Page 23

Kingsley

—Nine years ago—

––––––––

Kenna pressed her back against the brick wall. "Who are you?"

"My name's Kingsley."

"You're not a king."

He looked down at this black leather vest, his beard, and the tattoos on his arms. She was right. "I'm a member of Gem Haven Motorcycle Club."

Kenna balled her fists. "Why are you following me?"

"So you do remember seeing me before."

She clamped her lips together. He'd witnessed the day the state took River away from Kenna.

He lit a cigarette and stayed by the curb where he'd parked his Harley. "It took me a while to find you."

It cost him two dates with the woman who worked in the state office to convince her to give him the address of where they'd taken Kenna. Plus, another thousand dollars to keep her quiet.

"My brother, Zane, and I are going to watch over you and your sister to make sure you're safe and protected."

"Why?"

He pressed his lips together to keep his amusement in check. She was spunky and curious. From what Zane had told him, Kenna's sister had accepted him watching over her without any question.

Not this one.

She was going to be a handful.

"Because the state can only do so much." He stubbed his cigarette out. "Do you like where you're staying?"

"What kind of question is that?" She wrinkled her nose. "I didn't ask to come here. I want my sister back, and I want to go home."

Her mom was deceased. Her dad was sitting on death row, though she believed he was dead. There was no way she could ever go home again.

"How's school?"

She blew out her lips and shook her head. He wasn't going to get any answers from her.

He looked around at the 7-11, knowing she lived two blocks away. At twelve years old, she was mature enough to walk home after school or stop in at the store.

There was no use staying and pestering her for answers. He could see that she was unharmed. Nobody could blame her for her attitude. She'd gone through hell in the last year.

"I'll check with you in a few weeks to see how you're doing." He backed up and put his leg over his Harley. "Is there anything you want River to know? I can pass on a message to her."

"Are you lying?" She stepped forward.

Her tone and expression stayed strong, but her chin trembled. His gut tightened. She was too young to endure the hardships that life had thrown at her.

"I would never lie to you." He put his hands on his thighs. "My brother Zane is watching over River like I'm watching over you. Nothing is going to happen to either one of you. Until you're back together, if you need to tell River something, you can send a message through me."

She looked away and hugged her middle. He waited, not wanting to leave if she had something she wanted to tell him.

A car attempted to turn around in the parking lot, coming near where Kenna stood. She stepped closer to him, getting out of the way.

"Is she okay?" asked Kenna.

He took out the new phone he'd brought with him, glad Zane had thought to purchase one for each girl and take a picture of River for him to share with Kenna. He handed her the cell. "Look for yourself."

River stared hard at the screen, blinking furiously but not letting any trapped tears fall. He wanted to hug her, tell her it would be okay, and that what seemed hard now would get easier to accept. But he knew it wouldn't help. Right now, she needed her sister.

She thrust the phone at him. "You're coming back?"

He nodded.

"Can you take another picture of River?"

"Yep." He handed the cell back to her. "Can you hide this phone and keep it with you so if you need help, you can call me?"

Her eyes widened. "Seriously?"

"Seriously." He lifted her chin. "Do you want to send a picture back with me, so Zane can show your sister?"

"Yeah." River slid the phone into her pocket.

He took out his cell and held it up but paused before taking her picture. "Smile."

Her lips never moved. She stared hard at the phone. River would see how unhappy her sister was. But it couldn't be helped.

"Got it." He put the phone away. "You better get home."

"It's not my home." She stepped away from him and went back to leaning against the wall of the 7-ll.

"My numbers in the phone. Use it if you need anything."

"What about my sister? Can I have her number?" she asked.

He shook his head. "It's safer this way."

They agreed that letting the girls call back and forth would only cause more problems. The phones were for their own safety.

He started his Harley and rode away.

Circling the block, he parked across from the store with a clear view of Kenna. After a few minutes, she slid her back down the wall and sat on the concrete, pulling out the phone he'd given her and staring at the screen.

He swallowed hard, knowing her life sucked right now and there was nothing he could do to change that.