Page 22 of Redeemed (Redeemed #1)
We’re crossing the security checkpoint on Alex’s property when I feel the last of my vulnerability slip away. I have to begin preparing myself for Nathan’s line of questioning.
Alexander takes my hand, running his thumb back and forth over my knuckles. He couldn’t have known that I needed that gentle reminder to stay in this moment, and yet, I relax into his touch and allow myself to be present with him for a little while longer.
We arrive at my apartment building much quicker than I would’ve liked.
The feeling of riding through the city with good music and Alex’s hand on me is something I’m not ready to let go of.
He puts the car in park before giving me his full attention.
His gaze moving over my body like he’s locking in the memory.
“Don’t forget to send me your schedule.”
“As soon as I’m back to my computer. I had an amazing time with you.”
I lean toward him and place a small kiss on his cheek, mimicking his affection from this morning.
All too soon Alex climbs out of the car and moves around to help me out of the lower-sitting ride.
I quickly replace the socks I’m wearing for the heels I had on last night just to walk into the building.
As soon as I’m out of the car, his arms are wrapped around me, pulling me into him. I’m lost in the moment as my hands move up his chest and wrap around his neck. We grin at each other like high school kids on prom night, full of excitement for what this could be.
“Kennedy!” the deep growl rings out like a gun shot.
Nathan’s voice is like ice cold water dripping through my veins.
My fingers clench the fabric of Alex’s T-shirt, and he stiffens under my touch.
What the hell am I doing? I start to pull away from him, but his grip tightens slightly.
I look up to find him watching me as all the emotion on my face disappears and I return to the woman my father trained me to be.
I know Nathan and his tone means some serious shit has gone down.
I turn to find Nathan walking up the street towards us. “Is there a reason you’re yelling my name in the middle of the street like a crazy person?”
Nathan looks me up and down, surely taking in my appearance mixed with my clothes from last night hanging on my arm. His gaze slides past me over to Alex and gives him a once-over as well. His lips pull back as if he’s going to start growling like a territorial guard dog.
I look over to Alex, who looks just as menacing. Those piercing green eyes harden as they narrow in on Nathan, giving back the same scrutiny. He steps closer to me, placing a hand on the small of my back. Nathan doesn’t miss any of this, tracking everything about this interaction.
Alex looks down at me. “Everything okay, Kennedy?”
“She’s more than capable of taking care of herself, but she needs to get upstairs before shit gets worse.”
He starts that statement glaring daggers at Alex, but, by the end of it, his steely gaze is aimed at me.
“Nathan, I was working on making it upstairs before I was rudely interrupted.” I turn to Alex. “Everything is fine. He’s my roommate and resident pain in my ass.”
I reach up, placing my hand on his face, guiding his gaze back to me and halting the staring contest he’s having with my best friend.
“Kennedy, your father is in the apartment,” Nathan chimes in through clenched teeth.
I freeze for a moment, my mind running through everything about this interaction that could’ve been witnessed by my father, or one of his minions.
My hand falls as a tremor rocks through my body.
For as much bravado as I hope to have where my father is concerned, I’m very much afraid of that unhinged asshole.
I stumble back, putting more distance between me and the man I want nothing more than to keep safe from my bullshit.
My voice wavers as I quietly say, “I need to go, but I will call you later.” I turn on my heels and head towards the building. “Nathan, let’s go.”
We enter the building quickly and I jab the call button for the elevator a few times as if it will make the car arrive faster.
The elevator doors close, and I trade the heels for socks again. I think back through the messages I received from Nathan this morning and none of them mentioned my father being here. But that’s a line of questioning for another time. Right now, we need to present a united front.
“Has he said anything?”
“ Where is my daughter ?” Nathan says in eerily accurate imitation of my father.
“And where did you tell him I was?”
“Personal errand. Where was your security, Kenn?” Nathan is barely holding onto his anger.
Well, I’m not so thrilled with him at the moment, either.
The elevator dings and I move through the sliding doors, choosing to ignore that question. I keep my mind focused on Ashton Rose and what could possibly have him coming to Georgia. I shake out my fingers, take a deep breath, and enter our apartment.
I dump my items on the entryway table before locking eyes with Nathan and nodding once, giving my silent command that I’m ready.
He gives me one nod back before he steps into the apartment.
I enter behind Nate to find my father sitting at the head of the dining table, reading his tablet.
He’s dressed in a black suit, legs crossed, leaning into the chair as if he’s at a coffee shop.
Ashton Rose, the formidable kingpin, is here on an unannounced visit.
My complexion comes from him, but that’s where the similarities end.
Where my eyes are hazel, his are a deep chocolate brown, almost black.
These days, my father is looking older, with spots of grey cropping up in his beard and hair.
I move to the table and stand with my hands clasped in front of my body and wait for him to acknowledge me.
I watch in silence as he slowly closes his tablet before taking off his glasses and laying them on top.
I take steady deep breaths, clearing everything that’s not my father’s business out of my mind.
He’s made me stand in front of him without being acknowledged for hours before.
It all depends on how much time he has available to make me wait.
My father looks me in the eyes before fully taking in my attire, and I’m thankful for the black pieces I pulled from Tori’s closet. The one thing that has never changed about my father is the cunning gleam in his eyes. It’s like he’s constantly assessing ways to make a person suffer.
“Is this how you’ve been starting your mornings since moving across the country?” My father’s mouth turns up into a sneer.
“No, sir.”
The sneer on his face transforms into an anger I’ve seen targeted at his victims, but never me. “Is this behavior the reason that you’re going off course during my missions?”
“No, sir.”
He stands, walking around the table positioning himself in front of me. I stare into the void of his gaze. I stopped looking for empathy or fatherly affection in those eyes a long time ago—that’s never been a part of our agreement. Those emotions died with my mother.
“So, you admit that you purposely derailed my mission?”
“Sir, it was a decision made in the field. I though—” My words are cut off as my father’s hand wraps around my throat. He squeezes without care of the sheer pain shooting through the point of contact.
“When have I ever asked you to think?” Squeeze . “Not only do you disobey orders, but then you ignore my touchpoints.” Squeeze .
It’s taking everything in me not to squirm.
If I move, this punishment becomes ten times worse.
I’ve been trained to take torture much more severe than this, but it’s never been at the hands of my father.
He stares into my gaze like he would enjoy watching the light leave my eyes.
My mind is spinning with shock that I try to lock down.
“Don’t let it happen again,” he growls in my face before throwing me to the ground. I heave in a deep breath, wincing at the pain shooting through my neck. “Be at the estate in an hour.”
My father gathers his things before stepping around me and straight out of the apartment. I don’t leave my spot on the floor until I hear the ding of the elevator.
Nathan’s feet appear in my line of sight before he reaches his hand out to me. “Let’s go.” His voice is calm as he pulls me to my feet. “Ten minutes. Go give yourself thirty seconds of pity and then push it away until we can drink through it later.”
With a nod, I walk to my room.