Page 27 of Redeemed (Redeemed #1)

Chapter Twenty-Three

Kennedy

A lexander moves through the hotel lobby like a man coming to claim his precious treasure.

I’m embraced in a warm, comforting hug and I feel my muscles relax for the first time since my father left my apartment.

I listen to his strong heartbeat, allowing the sound to settle me.

Tears quickly fill my eyes, and instead of pushing them away, I allow them to roll down my cheek.

I’ve convinced myself that maybe, if I cry it out, I can move on with how to make sense of my life.

We stand in an embrace for a few moments before I pull away. He bends his knees, getting eye level with me. I try to offer him a small smile even though he sees the tear stains and definitely feels the small puddles I left on his shirt.

“Are you ready to go, Kitten?” His hand moves to swipe the tears from under my eyes, that nickname pulling a more genuine smile.

I nod. “Thank you for coming back for me.”

“Of course, baby.”

Alex leads me through the lobby doors to his waiting car, hand in hand, my bag thrown over his shoulder.

Patrick is waiting by the car, watching the action on the street.

He opens the door, and I slide in, moving across the seat, allowing Alex to follow me without dropping my hand.

I’m tucked into Alex’s side as soon as the door closes.

The car is warm with a light melody playing softly in the background. My head rests on Alex’s shoulder, eyes closed as I try to relax my mind. Suddenly I feel like a burden, disrupting this man’s evening after turning him away when he came for me.

“I promise not to overstay my welcome. Tomorrow, I plan to actually check into a room. I just couldn’t stand the thought of being alone tonight.”

“Kennedy, you’re welcome to stay with me as long as you need to.”

“I don’t want to impose.”

“I insist.” The sincerity in his voice has tears welling in my eyes again because he’s offering a kindness I don’t deserve.

I turn my gaze out the window, watching the scenery pass by and think about the turn the past two days have taken.

It’s not until we’re pulling down the long driveway toward the main house that my stomach begins to feel uneasy.

I know Alex is going to have some questions about what’s happened since he dropped me off outside my apartment with Nathan.

His arm gives me a little squeeze as the car comes to a stop, the darkness doing a great job of helping me hide my emotions as I find the strength to pull myself together.

Alex hops right out of the car, grabbing my things from the front as I climb out of the SUV. I catch Patrick studying me out of the corner of my eye, but I don’t linger as I move toward the front door of the house. I’ve made it back to my quiet sanctuary, but under less than stellar circumstances.

I’m beat, of course, to the door—Alex making sure I don’t touch a doorknob in his presence. His chivalry always catches me off guard. I move through the foyer toward the living room with Alex on my heels.

“Make yourself at home, baby.” He sets my bag by the stairs before turning to me. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“Water, please.” I’ve drowned myself in enough wine the past few days. If I’m going to fight for my future, I should probably hydrate.

I move to the L-shaped sectional with cushions so soft I could sleep for hours on. Alex returns shortly with my water glass, setting it on the coffee table before turning on the fireplace.

“Thank you again for coming to get me tonight. The past forty-eight hours have been some of the toughest I’ve had in a while.”

My fingers twist around each other, attempting to expel some restless energy.

“You don’t have to thank me. If I could’ve taken you with me when I left your apartment, I would have. I hated leaving you there.”

My cheeks heat in embarrassment. I’m never the one who needs to be saved.

People fear me from atrocities I’ve committed in the past on behalf of my father.

Will Alex stick around when he eventually finds out my connection to the underworld?

There’s no doubt he’s heard of Ashton Rose if he’s so steeped in the criminal world to have Michael Ellis as a client.

“What’s going on in that beautiful brain?”

“There’s so much we don’t know about each other.” My voice is small with the hope of not shattering this connection we’re building. “I don’t want my complications to scare you away.”

He opens his mouth to reply but is interrupted by Patrick joining us in the living room.

“Will you need anything else from me tonight? If not, I’m going to check on Tori before I turn in,” Patrick says with heavy eyelids.

“Did you leave the folder on my desk?”

“I did,” Patrick replies with a quick glance in my direction.

“That will be all for tonight. Thank you.”

Patrick nods before exiting down the hall. Alex returns his focus to me before grabbing my hand.

“You’re right, there’s so much we don’t know about each other. But I’m an open book, Kennedy. Ask me anything you want to know. If it’s something I don’t feel comfortable speaking about, I will tell you.”

“I want to be that open with you. There are things I probably should have told you before asking you to come get me tonight. Important things, like who I actually work for.”

“Hold that thought.”

He stands up, brushes a kiss to my forehead before walking toward the direction Patrick came from.

I take a moment to settle the barrage of thoughts streaming through my head.

Now is the time to be honest before I become even more attached. I can tell him the truth, and if he responds poorly, I can go back to the hotel.

The downpour of the rain grabs my attention through the glass wall. I briefly contemplate walking right out into the rain and begging it to wash my pain away. This moment feels more like rock bottom than anything I’ve ever experienced.

Being alone with my thoughts isn’t the best when this pain turns to a need for revenge.

When I feel this detached from my control, I tend to make reckless decisions.

For the first time since my father and I made the pact to avenge my mother, I allow the grief of losing her to consume me.

My eyes brim with tears as the same emptiness inside me begins to expand, consuming everything in its way.

The plan has always been to avenge my mother and leave, but now that I’m staring down the barrel of that decision, so much comes to mind.

How will I survive outside of the Rose Empire without any connections and basically a target on my back as Ashton Rose’s daughter?

The problem is I am well and truly screwed without any allies.

I have no place to live or even a car to get around in if I decided to just walk away.

Then my mind wonders if Nate would leave the Empire with me.

I know he hasn’t processed the fact that this change isn’t any good for him either.

My father allowing me to take over puts Nate second in command.

This new arrangement could easily knock him back to being a foot solider, or just my glorified babysitter.

The picture that plays out, of me walking away from Alexander for good, hurts more than it should.

More tears well up and tumble onto my cheek at the thought of losing this budding connection.

I’ve never allowed myself to feel this level of emotion with anyone.

I may as well come to terms with the fact that in either decision, I’m going to lose Alex.

If I follow through with my father’s plan, I’m off to marry someone else.

If I go on the run to get away from my father, I could lose him as well.

“Kennedy?”

I startle at the sound of Alex’s voice behind me, quickly swiping my fallen tears.

I don’t know how long he’s been there watching me, but his eyes are soft as they study me.

My eyes snag on the black folder tucked beneath his arm.

He lays the folder on the table beside my water, and I watch as his body leans into the cushion and he takes a deep breath.

“You look almost as defeated as I feel.”

He offers me a smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. I look over to the folder between us, wondering what could cause this nervous energy.

“Kennedy, I want you to believe that you can trust me. I know this thing between us is new and we are both navigating our feelings the best we know how. I need you to know that I’m here for you.”

I nod in agreement as apprehension fills my stomach.

“You were talking about getting to know each other and I want to show you something that I just found out today. At Emerald Nights, it’s imperative that we run a background check on everyone that gains VIP status.

” I’m not sure that I like where this is going.

“When you agreed to go on a date with me, I instructed my team to follow protocol but let them know I wouldn’t view any information that came back.

I found out today that my security team found it appropriate to go a step beyond normal protocol. ”

He picks up the folder and places it between us like a peace offering.

“What’s in the folder, Alexander?” I say, suspicious of what’s to be revealed.

“I’m not sure. That’s why I’m bringing it to you. I won’t consciously sit on this information with you staying here, seeking safety and comfort. Whatever is in that folder I want you to tell me when you feel ready.”

He slides the folder over to me, keeping his hand on it for a bit longer.

“I’ve been led to believe what’s in here is interestingly close to my past. I just want you to know that whatever is in here, we can work through it together.

” He lifts his hand from the folder and cups my uninjured cheek before leaning in and pressing a kiss to my forehead.

“Nothing about what’s in the folder changes anything about how I feel about you. ”