Chapter Seven.
Rooster
K enny looked so shocked; Rooster could tell the idea hadn’t crossed her mind. She wasn’t stupid by a long shot, so he was surprised she hadn’t considered that. Kenny sipped her coffee quietly, not holding his gaze as Kenny stared out over the scenery.
“You’d not thought of that?” he finally asked.
“That someone wants me dead? No.”
“What do you think is happening?” Rooster questioned.
“Someone’s annoyed and is trying to scare me,” Kenny replied in small a voice.
“Agreed, but twice they’ve aimed for you and could have killed you. Sorry, babe, but this isn’t about frightening you,” Rooster said gently.
Kenny looked shaken, and Rooster held his next words. It was hard enough to know you’re being targeted, but marked for death was a difficult thing to handle.
“Someone really is trying to kill me,” Kenny whispered.
“Yeah. That’s why you’re here. You’ve not been sleeping right. Kenny, you’re in pain and racing around everywhere. Nobody is looking after you. So, I will. I saved you the first time, and I’m invested in making sure you heal. You’re staying here tonight and getting some proper rest and then we’ll reassess in the morning,” Rooster said firmly and saw the fight light up in her eyes.
“Is that so?”
“Babe, work with me. Let me look after you for a couple of days, and you can relax. Then, when everything is less painful, and you’re not as tired, we’ll put our heads together,” Rooster offered.
Kenny eyed him suspiciously. “Why here? Rooster, I can do that at Mac’s,” Kenny said and got an immediate scowl from Rooster.
He didn’t like that idea. “Mac did not save you. I did.”
Rooster saw Kenny wondering how that made a difference.
“That alone gives me responsibilities towards you,” he explained.
Kenny frowned, and Rooster nearly bit his tongue out. Kenny didn’t like that.
“Oh, I don’t know, Roo. This is all new, and I’m completely confused and scared,” Kenny admitted.
“Babe, I didn’t mean to scare you. The truth is obvious. We gotta figure out who is doing this. You need time, Kenny, to heal and to have some breathing space,” Rooster pushed a little.
Rooster allowed her a few moments to consider his suggestion. He saw Kenny’s brain working things out behind her eyes and wondered what he’d need to say to make her stay if she refused.
“The front gate is the only way to enter or exit Hellfire land. Where at Rage everybody is spread out, Hellfire is clustered together here. This makes it safer for everyone. Plus, who is going to search for you here?”
“But we barely know each other, Rooster. This does feel a little weird,” Kenny finally responded.
“What do you find is strange?”
“As I said, we hardly know one another, and yet you want me to stay here for my safety. I don’t understand why you’re so invested in what I do,” Kenny answered.
“Because I hauled you from a burning car, and that makes your well-being my responsibility,” Rooster repeated, and Kenny bristled.
“Rooster, I’m twenty-nine years old. I’ve been alone for years and can take care of myself. This fuss isn’t really necessary,” Kenny retorted.
“Okay, babe, I’ll take you home. During the night, someone breaks into your place. Security is alerted and alert Rage. Both police and Rage are heading towards you. It’s at least ten minutes until somebody arrives. It takes thirty seconds for someone to storm up your stairs and shoot you dead. Your help racing towards you will be nine and a half minutes late,” Rooster said baldly.
“Well shit, I don’t think I like you.” Kenny pouted.
“That’s okay, but at least you’ll be alive to dislike me,” Rooster agreed with a chuckle.
“Fine, I’ll stay. Phoe has already told me I’m not allowed back for four weeks until my ribs heal properly. I’ll stay for a week; that should give Rage and Hellfire plenty of time to find the culprit,” Kenny begrudgingly offered.
“That’s good,” Rooster said, taking the win.
Kendara
I’m sure Rooster thought he’d won a major battle, but he hadn’t. What Rooster had suggested made sense, and I was putting Blue and Rage in harm’s way. Rooster had made a valid point. Rage was spread out in Rapid City, whereas from what I had seen, most of Hellfire lived at the compound. There were only a couple of homes built, but there were trailers parked around that I assumed belonged to the brothers. They were on large plots of land, which, again, I guessed, was where they were building their houses.
I’d also got Rooster to agree to take me home so I could pack some shit. There was no way I wanted to wear borrowed clothes, no matter how nice they were. Saying that, I was currently wearing a huge tee of Roosters which hung mid-thigh as I waited for mine to wash.
Clio had sent some brand-new underwear over, but I had more junk in the trunk than her, and they barely covered my ass cheeks. The washing machine beeped, and I whipped the clothes out and shoved them in the dryer. At least I would be comfortable in the morning. I hurried back along the hallway, aware the boys were now in bed.
Rooster had said to make myself at home and then disappeared. Idly, I wondered where he’d gone, but it felt too rude to pry. Instead, I headed for the bedroom I’d woken in and climbed into bed before grabbing my phone. I had the Kindle app on there and would read until I fell to sleep.
◆◆◆
A soft noise woke me up, and I blinked against the bright sunlight shining through the curtains. My phone was on the bedside table, and I knew I’d not put it there. Plus, someone had tucked me in. Blast, I’d been so tired I must have fallen asleep sitting up. I didn’t even recall reading as I planned to.
The faint sound echoed again, and I wondered what was happening.
“Brax, you can’t just enter the room,” Kit hissed.
“That’s my angel, I found her first,” Brax insisted.
A smile crossed my lips as I listened in.
“That’s a woman we’re looking after,” Finn interrupted.
“No, she’s my angel, so shut the fu—hey, Dad! ”
I stifled a laugh at Brax’s abrupt sentence change. Rooster had his hands full with these boys, and I loved them already.
“Yeah, you better watch your mouth, boy. Who wants to help make breakfast?”
“Do we have to?” Brax whined.
“No. You’ll have toast while Kit, Finn, and I make Kenny something to eat,” Rooster said.
“That’s my Kenny!” Brax howled, latching on to my name, and I heard a stomping of feet.
“Wow, Dad, way to go. Brax never makes breakfast. Could we keep her?” Kit gasped.
“Dude, Kenny’s a person. We can’t keep a person,” Finn argued.
“Yeah? How much does anyone wanna bet Brax is working on a way?” Kit responded.
“Shit! Has Brax mentioned anything to you? Traps? Cages?” Rooster asked, sounding panicked.
“Brax did mention wood,” Kit said.
“You two better watch Brax closely. Who knows what he’ll do to make sure Kendara stays here?”
“Why can’t we keep Kenny?” Kit asked, and I sensed a longing in his tone.
“Kenny has a busy life, son. She also lives in Rapid City, and, on top of that, we have the baby coming soon,” Rooster replied.
“Yeah, well, we want the kid, but not her. Can’t we give the baby to Kenny to make her stay?”
It worried me how much hate was in Kit’s voice as he referred to Sadie. Rooster said the boys hadn’t met her, but Sadie had clearly made an impression. And not a good one at that.
“Come on, let’s get breakfast on. Brax has been alone long enough to have burned the kitchen down,” Rooster suggested, and a smile crossed my lips.
Life in this house was a constant adventure.
◆◆◆
I hadn’t expected being locked in the car with three boys who asked endless questions as we drove home. Rooster was amused because there wasn’t a single question they deemed off-limits. And all Rooster muttered was, how were they supposed to learn? The kids asked anything and everything. Where I grew up, my first job, closest friend, to what food I hated.
I had the sensation that they were soaking up my answers to dissect tonight, and Rooster clearly wasn’t going to shut them up. I finally got them to play I Spy. And boy, did they dream up some weird and wonderful answers. The best was Brax’s ‘I spy with my little eye, something beginning with B then A…’ ten minutes later, even Rooster gave up on that one. Of course, it was quite simple. Brax’s Angel.
My drive was empty when we pulled up, and Rooster told us all to stay in the vehicle until he checked everything out. His high and mighty, take-charge attitude was beginning to grate, but as Rooster searched, my eyes landed on something. An item was misplaced in the living room window, which faced the front. A garden gnome caught my attention as it faced the opposite way. My spine stiffened, and I climbed over the car to sit in the driver’s side .
Someone had been here again. And by the looks of it, they’d been inside, but until I got in myself, I couldn’t say for certain.
The gnome was definitely facing the wrong way. Of course, a neighbourhood kid might have knocked it down or the postman.
Rooster frowned when he came from the backyard and saw I’d changed seats. “What’s up?”
“It sounds stupid, but the gnome has been turned around. And there’s something in the living room window that’s in the wrong place.”
“Start the engine. The first sign of trouble, run and take the kids to Rage. Do not wait for me; the boys are the main priority,” Rooster instructed softly.
“Call the police. Don’t go inside,” I whispered.
“Kenny, I’m not a cripple,” Rooster said somewhat harshly, and I blinked.
That wasn’t what I’d meant. But before I could articulate my thoughts, Rooster had gone. I sat tensely with the engine running and counted the minutes until Rooster returned.
“There’s nobody inside, and nothing looks tampered with. Come on, kids, let’s get Kenny packed up and get home,” Rooster said.
The kids climbed out of the car and headed straight into my house.
“Come on in,” I muttered and laughed.
When I entered, the boys were standing in the hallway with their shoes off. Wow, their manners were impeccable.
“Stay in the kitchen or living room. Do not explore; this is not your home; do not touch anything. Kenny has everything set up a certain way, so we’ll be aware if you move something,” Rooster warned.
“You do?” Kit asked suspiciously.
I closed my eyes. “See the penguin on the window ledge. He’s looking at the front door. The bigger penguin is finger length behind him, peering over the first’s shoulder. The plant pot is in the middle. Down the right-hand side is a small crack which always faces the right and on the front is a blue flower. To the left is a snowman, staring straight at the garden. A deer looks to the left of the snowman, and a polar beer stares at the front door. Need I continue?” I asked.
All three boys shook their heads.
“You got the snowman wrong. He’s looking at us,” Brax replied.
“No, Snowy faces outwards.”
My back stiffened as Rooster and I made eye contact. The snowman had indeed been moved.
“How?” I whispered as Rooster took my elbow and walked me away from the kids. “The security system was set. You saw me do it.”
“I’m guessing this wasn’t you either,” Rooster said and led me into the kitchen.
A small cry of horror left my lips.
My kitchen dining table had been set for two, including plates, cutlery, and glasses.
“Get your shit now, Kendara. I don’t like this. It feels fuckin’ menacing,” Rooster demanded, and I fled down the hallway to the stairs. I raced up them and slammed into my room. The boys called out to Rooster, alarmed, and I heard him calming them down.
Someone had got past the security system once again and entered my home. This wasn’t anywhere near amusing. Was it the same person? Was one a stalker and one a killer? What had I done to attract them—or him?
Rooster walked into my bedroom and sat down on the bed as I hauled a suitcase out. I began packing jeans, tees, and sweaters. I didn’t need my suits as I was not at work.
“Lance, someone has got in again, no bullshit,” Rooster said. “Hold on, I will put you on loudspeaker.”
“What happened?” Lance demanded down the phone. “Where are you?”
“Can’t you see us on camera?” Rooster asked.
“Dude, there’s no one in Kendara’s house.”
“We’re here,” I squeaked.
“Fuck, let me get Owl and Worm,” Lance replied and bellowed their names. “I’ll call you back.”
I kept cramming stuff into the suitcase, and Rooster leant forward and covered my hands.
“Babe, breathe,” Rooster murmured as I stared, panicked, at our hands. “The asshole won’t get through me, Kendara. Whoever this is, he will not touch a hair on your head.”
“You can’t put yourself at risk for me.”
“Why? Because I’m a cripple?” Rooster growled out .
“No, shut up, you idiot. I meant the children. They need you, you’re their world. You have to put the boys first,” I insisted.
Rooster smiled, and I revelled in the warmth radiating from it.
“You mean that?”
“Of course I do. The boys will be broken if anything else happens to you. They watch your every move if you haven’t realised. We can’t risk their happiness over me. You have to drop me at a hotel or somewhere. The kids come first,” I babbled.
Rooster reached out and grabbed me and rubbed his hands up and down my arms. The friction of his skin on mine made me shiver, and I stopped moving as Rooster continued to comfort me.
“Kenny, calm down. Nobody’s gonna hurt the kids or you. I may have lost a leg, babe, but I am still a man and capable of defending you,” Rooster soothed.
That was it. The straw that broke the camel’s back. “Will you shut up about your fucking leg? You are the only person it bothers. I couldn’t give a shit that you had an amputation, and frankly, I’m tired of hearing about it. It doesn’t make you any less of a man.
“Sadie is a bitch. I get she did a number on you, but not everyone thinks like Sadie does. And to be honest, it’s insulting you think your leg bothers me. Should I harp on about the colour of my skin and wonder if you have issues with it? No? Then don’t insult me, either. I’m not Sadie or any of the other bitches you mentioned .
“I’m actually full of admiration at how you got yourself back on your feet and marched on. How easy would it have been to wallow in what you lost and lose yourself in drugs? Nope. Not you. You pulled shit together and kept moving forward for your boys. That’s a real fucking man, Rooster. A lot of full-bodied men couldn’t give a fuck about their kids,” I yelled at him.
My chest heaved as I was panting so hard in temper.
Rooster stared, and then I was hauled into his lap, and his mouth descended on mine. His lips were firm and gentle, but there was a desperation in Rooster’s kiss that wound its way through my anger and turned it into a roaring desire. Rooster’s hand held my head in place as his arm wrapped around me and drew me closer.
The kiss sent shivers racing through me, and my pulse began to thump for another reason. As much as I was drowning in Rooster’s kiss, I was fully aware of his hot hands on my body. His teeth nibbled my bottom lip, making me shudder against him as wetness pooled between my legs. My arms erupted in goosebumps as Rooster gently trailed his fingers down them.
“Dad!” Brax yelled, and I jerked away from Rooster and stared into his eyes.
The golden honeycomb I was so used to was now a molten lava with desire racing through them.
“What, Brax?” Rooster called back.
“Somebody just pulled on the drive! ”
I was out of Rooster’s lap in a blink, and before I even realised he’d moved me, Rooster was out the door and down the stairs.
By the time I finally got my head in the game, I heard Rooster calling. I glanced in the mirror and tried to straighten my bob before heading out after Rooster. There’d been no panic in his voice, so I guess it wasn’t an enemy.
“What’s happening?” Mac questioned as I descended the stairs. At the same time, Rooster’s phone rang, and he peered at it.
“Lance,” he announced and answered, walking away.
“Kenny,” Mac demanded, his narrowed gaze following Rooster.
“Someone’s been here again. They bypassed the security Lance put in. Lance isn’t even picking up that we’re here right now,” I said.
“That’s not what I meant, Kendara. Why are you with them?” Mac lowered his voice, but I could tell he was pissed.
“Rooster came to visit me yesterday to see how I was. And I had to rush out to a client, so Rooster drove me. And I was so tired, I fell to sleep at his house,” I replied.
“Why were you at his place?” Mac demanded.
“What the hell? I’m a grown woman, fully capable of looking after myself. And I resent your implications. Think very carefully on your next words,” I warned him.
Mac, as usual, bumbled his way ahead. “You are off limits. Not a barfly or a casual fuck for Rooster to play with, Kenny. You’re mine and Blue’s family, and I won’t have you treated with anything less than respect,” Mac snarled, glaring in Rooster’s direction.
“He’s done nothing wrong!” I insisted.
I blamed Mac for interrupting us before anything had happened, however, I definitely wasn’t going to confess.
“Well, I am gonna make sure Rooster remembers who you are to Rage.”
“And what am I?” I demanded, exasperated.
“My family. And family is off-limits.”
“Really? Behave yourself.” “Go and pack, Kenny, honey,” Mac said with a winning smile. But he wasn’t feeling it, I could tell.
“I am halfway packed.”
“Good. I’ll let Casey know to prepare the guest room.”
“No. I’m going with Rooster. It’s safer for me that way. Nobody will be looking for me on Hellfire, but they will Rage. And I’m guessing whoever this is, is either desperate to get me, or they’re cleverer than we believed. If they’ve bypassed Lance’s system, then the best place for me is in a locked-down compound. I need you to find him so I can come home.”
Mac looked at me and glowered in Rooster’s direction. “I don’t like this.”
“I know. But this is my decision. There’re always people around on Hellfire. He’ll not creep past cameras so easily. I honestly believe I would be safer there. Unless you think Rooster isn’t capable of looking after me because he lost a leg?” I challenged.
“Are you kidding me, Kenny?” Mac demanded, horrified. “That never even crossed my mind. He’s my brother!”
“Good. Then trust Rooster with your family!” I retorted, and Mac looked pissed at being cornered, but he inclined his head and stormed after Rooster.
“Wow, you don’t hold your punches,” Kit said from the living room doorway.
“You remember that!” I warned the cheeky boy.
He tilted his chin and ducked inside the room.
“Jesus, I need eyes in the back of my head,” I muttered. If only I knew how true that was.