Chapter 13
Kens. She liked that. Or maybe she only liked it because he was the one giving her that nickname. Coming from him, it made her feel special.
“So, I guess it’s my turn.” She hated talking about that time in her life. No one could understand how frightened she’d been and how it had changed her and her family. Cooper had been kidnapped, though, so if anyone could understand it would be him.
“The man snatched me right out of my front yard where I should have been safe, you know?”
“You should have been. Obviously, you were found. How and how long did he have you?”
“I got away that night.”
“You saved yourself?”
“I did. He drove for a long time, and when it got dark, I guess I fell asleep. When the car stopped moving, I woke up but pretended I was still asleep. When he got out of the car, I opened my eyes and saw we were at a motel. I could read well enough by then to understand what the sign said. It was the Pearl Motel, and the sign said they rented rooms by the hour. At the time, I didn’t understand what that signified. ”
“Hell, Kendall.”
“I know. I try hard not to think about what he might have done to me in one of those rooms. I guess he thought I was fast asleep and wouldn’t wake up for the few minutes he was getting a room.
As soon as he walked into the office, I got out of the car and started running.
I didn’t know where I was, and I don’t know how long I ran before I saw a gas station.
There was an older woman working there, and she called the police. ”
“He didn’t come after you, try to find you?”
“If he did, I never saw him.”
“Did he touch you? Do anything to you?”
This was the part that still sometimes gave her nightmares. “While I was in the car, he put his hand on my leg, told me I was a pretty girl and that I was going to be a good friend to his sister. I didn’t know what all that meant.” She shuddered just remembering that long-ago day.
“I told him I wanted my mother, and he told me that my mother gave me to him because she didn’t want me anymore. I didn’t really believe him, but a part of me wondered if it was true. If she wanted me, she wouldn’t have let him take me, right?”
“It’s easy for predators to play mind games with a child. Children tend to believe what adults tell them. Did they catch him?”
“No. By the time the police went to the motel, he was long gone. The clerk claimed he didn’t pay attention to what the man looked like, and there weren’t security cameras everywhere like there is now.
I couldn’t give them a good description, and I didn’t know what kind of car he drove other than it was white.
What if he abducted other girls because I couldn’t tell the police what he looked like?
I think about that a lot.” Tears gathered in her eyes, and she squeezed them shut. She would not cry.
“That’s why you do the podcasts, because you feel like it’s your fault he’s still out there somewhere.”
“Yes,” she whispered as tears she hoped he couldn’t see fell down her cheeks.
“All the blame falls on the man who took you. All of it. You were seven years old, Kendall, and terrified. Even adults often can’t give accurate descriptions of a suspect.
That you had the courage and bravery to escape like you did is amazing in itself.
So instead of thinking anything about that time was your fault, think instead of the courage that little girl had and the good that grown-up girl is doing now. ”
Was it that easy? “To this day, I sometimes look over my shoulder, watching for him to come take me back. Except I don’t think I’d recognize him even if he stood in front of me.”
“I think if you were to see him again, you’d sense something was off. Always trust your instincts. I’m guessing your parents were overly protective of you once you were back home.”
“They were never the same, especially my mother. Mom was as afraid as I was that he’d come back, and except for school, and until the day she died, I wasn’t allowed to be out of her sight.
I added feeling suffocated to the fear that was always with me.
We moved to a gated community where it would be harder for someone to get me. ”
“Come here, Kendall.”
“There?”
“Yes. I need to hold you.”
When was the last time someone had held her? It was an offer she couldn’t refuse, didn’t want to. She checked to make sure Livie was still asleep, then she eased out of bed. He held the covers up for her to slide under. Once she was in the bed, he dropped the covers over her.
“Turn on your side, facing away from me,” he said. “Good. Now snuggle your back against me.”
Oh, she was liking this.
“Go to sleep now.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and rested his palm on her stomach.
She was safe, Livie was safe and peace and contentment settled inside her. “Thank you for this, for being here,” she whispered. For making her feel safe.
“There’s no place I’d rather be than here.” He pressed a gentle kiss to the nape of her neck in response.
She smiled. He’d said that before, and she liked hearing it. The steady rise and fall of his chest against her back was a comforting rhythm, lulling her to sleep.
When she awoke, it was to find Livie in bed with her and Cooper gone.
How had she slept through Livie joining her and Cooper leaving?
That had been the best sleep she’d had in a long time, and she was tempted to go right back to sleep.
What time was it? She glanced at the clock on the night table. Whoa, it was 9:17.
She slipped out of bed. She’d get Livie up after she got dressed. She slipped on a sundress and sandals, then made a quick trip to the bathroom. Where was Cooper? She heard his voice but couldn’t make out what he was saying. Whom was he talking to?
“We have company, so you’re going to need to behave,” he said. “You’re going to love Livie, and she’s going to love you.”
No one answered him. Curious, Kendall followed the sound of his voice, finding him in the kitchen, but she didn’t see anyone else. “Who were you talking to?”
His gaze had been on the floor, and the kitchen island kept her from seeing what he was looking at. He lifted his eyes to hers and smiled. “Good morning.”
“I can’t believe I slept so late. Why didn’t you wake me up?
” She walked around the island, stopping when she saw the trembling dog glued to Cooper’s leg.
Because of its multicolored fur, it was the oddest-looking creature she’d ever seen.
It wasn’t a pretty dog except for the big, soft brown eyes. Those were pretty. “This must be Ruby.”
“Yes, Gray dropped her off this morning. She’s shy, but once she learns that you won’t hurt her, she’ll be your friend.”
“Ah, sweet girl, do I scare you?” She dropped to her knees a few feet away from Ruby, then glanced up at Cooper. “Was she mistreated?”
“I don’t know her story, but from the way she reacts to sudden movements, I’m sure she was. There was a chain around her neck, and she was dragging about three feet of it when she jumped into my car. Shortly after, a man with mean eyes came looking for her. I hid her and brought her home with me.”
“You poor girl.” Kendall held out her hand and Ruby stretched her nose to sniff her fingers. “I hope you know how lucky you are to have found Cooper.” She looked up at him and smiled. “From the way she’s glued to you, I think she does know.”
“Ready for some coffee?” he said.
“Yes, please.”
Livie ran into the kitchen. “Mommy, I lost you.”
“You’ll never lose me. You ready for breakfast?”
“I’m hungry.” Her eyes grew wide. “Doggie!”
Kendall pulled her back when she headed for the dog. “Easy, okay? This is Ruby, and she’s shy. We have to be gentle with her. Here, I’ll show you. Hold your hand out like this.” She showed Livie how to let Ruby smell her fingers.
“Well, look at that,” Cooper said.
Ruby was licking Livie’s hand, something she’d not done to Kendall. Ruby inched closer to Livie, then rolled over on her back.
Cooper chuckled. “She wants you to rub her belly.” He lifted his gaze to Kendall. “It seems she likes children. She loves playing with Gray’s son, Tyler.”
She stood, leaving Ruby and Livie to make friends. “How old is Tyler?”
“Six, almost seven, I think. He’s a good kid, and he’ll be nice to Livie. We’ll head over there after breakfast. If Livie’s okay with it, we’ll leave her with Harlow and Tyler while we go to my office. Gray and Liam want to sit down with us and debrief.”
She glanced down at Livie, who was now stretched out next to Ruby. “Are you sure she’ll be safe there?”
“Absolutely. Harlow will keep her in the house, and they have a first-rate alarm system. We won’t be at the office long, but Livie would be bored if we take her there with us. She can take Ruby with her.”
“Okay. If Ruby’s there, too, I’m sure Livie won’t have a problem with staying with them.”
“Great. Let’s eat so we can head over.”
Too fascinated with her new friends Ruby and Tyler, Livie hadn’t glanced back once when Kendall left with Cooper. Kendall had liked Harlow, Grayson’s wife, a lot, and their home on the beach was beautiful. She hadn’t wanted to leave herself.
She was at The Phoenix Three now, and she wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but she was impressed. The three-story building was rough-hewn brown brick, the windows mirror tinted so you couldn’t see in, and the landscaping around the building was perfectly manicured hedges and colorful flowers.
A young security guard nodded as she and Cooper entered the building. “Good morning, ma’am, Mr. Devlin.”
Cooper nodded back. “Morning, Josh.”
They rode the elevator to the third-floor lobby where a professionally dressed, middle-aged woman sat behind a high counter. Above her head was the company’s name in large chrome letters.
“Veronica, this is Kendall Hart,” Cooper said. “Kendall, this is the woman who keeps us organized.”
Kendall smiled. “I bet that’s a job in itself.”
“You don’t know the half of it.” Veronica grinned at Cooper. “And this one is the worst of the lot.”
“Hey, now. Don’t forget I sign your paychecks.”
The fondness between them was obvious. “It’s nice to meet you, Veronica.”
“And I you.” She shifted her gaze to Cooper. “Grayson’s in his office, and Liam’s on the way.”
“Thanks.”
“Veronica seems nice,” she said after they went through the door into interior offices.
“She is. She was a part of a case Gray was working a while back. Her daughter was murdered, and she was alone without any family. We offered her a job as our receptionist. One of the best decisions we’ve ever made. She really does keep us organized.”
“That’s sad that her daughter was killed.”
“Yes, it is. Harlow’s ex-husband is in prison now, for among other things, being behind the murder. Even though she had nothing to do with it, Harlow felt guilty about that, which was primarily the reason Gray wanted to offer Veronica the job. Turned out to be a win for us.”
“And for her, I imagine. Gives her a purpose. I’m guessing she mothers you three.”
He chuckled. “That she does. In here.”
“This is your office?”
“Yes.”
“Nice.” She walked to the window and looked out. “I can see the ocean.” Their building was higher than the ones between them and the water, giving him a nice view.
“It’s a four-minute walk to the beach. There’s a good restaurant right on the sand we can have lunch at.”
“That would be nice.”
“Morning, people.”
She turned from the window to see an extremely handsome man smiling at her.
“You must be Kendall,” he said. “I’m Grayson, or Gray. Either works.”
“I am Kendall.” He’d already left when they stopped at his house to drop off Livie and Ruby. “I met Harlow this morning, and I must say, she’s lovely.”
“Yes, she is. I just got off the phone with her. She said to tell you that your daughter and my son are besties already.”
“Thanks. I was worried about leaving Livie after what she’s been though, so it’s good to know she’s having a good time.”
Another man walked in. His black hair and striking blue eyes made for a mighty fine-looking man. Where did they grow these guys? Her gaze swept across the men, and although the newcomer was the hottest of the three, it was Cooper who made her heart flutter.
“You must be Kendall,” he said with a warm smile.
“I am.”
“Kendall, this is Liam O’Rourke,” Cooper said. “We’re your team.”
“I have a team?”