Chapter 22
Reese
“What now?” I finally asked after we’d been in the car for several minutes.
Kendrick was clearly angry about how the evening had gone, including the discussion held with other members of Raven Intel.
His jaw was clenched, his eyes straight ahead, but the real telltale expression was the way his hands were wrapped around the steering wheel.
He could easily snap the thick leather given his size and strength.
Just like he’d almost done with Franklin.
How interesting that all throughout the conversation with the Intel members, I’d had constant visions, vivid images of Kendrick ending Franklin’s life.
What kind of person did that make me? Maybe one who was finished with hiding what he’d done to me.
Or maybe I was just angry that there were men and even women in the world who believed they didn’t need permission to take from others.
“Now, we try and rest.” Even his words were stilted. A man on a mission. “Tomorrow is a new day.”
When I remained quiet, he finally shifted in his seat, his fingers placed on my knee.
While the gesture was meant for comfort, a series of tiny shivers roared through me.
All red-hot. Sighing, I looked out the passenger window, my body slowly stiffening.
“I keep thinking about what Briana is going through. If only I’d been there.
If only I would have warned her about Franklin. ”
If only.
“Don’t worry. We’re getting closer. Mistakes will be made.” He rubbed his finger on the steering wheel and I could tell his mind was furrowing deep into thoughts of revenge. Just like mine were.
I was so deep in thought that minutes later I jumped when his phone rang.
“John. What have you got for me?” Almost instantly, Kendrick’s face turned to stone. “You’re certain.”
My breath caught in my throat, I shifted in my seat, studying him. Something had happened.
“No, don’t try and follow them. Do me a favor if you have a chance. Take a swing by in the morning and see if they’re still there.” He glanced in my direction, his expression pensive as hell.
What was going on?
“No. We’ll be staying somewhere else for the night. I appreciate your help with this.” He smashed his hand on the steering wheel, suddenly changing lanes. “Yes, call me in the morning after you’ve swung by. No. I don’t need a police detail. I can handle this myself.”
After he tossed the phone, he took a deep breath.
“What?”
“Change in plans.”
“Meaning?”
“We have visitors at the house. Including a couple assholes walking the grounds.”
“Casing the place.”
He half chuckled. “Maybe so. We’re going to a safe location.”
“A hotel?”
“No, something better. I have no doubt they’ll check credit cards. And I need weapons. You need a powerful computer to initiate the social media blitz. Relax, baby. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
As he made a turn, I settled back into my seat. While there was no way of knowing how this would end, I felt safe with him. Even though I knew the men of the Privileged were dangerous, I also believed Kendrick would do anything to keep me safe.
Anything.
The festive lights of South Beach shouldn’t surprise me, although so much about the handsome yet ruthless man continued to do so.
Every time I thought I had Kendrick figured out, he surprised me.
Playing guitar. The lengths he’d gone to for his sister.
His ability to walk into any situation and own it.
As he made several turns I studied his face. In the garish neon lights, every sculpted feature was on display. His cheekbones, and his nose that might have been broken before. The slight crook added to his ruggedness.
Even the length of his dark eyelashes was sexy as hell.
He made another turn, pulling into what appeared to be an underground garage, complete with a digitized security code for entrance.
“What is this place?” I’d seen clubs and various restaurants, people crowding the sidewalks while others roamed the beach only yards away.
This was the heart of the action in Miami, a beautiful, diverse section of town that never slept.
“You get to see the real guy underneath the Armani suits.” Kendrick laughed and wound his way through a garage filled with mostly expensive vehicles, pulling into an assigned space.
As soon as he cut the engine, he glanced in my direction.
“Just promise me you won’t make fun of my decorative skills. ”
“Oh, this I have to see.”
He laughed all the way to the elevator, but even though it seemed like he was relaxed, I could tell otherwise. He was constantly scanning the dimly lit garage, his jacket unbuttoned and his hand on his weapon.
When we landed on the floor, he pressed his hand against me, going into the hallway first. Finally, he motioned for me to step out, protecting me as we headed down a long hall.
“Wait right here,” he directed, his voice soft but his tone harsh. As soon as he was inside, I noticed the security system on the wall.
Three minutes later, he finally allowed me inside.
“Home, sweet home.”
So many aspects of Kendrick’s personality were unexpected, which kept the time spent with him exciting in a way that didn’t feel possible. I should feel nothing but anger and sadness, yet he always found a way to make me smile.
Including seeing his personal space.
There were no ten-thousand-dollar rugs and plush living room furniture costing more than I made in an entire year. There were no fabulous art sculptures purchased on a fabulous Italian vacation or art deco wall paintings any art thief would die to get their hands on.
While the leather furniture appeared comfy, the rich camel color very appropriate for a rugged man, it had seen better days.
Yet the setting worked with a simple yet artful area rug and glass coffee table.
Given the building’s original layout as being a warehouse of some sort, the windows fronting the South Beach strip were at least twenty-five feet tall, floor to ceiling, allowing for an incredible view of the ocean.
There were two other guitars on stands, and a fabulous music and entertainment system. I had a feeling that’s where his money had been spent.
The open layout allowed one room to shift into another, what appeared to be an office space sectioned off by incredible frosted screens. Kitchen appliances gleamed on the far wall, stainless steel with granite countertops on a long island allowing for seating of six.
For some reason, I was holding my breath as I walked toward the bank of windows, amazed how incredible the setting was.
When I finally turned around, that’s when I realized there was a loft overhead, a curved staircase and iron railings surrounding two large rooms. One a library complete with several dark wood bookcases.
The other a bedroom.
What caused a little laugh was the other furniture in an entirely separate seating area: a huge two-seater–plus chair with a massive ottoman flanked by two glorified beanbag chairs.
With an amused look on his face, Kendrick was watching me carefully.
He finally moved toward the leather chair, carefully removing his weapon and placing it in the center of the coffee table. I took a deep breath while he yanked off his jacket and tie, tossing them as unwanted and unneeded.
“This is incredible,” I said, laughing. “Very eclectic.”
“The bros tell me it’s college dorm material.” He turned to face me, slowly unfastening his sleeves. He was taking his sweet time rolling them over his elbows.
“Maybe a little of that, but it suits you.” As he walked past me, I was allowed a delicious whiff of his aftershave, which had occurred all night long. Why was it the fragrance seemed different in his own space?
He tossed his keys onto a foyer table. There was no real definition anywhere, just solid steel columns and high industrial ceilings, yet there was nothing cold about his condo. Other than that he had no greenery of any kind.
“I guess I’ll take that as a compliment.” Tonight, everything about him had been commanding, his protection of me unlike anything someone other than my father had done for me.
“You should. This is much more… you.”
“And what am I?”
“Down to earth. A little rough around the edges.”
“Hmmm… I guess that’s better than a controlling asshole.”
“Very much so. Mind if I take off my shoes?”
“Not at all. Make yourself at home. I might have a bottle of wine around here someplace.” He slowly sauntered toward me, much more comfortable in his own surroundings.
When he closed the distance yet remained a few inches away, I was left with the same breathless anxiety I’d been experiencing all night.
“Beer is fine with me.”
While the nightmare dragged on, I knew I couldn’t have made it sane or even alive without Kendrick. Maybe I was as in awe of him as I was…
The concept of what I was thinking was completely inappropriate. Yet I should have known he wouldn’t allow me to get away with fading into the background.
With a single finger, he guided my chin back to the front, peering down at me with his soulful eyes. “Do you still trust me?”
“Yes.”
“Then believe me when I say this will end soon. Briana will be back home in a few days.”
“Don’t make promises neither you nor those pretty fabulous men you call friends can provide.”
“Don’t you dare get too cozy with them, lady.” His laugh allowed tiny prickles of heat to dance across my arms.
“Mmm… Jealous?”
“Maybe a little.” There was another moment shared, the touch of his fingers against my face managing to pull me away from the horror and uncertainty.
“Thank you for everything you’re doing.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” He lowered his head, the piercing look in his eyes entirely different than I’d seen before. Cautious. Determined.