking ass when necessary, indulging in sex without emotional constraints, and fulfilling his father’s edicts efficiently while never allowing the grisly details of the enterprise to overtake him.

  “Shush.” Holding Kennedy’s shoulders, he stepped back and bent his knees to look into her pretty blue eyes. “You can’t talk about leaving when we finally have something to go on. First thing we’ll do is reach out to Jodi. I’ll get that image from the cop, then we’ll meet with her somewhere safe where I can control things.”

  “Jodi will never agree to meet with you.”

  “So we’ll keep that part from her. Cade can be backup.” Madison would, of course, provide necessary surveillance and digital security. “It’ll be safe.” Come hell or high water, he wouldn’t let her be hurt. Not ever again.

  Undecided, Kennedy visibly shored up her courage. “All right. But first you need that image. I won’t upset Jodi without something concrete to show her.”

  Reyes cupped a hand to her cheek. “I don’t want you
to worry.”

  “Even you, Reyes McKenzie, don’t get everything you want.”

  He grinned at her retreating back as she left the room. No, he wouldn’t get everything. Pretty sure he might get Kennedy, though, at least long enough for them both to have a really good time.

  Today, right now, that felt like enough.

  * * *

  DEL DIDN’T LIKE hiring others to do the dirty work, not when it was usually his favorite part. Imagining Kennedy’s expression when he got his hands on her... It was all he’d had to think about lately, so yeah, he’d like to be there, up-front and real fucking personal.

  Instead, he was stuck waiting with Mr. Butt-ugly, who kept grinning without saying anything.

  Fucker got weirder by the day.

  “Look, there’s no reason to keep paying punks to handle things I could handle myself.”

  “Is that so?” Golly asked, still rocking, still smiling. “You’re familiar with murder?”

  “I don’t want to murder Kennedy.” Not right off, not after all this trouble. For a day or two he wanted her alive and kicking—then he’d gladly snuff her.

  “You think he’d just let you take her?” Shaking his head, Golly said, “Don’t be stupid. That one won’t die easily. It’ll take having more than one shooter on him, and even if they fail, I have two others in a truck, ready to ambush them on the road.”

  “Jesus, how many people are we paying?”

  “Enough to get the job done.”

  Del really didn’t like him. Worse, he sort of feared him—and that feeling grew more unsettling every day that he was stuck in Golly’s company, witnessing his unhinged behavior.

  There was no way of knowing when the prick might snap and kill everyone in sight.

  The rocking abruptly stopped. “If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t even be close to getting your hands on that woman. I’m the one who knew to follow Jodi. I’m the one who discovered she was friends with Kennedy. The only reason you’re involved at all is because I want Jodi to see what happened to her so-called friend. I want her to know what you’re going to do to that bitch.”

  For about the hundredth time, Del regretted ever meeting the whack job, and he really wished he hadn’t agreed to partner up with him.

  It was pure happenstance that they’d discovered their connection. Del had lingered late one night at a truck stop to shop the wares. He’d picked out a sweet little honey who’d looked strung out and willing to chance a ride with any stranger. Yet once he’d gotten her in the car, Golly had come out of nowhere and joined them.

  The plan, he knew, had been to kill him, then rob him.

  Instead, Del had done some fast talking, explaining that he didn’t give a shit what happened with the chick. He had run his own business once, so he got it.

  One thing had led to another, they’d ended up sharing a meal while bragging on their ruthlessness... At the time, Golly had managed to act sane enough. A dupe, for sure.

  Now here he was, becoming more embroiled by the day with a certifiable maniac. There was no guarantee that Jodi would meet up with Kennedy tonight, but so far, following her was their only chance.

  Kennedy, the conniving bitch, had all but disappeared off the face of the earth. Once her apartment had burned to the ground: poof. No more Kennedy.

  “Why do you want Jodi so bad?” Del asked, watching the man through a veil of smoke while he sucked on his cigarette. “She ain’t much to look at. You could grab another broad easy enough.”

  He rocked faster. “She took from me. Stole things she can never give back. For that, she’ll pay.”

  Shit. He was back to sounding off the rails. Del moved away to look out the window, hoping that tonight would be the night.

  “I’m going to make her pay,” Golly promised from behind him. The rocking chair began to squeak. He was so agitated, he even laughed. “She’ll pay, and pay, and pay until I’m satisfied she’s paid enough. It’s as easy as that.”

  Misgivings growing, Del asked, “What the hell did she take that was so important?”

  And once Golly explained, yeah, he understood.

  Now he almost felt sorry for the scrawny girl—but he still felt sorrier for himself. Del needed away from Golly and soon, before he too became a target.

  * * *

  KENNEDY SAT STIFFLY beside Reyes as he pulled into the remote area at eight o’clock. The rough ground was bumpy and his truck headlights sent deep shadows stretching from tall fir trees and pinyon junipers.

  It felt eerie and dangerous. And, damn it, Reyes was too silent.

  She wasn’t ready.

  From the moment he’d started making his plans, everything had moved at lightning speed.

  He’d talked a bit with Crosby, enough to get his measure, or so Reyes had said. Madison and Cade had taken part.

  Never in her life had she felt more like an outsider. It was obvious that the siblings worked as a team, that they had an uncommon knowledge of things that went beyond even what Crosby had learned as a detective.

  She’d tried to ask Reyes about it, but he’d gotten all hush-hush, doling out only a select few details that didn’t really answer any of her questions.

  Now here she was, ready to meet with Jodi if her friend showed.

  Like Kennedy, Jodi had been uncertain of the whole thing.

  With Reyes listening in, she’d called Jodi. Twice. No answer either time. It wasn’t until the middle of last night that Jodi had finally called back, waking her from a sound sleep.

  She’d been groggy and confused, but not Reyes. He’d pressed her away from his body, where she’d been snugly held, and quickly prepped her on what to say and not say.

  He’d stayed silent beside her while she answered the call, but having him there had made it easier.

  She’d told Jodi that she had to see her, and to her surprise, Jodi hadn’t argued.

  Instead, as if she’d been expecting the request, Jodi had arranged for the meeting at this remote location in the mountains. At one time it had been camping grounds, but the owner hadn’t maintained the property, so other than a rut-filled road leading to what had once been a clearing, there was nothing around.

  And the sun had set some time ago.

  “Take a breath, babe. Everything is fine. Cade came in on foot and he’s the best backup around. We have eyes on the truck so Madison can not only track us, she can see anyone else who might get near us. Remember, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  See, all that? Who the hell talked about eyes on a truck, meaning some high-tech surveillance stuff, and solid backup, meaning his brother was armed and ready to shoot if necessary?

  Clenching her hands together, Kennedy asked, “Who are you people?”

  “Shh. I’m gonna kill the lights now, okay? Then we’ll go the rest of the way on foot.”

  And when they got near to the center of the clearing, Reyes would hang back.

  She’d be alone, exposed.

  No. He said he’d protect her and she believed him. God, she wished she was stronger, as clever as Madison or as fearless as Sterling. But she wasn’t. She was just Kennedy Brooks, traumatized girl unable to move out of the past, trying to be a confident woman and failing far too often.

  Reyes stopped the truck in a copse of tall trees. Everything went dark.

  “Hey.” He pried one of her hands loose, carrying it over to his mouth, where he pressed a warm kiss to her knuckles. “You’ve got this, babe. And I’ve got you. I swear, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  She nodded, knew he couldn’t see her in the dark, and whispered, “I know. I’m just...” So cold and empty. “I’m fine.”

  “Yeah, you are. Extra fine.” This time, he leaned in and his mouth brushed over her cheek, her jaw, down to the corner of her lips.

  Holy smokes. That chased away the ice
in her veins. “What are you doing?”

  “Warming you up. Did it work?”

  “Actually...yes.” She exhaled a long breath. Funny, she did feel steadier. Who knew a kiss could accomplish that much? “Thank you.”

  “You and your gratitude.” He flashed her a grin that did more to reassure her than all the words in the world. “Stay put until I come around. You have your flashlight?”

  “Yes.” She lifted the heavy utility light off the floor of the truck.

  “Warm enough?”

  No, but that had more to do with her nerves than the October temperatures in the mountains. She’d dressed appropriately, even had a stocking hat for her ears. “I’m—” She started to say fine again, but after his silly flattery with the word, she adjusted to, “Ready.”

  Without another word, Reyes got out and somehow, without making a single sound, came to her side of the truck and opened the door.

  Wow, the man was a wraith. More and more, she wanted to know the backstory of what he and his family did.

  Accepting his hand, she climbed from the truck. She, of course, made far too much noise as her hiking boots crunched over fallen leaves, twigs and rocks. Without the flashlight, she couldn’t see, but apparently Reyes had no problem. He led, she followed, and with every step she tried to calm her rioting pulse.

  They walked for maybe five minutes before he pulled her to a halt. Keeping his mouth close to her ear, he breathed, “I’m waiting right here behind this outcrop of rock. Go about ten steps and then turn on the flashlight. You’ll see the fallen tree. That’s where Jodi wants you to wait.”

  She remembered. Jodi had been adamant that she come alone. Reyes had flatly refused, promising to wait at the base of the road.

  Obviously, a lie.

  Supposedly, Cade was already in place, and Madison felt confident that Jodi would approach from a different direction. Reyes had agreed with her assessment.

  It all seemed far too clandestine for her peace of mind.

  Cautiously stepping away from Reyes, Kennedy counted her steps, tripped once, felt a juniper branch scratch her cheek and finally was able to turn on the flashlight.