CHAPTER 29
KANE
It wasn’t hard to find the piece of shit who had been shooting at my girl. I knew the land around the house well enough to know there was only one crest in the woods around us that would allow anyone to be high enough to get a clear shot of Addy’s room.
I snuck up around the back of him, held my Glock to his head and forced him to move away from the rifle he had set up on the ground. As soon as he was up and the gun was away from his skull, he tried to take me down, but he had no idea who he was going at. The rage within me, at the idea of this motherfucker trying to kill my woman, was uncontainable and he was going to feel the wrath of it’s full fury.
Only he was all muscle and no fucking skill. I had him down in a matter of minutes, his unconscious ass bleeding from his temple. I toed at his side, hoping like fuck he was gonna get back up and give me a real fight. I needed to put some of my anger somewhere after all. But he was out cold and I was still pissed.
I called Asher and gave him my location, and he called his contact at the FBI to come and pick up this scum bag and two of the other four fuckers, that the security, Asher, and Adam had managed to track through the woods and bring down. It was definitely time we found out who these fuckers were working for and ended this shit against Addy once and for all. My girl had suffered more than anyone should ever have to, and I refused to allow her to be put through anymore.
I was already freaking out about how this latest attack on her home – again – would affect the state she had already been in before. I honestly didn’t know if she had anything at all left inside of her to face this now, on top of everything else. I needed to get back to her as soon as possible. I hated leaving her when I knew how close she’d been to just giving up just days before. I was terrified this would be the thing that pushed her right over that edge into what she seemed to believe would be the only way she could ever find peace.
I worked myself up so much that I knew I had to check on her. I knew she was with Jordan, but I needed to know for sure she was still coping.
“Kane. You good?” Jordan asked the second he answered.
“Yep, Ad and Ash too. They chased down and caught two of the guys and I got the sniper. The other two got away in a car about a mile out. Just waiting for the FBI. How is she? Is she keeping it together?” I asked, unable to hold it in anymore.
“Yeah. She’s sat with Jenny, and she’s okay. She’ll be better when I tell her you’re all alive,” Jordan answered, lowering his voice.
“Keep her close, Jord. She told me she wasn’t going to do anything stupid after the other night, but I’m worried this might be more than she can take.” I hated saying it and doubting her word, but I refused to make a mistake and lose her forever. She was everything to me and there was nothing I wouldn’t do to keep her safe, even from herself.
“On it. Just get back here as fast as you can. Adam too,” Jordan sighed, and I agreed, then hung up.
The local Pd and two FBI agents approached me shortly after that. The asshole I took down was still out cold, which had left me in a pissy mood, but I was relieved one threat against Addy was gone when local PD put him into cuffs and dragged him off just as he started to come around.
I answered the FBI agents’ questions as best I could as we walked back towards the house, meeting Asher and Adam on the way. The two guys they’d caught were also now in custody too, and FBI agents’ had assured us since this seemed to link to Max Kline, and his illegal dealings that had crossed state lines, they would be handling the questioning of all three of the men. All we could do was hope that it meant we would have some answers soon on who the hell was out to kill the woman I loved.
“Is she safe?” Adam asked as soon as the FBI headed back to their car and we moved towards the house.
“She’s in the gym with Jord, Eli and Jen. I called Jord to tell him we’re all good, and he said she was keeping it together,” I explained.
“Let’s just get in there and see for ourselves,” Asher suggested as he picked up his pace and ran up the front steps to the door.
The couple of security guys I had working that night were waiting for my orders near the front of the house. I didn’t even know what to tell them. Whoever was after Addy this time they were bold and fucking gutsy. First they attacked at the cabin, then here, with all of the security in place. We were fighting a losing battle until I could get us somewhere more secure and have the new staff members I had hired start their positions. They’d all needed to work notice at their previous posts and were due to start next week, but I knew now I needed to do all I could to move up that timeframe.
“Keep patrols around the property constant for now. I’ll join you as soon as I can, but we may move to another location,” I warned them, and they nodded and instantly got to work. I couldn’t believe my whole security team was whittled down to just three guys I actually felt I could trust now. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get over the betrayal of Leo - my security member who allowed Kline’s men into the house and took Eli down with a blow to the head. The fucker was still out there somewhere too. The police still hadn’t tracked him down, so it seemed I’d never even know why he did what he did.
Sighing with exhaustion I ran after Asher and Adam into the house, locking the front door securely behind me. The situation was in damage control mode now and I knew it. I had to do everything I could to keep my family same, including my sister who was now mixed up in it all too.
Addy was in Adam’s arms when I walked into the gym. My sister was sat on the floor, her back against the wall, and when I looked to her she just smiled and gave me a nod, telling me she was good.
“We can’t stay here,” I announced.
“What do you suggest?” Asher asked.
“I don’t know, but we’re a target here right now, and I don’t have enough guys on my team to watch the whole place. I can work on getting more guys here in the morning, but until then, we need to move.”
“What about one of the hotels in the city? The high end ones have good security, right? And you could bring the guys you have too. Surely it’s easier for them to monitor a couple of hotel room doors?” Eli suggested. It was a good idea, but my chest tightened when I looked to Addy and saw how pale and shaken she looked. The last thing she needed was to be dragged off to some new, strange place, but I couldn’t guarantee her safety at the house right then.
“Come here, angel,” I said as I opened my arms to her. She instantly rushed to me and as soon as I held her, I could feel how violently she was shaking. “It’s going to be okay. We’re going to keep you safe, and very soon, this is all going to be over.”
“I’ll make some calls, see if I can get us booked into somewhere secure,” Asher said as he bypassed Addy and I and left the room.
“I’ll just head home. You guys don’t need me here when…”
“Don’t you dare, Jen. Go and pack your shit. You’re staying with me until I know you’re safe,” I growled, not even turning to look at her as I spoke, refusing to let Addy go.
“Seems I was safer in my apartment with the drugged up asshole,” she uttered, but I just ignored her.
“Come on. I’ll walk you over to Kane’s place,” Eli offered and I glanced over and gave him a nod of thanks.
Once they had both left the room, Jordan and Adam walked towards us and we all formed a huddle around Addy. We all held her and surrounded her in an attempt to soothe her, as she seemed to fight not to fall apart before us.
“Talk to us, princess,” Jordan implored as he ran his hand up and down her side gently.
“I…I don’t think I can. I…I don’t understand how this keeps happening? What did I do?” she squeaked.
“Nothing, baby. You did nothing to bring all this down on you. I don’t know why it keeps happening, but you’re not alone, We’re here with you. Ash and Eli too. You have to let us help you, and keep you safe,” Adam told her.
“It’ll be over soon. The FBI will question the guys we caught, and they’ll find out who is trying to kill you, then this will come to an end, one way or another,” I added.
“What do you mean, one way or another?” she asked as she looked up to me with watery eyes. She was breaking my fucking heart. She just looked so broken and vulnerable.
“I mean, there is nothing I won’t do to keep you safe, Addy. If the law doesn’t handle this the way they should, then I will. No one gets to threaten or scare you anymore. I’m not standing for it,” I growled.
“None of us are. We’re going to find you that peace you want, babe. We’re going to find it together. You just have to hold on a little longer for us, okay?” Jordan asked of her.
“I’m so tired,” she sniffled.
“We know. Let’s grab you some things for a few nights and we’ll get out of here, okay? When we get to the hotel we’ll make a huge bed and all sleep together tonight. How does that sound?” I asked, and she smiled weakly.
“I’d like that a lot,” she agreed. I returned her smile, even though it was forced. I just couldn’t bring myself to smile for real when she looked so very beaten down and listless. I had to fix this for her, or I was sure I was going to lose her. That, I just couldn’t even stand to consider.
ADDY
I was surrounded by so much heat when I woke up, and for a minute I couldn’t work out why, or where on Earth I was. Then I remembered the night before, and looked all around me with panic once again, until I realised all three of my guys surrounded me. We all laid in the huge bed they had made by pushing the two king beds into one. Adam had me wrapped in his arms and I was pressed against his chest. Jordan was right at my back, his arm slung over my waist, and behind him lay Kane, flat on his back and snoring loudly. It was a perfect way to wake up, if only another attempt hadn’t been made on my life, and put everyone I loved at risk again, the night before.
I lay there, silent, and still, not wanting to wake any of the others. It had been after three AM by the time we all walked into our hotel rooms, and I’d woken my guys not long after with a screaming nightmare and the subsequent tears and panic that always followed. They definitely needed some rest.
The noise and mess in my head seemed calmer that morning and I could actually get my thoughts in a straight line as I just laid squished between Adam and Jordan. But I wasn’t so sure that was such a good thing as I played back the last several days and the way I had broken to pieces. My reactions to that mini breakdown embarrassed me. I had no idea why the three men surrounding me had even stuck around when I’d been acting as erratic and unstably as I had. It had to have been a nightmare for them, and yet they’d been there the entire time. They let me hang from them when I needed to, and they’d comforted me again and again when I lost myself to the darkness inside of me. They’d given me strength when I knew I had none left myself and they had been firm and kept me from making any rash and crazy decisions when I’d just had enough. My brothers too had been amazing and I knew without any of them getting me through, I likely wouldn’t still be there in that moment.
I thought back to that recovered memory, when I had woken in that strange building, beaten and in pain, and all I had wanted was to find some way to make everything just stop. I knew I had been as low as I had in that moment after what happened at the cabin, and on that long drive back home. I remembered so clearly how desperate I had been for everything to just stop again, as I just crumbled with Adam, Jordan, and Kane in my room back at the house.
It had been a low point in my life, and it hadn’t been the first time I had been there either, but right then, laid in that giant bed with the guys I loved I was relieved I had been shown some sense by them, and that I still lived to fight another day.
That day may terrify me, the threat of what came next definitely giving me a sense of foreboding, but I needed to face it.
Jenny’s words were rattling around in my head and the one point that really stood out to me was the clear fact that if I gave up and stopped fighting, then they won. All of those monsters who hurt me, abused me, and passed me around like a possession no one much cared about – they won if I let them take what was left of me away. And that pissed me off.
“You’re awake,” Adam whispered, and my eyes shot up to his face. He had a soft smile as he watched me, his eyes still sleepy and half lidded.
“You should go back to sleep,” I told him. “You’ve barely slept.”
“Nor have you. You okay? Did you have another nightmare?”
“No. I just got really hot. You guys are like huge furnaces,” I laughed.
“I don’t think any of us could handle you being more than touching distance away after last night,” he sighed tiredly. He rolled back just enough to allow a gap to let some air between us, then ran a hand down his face.
“I’m still here, Adam,” I reminded him.
“Thank God for that,” he sighed as he cuddled up to me again and wrapped his arms right around me, squeezing me even tighter.
“C…can’t….br….breathe,” I teased as I looked to him with a playful grin. He smiled too, but eased up on his hold just a little.
“You have no idea what a relief it is to see you smile and joke around.”
“I’m feeling better this morning. Let’s just hope it lasts.”
“It will.” I turned to look at Jordan as he spoke, and he playfully kissed the end of my nose. He was still half asleep, but still he had his usual joyful smile in place.
“Thanks for the confidence,” I replied as I reached up and kissed the light stubble that had grown overnight, trailing kisses down his jaw.
“He’s right though, baby. You’re strong and resilient. You will get through all of this and have a ton more good days, until eventually, they’ll all be good,” Adam told me
“I hope you’re right,” I whispered as I turned back to him and kissed him on the lips. “It would be really nice to just have all this as background memories and nothing more.”
“Don’t you lot ever sleep?” Kane grumbled with annoyance. I laughed as I moved to drape myself over Jordan’s body so I could see Kane. He was still laid on his back, but he opened one eye and glared at me. “You should be asleep,” he told me, his voice deep and even sexier with sleep.
“I was overheating, and now I’m awake,” I shrugged.
“You’re smiling?” he questioned as he opened both eyes and looked to me with some confusion.
“I do that sometimes.”
“Not recently. Not your real, beautiful smile. I missed it,” he told me more gently. He reached out and placed his hand over the right side of my face, the gently stroked his thumb over my bottom lip. “Beautiful,” he whispered.
“We all missed it,” Jordan said. He had his hand on my back, steadying me where I lay over him.
“Well I feel good this morning, so you guys are off duty. Get some more sleep and I’ll go and find Ash and Eli,” I told them all easily.
“You’re not a damned duty, Addy. Don’t say that,” Adam sighed as he sat up and slid up the bed so his back rested against the headboard. They were all wearing t-shirts and sweats, which was a shame, but they still looked hot all around me.
“You know what I mean though. I haven’t exactly been easy to be with this week, or ever for that matter,” I mused.
“Nothing worth having ever is, princess, and you’re definitely worth having,” Jordan told me. I sat back, crossing my legs and settling between Adam and Jordan.
“We’re not exactly easy to be with either, angel,” Kane added as he too pushed up onto his elbow and looked over Jordan to me. “We can be assholes, as you well know, and we fuck up a lot.”
“None of us are perfect, but maybe together, we can be enough,” Adam added, and I was smiling again.
“I like that. Who needs perfect anyway, right?”
“Right,” they all agreed in time with each other, which just made me laugh.
“Come on. Let’s make the most of you feeling good this morning and order some breakfast,” Kane suggested. He leaned over Jordan and kissed me quickly, then he was up and headed for the bathroom.
“You hungry, babe?” Jordan asked. He was toying with the ends of my hair, running it through his fingers, and I loved the sexy sleepy smile he looked at me with. If we were alone I have climbed on top of him and showed him just how much I liked him all sleep mussed, but the guys had all made it clear that they had no desire to see each other’s junk and I’d been good with that.
“A little,” I shrugged.
“Fuck. I can work with that. Let’s go and see what they have on the menu before she changes her mind,” Adam announced. I thought he was joking, but he shot to his feet, grabbed my hand, and started pulling me through to the small living area of the suite we had. It was just a small lounge area with a black, leather sofa and two armchairs all surrounding a shiny glass coffee table. Off to the side was a table with four chairs to eat at, and there was a bar off in the corner, all in polished chrome, the shelves stocked with liquor miniatures and a refrigerator below filled with soda and snacks. Glasses lined the mirror backed shelves and there was a shiny black marble bar top.
The hotel was definitely fancy and I was grateful for the luxuries, but it was the security I appreciated the most. Asher had hired out the whole top floor - all three penthouse suites. We were the only people who could access it from the elevator and we were able to have our security guys out in the hall, outside the rooms. Asher had even arranged for none of the hotel staff to be allowed up on the floor unless we specifically requested something, so there would be no unknown housekeeping staff to worry about either, and anyone who did come on the floor would have to show ID to the security and would be escorted by the them to our rooms. It all made me feel safe and able to breathe again, at least for the time being.
Ash and Eli were in the suite right next door, and Jenny was in the one across from them, the security staff also using a room in her suite so they could switch out between them and get some sleep.
Adam ordered enough of the room service breakfast on offer, to feed a football team, but he said he was getting enough for everyone, so I didn’t argue too hard. I was working hard to hold onto the easy, care free feeling I had woken with. It felt good to smile again.
***
When I came out of the bedroom after showering and getting dressed, the food had arrived, and everyone was spread out in our suite eating. Adam, who must have showered in the other bedroom, which we weren’t using, was dressed too, his hair still damp. All three of my guys sat around the dining table, dressed casually and relaxed as they talked and laughed between bites from their over filled plates. They looked so different. For so long all I had seen on any of them was worry and stress, most of it caused by me. It was just a relief for us all to get a small reprieve.
“Good morning, shortcake,” Eli greeted and I turned to where he and Asher sat in the two armchairs, both of them with a plate in hand and coffee on the table before them.
“Morning.” I looked between he and Asher with a smile and the way they both seemed to relax and let out a breath, made me feel even better. They had been worried about me all night, no doubt. They had likely been scared to walk into the room for fear of the state they’d find me in. I was glad to be able to surprise them in a good way. “How did you sleep?” I asked them.
“Fine sweetheart,” Asher assured me. “Did you get some rest?”
“I did, and I feel good this morning,” I said brightly. “Did we order pancakes?” I asked as I turned round to Adam hopefully.
“Of course. Like I’d forget my girl’s favorite,” he laughed as he got to his feet and moved to the cart that sat in the middle of the room, laden with breakfast food. Adam bent down to the lower shelf and pulled out a plate covered with a shiny cloche.
“Fancy,” I laughed as Adam approached me and took my hand in his. He led me over to the table and pulled out the chair beside the one he’d just vacated. I sat down and smiled up at him as he made a performance of placing my plate before me.
“Your breakfast, madame,” he announced in a terrible accent, then he pulled the cloche away and I had a mountain of pancakes, just the way I liked them – covered in butter, syrup and chopped strawberries.
“Perfect,” I said as I reached up and grabbed him, pulled him down close and kissed him gently. “Thank you,” I whispered, then I let him go. He was smiling brightly as he retook his seat beside me.
As I started eating, suddenly way hungrier than I thought I’d be, Kane went to the bar, and returned with my favorite shiny silver can. He opened it for me and poured it into a glass, then handed it over.
“I’m being spoiled.” I blushed as I looked to Kane gratefully.
“As you should be,” Jordan told me.
I couldn’t take the contented smile from my face as I delved into my delicious breakfast. I was just happy, which was insane considering someone tried to shoot me the night before. But I had just been so grateful to wake up surrounded by the men I loved, and that we were all secure and safe. Then to see Asher and Eli relaxed and smiling too, and to just have the space for us all to just breathe – it was a perfect morning in the midst of utter chaos and I was holding onto it.
In the time I ate three pancakes, the rest of the room cleared every single scrap of food from the huge cart. When we were done all that remained were a mountain of empty plates and two pancakes I couldn’t fit in. It had been carnage and I found myself questioning, not for the first time, how many times Adam had to go to the grocery store to keep the kitchen stocked at home.
“Did you hear anything from the FBI?” I asked Asher as I moved to sit on the sofa beside Jenny. She’d been quiet all morning, but the swelling in her face had gone down and she seemed to be doing okay. I hoped Kane would find some time to talk to her. I knew she had to be feeling a little lost after the insanity of what happened the night before, then finding herself in a hotel in the city.
“Not yet, but I expect to soon. My contact assured me he’d update me as soon as he could,” Asher replied and I nodded. While I wanted to know who was trying to wipe me from the face of the planet, I was also quite happy to live in blissful ignorance for just a little longer.
“I did manage to find Libby for you, angel,” Kane said as he sat on the sofa beside me with his laptop in hand.
“You did? Is she okay?” I asked all at once.
“It seems so. After what happened she took some time off from classes, citing health reasons. I can’t find any evidence she went to therapy, or even a doctor, but three months later she went back to her classes and finished the year with great results.” Kane pulled up some documents, but I didn’t look them over too closely, just wanting him to tell me.
“And now?” I pushed.
“She’s in London. She decided to complete her studies abroad and she was accepted on a student visa into England, at the Kings College, which I checked out. It’s a top university, and very tough to get in to. She’s studying medicine, so she must be smart.”
“And she’s happy?”
“See for yourself,” Kane handed his laptop to me and it was on a social media page with Libby’s name and image at the top. There were some photos and when I scrolled through them I saw image after image of her smiling and happy, her arm around people who had to be friends and so much happiness on her face.
“She’s happy,” I sighed emotionally. “Thank you, Kane.” I handed him back his laptop and placed my hand on his thigh as I gathered myself. “That’s all I wanted. I was s-so scared what happened would ruin her life,” I said, to everyone, since they were all watching me, except Jenny who had gone back to her room to get dressed.
“She must be made of tough stuff, just like you, Addy,” Adam told me as he pressed a hand to my shoulder, then settled on the seat beside me.
“Do you want to reach out to her? Let her know you’re doing okay too?” Jordan asked from where he was perched on the arm of the armchair that Eli sat in.
“No, she’s moved on. I don’t want to bring it all back for her. I think it’s best she gets to just put the whole terrible day behind her. But I’ll always be grateful to her for saving my life.”
“We all will. I’ll find out of there’s an anonymous way I can contribute to her college costs. She won’t know it was us, but it will help her get a better start if she hasn’t got debt hanging over her when she graduates,” Asher suggested, and I smiled.
“Do you think we could do that? It’s a great idea,” I asked.
“Leave it with me, sweetheart. I’ll find a way,” Asher promised.
I sat back and laid my head against Kane’s arm. He moved me, so he could wrap his arm around me, and my head was instead on his chest. Just another thing had clicked into place for me that morning. Libby was living her life to the full. She obviously struggled right afterwards, but she found the strength to put it all behind her and keep going. She had amazed and delighted me. I felt so much lighter knowing she was happy. It had been weighing me down since the memory of that day returned to me, and I had been so scared Kane was going to tell me something terrible had happened to Libby. But he didn’t. Libby had found a happily ever after, for now at least, and that lightened my soul. I just hoped I could find my own peace too eventually.