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“I…I don’t know.” I take a deep, stuttering breath and try to sort my thoughts into coherent words. “Every time I finally think I have you, something fucks it up. Last time, I lost my dad and my brother too. I don’t think I can lose you again, Ash. I…” The rest of my words die on my tongue as I look at him and see everything I’m trying to say reflected back at me.
“Kenzie”—his hands tighten on my face, keeping my eyes on him as he talks—“you won’t lose me. I promise you.”
“You can’t promise that, Ash,” I tell him, trying to shake my head and expel the easily breakable promise he just made me.
“I can. And I just did. Do you know why?” This time he allows me the space to move my head, shaking it in answer. “Because I don’t intend to die today or anytime in the near future, and death is the only thing that will keep me from you.” He kisses me, stopping the protest he knew was ready to burst forth. When he breaks the kiss, he carries on, “I love you, Kennedy Scott. Always have and always will. This is our second chance, and there’s nothing that’s going to keep me from taking it. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” I whisper, more tears falling down my face.
“Good. Now, there are some things we need to—” His words are cut short by a loud banging at the front door.
I suck in a sharp breath at the thought it’s the cops already. The banging comes again, this time followed by a distressed feminine voice calling my name on the other side.
“It’s Lily,” I exclaim, as Ash picks up his t-shirt I was wearing, passing it to me, and I quickly throw it over my head, jumping down from the counter. I curse as something sticky trickles down the inside of my thighs. “Shit!” I grab some kitchen roll to clean up a little.
Ash turns to look at me, and as I look up at him, his eyes heat, turning a rich caramel. “Damn! That’s so fucking hot seeing you with my cum dripping down your leg.”
“Kennedy! Kennedy, please open the door,” Lily yells again, along with another loud thud on the front door.
I chuckle while continuing to clean up the mess Ash left me with. “Such a bloody caveman,” I mumble, dumping the tissue in the trash and straightening my t-shirt and hair as Ash goes to the front door.
“Is she here? Kennedy, where are you?” Lily barks, striding into the hall, eyes frantically seeking me out. Eyes that are red and puffy, clearly showing that she’s been crying. When they land on me, her face fills with relief.
I step forward, meeting her halfway, and she grips my arms as they go out to steady her. It’s only now that I see how disheveled she is, clothes untidy and hair a mess.
“I’m here. What’s going on?”
“He’s gone. Grandpa is gone,” she sobs, eyes wide in fear, and I know that’s not what’s got her acting so afraid.
I wrap my arms around and soothe her. A quick glance to Ash confirms my thoughts when he frowns, then goes back to the front of the house, looking outside to see if anyone followed her here.
“Lily, can you tell me what happened?”
She takes a couple deep breaths, pulling back from my embrace, and I steer her toward a seat in the lounge. Guiding her down, I sit beside her, swapping her hold on me to my hand.
“I went for a run, like I do every morning, but when I came back something felt wrong. I went to check on Grandpa, but…he was there, holding a pillow over his face…” Her voice breaks, grip on my hand tightening. “I ran, but he…I fought with him. I got free and ran here. I don’t know where he went.”
“It’s okay. It’s okay,” I tell her, trying to calm her and let her know she’s safe here.
“Lily, did you get a look at the man?” Ash asks, typing on his phone.
She shakes her head. “No, he had his back to me. He had a mask over his face. A ski mask maybe.”
“Did he say anything to you?”
“No, nothing.”
I notice the dried blood under her nails and now I’m looking I can see a bruise forming on the front of her forehead too. I look to Ash, who looks up at the same time, and I mouth “what do we do now?”
“Sit tight. I need to make a call.” He turns and leaves the room.
When I look back to Lily, she’s watching me. Questions forming in her mind.
“I’ll be right back. I’m going to go grab you something to drink.” I quickly hurry through to the kitchen and grab two waters from the fridge.
Back in the lounge, Lily is on edge, her breaths are still choppy, and she drums her fingers against her thigh. It’s a clear sign of how anxious she is, and I can hardly blame her after what she’s been through.
“Here,” I say, handing her a bottle and sitting back down as I open mine and take a mouthful.
