Chapter 18 Mckenna
EIGHTEEN
MCKENNA
I wake to the sound of Dad’s urgent tone and Maverick’s frantic whispering.
I bolt upright in bed, concern blazing through me as my mind plays catch up.
“It just happened,” Dad says.
“I can’t fucking believe it,” Maverick replies.
“Tell me about it,” Dad laughs. Laughs?
I squint my eyes in the early morning light, as if that will help me hear them better.
“We have to tell Mckenna,” Mav urges.
“Of course. I just, I don’t want to wake her.” Dad’s voice is quiet. “How’s she doing?”
“She’s…okay. She slept soundly the last two nights,” Mav says, relief threading through his voice.
Dad sighs. “Good. That’s good.”
“Yeah. Want a coffee?”
“Coffee would be good,” Dad agrees.
Their footsteps shuffle away from the closed bedroom door and I frown. Whatever they were talking about is obviously important news—something they consider waking me to share or they wouldn’t have been chatting outside my bedroom door.
Moving gingerly to the side of the bed, I swing my legs over the edge and suck in a deep breath.
I’m sore everywhere but feel the acute ache in my ribs.
I take a moment to stretch out my limbs, wincing at the tightness that laces my muscles.
But then, I stand and pull on a pair of comfortable shorts.
I change into a tank top, run a brush through my hair, and brush my teeth.
When I’m presentable, I take the stairs down to the kitchen where I find my dad and Mav drinking espresso and chatting like old friends.
It’s a sight I never thought I’d behold and yet, I like seeing them get along. I like knowing that they’re both in my corner. The two most formidable men I’ve ever known and they’ll do anything in their power to protect and support me.
“Good morning,” I say, my throat scratchy.
Their eyes snap in my direction. Dad stands, relief crossing his expression when he sees me. He closes the space between us in four large strides before carefully wrapping me in his arms.
“You okay, Kenny?” He kisses my temple.
I nod, hugging him as tightly as I can.
His hand flattens in the center of my back, grounding me. Reminding me that whatever comes next, he’s here. Him and Mav.
I pull away and walk over to Maverick. He holds out an arm, wrapping it around me and tucking me into his side. “How’d you sleep?”
“Okay,” I murmur, breathing him in. “What’s going on?”
Mav helps me slide onto a barstool while he moves toward the stove. “Tea?”
I nod.
He fixes me a green tea with honey while Dad sits across the butcher block island. I quirk an eyebrow.
Dad grins. Then, his smile falls.
I lean closer, my brows knitting together.
Dad shakes his head. “I shouldn’t be smiling. It’s awful news. But it’s helpful to your case.”
I lift my eyebrows, waiting.
“Bran was arrested last night,” Dad says.
“They never should have released him in the first place,” Mav mutters.
I gasp, surprised. Then, I shake my head, confused. I thought his father wasn’t posting his bail. At my bewildered expression, Dad continues.
“His cousin Eric posted his bail,” Dad explains, flicking a wrist. “He’s running for office and, from what I gathered, thought it would be best to deal with this situation quietly. He wants to keep it out of the media.”
“Stand-up and honorable, my ass,” Mav scoffs.
“The Burtons will be changing their strategy after Branson’s most recent arrest,” Dad says dryly.
“What happened?” I ask, giving Mav a grateful smile when he places the hot mug down in front of me. His hand rests on my back and I like the weight of it; I like knowing he’s anchoring me to this moment and more. He’s my steady in the storm we’re both wading through.
“Well,” Dad says, looking at me. “Remember when I told you about Isabel?”
“Yes,” Mav says. “Kenny explained your history with Bran’s mother.”
Dad sighs. “When Isabel moved to Massachusetts, she was pregnant with Bran. She was a housekeeper for a family friend of the Burtons here in Boston. Last night, not even twenty-four hours after Eric posted Bran’s bail, Bran was arrested for stalking.
And the woman who reported him is the granddaughter of the man whose home Isabel kept when she moved to Massachusetts all those years ago. ”
“You’re kidding,” I hiss.
“I’m not,” Dad states. “Bran is on some sort of vendetta. Once I figured out the link to Isabel, I knew his attack on you was personal. But I can’t figure out what the hell his motive is.
Is he lashing out for attention? Is he doing this to ruin his father or for his mother’s memory?
What the hell is his reasoning? But for him to attack and hurt you, again, and now to be caught stalking Kaitlyn, it’s personal.
There are too many connections for it not to be. ”
“And that helps your case,” Mav says quietly.
“Jesus,” I breathe out, shocked to my core. I didn’t see any of this coming. I couldn’t have predicted this outcome if I had a magic eight ball at my disposal. Too many twists and turns and connections. “This is insane.”
Dad snorts. “Yeah, it’s something all right.”
“So, Bran is currently in jail?” I ask, taking a sip of tea to ease the dryness in my throat. It feels a little better each morning. “Really in jail?”
“Yes,” Dad replies. “They’re holding him, most likely without bail since your attack and Kaitlyn being stalked happened so close together.
I doubt anyone from Bran’s family will try to pull strings or bail him out now either.
His father is good family friends with Kaitlyn’s parents so that’s another complication. ”
“We need to talk to Laura,” I whisper. “We need to know what our next move is.”
Mav nods. “I agree.”
“I’ll call her now,” Dad says, pulling his phone from his pocket. While he dials the law office, I cradle Mav’s hand in mine and swivel on my barstool, thinking.
I glance down at my abdomen, envisioning my little baby growing there.
Everything is different now.
Mav pulls me into his side and kisses my cheek. “I love you, beauty.” His words cause tears to spring to my eyes.
“I love you, too,” I murmur, hoping he truly knows how much his support means to me. And I hope he still feels that way when he learns about our baby.