Page 18 of Justified Fear

She slipped out of bed and winced.

“Maybe you should rest more.”

Keely shook her head.“The doctor said to move around and stretch.Lying around makes it worse.”

“Meet you in the kitchen.”

Once her mother was gone, Keely moved to the bathroom, albeit slowly.She felt bruised and battered.After tugging on a Reynolds Ranch t-shirt and some board shorts, she headed out to get to work.She was achy, but nothing made her feel better than cooking in the kitchen.

Her father had refurbished her grandmother’s house years ago and updated it whenever she asked.It was large by Hawaiian standards, but had been around since the 1940s.The floors creaked as she made her way down the hall, and it warmed her heart.They had lived on the mainland, but the entire family would come to see her grandparents.They would fill up the house with laughter and food.

She stepped into the kitchen and smiled.The first time she made this dish, she had been seven years old, and her grandmother had been by her side, teaching her.

Her mother was looking out the window, which looked out over the back yard.More than likely, Lulu and her father were conspiring against her.

“Are they calling in reinforcements?”

Her mother smiled at her as she turned to face her.“Probably, but he’ll deal with his issues.”

“You mean he’ll stomp around and bitch about not getting his way?”

“Yep.”

They shared another smile just as her doorbell rang.

“Are you expecting anyone?”her mother asked.

Keely shook her head and made her way to the front door while pulling up her doorbell camera.She blinked when she saw Ryan and the tall black agent—she couldn’t remember his name at the moment.As she passed a mirror in the hallway, she wanted to groan.She had her hair up in a messy bun, and she still had some wrinkles on her face from her pillowcase.Great.He was definitely going to think she was a hot mess.

She opened the door.“Officers, come in.”

They hesitated, and Ryan looked down.

“Oh, Maya, of course you can come in.Just…my parents are here.You’ve been warned.”

As she walked down the hall with them, she couldn’t help but chatter.It was what she did when she was nervous, and Ryan Morrison made her insanely nervous.

“Did you catch the bad dudes?Please say yes, then my parents will go away.”

“Is that any way to talk about your mama?”Amusement filled her mother’s voice.

“Sorry, Mama.”

“No worries.Who are these fine gentlemen?”

“And, lady,” she said, looking down at Maya.”

“Oh, what a sweet baby.”

“She’s Ryan’s partner.”

Her mother’s gaze focused on the men, then zeroed in on Ryan.“You would be Ryan?”

“Yes, ma’am.Ryan Morrison.This is Kap Hanson.We’re with TFH.”

“Oh, yes.One of Riki’s cousins was talking about TFH last time we were here.”

“They found me.Well, Maya found me,” Keely said.