Page 42 of Redeemed (Redeemed #1)

Chapter Thirty-Six

Alexander

Kitten: I’m leaving now. He’s following.

I ’m exiting the car before I finish reading Kennedy’s message.

The past twenty minutes have been torture, waiting for her to return.

I’ve had a terrible feeling about this meeting since Nathan texted her to set it up.

Deep down, I know why she needed this meeting with him, but selfishly I hope he digs his grave deeper, so she cuts him off for good.

My dislike of Nathan began the first time we encountered each other.

The way he spoke to Kennedy on the street that morning didn’t sit well with me, and based on the reaction from Kenn when she found out Ashton Rose was in town, I could’ve chalked his behavior up to stress.

Then I saw the damage done to Kennedy’s face and it was clear that Nathan did nothing to prevent it.

It became clear then that he was someone I would never like.

The street is clear, thankfully, as I watch Kennedy pass through the restaurant exit.

I quickly scan her body for any visible injuries, my mind going to the worst-case scenario.

Her lips are downturned, and her arms are wrapped around her waist, keeping herself closed in.

Kennedy meets my gaze, and it does something to my heart to see her eyes light up when she sees me.

I notice the tears pooling that I know she will refuse the chance to fall because she won’t give Nathan the satisfaction.

I pull my gun, keeping it tucked at my side, not drawing attention to it, praying Nathan gives me a reason to pull the trigger.

“Kennedy, come back! We need to finish talking.” Nathan has a commanding tone.

I move toward them, ready to put this pistol to good use, damn the consequences.

I watch as he catches up to her stride, wrapping his hand around her bicep and spinning her around on the spot to face him. A wave of possessiveness washes over me, and I tamper that feeling to think clearly.

Kennedy’s knife is drawn and pressed to Nathan’s throat.

In four strides, I’m at her back with my gun pointed in his face.

I slide my arm around Kennedy’s waist, pulling her back toward me, but her knife holds steady, and his grip is still locked around her arm.

There are so many ways this situation could be detrimental, but I’m not moving until his hands are off her.

“Nathan, let me go.”

I admire the strength in her voice as she exercises boundaries toward someone that’s been a constant presence in her life.

“Nah, keep holding her and give me a reason to pull the trigger,” I encourage while clicking the safety off my gun.

Nathan and I lock eyes and this asshole has the nerve to smirk at me. “You pull the trigger and you’ll be fighting to keep her in your life as hard as I am.”

What the fuck does that mean?

“Nathan, shut the fuck up and let me go.”

“We aren’t finished talking,” he snaps.

My pistol digs into his forehead. “Watch your fucking tone.”

“Nathan, I have nothing more to say to you, and I would prefer to not deal with the cops tonight.”

At the mention of police, Nathan releases her arm, and all weapons are stowed away.

I guide Kennedy back to the car, getting her settled before turning back to Nathan.

I hold his gaze as I move to the driver’s side.

Nathan doesn’t retreat back to the restaurant but stands there, watching us with a narrowed gaze.

It’s not until we’ve pulled out onto the road that I allow my curiosity to take over.

“Kennedy, what was that?”

She runs her hand over her hair, releasing a deep sigh. Her eyes fall closed as she leans further into the seat, laying her head onto the rest.

“A conversation full of confessions. One thing that’s abundantly clear is Ashton Rose has been controlling my life in more ways than I could have ever imagined.”

“What did Nathan have to say?”

“He was acting weird from the moment I arrived at our table. He hugged me like we were reuniting after years apart.”

My hands tighten on the steering wheel, and she pauses her retelling of the conversation. I should have put a bullet through him when I had the chance. I won’t miss the opportunity next time.

I take a deep breath and allow my fingers to relax. “Continue, baby. I’m good,” I urge as my hand reaches over and rests on her leg.

“Nathan told me that he and Ashton have a business agreement in the works that requires my cooperation. Ashton has agreed to arrange a marriage between myself and Nathan, allowing Nathan to take over the Rose Empire.”

I can hear the disbelief in her voice as a result of the information she received transforming into anger in real time.

I want to turn the car around and murder Nathan in cold blood, but my anger is nothing compared to what Kennedy must be feeling knowing these two men were pulling strings behind her back.

Her sanity is all that matters right now and getting her to a safe space to think becomes my goal.

If she would’ve thought it was bad enough, she would’ve killed him herself, but I believe it’s the hurt that’s adding up.

“How exactly would either of them benefit from arranging this marriage?”

“Apparently Nathan’s father, whom I assumed was dead all these years, has made a name for himself in one of the northern crime organizations. So, what better way to make two businesses stronger than to merge them.”

“Do you know the organization?”

This battle with Ashton Rose may be bigger than we could’ve expected if another crime family is involved. We need to bring Patrick and Cary to up speed on this immediately because plans are going to change. Hopefully the guys are back from the mission.

“Both Ashton Rose and Nathan are protecting the name of the organization, but I’m going to find out.

I can’t reach Ashton, but Nathan is easily accessible.

” Her voice wavers. “He knew this entire time how that man was ruining my life, and he signed on to assist, claiming he was doing it to protect me. He has to die too.”

I could say that I’m shocked, but this is who Kennedy is down to the core, and she’s been wronged. I put the car in park, intending to talk through this with her, but she has other plans. The passenger door is thrown open and she’s beelining for the house.

I’m out of the car hurrying after her. “Kennedy, where are you going?”

“I’m changing into something more appropriate to commit murder in.”

I let out a low chuckle. “Baby, we need to find out what happened at the estate before you walk into another dangerous situation.”

“Well, then I suggest you start making phone calls.”

Then she’s marching up the steps on a mission. As much as I want Nathan wiped off the face of the Earth, I don’t want Kennedy making decisions she will regret.

My phone vibrates in my hand, and I’m hoping for a bit of good news to maybe calm down my assassin from gearing up for revenge.

“What’s the status, Pat.”

“Cary was fed stale information. When we arrived on the property, it looked like the place had been wiped clean.”

“Damn it! Were you able to find any useful information?

The silence tells me what comes next is bad. I hear some shuffling down the line and then Cary’s on the phone.

“Shit.” I drag my hand down my face. The last thing Kennedy needs is another bomb tossed her way, but I can’t keep this from her. “Okay, I’ll brief her. We have more information to go through once you both are back.”

The exhaustion is weighing on me as I move up the staircase, but I can’t find it in me to complain when Kennedy has taken most of this situation in stride.

I find Kennedy in our bathroom, braiding her hair into a single braid down her back.

Our eyes connect in the mirror, and I see the determination hasn’t dimmed one bit.

There’s a very good chance that the information I’m about to reveal will stoke that fire.

“You aren’t going to talk me out of going to find Nathan.”

“Never thought for a moment that I could. I just heard back from Patrick and Cary.”

That catches her attention. Her eyes narrow as she turns to face me, leaning back against the counter. Her arms are crossed, placing a barrier between us. I want to go to her and wrap my arms around her, shield her from news I have to deliver.

“What did they have to say?”

“We were given stale information. When the team entered the buildings on the property, everything had been cleared out, the warehouses devoid of product.”

“What else?” she asks with narrowed eyes, seeing all the words I’ve left unspoken.

“Baby.” My head dips as I gather the courage to add to the pain she has already experienced in the last forty-eight hours. “They found Ms. Kathy with a gunshot wound to her head and a note for you taped to her chest. The team is on their way back for a full debrief.”

I watch her eyes well with tears. I step forward, wrapping my arms around her but she’s solid in her stance.

“Baby, I’m so sorry.”

My words jolt her out of her trance, and then she’s pushing past me to the closet. She begins pulling weapons out of her stash that she’s kept in the bedroom. I stand there, helpless to cure the pain she is feeling.

“Are the keys still in the car?” Her voice comes out cold and flat. I’m no longer speaking with Kennedy, but the assassin she’s been trained to be.

“Are you sure you can drive like this?” I throw out the question, trying to keep her here a moment longer.

“Are your keys in the car or do I need to hotwire one of the ten you have parked in your garage?”

“The keys are in the car.”

This isn’t my Kennedy.

I school my emotions, sliding my own mask in place, hiding behind my own defense mechanism. I can handle the tears or the anger, but I don’t know how to be who this side of her needs. She clocks the change in my emotions immediately.

“Don’t you dare look at me like that. You’ve known who I was from the beginning, so don’t be so surprised when the killer shows her face.”

She turns to go, leaving me standing in silence, without looking back.