Page 35 of Redeemed (Redeemed #1)

Chapter Thirty

Kennedy

T he days that follow my conversation with Nathan find me deep in thought about the decision I’m making to leave the Rose Empire.

The thought of completely upending my life and jumping into the unknown has caused great anxiety.

I never truly allowed myself to consider the reality that Nate wouldn’t want to leave this business with me.

Of course, it was a possibility that he would say no, but I thought he would at least hear me out.

Maybe once he’s cooled down, we can revisit the topic and talk like adults.

Nathan and my father’s relationship has always been a unique situation.

He and I had endured the worst punishments from my father together.

He received praise from my father that made me want to work harder to get the same recognition.

I can’t tell if Nathan truly feels like he can do nothing else with his life, or if I underestimated the influence my father had on my best friend.

It's frustrating that Nathan doesn’t see the predicament my father’s business deal would put us in. Nate has to know that my heart isn’t set on taking this business over after avenging my mother.

Doesn’t look like Ashton Rose had me in line to take it over either.

I hit the button on the treadmill, increasing the speed.

It’s been a personal goal to work myself into exhaustion each day so when it’s time to go to bed I’m too tired to think.

I’m tired of mentally walking myself in circles wondering if I made a mistake by telling Nathan my plan so soon.

The questions and self-doubt haunt my waking hours enough to not want to be plagued by them at night.

Alex steps into my line of sight and I pull one of my earplugs out. He takes a good look at me, no doubt seeing the turmoil all over my face. He’s perceptive like that, but he doesn’t comment, though he has been more attentive to me, especially on the days when he has to work at the lounge.

But there’s a weariness to him that wasn’t present a couple of weeks ago. I’m beginning to worry if my presence here is stressing him out. My stomach aches at the thought of being a burden, but I hope he would tell me if I am. Which leads me to believe that something else is bothering him.

“We need to leave in the next couple of hours to meet Cary,” he says, studying my face.

He’s wearing his glasses, so I know he’s been in the office all morning.

It’s ridiculous how his sexy levels go through the roof when he wears them.

The look makes me want to climb this man like a tree, but I know any advancing will get shut down.

We’ve messed around, but he refuses to let me use sex as a coping mechanism for the shitshow that is my life.

“Okay, I’ll get ready.” I slow the treadmill to a walk, allowing my heart rate to come down.

“Are you good? Do we need to reschedule this meeting?”

The promise of crawling back in the bed or rotting on the couch is so tempting, but I haven’t had the chance to leave the house since the night Alex got me from the hotel.

There isn’t time to waste now that Nathan knows I’m out.

I can’t be sure that he hasn’t gone straight to my father with that information.

We’re also using this meeting to confirm if I’m being followed by The Reapers. Alex informed me a few nights ago there’s a good chance they’ve been contracted to follow me. The real question is why?

“We don’t have the time to waste. We also need to determine if I’m being followed by mercenaries. As if I need one more thing to go wrong.”

The treadmill slows to a stop. Alex pulls me off the machine and into his arms, holding me tightly.

“I hate that you’re hurting. Things seem bad right now, but it will get better.”

“What if I’m making a mistake?”

“Do you feel that way because Nathan said no? This isn’t a decision you were making for the two of you. This is a decision for your freedom and happiness. He has every right to say no, regardless of how stupid he is for it.”

“I really thought he was going to drop everything and run with me.”

“You were too close to the situation. Nathan has been the one constant in your life, so you never allowed yourself to imagine a future where he wasn’t included.”

“That’s scarily accurate.” I untangle from his arms to grab my things.

“Was that a compliment, Kennedy Rose?”

My lips twitch at his joking tone. “I would do no such thing.”

He snorts out a laugh and smacks my butt. “Go get ready; I’ll be in the office working when you’re done.”

The coffee shop that I chose for our meeting with Cary is in a small town outside the city limits, so if someone is following us here, it’s definitely for a reason.

The bell above the door chimes when we enter the cozy space, and the teenage employee behind the counter greets us as we cross the threshold.

I immediately spot Cary waiting at a table he secured in the corner of the shop. There’s a plume of joy I feel at seeing a familiar face after being holed up, hiding from my problems. Alex heads to the counter to order us some coffee and I make my way to Cary.

“Good to see you, boss. I was beginning to wonder if you were being held hostage,” he says with a playful gleam in his eyes.

“Ha! Just took a long overdue vacation.” I push my sunglasses on top of my head. “How have you been?”

“Staying busy. I’ve taken some work here and there but keeping my ear to the ground.”

“Have you heard from Momma Kay?”

Cary’s gaze goes to a spot behind me. Moments later, Alex is stepping up next to me with a large cup of coffee.

“Here you go, baby.”

My guard sizes up my boyfriend. Boyfriend? Is he my boyfriend? That’s a question for another time. I introduce the two again and they exchange pleasantries before Cary answers my question.

“Ms. Kathy hasn’t been back to the estate since I spoke with her. Although, she refused to go into hiding until things became safer,” he relays with a trace of irritation in his voice.

I need to call her soon to try to talk some sense into her.

“Stubborn woman. I’ll give her a call this week. There’s another reason I wanted us to meet today instead of coming to Alex’s place. We’re positive that I’m being followed by a mercenary from up north that works for a cabal called The Reapers.”

Alex chimes in. “They’re either following you or checking in on me, but I just got confirmation that we were followed here today.”

There’s a look of confusion on Cary’s face when he says, “Mercenaries are following you? Is there a hit out on you?

“We’ve checked the dark web, and nothing has come back attached to my name. I want to talk to this man and find out who hired them, or at least who the information is going to.”

I never expected to see my name on the dark web—there aren’t many that know who I am, unless they deal directly with my father.

That leaves the number of people that could have me followed small.

I just can’t imagine my father having mercenaries following me, but we’re also talking about the man that arranged a marriage behind my back.

“What’s the plan?”

Cary leans onto the table, ready for whatever idea I have readily available to execute. He isn’t a man that likes to be stagnant for long.

“We’re going to confront him and see what information we can get.”

“Kennedy, we didn’t agree that was the plan. We don’t know how they’ve been ordered to interact if found out. Today was just supposed to be about confirming there was a threat towards you at all.”

Alex pulls out his phone, probably to communicate with Patrick.

I stand up, planning to take matters into my own hands.

I’ve been itching for a fight for a few days now.

“Cary, you should know that Alex used to work with the people we believe are following me.” Cary’s eyebrows almost touch his hairline as he looks between us.

“Which car is he in?” I say, laying all the information out so we are on the same page.

“Kennedy, we are not confronting him here.” Alex’s tone is stern, but I’m having none of that.

We stare each other down but this is a fight he won’t win. The ability to protect myself is a part of my life I can control. If I can face this situation head on, why not do so?

“You can tell me which car he’s in, or I can walk the parking lot with my gun out.”

“Are we sure he isn’t still working for them?” Cary asks with his focus on Alexander.

“That will be the first and last time you question my loyalty,” Alexander shoots back.

“Both of you, stop. Cary, you haven’t had time to get to know Alex, but he isn’t in on this. Alex, I pay Cary to ask those types of questions. Just like Patrick was looking at me sideways for weeks for you.” The two nod at each other in some show of respect.

“Kitten, you can’t shoot him in the middle of a public parking lot.”

“No one said anything about shooting him.” My hands are tightening into a fist, trying to rein in my frustration.

“My father has arranged my marriage, my best friend hates me, and I’m making a decision that’s going to alter the course of my life.

I’m going to this parking lot and confronting whoever this is that’s following me.

You can either back me up, or watch me.”

With that I stand up, leaving my barely touched coffee on the table. Cary stands with me, and Alex follows us. Something inside me relaxes knowing that he does have my back.

Alex lets me know what car I’m looking for but honestly, I could’ve figured it out on my own.

The bell above the door chimes as we step out into the chill of the evening. The sun has sunken further into the sky and the small shopping center has grown empty. My steps across the parking lot are purposeful as I slide the gun from my jacket.

“Kennedy,” Alex says in warning.

“Just a scare tactic. I promise not to use it.”

Cary chuckles behind me. I’m close enough to focus on the driver that I’m making a beeline toward, only to find him watching me with a wide grin.

“Looking for someone?” I ask stepping up to the passenger side window.

He looks me up and down then smiles crookedly. “You’re prettier than the pictures.”

“Yeah, that’s what they all say.”

“Uh oh. Your boyfriend’s mad.”

I look to find Alex has drawn his own gun and looks like he’s ready to use it. Patrick appears at the driver’s side window, but he doesn’t take his eyes off me.

“Any reason you’re following us, Spider?” Patrick questions.

Spider? What a weird fucking name. He turns his awkward gaze briefly to Patrick, and I see the spider tattoo going down the back of his neck. There’s no concern from this man about the fact that he’s been caught on the job.

“Patty, long time no talk. Alexander, I thought you wanted out of the life of crime. What are you doing hanging with the likes of her?” He hooks a thumb in my direction.

“Because I’m fun to cuddle with,” I deliver with a smile. “Answer the question. Why are you following us?”

“She speaks for you as well? My, how the mighty have fallen.”

Other than calling my name, Alex has been silent, watching Spider like a hawk. The relaxation that’s typically in his posture is nowhere to be seen. Again, I take this situation into my own hands because I would love nothing more than to get my hands dirty.

“All right, move it over. You’re coming with us.”

Alex’s gaze snaps over to me with a questioning look while Patrick sits like a good guard dog waiting for Alexander to agree with what I just said.

“What? This man has been following us for fuck knows how long.”

“Actually, I’ve been following you . It’s just a bonus that I get to rile these two up in the process,” he says with a smile aimed at Alex.

“There you have it, he has been following me. Quite frankly, I would like to know why. So, move over, Spidey.”

Alex must have signaled Patrick, because he opens the driver’s door, digging a gun into Spider’s ribs. It’s almost comical watching the big man move over the center console from the driver’s seat to the passenger side.

Once Patrick is in the driver seat, I instruct Cary to ride back to the house with them. We can come back for his car in the morning.

Alex leads me back to the car we traveled in to get here—he’s silent and brooding. Maybe I pushed him too far, but I’ve been in the dark for too long.

I need answers.