Stronger Than You Know--A Novel

by Lori Foster

  Parrish gave Sterling a deadpan look. “Did I piss you off, Sterling, when we first met?”

  “You and Reyes both,” she confirmed, then she smiled back at Cade. “Good thing he was worth it, or I’d have disappeared that first day.”

  God, Cade loved her. From the start, Sterling, or Star as he called her, had proved to be the strongest woman he knew—with the biggest heart. She was unique, outspoken, capable, bold, and every so often, only with him, she also showed her vulnerability.

  In every way, she was it for him.

  Initially Cade had avoided commitment, thinking what he and his family did would be difficult for an outsider to digest.

  Star had surprised him. She’d not only accepted it, she’d been excited to take part.

  The woman who’d wanted to face the world alone, on her own terms, had seamlessly joined his family.

  He glanced at his sister. “No talking to Detective Albertson.”

  She didn’t bother to look up when she replied, “I’ll speak to whomever I want. You’re my brother, not my boss.”

  Cade switched his gaze to his father, waiting for his reaction.

  “Madison,” his father said silkily. “I expect you to keep your head.”

  “As opposed to how my brothers behave?” She shot Cade a tight smile and then held up a hand to forestall any protests from the men. “Your sexism has already been exposed, so spare me.”

  Sterling gave a small clap of approval.

  “Has it occurred to either of you that Crosby might have information we don’t?”

  “We are not going to involve the law in this,” Parrish stated.

  Madison ignored that to say, “You raised me to balance what I give with what I take. Reyes and Cade aren’t the only ones who can ferret out details by talking to others.”

  Cade sat back with a sigh. “You’re literally looking for reasons to see him again.”

  “It’s a shame that I must justify those reasons, while you and Reyes just go about doing as you please.”

  Grinning, Star elbowed Cade and murmured, “She’s got you there.”

  Folding her hands on the table, Madison smiled at each of them. “Let me put it this way. I am in charge of research, and I expect the freedom to work in whatever way I see fit. I also expect the same level of trust given to my brothers.” Her chin lifted. “Now, is there anything else you want to say on the subject?”

  Star snickered.

  Cade rolled his eyes.

  After sipping his coffee, Parrish cleared his throat. And, wonder of wonders, he moved past the topic of Crosby Albertson to ask, “Have you found anything on Kennedy that we need to know about?”

  “Anything that would make her unsuitable for Reyes?” Madison shook her head. “No. She has a full life that doesn’t include fighting traffickers so, unlike Sterling, I can’t see her teaming up with us.”

  “The way Reyes hovers over her,” Parrish said, “I doubt he’d allow it anyway.”

  That earned a glare from Star. “Allow it? Get out of the Stone Age, will you? Kennedy is her own person and she can do whatever she wants. She doesn’t need Reyes’s permission, or your approval.”

  “Christ,” Parrish muttered, “they’ve joined forces.”

  Cade sat back and crossed his arms. Overall, he agreed with his wife—but it was fact, not opinion, that Kennedy wasn’t cut out for their line of work.

  “As I was saying,” Parrish continued, “Reyes isn’t Cade. I can’t see him accepting someone with your...” He paused at Star’s dark look. “That is, he doesn’t have the same constitution to work beside a woman he loves.”

  “Good save,” Cade said with a grin. “Actually, I agree. Good thing Kennedy doesn’t appear to want to join the business. Which brings me back to my question. What do you think? And don’t try to sell me on that passing interest line, either. Just the fact that he moved her in—”

  “And brought her here,” Madison added while scrolling on her laptop.

  “—says she’s completely different to him.”

  “That might be true, but it becomes more and more difficult to keep our secrets contained when my children insist on bringing outsiders into things.”

  Madison laughed. “You already knew they weren’t choirboys, Dad.”

  “And you?” Star challenged. “You’ve as much as admitted that you’re going to coordinate with Crosby.”

  “He’s been following Rob Golly for a while,” Madison said without much attention. Still scanning pages on her laptop, she added, “Now that I know where Golly is, it doesn’t seem fair to keep that from Crosby.”

  “You’ll move cautiously,” Parrish decreed, “and you’ll keep the rest of us informed every step of the way.”

  “Of course.” Madison smiled. “We are a team, after all.” She closed her laptop and stood. “But since I have all the research data, the rest of you will just have to trust me when I say that Crosby isn’t a threat to us.”

  As she made a grand exit, Parrish stared after her.

  Cade and Star shared a look.

  Apparently, Cade thought, he’d started a movement when he fell for his wife. Now he only hoped his brother and sister would end up as happy as he was.

  * * *

  REYES SAT ON a boulder and pulled Kennedy between his thighs, wrapping his arms around her to keep her warm. Here, by the lake, a brisk breeze sent a shiver up her spine.

  He kissed the side of her neck. “Want to go back to the house?”

  “No, not yet.” She settled against him, her hands curling over his forearms, which he’d crossed over her breasts. “It’s beautiful here.”

  “Yeah.” He’d always liked the lake. In the warmest part of summer, he and Cade had often swum in the water that seemed to be forever icy, fed by the mountain streams. “You did well with Dad.”

  She turned her head so he’d see her smile. “He’s a tyrant, but I think overall he’s just concerned about you.”

  Reyes knew exactly what ailed his dad: fear of another son getting caught up in a romance. Sterling had already shaken things up. His dad probably feared losing control of the entire enterprise if Reyes got serious with Kennedy.

  Thinking that, he pressed a kiss to her temple. Serious? Damn right he was serious. Serious about keeping her safe. Serious about wanting her to be happy.

  Serious about...making love to her again.

  Definitely serious about that.

  “What will happen next?” she asked.

  He wasn’t entirely sure, since he’d taken her from the table before plans could be made. “Likely Madison will want a few days to figure out if the bastards have a pattern of any kind. When they’re in the motel, when they’re on the road, where they go and for how long. Stuff like that. Once we know, we can figure out where to grab them.”

  “What if...” She rested her head back against his shoulder and, after a few seconds, started again. “What if they take other women before then?”

  “We’d go in sooner.” Even now, Kennedy was worried about strangers instead of herself. It occurred to him that her entire career was meant to protect others, to prepare them, educate them, so they wouldn’t suffer the same fate she had. “One thing to know, babe. We never turn a blind eye to abuse. If shit happens that alters our plans, we adjust accordingly.”

  She sat up and turned to face him, her expression drawn in worry. “Have you ever been hurt?”

  “Few times.” He carried her fingers to his upper chest, near his shoulder. “Did you happen to notice the scar I have here?”

  “Yes.”

  “Knife wound,” he said. “I demolished the fucker who did that, by the way.” He moved her fingers to his thigh. “The scar I have here? Graze of a bullet. Prick was trying to unman me but missed.” He showed his teeth in a savage smile. “I didn’t.”

&
nbsp; Her gaze searched his, and suddenly she was against him, her arms snug around his neck. “You could have been killed and I never would have met you.”

  Then she might have died, too, because who else could she have called on the night of the fire? No one. He crushed her closer. “I didn’t, you didn’t, and we’re going to keep it that way.”

  “Sometimes,” she whispered, “I’m so afraid.”

  He didn’t want that. A healthy respect for consequences, yeah, that was good. But actual fear? She’d had enough of that in her life already. “Can you tell me anything else about O’Neil?” He’d kill the man who’d once taken her, who apparently hunted her now, and he wouldn’t have a single moment of remorse. “Anything at all would be good.”

  Her arms loosened as she eased out of his embrace. “He was a chain-smoker.” Absently she smoothed a hand along the side of his neck. “He was meaner when he drank—and he drank all the time.”

  Fucker. Reyes would take pleasure in ending him.

  “You saw what he looks like. Faded blond hair, under six feet, I think, but I couldn’t say for sure.”

  Because she’d been so young, and so traumatized, every man had likely felt huge. Who paid attention to little details when survival was top of the list? “Any tattoos?” he prompted. “Jewelry?”

  She touched her throat, down by her clavicle. “A snake tattoo.”

  “What kind of clothes did he wear?”

  “I don’t know.” Pressing her fingertips to her temples, she frowned. “Jeans usually, I think. T-shirts.” Sounding shamed, she said, “I tried not to look at him.”

  “You’re doing great, babe.” Pulling her hands down, he pressed small, soft kisses to each of her knuckles. “Anything else?”

  She shook her head. “I’m sorry.”

  “That’s plenty for now.” An especially cold wind blew over the lake, and Reyes decided it was time to get back to business. “Know what I want to do?”

  Her eyes were big and blue, her honey-colored hair moving with the wind. “Plan?”

  “Yeah, that first.” He stood and tugged her to her feet. “Then I’d like to take you home and strip you naked, and spend the day in bed.”

  Slowly the darkness left her expression, and her mouth curled into a smile. “I like that idea.”

  He realized he was being a selfish ass, so he offered her an out. “Unless you’d rather take in a movie first? Or if you have any shopping to do?”

  Wearing an impish smile, she pretended to think about it. “Let me see. A movie, or you naked? Such a difficult decision.”

  Teasing right back, Reyes reached for her breast. “Or maybe we should just make use of this boulder? I don’t think my family would spy on us, then we could head to a movie when we leave here.”

  She surprised him by laughing. “Don’t tempt me.” Holding his hand for balance, she carefully made her way down the boulder, then laced her fingers through his once they had their feet on the ground again. “Let’s go get this planning over with. I can call Jodi on the way home.” She flashed him a smile. “And then...”

  “I’ll show you how nice a day spent in bed can be.”

  Together.

  He thought it, but didn’t say it.

  He had a lot of things to work out, including his attitude on going it alone. Kennedy might not realize it, but she’d altered his thinking on things.

  Hell, she’d altered his entire existence. His habits. His convictions.

  Maybe even...his heart.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  KENNEDY AND BERNARD played with the cat and kittens while Reyes, Cade, Madison and their dad sat around a massive desk in the library making plans. She’d been confused at finding all the kittens there, until Reyes explained that his siblings always brought them along when they came to his dad’s house. It was a compromise that pleased everyone, most especially Bernard.

  It was decided that he and Kennedy needed to meet with Jodi again, to clue her in on the players and the risks. Kennedy wanted to make sure that Jodi knew she wasn’t alone, that she had substantial backup so she wouldn’t do anything reckless.

  Made sense to Reyes, although that also added the risk that his father’s enterprise might be exposed. Extra care, everyone agreed, was necessary.

  Cade and Sterling would shadow them to Jodi’s place, just to make sure they weren’t ambushed. There was a good chance the goons might already know where Jodi was staying.

  After all, they knew Jodi and Kennedy were friends. They’d torched Kennedy’s apartment. They’d tracked them to the campsite.

  So far, they’d been pretty damned determined.

  Given the go-ahead, Reyes would happily move on them now. Unfortunately, his dad and Cade disagreed with that plan. Madison insisted they needed more info first, just in case other women were already targeted or even imprisoned.

  It wouldn’t do to kill the creeps without first knowing all the details.

  Sterling, forever over-the-top, said, “We could use me for bait again.”

  Reyes and Madison were already shaking their heads.

  Cade stated firmly, “Fuck that.”

  And Parrish gave her a long-suffering look. “By now, you should have realized there are better plans than putting yourself at risk. Haven’t you learned anything from us?”

  Grumbling, Sterling sank back in her seat. “My way is more expedient.”

  “Your way,” Cade growled, “will never happen again.”

  She shot Parrish a glare. “I blame you for him being so bossy.”

  He dipped his head in acceptance. “I’ll gladly take the credit.”

  While they bickered, Reyes became distracted by Kennedy’s laugh. He turned to see her snuggling Chimera and one kitten, while Bernard held the other two.

  The kittens were bigger now, but still undeniably cute. And he had to admit, with all the lavish attention Bernard gave Chimera, she was now a beauty.

  Her all-white coat had gone from shabby to thick, and as soft as rabbit fur. Her googly, mismatched eyes—one pale blue, one yellow-green—often stared at Bernard with undiluted love and trust.

  Bernard had been good for the cat. It was still a shock, realizing that stuffy Bernard had grown up on a farm and absolutely loved animals. He was too damned aloof, but with Chimera, he was a giant softie.

  Of course Reyes wouldn’t take the cat away. Hopefully, Kennedy understood.

  In the middle of his dad and Cade going over reconnaissance for the motel, Reyes asked, “How do you feel about having the cats here?”

  The two men looked up, confused. Sterling smiled and Madison kept her attention on her laptop.

  “What?” his father asked, thrown by the off-topic question.

  “Chimera and her three kittens. They don’t bother you?”

  “Bernard takes care of everything,” Parrish said dismissively.

  “There has to be cat hair, though, right?”

  “Bernard cleans after them,” Parrish reminded him, as if that explained it all.

  Reyes started to mention the cat box, then changed his mind. Both his father and brother were looking at him as if he’d just announced a flight to Mars.

  “Told you,” Sterling said. “Totally smitten.”

  Now they all stared at her.

  “What in the world does cat hair have to do with that?” Parrish asked.

  Sterling nodded at Reyes. “He’s thinking of home, hearth and pets, that’s what. If not with Kennedy, then who?”

  “Butt out,” Reyes told Sterling, then to distract everyone, he asked, “Any news on Jodi?”

  “So far she hasn’t budged,” Madison said. “She ordered pizza, though, and that can be risky, too.”

  Reyes hadn’t heard Kennedy approach until she stood right beside him. “If ordering food is dangerous, how is she supposed t
o survive?”

  Without thinking about it, Reyes tugged her into his lap. She thought about it, obviously, given her very rigid posture. The rest of the family did, too, as evidenced by their alert stares.

  For crying out loud, couldn’t a guy—

  The buzzing of his phone saved him, or so he thought until he answered the call and Annette’s feminine, flirty voice said, “I haven’t heard from you in forever and I have a desperate need to see you.” The emphasis on need plainly meant sex.

  Shit. Here he was, his entire family watching him, Kennedy on his lap, and one of his regulars on his phone. Or rather, Annette had been a regular, until Kennedy had moved in with him.

  “Hey,” he said, stalling while he tried to think.

  Sterling, who was always perceptive, cocked a brow and grinned at him. “It’s a woman,” she decided aloud.

  Knowing he wore a deer-in-the-headlights expression, Reyes wasn’t surprised when Cade said, “Probably.”

  He really wanted to blast them both, but he had Kennedy slowly twisting around to frown at him and Annette impatiently waiting.

  He cleared his throat. “Just a sec, doll.”

  Even Madison looked up at that point, disapproval plain in the set of her mouth.

  Right. Bad choice of endearments, but damn it, it was what he always called Annette. Habit and all that.

  Before he could explain anything to Kennedy, she gave him a tight smile and jolted off his lap. “I’ll give you some privacy.”

  Reyes watched her stride out of the room. Where she’d go, he didn’t know. The house was big enough that she might lose her way if she wandered too far.

  But then Sterling muttered, “Asshole,” in his general direction and went after Kennedy.

  Well, hell.

  Annette said, “Catch you at a bad time?”

  “Actually, yes.” Avoiding Cade’s gaze and ignoring his father and sister, Reyes stood and, undecided where to go, headed out of the library and around to the foyer. That didn’t seem private enough, so he stepped outside and pulled the door shut behind him. “So.”