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I reached for her hand. “Come with me. Please, Kennedy. We’re running out of time.”
“Aren’t we always?” she whispered. I knew it wasn’t defeat in her voice, only fatigue. She was stronger than that. No one in New Orleans had that kind of power over her. She had proven it over and over.
I could barely breathe. I had come so close to losing her again. The fighter in her, her strength, and her resilience are what saved us both. I pulled her against my chest. She was reluctant to soften into me, but I didn’t care. I wrapped my arms around her in a more protective shield than before. She was alive. She was in my arms.
Chapter3
Kennedy
Iwas afraid. Afraid if I let myself fall apart now; I’d never stop. I didn’t have that kind of luxury, not with Crew missing. Possibly being tortured. Threatened. I closed my eyes, reacting to Knight’s arms circling my waist. He made it hard to resist, but I still couldn’t give in. I pushed away from him.
“We should go to my compound. The security is excellent. It’s a fortress.” All I could think of was getting behind the gates. It was my sanctuary.
“Speaking of, where is your excellent security?” he tested.
I gave him a warning glance. “Kimble is working on a project for me.”
“He seems to miss the excitement when it matters the most.” I saw the way his jaw tightened.
“I’ll call him, and he’ll be here by morning.” I said it as if I could snap my fingers and he’d appear. It was mostly true. Kimble always operated on scales of danger. He would prioritize my safety over any errand to discredit Knight.
“Until then, you’re going into hiding,” Knight countered. “Immediately. It’s the best plan right now.”
“Hide in my own city?” I shook my head. “No. Then they’ll know I’m scared. They’ll know I can be intimidated. That is the wrong message to send. I’m not about to show fear. To let them think they won any part of this battle. They won’t get that kind of satisfaction from me.”
“And who is they?” he asked. The question sounded more like a test.
“The kidnappers.”
He exhaled. “Kennedy, it could be any family. You can’t wander New Orleans. Not tonight. We have no idea who did this, or who is coming back to finish it. Until you know who is behind the attack, you have to go underground.”
“I’m not going to wander anywhere.” I had lost my shoes somewhere on the sidewalk. I kicked them off to run faster. I leaned over, to rub them now. There was a small cut on my left heel.
“You do know it’s okay if you are scared. It would be normal considering what happened before. What happened today.”
“No,” I snapped. “It’s not okay.” Didn’t he realize I had to work twice as hard, think twice as quickly? Maneuver twice as fast as any man in this town? I didn’t have extra seconds to be weak or vulnerable. Because they were watching, looking for the moments when my armor was down, when there was a sliver of exposed flesh and bone. As soon as they saw it, they would strike.
“Good. It’s decided. Come with me. I know somewhere no one will look for you.”
“You don’t make my decisions.” I was almost too exhausted to argue with him, but I hadn’t ceded my power.
“We aren’t going to argue about this.” He lowered to his knee to look at my heel. Our eyes locked when he touched my ankle. “Can you let me take care of you for tonight? I need to know you’re safe.”
My throat tightened. I saw the pain in his eyes. I doubted he wanted me to see it there in plain sight. He rarely wore his emotions on the surface, but this one was too big hide. The impulse to fall apart was still there, but I couldn’t. I would not let him see me falter.
I cleared my throat and focused on a spot on the wall over his shoulder. He lowered my foot to the floor.
“Kennedy?”
I bit the inside of my cheek. “I’m ready to go to my house.”
He rose to his feet, taking my hand in his. “I’m not sure how to keep you safe there.”
“Please. I want to take a hot shower. I want clean clothes.” I looked down at my bare arms. One of the thugs had my jacket. Maybe my designer shoes to go with it.
“I’m not going to force you into hiding.” He stared straight into my eyes. “But at least consider it?”
I nodded. “I will. After the shower.”
