Page 30 of Redeemed (Redeemed #1)

Chapter Twenty-Five

Kennedy

T hrough the patio doors, I see the sun lowering behind the tree line. I’ve rarely left my spot on the couch today and it’s been a dream. Alex and I decided on a Fast and the Furious movie marathon but only make it through the fourth movie before he needs to get dressed for work.

It’s Alex preparing for his night of work that reminds me of a call I need to make. I need to check in with Cary and handle my own business. I scroll through my phone until I pull up his contact. I dial his number, and he answers on the second ring.

“You good, boss?” His voice is rough, like I may have woken him up from a nap.

“Yeah, I’m good. Just checking in. Have you heard any talk?”

“I haven’t heard anything, but Nathan has reached out a couple times to ask about your whereabouts.” Nathan has texted and called me a few times too, but I’ve chosen to ignore that part of my life for a bit longer. “I’ve taken great pleasure in giving him no information.”

Cary has never liked Nathan, and I’ve never been able to figure out why. It’s interesting that Alex immediately didn’t care for him either. But I’ll admit that Nate and I are too close for me to find any fault in the man that’s been like my brother.

“Well, I appreciate you keeping my whereabouts, or lack thereof, under wraps.”

“Of course.” There’s a brief pause before he says, “So, what’s the plan?”

“I think I’m going to leave, but I still need answers.” I take a deep breath, feeling the relief of being closer to a decision. “Alex has offered to provide whatever help I may need, and I want to bring you in soon so we can plan to move forward.”

“Having Alex on your side will be good for alliances. Just tell me what’s next.”

“I will. Do me a favor and get Momma Kay away from that compound. I don’t want her in the crossfire of this mess.”

“I’m on it,” he responds with finality.

“Thanks. I’ll be in touch soon.”

We sign off our call and I’m back to scrolling through the millions of options Netflix has to offer when he returns downstairs. He’s dressed similarly to the night we met, in a suit tailored to fit his body, and I simply want to pull him out of it.

“Don’t look at me like that when I have to leave the house without you.”

“I would apologize, but I’m not sorry.”

I give him a sly smirk as he moves toward me with a heated gaze. He leans over the couch, a breath away.

“Find anything interesting to watch without me?”

“Nothing as enticing as my current view.”

I lick my lips as my eyes flick down to his. Now that there are less secrets between us, another level of vulnerability has been unlocked. I can imagine he’s thinking the same, and when I reach up to connect our lips, he’s moving down to meet me.

This kiss is full of passion and wanting that feels too soon, but also not soon enough. Alex’s hands move to the nape of my neck as he tugs lightly, and I moan as he licks his tongue in my mouth, caressing my own.

The sound of the front door opening puts a pause on our kiss.

“Hello! I’ve been summoned for a girl’s night!

” Tori’s voice moves through the house, and she appears moments later.

Her hair is piled in a messy bun on top of her head, and she’s wearing a light pink sweatsuit.

In her hands is a kit that looks like it belongs to a makeup artist. “Kennedy! I’m so glad you’re here. ”

The happiness on her face falls away when she takes in my appearance. My cheek isn’t swollen, but there’s definitely a cut and bruising that’s healing.

“Tori, I didn’t know you were coming.” I look to Alex in surprise, and I’m met with a warm smile.

“I figured she could keep you company and your mind off things for a little while longer while I work tonight.”

The man is honestly too perfect for me. I reach up and give him another quick kiss on the lips.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“Whoa baby, the sexual tension in those auras is something that should be studied.”

Alex throws a pillow at her head and Tori snickers. I laugh at them both.

“Alex, the car is pulled around front.”

None of us noticed Patrick coming in, but Tori shifts awkwardly on her feet at the sound of his voice. Like Alex, Patrick is in a suit, and has his stern expression in place again, nothing like the playfulness I witnessed this morning.

“Hi, Patrick,” she says in a polite tone.

“Tori,” he responds with a nod before turning to walk out of the room.

“All right, baby, I’ll be back around midnight. Don’t feel like you need to wait up for me, and feel free to kick her out at any time.”

I smile as he leans down to kiss me before he leaves, and like a lovesick puppy, I watch him go.

“Wow, that’s gross seeing someone with hearts in their eyes for my brother.”

I throw a pillow at her this time, and she just giggles.

“Well, we could always talk about the elephant in the room when it comes to you and Patrick.”

“We could, but there isn’t much to say. He betrayed my trust, and I just haven’t found it within me to forgive him.” Her head hangs low, like the confession has plagued her for much longer than this moment.

“That’s valid.”

I don’t even ask what the betrayal could be, but coming from my world, betrayal means death no matter the severity.

“Enough about sad stuff! I’ve brought over items for mani-pedis and facials. Which do you want to do first?”

My eyes must grow to the size of quarters because we have now reached unfamiliar territory. While I visit a salon regularly for beauty maintenance, who has time to do this shit on their own? Tori burst into laughter at my expense.

“Why do you look like I just asked you to deactivate a bomb?”

I would feel much more comfortable with the bomb, and I tell her as much. “I’ve never done the girl’s night thing,” I say, making air quotes with my fingers. “Not very many girly things are introduced when you’re raised by a man.”

Tori gives me a soft smile. “Stick with me. We will make this a girl’s night to remember.”

We’re halfway through our second bottle of wine, as we both sit cross-legged on the floor.

Tori begged me to try a face mask, and I was just tipsy enough to agree.

Along with the face mask, I’ve also been roped into watching The Notebook because Tori has had enough of my “big, dumb, blow ‘em up” movies. Rachel McAdams’s parents have just snatched her away from the love of her life when Tori lets out a loud sigh.

“Something on your mind?”

I glance at her over the rim of my wine glass with a smile.

“I can’t decide if I’m being ridiculous when it comes to Patrick.”

She snatches up the wine bottle, topping her glass off before picking at the label. I’m so far out of my element, but I want to try to be there for her. After all, she is spending her free evening emotionally babysitting me.

I awkwardly ask, “Do you want to talk about it?”

“I just need to get over this feeling and either forgive him or move on.” Her hand slashes through the air towards the end of her sentence and then she takes a hefty drink from her glass. “Or I should at least stop sleeping with him until I figure out what I’m going to do.”

I press pause on the movie, giving her my full attention. “Well, where’s the fun in that decision?” She snickers at my response. “Tell me what happened. I feel like I’m just tipsy enough to offer excellent advice.”

“Earlier, when I said he betrayed my trust, that may have been a bit of an exaggeration. I’m sure you’re aware of the business Alex and Patrick were involved in before we moved to Georgia.”

“The Reapers?”

“Yes. My brother and Patrick came to visit me probably a year after they joined. It was my first time meeting Patrick, and we immediately clicked, much to Alex’s dismay.

” She smiles, remembering a time that obviously brings her joy.

“We hit it off so well that Patrick started visiting me whether my brother was with him or not.”

“Okay, so what went wrong?”

“As Patrick and I grew closer I could tell that he was hiding a piece of himself from me. He became increasingly more paranoid when we would be out in public but insisted that everything was fine. I was head over heels for him, so I took his word for exactly what it was, never questioning him. I trusted him with not only my heart, but my body.”

She hesitates, as if the next part of the story is something she would rather keep to herself.

“You don’t have to have to continue if you don’t feel comfortable.”

“No, I want to continue, but I’m embarrassed about how long I’ve held onto this grudge.”

“Well Google has recently told me that every emotion we feel, big or small, is valid, and we should honor it.”

Tori’s nose scrunches up. “Google?”

I laugh, feeling the tingly buzz of the wine.

“Can’t necessarily get myself a therapist in my line of work. Continue your story—Patrick got the goodies and then?”

She snorts a laugh but continues. “The next time I saw him was after graduation. He and Alex showed up at my apartment begging me to pack the essentials and leave with them. We drove through the night from New York to Georgia and neither of them would tell me anything. It was so scary to see the two most fearless people I knew terrified.”

“They didn’t tell you anything? And you went with them?”

“I trust my brother more than anyone. When we got to the destination, they sat me down and told me everything. I was furious with them both for different reasons, but I was hurt by Patrick. I felt like he didn’t trust me enough to open up when he knew everything about me.”

She takes a large sip of her wine, staring into the fireplace. I know it’s probably the wine taking over, but I reach over and grab her hand.

“I can understand how hurtful that would be. Secrets always hurt when they finally come to light. Can I give you another perspective?” She nods, and I continue.

“From someone who’s had to hide her entire life, sometimes secrets protect.

I’ve seen the way Patrick looks at you. Maybe he was only doing what he thought he had to in order to protect you. ”

“You’re probably right. I do miss him and the connection we’d built.”

“Then maybe it’s time you had that talk, even if just to tell him how you felt and get his full story.”

“I guess he’s due the chance to tell his side,” she says with a snicker.

“I don’t want to disrupt this heart to heart, but I feel like my face is going to crack apart.”

We laugh uncontrollably before pulling ourselves from the ground and stumbling to the bathroom to wash off our face masks.

I feel like tonight, with Tori, is another mark in the column that I need to leave the Empire and never look back.