Page 1 of Redeemed (Redeemed #1)

Chapter One

Kennedy

T here was once a time I embraced the tranquility that came over me as I prepared for a kill mission.

As one of the most feared assassins in the criminal underworld, the calming warmth that would wrap its loving arms around me used to bring me comfort.

Now, it feels like a straitjacket that’s been pulled too tight.

My fingers curl into a fist as I stare at the stunning black dress I’ve been ordered to wear.

Outside of an assignment, I would’ve loved the dress and its plunging neckline, exposing so much of my warm brown skin.

Being ordered to wear it as a way to lure a man to his death is embarrassing.

No, not embarrassing, insulting. The thought of being put on display instead of tapping into my highly-trained skill set, makes my skin crawl.

But when my father, Ashton Rose, kingpin of the Rose Drug Empire, gives an order, you listen.

Ashton Rose is not a man who takes kindly to anyone questioning his decision making.

As the second-generation leader, he rules his territory with a healthy dose of fear and respect.

That ruling extends its reach to me, of course—his only child, and heir to the Rose Empire.

From the time I was eight years old, my father and I shared a common end goal: avenge my mother’s death.

It might be a strange goal for an eight-year-old, but when you’re raised by a man fueled by vengeance, the mental programming runs deep.

The day of my mother’s funeral, my father sat me down and explained that I should channel the devastation and anguish I was experiencing into rage.

I was pulled from my private school, and a tutor was put in charge of my homeschool education.

My free time was spent training, first in Tae-Kwon-Do and Jiu-Jitsu before military-style combat.

Once my body had been honed into a skilled fighting machine, my training turned dark as I learned the ways of the criminal empire my father ruled with an iron fist. I was fueled by the need to make the people responsible for killing my mother pay for their crimes.

Over the past year, my thoughts have shifted, and I can’t help but wonder if our efforts have been in vain.

After all, my father has been chasing Michael Ellis, the man he believes to be responsible for her death, since she passed away.

He has held a tight leash on what I’ve been allowed to do in the name of revenge, claiming to keep me safe, but I know it’s about the control he has over me.

It’s only been within the last three years that I’ve been on Michael’s trail—never permitting outright attacks, but instead consistently taunting him to ensure he knows we are watching.

The cat-and-mouse game has kept me from properly grieving the loss of my mother.

So, when my father turned down my proposal to finally stage an attack, I told him how I felt. He didn’t take kindly to me asking if it was time to let my mother’s memory rest in peace so I could heal and try to move on with my life.

That’s how I found myself on an assignment, luring our target with my appearance instead of using the training that’s been drilled into me.

I had nothing to do with the planning of this week’s long mission, but was simply told when to show up and to follow instructions.

For weeks, I’ve been tailing a man without any explanation why, other than it’s Ashton Rose’s orders.

So here I stand, in an immaculately-designed hotel restroom, practicing calming breath work.

My phone vibrates in the small, beaded clutch, breaking me from thoughts of deviating from this bullshit plan.

“What’s up, Nate,” I greet my best friend and head of security.

“Kennedy, stop primping and get your ass to the bar.” Nathan’s deep voice, light with amusement, filters through the phone.

“I’m not primping, asshat. Just waiting on my signal while mentally calculating how much shit I would be in if I went off course and handled this operation my way.”

I hate the control I’ve lost to the one thing I do so well.

It grates on my nerves that my team is being put through the dramatics when we are accustomed to stealth and precision.

Before I pissed my father off, I was given free rein to plan and execute assignments with my own team.

As morbid as it sounds, there’s joy in planning the demise of men who no longer deserve to walk this earth.

“Well, this is your signal, and don’t even think about it, Kenn.”

“I know what you’re going to say.” In a bad imitation of Nathan, I continue. “Stay the course and work the plan like a good little puppet or face the big bad wolf.” Nathan snorts. “Fine, I’m heading out.”

“Stick to the plan.”

I snatch my clutch off the bathroom counter, rolling my shoulders back as I stride for the exit.

I knew my comment about deviating from the plan would rile Nathan’s protective instincts—well, maybe survival instincts was a better way to put it.

Lord knows Ashton Rose wouldn’t let him live another day if anything were to happen to me.

Nathan has saved me on numerous occasions from unnecessarily summoning the wrath of Ashton Rose with my impulsiveness.

Nathan’s call was to alert me that Antonio Garcia, tonight’s mark, is in the hotel restaurant.

Now it’s time for me to do my part—seduce and destroy.

If I had planned this assignment, I would be waiting in the shadows of his home, attacking when he least expects it.

Living up to the nickname, Death’s Shadow, that I’ve worked hard to earn.

Instead, I’m strutting across the hotel lobby like a runaway model to the bar.

I vow to pick up the pieces of my dignity at checkout.

At the entrance of the restaurant, I take in the room in search of no one in particular.

My gaze connects with Garcia briefly, and I watch his eyes light up with interest as a smirk tilts my lips.

I don’t linger by the entrance but make my way over to the bar now that I know I’ve got his attention.

Unfortunately, Garcia has his bar-hopping buddy in tow with him tonight.

Anytime this man is with him the night ends in chaos.

Most nights when Garcia is pregaming in a hotel bar, he’s alone.

“Whatcha drinking tonight?” the handsome bartender asks, flashing a charming smile. His muscles flex under a tight black shirt as he shakes a drink for another patron.

“Woodford and Coke please.” He quickly mixes my drink before sliding it across the bar.

Only a few tables are occupied throughout the restaurant, and I’m the only one without a companion.

How fitting. My position at the bar gives me a decent view of Garcia and his friend.

The smoldering fire of annoyance is continuously stoked with each hair flip and seductive stare I send his way.

Reason number one hundred and eighty-seven why I hate operating in public: the constant need to put on an act.

The act isn’t hard, but when you’ve been trained to move in the shadows, disappearing into the background becomes second nature.

I’ve always been excellent at donning whatever mask is needed to blend into my current situation.

There aren’t many people who truly know the real Kennedy Rose, and that’s been by design.

But it’s in these moments that I often wonder what secrets people are hiding behind their own perfectly-crafted facade. Do their secrets run as deep as mine?

Discreetly, I study the faces around me, taking in what I assume is a forced display of normalcy.

An elderly couple in their own little romantic bubble snags my attention.

The lady’s hand caresses the gentleman’s face as they smile at each other, deep in conversation and completely oblivious to the world around them.

Envy settles in my gut at the unconditional love on display.

I don’t believe I was meant to experience any form of love.

And that thought just feels far too unfair after the cards life has already dealt me.

In my line of work, love serves no purpose other than to get you killed.

I’m not diluted enough to believe that my parent’s match was anything other than a business arrangement, and that still got my mother murdered.

When she passed away, she took the strongest love I’ve ever known with her.

Our housekeeper, Ms. Kathy, tried to step in and help provide some semblance of maternal affection, but I’m not convinced that affection wasn’t a direct result of being on my father’s payroll.

It's hard to imagine meeting someone that could handle the life I live. Even if I did, Ashton Rose wouldn’t stand for it.

Besides, being in love is nothing but a distraction in his eyes.

In our world, you marry for business and offspring.

My destiny is to take over The Rose Empire, whether I want it or not.

And let’s be clear, I do not! Besides, I wouldn’t dare bring a child into this lifestyle.

Still, it doesn’t stop me from wondering what it would feel like to truly love and be loved.

The elderly woman looks over, catching me as I watch them and gives me a warm smile before turning her attention back to her husband. My cheeks heat with embarrassment at being caught awkwardly longing for something I have no business wanting.

But it’s the smell of the world’s spiciest cologne assaulting my nostrils that brings my mind back to the present moment.

I turn my attention toward the offending odor to find Garcia’s friend occupying the seat next to me.

I contemplate ignoring him altogether, but after tailing these men for weeks, I recognize this pattern.

Mr. Too Much Cologne is here to make a pass at me.

When I inevitably turn him down, Garcia will deem me acceptable as his night’s conquest, and then it’s game on.

Both men use however many women they can gather for the night, and then send them off in the morning, worse for wear.

“You’re way too beautiful to be sitting at this bar all by yourself,” he says, his words slightly slurring.

“Does that line actually work for you?”

I don’t keep the ire from my voice. But that doesn’t deter his eyes from making their way down my body, pausing at the display of skin framed by the low neckline of this dress.

“Depends. How many of those drinks have you had?” He leans in toward me, smile widening as light reflects off a golden tooth.

“Not enough for me to choose you over your friend in the booth.”

“You’ve got some sass. Don’t blow me off so soon, I could show you a good time, sweetheart.”

My eyes roll in annoyance before falling to Garcia. He’s crooking his finger, beckoning me over to his table with a smirk on his face. My lips turn up into a seductive smile instead of the snarl that threatens to emerge, and I turn back to my smelly companion.

“I’m sure you could try, but your friend is much more suitable for what I’m looking for tonight.”

I drop a twenty on the bar to cover my drink before standing and slightly adjusting my dress.

My walk over to Antonio Garcia’s table leaves me subject to his lustful gaze, making my skin itch.

The hair on the back of my neck raises from being the center of his attention, my fight or flight response triggered by walking into a situation I don’t truly have full control over.

The shadows have been my friend. A mark rarely sees me before I’m ready for my identity to be revealed. I lost my childhood training to be the best, something as simple as recognition wasn’t going to hinder my missions.

So, this swaying strut I adopt while walking through the bar is fuel doused on the fire of rebellion that’s been building inside me tonight. It’s at this moment that I decide to deviate from Ashton Rose’s plan and speed up the execution of this assignment.

I was assigned to capture and transport Garcia to our warehouse for questioning, but he won’t be leaving this hotel alive.

I move past the table the older couple is occupying to find the woman watching me. She gives me a wink and I feel my confidence level elevate as I stand a little taller and smirk in return.

Antonio Garcia’s gaze travels up my body before meeting my eyes. He’s taken up a spot in the corner booth, legs spread and dripping in arrogant swagger like a king on his throne. His hair is slicked back with more gel than should legally be allowed, and his sleazy grin in place.

“Thank you for saving me. That interaction was becoming awkward,” I say, slipping into the predator state of mind, and circling my prey before I pounce. “Although, I think your buddy’s feelings are hurt.” A faux pout forms on my lips.

I watch the lust flicker to life in his eyes before he runs his tongue across his lips. So cliché, falling for the pretty package that’s been set to snare him, like an insect to a Venus fly trap.

“He thought he would have better luck with you, so I let him go hang himself. Don’t worry, he gets over heartbreak fast.”

My eyes move over his body with the same respect he gave mine. Although, instead of picturing him naked, I imagine what my knife will do later. I pull my hotel keycard from my purse before leaning in closer, placing both hands on the table.

“Listen, I’m on an early flight back home in the morning.

We could waste more time pretending that we’re interested in getting to know each other.

” Garcia’s eyes are locked in on the cleavage this dress is working overtime to keep contained.

“Or you can ditch your friend and meet me in my room. Top floor.”

“So, you’re the reason my usual room wasn’t available.”

“You’re more than welcome to come pay it a visit.” I rise up, brushing my black hair over my shoulder with a smirk. I leave the bar with all the confidence that comes with knowing this man will be following me soon.

When I look back at Garcia, he’s grinning like the cat who caught the canary, his gaze fixed on my ass.

I manage to hold onto my pleasant smile until I’m through the restaurant entrance.

It’s not until I’m in the elevator alone that I shed the seductive character act and allow that killing calm to embrace me.