Impossibly Possible

by Amelia Shea

  “How’d he only get four for murder?” T asked, not showing any emotion.

  “He took a plea deal, copped to the robbery, he had information on another investigation they were working on, a bigger case. They needed him.”

  “So, you’ll help her, right?” Taylor asked.

  “No,” Trent said before Bogs got the chance.

  “Fuck you, fuck all of you,” Taylor shouted from behind gripping Kenzie’s shocked body and pulling her away from the men. “We’re outta here. You can take me to jail, Trent, I don’t care, asshole, but me and her are leaving. This is bullshit.”

  “No, what’s bullshit is you even saying anything to her when I specifically told you there was nothing we could do. You are not going anywhere, Taylor, and you need to think before you speak. Selfish brat, that’s what you are.”

  Bogs stepped forward, ignoring all the others. He needed to talk to her alone. “Kenzie, come here.”

  The pain shadowing her face was ripping at his heart. This was dredging up the worst aspect of her life and bringing it to the surface. Bogs reached for her, but she stepped back.

  “Just come with me, Kenzie, talk to me outside.”

  Taylor pushed past her and stood in front of Kenzie. “No, you’ll talk to her here. Why won’t you help her?”

  “You don’t know shit. I don’t know what you think you heard, but there’s more to it. Shit, you don’t understand.”

  “Then explain it. ’Cause from where I’m standing, all five of you have the ability to help her get justice for her mom, and you’re just shutting her down.”

  “Damn it, Taylor.” Trent reached for her wrist pulling her into his chest. She wiggled away from him.

  “Screw you, Trent. This is my best friend, and while she may not mean anything to you or these assholes, she means everything to me. If I can help her, then that’s what I’ll do.”

  Bogs stepped forward. “Help her what? Do you have any idea what you’re suggesting she do?” He turned to Kenzie, who remained silent watching the show in front of her. She seemed almost dazed. “Kenzie, you don’t want this. Don’t let her think you do.”

  “Of course, she wants this. That piece of shit killed her mom! Tell him, Kenzie.”

  Kenzie’s face paled, and her eyes widened.

  Bogs sighed resting his hands on his hips and lowered his head. “Please just come talk to me. Alone.”

  Taylor snorted. “Oh, so she’s good enough to bang but not good enough to help. God, and I thought Trent was a bastard, but you are truly a piece of shit.”

  His entire body went stiff, the rage for this bitch completely burning through his blood. His anger was on the verge of exploding. She didn’t know anything about him and Kenzie. Bogs moved forward, but Stone circled his arm over his chest. Bogs clenched his fists and took a deep breath. He needed to calm himself. Declan stepped beside Trent, looking like he wanted to knock Taylor out but made no move to actually do it. Someone needed to shut this bitch up. T, on the other hand, was suddenly in her face.

  “Don’t you preach that shit to us. You care so fucking much about her, where the fuck were you when she was running for her fucking life outta the club that you brought her to? You tangled her up in your shit and then fucking bailed on her.”

  Taylor’s face reddened, and the rage in her eyes made Bogs think she might start swinging. Her arm raised quickly, but Trent gripped it and pulled her back, setting Taylor behind his back. He wasn’t sure if it was to protect Taylor from T or the other way around.

  This scene was completely out of control.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Kenzie watched in horror. It was chaos in Trent’s room. She stood frozen scanning the room for some way to help. Her gaze landed on Bogs, staring daggers at her best friend. He looked beyond angry, a side she’d never seen before. His cheekbones were sharp, his lips in a straight line. Even his body was rigid and tightly bound by Stone’s arm.

  She glanced up to see Stone’s green eyes locked on her. She was the center of this fight, and she stood there like a mute watching it play out in front of her. She was shocked by T’s accusation.

  “I never bailed, I was trying to get her out of there. Fuck you, asshole. You don’t know me or her so shut the hell up.”

  “I know that since you been on the run with twelve grand in your back pocket, she’s been hiding out hoping that Dante doesn’t find her. And I fucking know that while you been trying to save your own ass, that one…” he pointed to Kenzie, “has been covering for you, putting your safety before her own. Yeah, some fucking friend you are.”

  The outburst gave to a strange thick tension in the room. Taylor was left with her mouth open, but she didn’t say a word. She turned to Kenzie and tears welled in her eyes. Seeing her like that was exactly what she needed to knock her out of her daze.

  Kenzie pushed past T and cupped Taylor’s face. “It’s okay. I was fine.” Her bottom lip trembled, and she stepped into Taylor who wrapped her arms around her. “He doesn’t know anything, Tay, you are a good friend, the best. He’s wrong.”

  Taylor clutched her in a sharp grip, squeezing her. “I’m so sorry.” Her words were muffled and low, but Kenzie heard her.

  Her eyes met Trent’s and she mouthed. “Please. Just go.”

  Reluctantly, he nodded. She could hear the whispers from behind her back and the footsteps retreating. A low feminine murmur, “Bogs, give them a minute.”

  The door creaked and finally locked into place. She pulled back, but Taylor held on, squeezing her closer.

  “I fucked up, Ken.” Taylor’s body shook against Kenzie. “I’m so sorry.”

  “We both fucked up, but it’s over, okay. This changes nothing.”

  They stayed embraced for a while before she was able to pry herself out of Taylor’s hold. T was wrong. To anyone outside looking in, their friendship may have looked one-sided, but it wasn’t. When Kenzie needed her, Taylor was there when it counted.

  They sat on the bed, thigh to thigh. She put her arm over her shoulder and rubbed her back. Taylor wasn’t a crier, she was a tough, take no shit badass, but sometimes even the hardest of people broke down. This was Taylor’s time.

  She sniffed. “I can’t believe he won’t help you.”

  Kenzie drew in a breath, lightly rubbing Taylor’s back. She didn’t respond. Her mind was going in a million different directions. He got so angry when Taylor accused him of just using her for sex. The statement alone had her cringing. Was that all there was with them? If he cared about her like he said he did, why was he so quick to shut her down?

  “You’d do it right—if he said yes? I mean, it’s your mom.”

  Kenzie stared back at Taylor with her heart strumming slowly then picking up the pace. Could she? From the way Taylor posed the question, it was a no-brainer, right? So, why couldn’t she answer yes? If she loved her mom, she would take the opportunity. She could feel the blood drain from her face and the twisting of her stomach.

  “Hey, you all right, you look like you’re gonna get sick.”

  Kenzie drew in a breath blocking the doubt from her mind. Change the subject. She shook her head and forced a laugh.

  “This was not at all how I thought this would go.” Kenzie snorted. “I thought we’d be eating pizza and drinking wine while we bullshitted about hot bounty hunters.”

  Taylor took the bait, snickering while she wiped her cheeks with the back on her hand. “Hot, asshole bounty hunters.”

  “So, what happens now?”

  “Trent is set to meet with Dante and give back the money. He worked something out.” Taylor stared down at her feet, and Kenzie got the feeling she was leaving something out. “And then as payback with Dante, I agreed to help Trent get Drew.”

  “Probably should have just skipped the whole Dante thing and talked to Trent in the first place, huh?” Kenzie smirked, reminding her friend the original idea was hers first. This conversation had to stay light.

  “Yeah, should have listen
ed to you in the first place.” Taylor smiled. “You just love being right, don’t ya? Get to say, I told ya so.”

  “I never said it.”

  “But you want to.”

  Kenzie shrugged trying not to smile. She pursed her lips together.

  “Oh, just fucking say it and get it over with, I know you’re dying to.” Taylor shook her head grinning.

  “Told ya so.”

  »»•««

  Bogs lifted his head and glanced over his shoulder to the doorway. When they had left Trent’s bedroom, the girls were embraced in a hug with Taylor crying. Now the sound of laughing putting him at ease. Not fully but it was better than jacked up the way he had been. All that shit Taylor said, and the way Kenzie looked at him had him wanting to crawl the walls. He needed to talk with her alone, no distraction. He had no idea where her mind was at after what just happened.

  They sat in the living room not uttering a word while the girls talked. The sound of them laughing seemed to ease the tension in the room, slightly. They were still fucked. With Taylor having knowledge of what they did, and now Kenzie, it was not good. Trent got up from the chair he was sitting in and walked to the kitchen.

  “Beers?”

  One by one they all said yes but remained quiet until they were passed out.

  “So, what the fuck happened, Trent? How did she overhear anything?”

  Trent sighed then took a swig of his beer before answering. “We were talking about Jonah.”

  Nothing more was necessary, but he continued. “Haven’t seen him in a while and when you mentioned staying there, I reached out.” Trent stopped as if he was remembering. In the silence, they were all remembering, even Bogs.

  “Anyway, she overheard Declan and I talking afterward. She’s crazy but she’s not dumb, she put it all together.” He licked his lips. “I’m sorry about that.”

  “How do we know she won’t talk?”

  “She won’t,” Evie said, with a confidence that had Bogs wondering how she could be so sure. Bogs watched the small exchange between Trent and Declan who had his arm wrapped around his wife. Trent nodded. “She won’t say anything.”

  “Yeah, well she’s already said enough,” Stone said, and Bogs could feel his stare weighing on him. “What are we gonna do?”

  Bogs opened his mouth but caught himself as footsteps padded down the hall slowly. Everyone’s attention was on Kenzie as she came through the doorway. She stood at the edge of the staircase with her hands clasped in front of her. She didn’t even look at him.

  “Taylor told me about tomorrow with Dante. Does that mean I can go home?”

  Bogs watched her, and she refused to look at him. She focused intently on Trent. His face softened. “Yeah, by tomorrow night, everything should be completely squared away.”

  “Okay,” She nodded, still refusing to make eye contact, and it was killing him. “And you’ll let Taylor call me, let me know she’s okay.”

  “Of course.” Trent sighed. “Kenzie, about the other…”

  She held up her hand. “I’m not going to say anything to anyone, I promise.” She shifted in place and looked down at the floor. “Even if you won’t help me, I won’t be the reason you can’t help other people.”

  Bogs shook his head. “It’s not that we don’t want to, Kenzie.”

  Her head jerked up, and her face tightened. She glanced over at Bogs with a fire in her eyes. “I understand, you all made it clear in the bedroom.” Her chest rose rapidly, and he could see her trying to batten down her anger and obvious hurt. “Harris got four years, justice served. He did his time—all should be forgiven.”

  Bogs stood up, digging his hands in his pockets. “No one here thinks that was justice, Kenzie.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” She wouldn’t even look at him.

  “Kenzie.” He moved forward, but she shifted to the right. “Bogs, it’s over. I won’t say anything. Can you just take me back to Jonah’s so I can get my things? I just want to go to bed and wake up and go home.” She stared at the door. “I just wanna forget this whole thing ever happened.”

  It was like a knife through his heart. Did she mean everything, as in, with him? She was hurting, so many emotions and memories rushing back to her. He knew it, and all he wanted was to make it right. There was no right answer with this situation, whatever he did, he’d lose.

  “I’ll be in the car.” She walked to the door but stopped and turned back. She tilted her head and smiled, but it was strained. “It was nice meeting you, Evie.”

  “I’ll take care of her, Kenzie, don’t worry.”

  Kenzie nodded and whispered, “Thank you.” She slipped out. Bogs followed her steps until she was through the door.

  The rest of the guys filed into the kitchen area and got rid of their beers. Bogs couldn’t. All he could think about was Kenzie and her pain. Evie passed by him, squeezing his arm then made her way down the hall to Taylor.

  The men walked to the door with Declan at lead. He gripped the knob and turned but didn’t open the door. His gaze was pegged on Bogs.

  “You change your mind, and this goes down, I’m in.” He glanced at Trent then back to Bogs. “Just make sure if you do, it’s for her, and not to keep her. Shit like that, it changes a person, and some people aren’t cut to do it, they’re not built that way. You want my take on it? Your girl is not built for it. But that’s her call and yours.” He opened the door. “Just know, I’m in.”

  Declan walked out to the porch followed by T and then Stone. Trent came up behind him and gripped his shoulder. “I’m in too if that’s what you decide.”

  Bogs acknowledged him with a chin nod but stayed silent. They walked to the truck, and he noticed at first glance, Kenzie wasn’t there. It wasn’t until he scanned the back window and saw her seated in the backseat.

  Stone, who was walking next to him called out, “T, I’m riding with Bogs.”

  “You don’t have to, man. I got this.”

  Stone slapped his back and smiled. “Long ride home. All she wants is to ignore you and my advice, let her. I know you, Bogs. You wouldn’t make it down the driveway before demanding she talk it out with you.” He shook his head. “This shit will blow up in your face. So, I’m gonna ride with you and serve as a distraction and keep you from fucking it up with her.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The ride back to the city was eerily quiet. Hours of silence gave her time to muddle through everything. Bogs and Stone talked occasionally, but the subject was light when she bothered to listen. Mostly, she tuned them out focusing on her own situation.

  The thought of killing James Harris had never crossed her mind in the last twelve years. Even on her worst days, when she missed her mom the most and was wishing he was suffering a miserable existence, she never envisioned herself killing him. Or killing anyone. She tried not to let Taylor’s words influence her, but it was nearly impossible. The man killed her mother. She should seek her revenge if the opportunity was offered. Why should he be allowed to go on, live his life with a mere slap on the wrist? Four years was no real punishment for what he did.

  Bogs dropped Stone off at his house. When he pulled up to the house, Stone turned in his seat and glanced back at Kenzie. She jerked her head out the side window. Anything he might say was of no interest to her.

  “Later.”

  “Later, man. Thanks for coming up.”

  Stone nodded and got out. She waited for the car to move but it remained idle on the street. The rustling of his clothes indicated Bogs was turning around. She kept her gaze on the front of Stone’s house and watched as he walked up his stairs.

  “Wanna come up front?”

  She shook her head not making any eye contact. They would talk. There was no doubt Bogs wanted for her to hear him out. She regretted not going with him when he practically begged for her to talk to him alone. She needed answers of her own. Why had he been so quick to turn her down yet it was something he did for others? There was no
discussion or even a maybe. Did she mean so little to him? It was a stab to her heart and hope for anything in the future.

  The ride to Jonah’s house was the longest twenty minutes of her life. Even the ride from the cabin hadn’t felt this long. As soon as he pulled in the drive, she was out of the car. She went to the porch and waited for him to follow. He opened the door in silence, and she walked in making a beeline for the stairs. She would hide out in the bedroom alone for the night until he took her home tomorrow.

  “You don’t even wanna talk about it?”

  She thought about ignoring him, but why should she? She jerked her body to where he was standing.

  “There’s nothing to talk about it. You let me see Taylor, so thank you. As Trent said, he’ll clear everything up with Dante. It’s over.”

  “That include us?”

  She turned her head looking over her shoulder. She was too raw with too much emotion to have a conversation on where they stood right now. Her feelings for him hadn’t changed, not really. She loved him, but sometimes that wasn’t enough. Her mother’s death was a part of her, and if he couldn’t see that, then he was not the man for her. She inhaled deeply. “You should have told me.” She grasped the railing and made it up two stairs before he spoke.

  “Seven.”

  She slowly turned on the steps. His head rested back slightly, hands shoved in his pockets standing in the center of the barren room. She searched his face for a clue as to what seven meant. His tone had been solemn, and eyes lingered on her, dark and tense, almost a saddened pain.

  “Four children, two adults, and one teenager. Four of them were female, and three were male. All of them victims, all completely innocent, and undeserving of their fate. Just like your mom. And the system failed them.”

  She stood frozen unable to speak or even fathom what he was saying. He drew in a breath and released it without losing sight of her stare. “Eleven. Nine men and two women. A wife, a mother, five fathers, two uncles, one grandfather and one brother. Those were the victim’s families. Other than that, I can’t give you details. I made a promise and telling anyone, puts them in jeopardy. What I can tell you is that I don’t regret it, if given the chance, I’d do it again and I’ll continue to do it.”