Page 36 of Redeemed (Redeemed #1)

Chapter Thirty-One

Alexander

W hen we left for our meeting with Cary this morning, I never thought we would be returning to my house with a captive. We knew The Reapers were close, but we couldn’t figure out if they were checking in on me or on assignment. My past and my future are colliding in a way that unnerves me.

Now, Kennedy and I are in the car having a silent standoff. My emotions are all over the place and her knee hasn’t stopped bouncing since we got in the car. The tension is uncomfortable.

I can take the blame for the strained atmosphere in the car, but Kennedy’s impulsiveness caught me off guard.

The feeling of her willingly walking into danger mixed with the possibility that I couldn’t protect her has me shaken.

It’s as though self-preservation is an afterthought, or maybe she believes she is truly untouchable.

I wouldn’t dare try to change who Kennedy is, because that fire is what pulled me in.

But now that we’ve gotten closer, I know I have more to lose and how easily she walks into dangerous situations may give me a heart attack.

I don’t want my need to protect her to actually push her away.

She’s a wild mare that her father attempted to break but instead simply subdued until she reclaimed her power.

The entire idea of an “us” is so new I don’t want to rock the boat, but we have to talk.

We’re thirty minutes into the ride back when I reach over and lay my hand on her leg.

Thankfully she didn’t hold my initial reaction of shutting down against me.

Instead, she interlocks her fingers with mine and gives a little squeeze.

That forgiveness makes it easier to organize my thoughts and figure out how we will handle the Spider situation.

Spider’s behavior in the parking lot has me curious what orders he’s been given when it comes to following Kennedy.

He didn’t put up a fight but instead remained agreeable to coming with us for questioning.

It’s rare The Reapers are assigned to someone to simply watch and report back, so I wonder how much money is involved and why.

When we pull onto the property, Patrick and Cary already have Spider out of the car.

I watch as Spider takes in everything he can, probably figuring out what he can take back to Xavier.

We’re parked and out of the car when I pull Kennedy to the side.

I need to make sure we are good before we move forward with anything else this evening.

I must look worried because Kennedy walks right up and embraces me. My arms wrap around her, and I bury my face into her hair. Her vanilla scent surrounds me, and I tighten my grip around her body.

“I wasn’t trying to shut you out, Kitten. I’m still adjusting to the fact that you don’t need my protection even if I want to smother you with it.”

“I know, baby, and I didn’t give you much time to prepare. It can’t be easy to have your past resurfacing. I’m sorry I’ve brought them to your front door.”

I take her face in my hands, making sure that I have her attention. “I have your back. However you want to handle this, you have my support.”

She leans in, kissing me softly.

“I want to see if he will talk. I have a feeling Ashton Rose is behind this. It doesn’t make sense that he would hire mercenaries, but a lot about his actions haven’t added up lately.”

“Well, let’s go see if he’ll talk.”

I place a soft kiss to the side of her neck before leading her to the garage, hand in hand. Patrick and Cary are standing outside the small auto room I’m assuming Spider is being held in.

“What’s the plan?”

Cary’s question is directed toward Kennedy. He doesn’t look as if he would take orders from anyone but her in this moment. I stand back, leaning against the wall, watching her take control of this situation.

“My main concern is who put him on my tail.” Her eyes connect with mine. “Just to confirm, is this someone we should keep alive?”

That question shouldn’t turn me on, but it does. Of course, I worry about this woman, but her dangerous side calls to me in an unhealthy way.

“I would advise not killing one of Xavier’s men,” I respond with a smirk.

“Unless we want a bigger problem on our hands,” Patrick says from the other side of the hall.

“Great!” She claps her hands together. “All questions, no killing. Let’s do this.”

There’s a shift in Kennedy’s attitude, and I study the transformation.

I’m intrigued with how this interaction will play out knowing who Spider is and what Kennedy is capable of.

There’s no preamble before she walks through the door of the holding room, and I know she wouldn’t hesitate to handle this task alone.

Spider sits in the center of the room, hands tied to the arms of the chair, smiling up at me like he’s here for coffee and conversation.

“Damn, Carter, you sure do know how to pick ‘em.”

His eyes roam over Kennedy’s body and it takes everything in me not to knock his teeth down his fucking throat.

“I’d watch my mouth with this one, Spider. She bites.”

I lean against the door frame, sliding my hands into my pockets, hoping that I’m giving off a look of disinterest.

“This can be quick and easy. I just want to know who’s paying you to follow me.” Kennedy’s voice is commanding as she pulls the room’s attention to her. Spider ignores her completely, still keeping his eyes on me.

“Is this what we’ve come to, Carter? You having me tied to a chair.”

I shrug my shoulders with a head tilt. “It’s just business.”

“Great, now that we’ve gotten the reunion out of the way, you can answer my question.”

The calm that Kennedy entered the room with is slipping away.

“Come sit on my lap and I’ll answer any questions you have for me, sweetheart.” Spider’s smile is wide, showing off perfect teeth that I know are fake because he lost half of them in a fight years ago. My hands clench with the need to hit something.

Kennedy saunters closer to the mercenary and it’s like watching a viper preparing to strike.

She will kill him.

“Kennedy.” My voice comes low but grabs her attention. When she looks back at me, I see the rage behind her eyes. Her chest rises and falls on a deep breath before turning her focus back on Spider.

“It’s okay, Carter, I’ll take good care of her.”

He’s halfway through his deep chuckle before Kennedy’s gun is pulled from her waistband and she’s slamming it across his face.

The tension eases from my shoulders. I look to the side to find Cary leaning against the wall with his fist to his mouth, failing to cover his laughter.

Patrick is smiling, but the shock is still there from seeing her in action.

I chuckle at his expression, but address Kennedy. “Baby, we could’ve gotten some information out of him.”

“He doesn’t know shit. Let’s call his boss.” Kennedy marches out of the room with renewed purpose.

We’re in my office preparing to call Xavier, the leader of The Reapers, but there’s a tightness in my chest that will not go away. I can’t predict how this call will go considering I’m dealing with two people who like to play by their own rules.

“Alex, baby, I can handle this call on my own. Do not stress yourself out with this.”

The adrenaline of the interaction with Spider has worn off and I can see her energy draining.

We’ve lived together for a few weeks without interference of the outside world.

Now we’re getting a glimpse of what our foreseeable future could look like and I’m not going to let her face it alone. Even if it causes me heartburn.

“We’re in this together, Kitten.” I kiss the corner of her mouth.

She cracks her knuckles, a little habit I’ve picked up on when she’s anxious. “Are The Reapers people we can work with? I know this is a part of your past that you don’t want to walk back into, but would they accept a deal from me?”

I stare at her beautiful face, wondering how she could ever be caught up in this life of danger. How much risk will we have to endure for the future we want?

“Kennedy, these are soulless people who hold allegiance to no one. If you want to step away from this life, you have to cut ties completely, not dig yourself in deeper.”

“I’m not going into this call looking for a partnership, but I need them to stop feeding whoever is paying them for information. It wouldn’t hurt to have a backup plan if needed.”

“I know these guys well enough to know that they’ll take the offer but probably will want some monetary payment as well. Cutting a contract they’ve been paid for could stir some shit up for them. If you’re going to make a deal, be concise and specific with your terms.”

“Okay, let’s get this call over with so we can go to bed,” she says on a deep sigh.

“I like it when you refer to things as ours.”

She gives me a bright smile and I would do almost anything to keep it there.

The phone rings twice before the line connects and an agitated voice comes over the phone.

“Speak.”

“Xavier, it’s been a while.” My voice is calmer than I feel. Kennedy’s hand slides into mine and I hold on tight.

“Carter? Is that you? This is definitely a surprise. Are you looking to come back to make some money?” There’s a hip-hop beat thudding in the background.

“Actually, no. I’m calling to find out why one of your goons is following my girl.”

Silence falls over the line. “The only woman we’re tailing right now is Kennedy Rose. That’s most certainly more woman than you’ll ever be able to handle, Carter.”

He laughs at his own joke and my jaw clenches at the thought of him having any information on Kennedy.

“You’re not wrong there, but I’m telling you to call off your dogs.”

A chair creaks in the background. “Since when did you start giving me orders? You better have a damn good reason for calling and making demands. Let’s not forget the state in which you left my business.”

Kennedy leans over and I know my time of leading this call is over.

“We have one of your men who was sloppy enough to get caught. So, I would say that we have a leg to stand on when it comes to making demands.”

“Carter, you letting your woman fight your battles now?”

Kennedy squeezes my hand before responding.

“The battle isn’t between us. I’m starting my own war and I’m trying to prevent as many casualties as possible.

This is a courtesy call. Your men have been following me, and my new security team has been instructed to take out anyone suspicious from this moment forward. ”

“Is Spider still alive?”

“He is. Though I did make him pay for some rather filthy words he was spewing my way.”

Xavier’s laugh filters down the line. “And what exactly should I tell your father when he asks why we aren’t following you anymore?”

I’m watching Kennedy, in awe of her composure. She looks at me and mouths trust me . I give her a jerky nod because I do trust her, even as she thrusts herself into more danger.

“You can tell my father that I offered you a deal you couldn’t refuse and that he can go fuck himself, before you hang up in his face.”

More laughter bursts through the phone line. “Carter, I like her. She might be the backbone you were missing. I’m assuming you’re going to make this deal worth my time. I’m not lying for you and giving up my paycheck.”

I haven’t taken my eyes off Kennedy since she started speaking. I keep looking for a warning of what could come from her next.

“I’ll give you the same deal you gave Alex. Stop working with my father and be available for me on short notice at any time within the next year and I’ll owe you my services for one contract.”

“Hmm, I’m assuming Alex has explained to you that when I call, you drop everything. If I have to hunt either of you down, you’re both dead.”

“I’ll hold up my end of the bargain, you just make sure to hold up yours.”

“Deal.” Kennedy slumps back into her chair and closes her eyes. “I want Spider sent back to me in one piece. Let me deal with how and why it was so easy for him to get caught.”

I speak up. “He’ll be on his way back to you shortly.”

“It was good doing business with you two. Talk soon.”

Then, the line disconnects.