Chapter 14 #2
“Not a word about that leaves this room,” Lefty said between clenched teeth.
“You know what? I’ve led a charmed life.
My parents are still together and happily married.
I had an amazing childhood. I was spoiled, I admit it.
I enjoyed high school and had a lot of friends.
I joined the Army and was strong enough to make the teams and now I’ve got awesome friends in all of you.
Kinley’s life has been anything but easy.
She was passed around from home to home without a single family being interesting in keeping her forever.
Her school years were hell, and even when she got a job in DC, she was still alone.
But I know deep inside that she’s one hundred percent stronger than I am.
What she’s been through would’ve broken most everyone else.
But instead, she’s kind, compassionate, friendly, and by some miracle… she seems to like me.
“Being around her makes me realize just how much I’ve missed out on. We have a connection. One that’s real. I love hanging with you guys, but there’s just something about knowing she’s waiting for me back at my apartment that completes me. I can’t explain it.”
“I get it,” Trigger said with a nod. “It’s hard to explain until you have a woman you love, who loves you back.”
“I’m not sure about love,” Lefty said.
Trigger chuckled and rolled his eyes. “You love her,” he said with conviction. “If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be standing here defending her. You’d take some ribbing from us and be done with it.”
Lefty thought about that for a long moment. Instead of being weirded out by the idea, it felt right.
“Our asking about her wasn’t because we were being nosey,” Brain told him. “It’s because we like Kinley. And it’s obvious that she looks at you with stars in her eyes.”
That felt good.
“What’s the latest on her case?” Oz asked.
Lefty was glad to have the subject changed from his relationship with Kinley to something they were all experts in. He told them about his latest phone call with Cruz.
“So they’re picking up Brown today?” Grover asked.
“That’s the plan,” Lefty said with a nod.
“And Stryker’s being watched? Are his phone calls monitored?” Lucky asked.
“Yes.”
“How’s Kinley taking everything?” Doc asked.
“As well as can be expected. She was really jumpy there for a while, didn’t want to leave the apartment at all. But I think she feels a lot better, now that others know what she saw, and they believe her.”
“She still needs to be careful,” Brain warned.
“I know, and she is. We are. But she’s an adult.
I can’t be by her side every minute of the day, and she knows that.
I’ve told her what to be on the lookout for.
She doesn’t answer the door if I’m not home if she doesn’t expect anyone.
And she never leaves the house by herself.
We’re being as careful as we can be while not making her a prisoner.
Cruz had talked to us about WITSEC, and we decided against it. ”
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he knew he wasn’t exactly being truthful.
They never did have a conversation about her going into the witness protection program after Cruz had left.
He’d told her he didn’t want her doing it, and she’d kissed him and that was that.
The thought of her being hidden away somewhere, once again without friends and not knowing who she could trust, was abhorrent.
He hated that for her, especially now that she’d experienced how important having true friends was.
“WITSEC, huh?” Brain asked. “That’s some serious shit.”
Lefty nodded. “Stryker is a personal friend of the president. I’m guessing a lot of people won’t be happy to have his particular dirty laundry aired in public, especially if it includes him being a murderer.”
“So she’s going to testify?” Oz asked.
“Yes. The selfish part of me wishes she wouldn’t, because doing so puts her straight in the crosshairs of who knows how many people, but she won’t budge on that.
It’s just another way she amazes me every damn day.
She could easily forget what she saw or claim she was mistaken; instead, she’s determined to stand up for what’s right.
For those murdered kids in France, and all the others who might’ve been hurt by Stryker and Brown. ”
The men were silent for a second, then Brain said, “If you need anything, anything at all, you know all you have to do is say the word, right?”
Lefty nodded. He might not always agree with his friends, but he knew without question that he could call on them day or night and they’d be there. For him and Kinley, especially now that they knew where things stood between them. “I appreciate that. Seriously.”
Trigger sighed. “Now that we have that out of the way, are we ready to go back in and figure out what the fuck the terrorists are up to lately?”
Everyone nodded and began to file out of the break room. Grover brought up the rear and paused in front of Lefty, who was holding the door for everyone. “I’m happy for you and Kinley,” he said.
“Don’t be too happy yet,” Lefty told him. “We’re still muddling our way through things. I’m not sure where I stand with her, and there’s the whole testifying thing we need to get through.”
“You’ll figure it out,” Grover said without hesitation. “She’s good for you, and you’re definitely good for her.”
“Thanks, man.”
Grover nodded.
“Have you found out anything more about Devyn’s situation back in Missouri?” Lefty asked quietly.
Grover shook his head. “No, and it’s driving me crazy. All she’ll tell me is that she’s an adult and she has it under control. But I can’t help but worry. You know she had leukemia when she was little, and it’s made all of us extremely protective of her.”
“She had leukemia?”
Lefty looked over at Lucky. Neither he nor Grover had seen him hanging back, and he’d obviously overheard their conversation.
“Yeah. It was touch and go there for a while, but she pulled through, and even though she’s almost thirty, me and my other sisters still feel the need to watch over her.
I’m not sure Spencer, my brother, cares about anyone but himself, but that’s a story for another time.
Anyway, then boom, one day I got that voice mail, with her telling me she’s moving here to Killeen.
It doesn’t make sense, I know she loves adventure and she’s impulsive, but I don’t think she would’ve quit her job without a second thought.
Something’s up, and she won’t talk to me.
It’s maddening,” Grover said as he ran a hand through his hair.
Lefty couldn’t take his eyes from Lucky. The other man looked extremely agitated at hearing the news about Devyn. Overly so. They’d all gotten to know Grover’s sister over the last couple of weeks, but Lucky’s reaction seemed a little peculiar.
“Anyway, I’ll keep asking. She called this morning, and said she got the last job she applied for, so that’s good. Means she’ll hopefully be sticking around for a while. I’ve got time to work on her and report back to the rest of the family.”
“She’ll talk to you eventually,” Lefty said reassuringly.
“I hope so.”
And with that, the two men left the room, following behind Lucky as they headed back into the meeting they were having before they’d broken for lunch.
Kinley smiled at Gillian as they made their way out of the grocery store toward her Rav4. She felt a little silly making such a big deal out of the dinner she’d planned for Gage, but Gillian hadn’t laughed at her.
Kinley knew Gage tried to eat healthy because he had to keep his body in the best shape possible. He could be called out on a mission at any time, and even putting ten pounds of fat on his frame could mean the difference between being able to fight effectively and being a liability for his team.
So she’d looked online for different recipes for chicken. It was lean and full of protein, and while she didn’t want to slather it with something fattening, she also wanted to do more than just bake it plain.
She’d found a recipe for a parmesan-crusted chicken that looked amazing, and best of all, the recipe wasn’t overly complicated.
This was good, as Kinley had discovered she was a horrible cook.
Gage could eyeball something and throw ingredients together and make a tasty meal, but when she’d tried that, it tasted like something a three-year-old had made out in the yard with mud and sticks.
She’d checked Gage’s cabinets and realized she needed to get some ingredients to make the dish, and Gillian had offered to go with her.
Kinley had spent the morning with the other woman, helping her brainstorm some things a group of nine year olds could do at a pirate-themed birthday party that were fun and not too cheesy, then they’d headed out to the store after lunch.
“You’re sure it’s no big deal to come over and help me?” Kinley asked Gillian.
“Not at all. I’m happy to. I mean, I’m no professional chef, but surely with the two of us, we can figure the recipe out and not burn the place down.”
They both chuckled. Then Gillian said, “I wasn’t going to ask…but I have to. Things are still going okay with you and Lefty?”
Kinley blushed and nodded. “We haven’t…you know, but we’re getting there. I’m honestly surprised at how much I enjoy what we do together. I thought it would be awkward, but instead it feels completely natural, and I get the appeal now.”
“The appeal of sex?” Gillian asked with a snort. “Oh, yeah, there’s definitely an appeal,” she said with a smile.