Chapter 52 #2
And while I searched for Juliet, I scanned the area for Kylie, knowing my heart wouldn’t return to its normal beat until I laid eyes on her.
Five minutes passed, then ten, then fifteen.
Didn’t Kylie know I was going to have a heart attack? At the very least, a panic attack? I hated not knowing where any of them were at any given moment.
“I’m sure she’s fine,” Gage said quietly. “Probably finishin’ up her coffee with Jess, enjoyin’ her last bit of peace and quiet before joinin’ the fray.”
Sure. Probably. But the rationality didn’t help to slow the rapid beat of my heart.
I reached into my pocket to retrieve my phone but stopped suddenly when the air was rent with a horrific sound. The revving of an engine, the eerie screech of tires, followed by a sickening crash, then a crescendo of screams and shouts.
All eyes shifted to Main Street, instinctively following the sound. The same place the masses were headed, many pulling out cell phones, some making calls, others turning on cameras.
Without thinking, I took off running.
I wasn’t sure who was behind me, and in that moment, I didn’t care. I probably should’ve thought about my children, ensured someone had remained back to keep an eye on them, but something in my chest was ripping open, and I was merely trying to keep my heart from leaping out of my throat.
“Call 911!” someone yelled.
“Oh, my God! It hit her! The car! It hit her!”
That day was forever etched in my mind. I’d never experienced anything as horrific as finding my wife lying motionless on the ground, having been plowed into by a psycho bitch whose only goal was to inflict pain.
Taking deep, calming breaths, I reminded myself that Kylie was alive. That she was home, safe. With us.
Thanks in no small part to the man I was about to confront.
As I made my way over to the park, I passed a few people out enjoying what was left of the afternoon sunshine.
Being that it was December, there was only about another hour left of daylight.
It made for short days, but longer evenings, so I couldn’t necessarily complain.
Not anymore. Kylie was home safe, where she belonged.
Just thinking about how my family and I had spent the past two years believing she was dead caused a red haze to cloud my vision. Especially as I locked eyes with the man who’d been partially responsible.
“Hey,” Kieran greeted as I approached.
I didn’t greet him. Nor did I nail him in his perfect jaw with my fist like I wanted to.
“Look, Travis, I—”
“Don’t talk,” I interrupted, standing less than two feet away.
“Okay.”
I glared at him.
Kieran sighed.
“I know you think you have a good reason for doin’ what you did,” I told him, shoving my hands in my pockets to avoid pounding him into dust. “I’m sure at some point you convinced yourself that what you were doin’ was right and just. For the greater good and all that bullshit.
But I’m here to tell you, you were wrong.
There is no valid excuse for what you did.
I have five kids who spent nearly two years livin’ without their mother, mourning her death.
And Kylie… don’t even get me started about the trauma you caused my wife. ”
I had to respect Kieran’s ability to stand there and listen. I could tell he wanted to argue, but he kept his trap shut. At least regarding his excuses.
“How is she?”
I didn’t expect the question, but the answer came easily. “Better. It’s a slow process, but she’s puttin’ in the work.”
“Her foot? Is it healed?”
“Mostly. There’s nerve damage.”
I watched him as the guilt contorted his expression. It helped that he felt bad about what he did. It was his only saving grace. If he’d come here all pompous and shit, I would’ve pounded him into the ground.
“I’m workin’ with Brantley’s team,” Kieran said.
“You’re not back with the FBI?”
His gaze lowered briefly but then lifted to mine again. “No. I’m officially retired.”
“They canned you?”
Kieran shook his head. “I quit. After all was said and done, I took a good long look at myself, and I didn’t like what I saw.”
If he expected sympathy, he wasn’t getting it from me. “Good for you. You fucked with a lot of lives.”
“I know. I wish I could tell you I had a good reason, but that would be bullshit. I did it because I was told to do it. I thought takin’ Martin down, stoppin’ him from hurtin’ anyone else was justification for everything I did.” He looked me right in the eyes. “It wasn’t. Not by a long shot.”
“I heard your partner got killed.”
“She wasn’t my partner. Not officially. But yeah. Martin had her killed.”
I could tell that haunted him. “Sorry for your loss.”
“Yeah.” Kieran stood tall. “Look, Travis. There’s no excuse for what I did.
I should’ve come to you back when I found out she was at that hospital.
Instead, I fucked up. I took her to that house, thinkin’ I could get her out before anything happened to her.
I was wrong and I will never forgive myself.
But I will spend the rest of my life tryin’ to make up for what I did. I’m sure it’ll never be enough.”
“Probably not,” I agreed.
It was clear he hadn’t expected me to say that. But I wasn’t in a forgiving mood. Hell, I still couldn’t wrap my head around how he allowed it to happen. I thought I knew the guy.
“We’re still lookin’ for Cicily Rose,” Kieran said.
“No luck?”
He shook his head.
“But you know where Martin is?”
“He’s livin’ his life like nothin’ happened.”
“You think she’s alive?”
Kieran’s eyes narrowed. “I do. But I’m not sure that’s a good thing.”
“Probably not. That bastard’s not known for his hospitality.”
“No, he’s not. But he’s keepin’ her somewhere, and the team won’t stop until we find her.”
“Good. Let’s hope she’s in better shape than my wife was when you finally got your head out of your ass and saved her.”
I watched as his Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. “I deserve that.”
“You’re right. You do. Hell, you deserve my fist in your fuckin’ face. But I’m tryin’ to be the bigger man here.”
“How’s that workin’ for you?”
I glanced at my watch. “Another minute and I’ll probably break.” I met his stare again. “You don’t want that.”
“No. I don’t.” Kieran exhaled heavily. “Thanks for meetin’ with me, Travis.”
“Keep me apprised of what’s goin’ on with that case,” I told him. “My wife doesn’t know her sister, but she does know what it’s like to be imprisoned by Calloway. And find that girl. Bring her home safe.”
“I’ll do my best.”
In order to avoid shoving my fist in his face, I turned and walked away. I focused on taking deep, measured breaths as I crossed the park. I didn’t feel better about what Kieran did, but at least now we’d both said our piece. Moving on was the next step.
Gage
“I’ll be up in just a minute,” I told Travis as he headed up to bed shortly before ten.
The kids were all asleep and had been since Kylie took them up a couple of hours ago. I knew exactly when they conked out because I heard the old pipes clanging when she started the shower, signaling that she was getting ready for bed.
The routine was shifting somewhat, getting back to the familiar way it had been before the nightmare she endured.
There were still a few bumps in the road, but that was to be expected, no matter the situation.
With five kids under the age of eight … technically, it was nine because Kate would be celebrating her eighth birthday in three days.
They grew up way too fast.
When Travis headed for the back stairs, I went to the laundry room. More specifically, I went for the junk drawer that held all the extra cables and cords. My iPhone charger kicked the bucket yesterday. If I didn’t replace it now, there was a good chance my phone would be dead come morning.
I pulled open the drawer, intending to scavenge through all the crap, but as I peered down, my eyes widened. It was no longer full of crap. Instead, it was neatly organized, complete with small plastic trays to hold the different things. Just one of the many ways Kylie managed to calm the chaos.
“God, I love that woman,” I muttered, reaching for the cord I needed.
“I like the sound of that.”
Looking up, I found Kylie standing in the doorway, a grin on her face.
“Do you always whisper sweet nothings when you’re alone with the junk drawer?”
“Maybe.” With cord in hand, I closed the drawer. “I thought you were in bed.”
“I was. Then Travis got in the shower, so I thought I’d sneak down here and see what you were up to.”
I held up the cord to show her. “Did you need somethin’?”
Kylie peered behind her as she stepped down into the laundry room to join me. I watched as she quietly closed the door behind her. When she turned back, pinning me with those soulful blue eyes, my body hardened. Every fucking inch of me.
“Whatcha doin’?” I asked, although the words came out more like a croak as she closed the distance between us.
“Whatever I have to,” she said sweetly, stopping directly in front of me.
“To what?”
“To seduce you.”
My eyebrows shot upward. “Seduce me?”
“That’s my plan.” She took a step forward, pressing up against me. Her lips moved closer to mine as she whispered, “How’s it workin’ so far?”
God, this woman. Despite the hell she’d been through, the years she’d lost, that sexy, sweet woman I had fallen in love with all those years ago was still inside her.
More importantly, the connection we’d had since pretty much the first day I met her was still there.
The attraction still burned like a wildfire.
A soft clink sounded when the phone charger hit the top of the dryer, lost and forgotten as I reached for her.
“There’s no seduction necessary,” I whispered against her mouth. “I’m ready and willin’ anytime you are.”
“Prove it.”
“I intend to.”
I leaned in, brushing my mouth against hers. Kylie’s lips were soft as they melded to mine, her tongue gentle. I could spend hours kissing this woman. Kissing in itself had always been an erotic seduction that thrilled me. Especially when it came to kissing Kylie and Travis.