Page 5

Kingsley

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Big John stood at the door of the house. Kingsley handed the vice president the money pouch. Today was payday for the members of Gem Haven Motorcycle Club.

"Ask Razz for the payout sheet." He looked beyond Big John up the hill to the clubhouse. "Tell the others Zane will be around in a few hours."

"He's not back yet?" Big John put the pouch under his arm.

"Visitation was later than usual."

He left the explanation brief, letting Big John believe the visit was to Ridge Stafford. It was no one's business that Zane would meet Burt Shay.

"No worries. I'll make sure the men get their pay."

"Thanks." He slapped Big John on the shoulder. "We've got an early morning ride. Let everyone know."

He shut the door and went back into the rec room. Kenna and River sat together at the end of the L-shaped couch. Both women jumped at his return. They were like two feral cats in a box, waiting for Zane to return with words from their dad.

Kingsley picked up the bottle of beer he'd opened an hour ago and chugged half the contents. The girls were worried about the repercussions of finding out their dad was alive and on death row.

The father they knew was not the father they had, and that was a hard fact to accept.

He and Zane played right into the hands of Ridge Stafford and Tom Pruitt AKA Burt Shay. No one knew the motive of the favor.

His dad was nine months away from getting paroled. It wouldn't take much to fuck that up, and he'd be in there for five more years.

The MC needed their president back.

Zane had done more than expected during Dad's absence, growing the club in numbers and wealth. But his older brother never wanted to sit at the head of the table. Ridge Stafford made it crystal clear he planned to return and lead the club after his prison sentence.

Kingsley studied Kenna and River, their tense posture and fearful glances, a reminder of the countless nights they'd spent on edge, waiting for any news from their father. He wished he could offer them some solace, but the truth was, he had no fucking clue what was going on.

His first job was to protect Gem Haven from any backlash from Zane's visit with Burt Shay. The club was in a precarious position, and any misstep could lead to catastrophe.

River tensed, swinging her gaze toward the window. The rumble of an approaching motorcycle filtered through the room. Kingsley walked over and looked outside. His brother had returned.

"Zane's here." Hope failed to hide the tremor in River's voice.

He turned from the window and met Kenna's gaze. For a heartbeat, she'd unmasked her fears before preparing herself for whatever news came.

The door opened. Heavy boots thunked against the hardwood floor. He turned as Zane walked into the room. His brother went straight to River, putting his hand at the back of her neck before he met Kingsley's gaze and blinked once— something they used to do as children to signal they were in trouble.

"Tell us everything." River pulled Zane toward the couch.

Kenna hung back, sitting at the other end, away from her sister. Kingsley stood behind the couch, silently giving her the support she needed—even if that's not what she wanted. He'd touch her, but the way she stayed coiled up tighter than a spring, she'd bolt on him.

Zane rubbed his thumb along River's cheek. "He's got your eyes."

River gasped, holding Zane's hand. "What did Dad say? Did you ask him if we could see him? Did he tell you why he killed those men? Did he tell you if he's okay?"

"Slow down, sweetheart." Zane pulled on his beard. "First off, prison doesn't allow you to have open conversations. Two guards were present the whole time, and we talked over the phone with a piece of Plexiglass between us. I didn't ask him why he was in prison. You already know why going by what we learned online."

Kenna stiffened. Kingsley put his hands on her shoulders. She shrugged, trying to displace his touch, but he refused to let her go. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, she needed him. Hearing about her dad was hard on her.

"He asked if you both were okay." Zane looked over at Kenna. "He wanted to know where you were living, and I told him you were living in Gem Haven."

"Can we see him?" blurted River.

Kingsley squeezed Kenna's shoulders. Usually, she was the one full of questions. The one who vehemently fought everyone to prove her dad was alive. Her lack of questions or emotions worried him.

"Your dad needs time to think about a visit. I'm sure he'll let us know soon," said Zane.

Kenna stood and rushed out of the room. The front door slammed shut.

Kingsley went after her. Outside, he spotted her race-walking toward the other side of the garage. There was nothing over there, except pine trees and rocky terrain. Setting out after her on foot, he kept his distance, letting her work through the hurt.

Pulling a cigarette out of his pack, he lit the end and slowed his stroll. There was more that Zane wasn't saying, and he'd find out what was going on later. Right now, Kenna needed to process what little info she received and accept that her dad had the final say in whether she got to see him or not.

Kenna stopped abruptly, turning to face Kingsley with fire in her eyes. "Why does he act like we meant nothing to him?"

"I’m sure it's not that simple." He took a slow drag from his cigarette, exhaling the smoke with deliberate calmness to settle her down.

"Not that simple?" Her voice echoed against the mountains. "He killed people, knowing he'd be taken away from us. Why doesn't he love me? What did I do wrong?"

The anguish in her voice pierced him. He stubbed his cigarette out on the thigh of his jeans and reached out, wishing he could take away her pain. "I don't think this has anything to do with something you did or didn't do. Your dad has his demons that can blind him to what's right in front of him."

"That's no excuse," she shouted, clenching her fists at her sides.

"No, it's not," he said softly. "You deserve answers."

Kenna's shoulders sagged. The fight drained out of her as quickly as it had come. "I just want to understand," she whispered. "I want to know why he'd do something like that. I want to know how he could forget about me and River."

He wrapped her in a protective embrace. She buried her face in his chest. Looking off into the trees, he had no quick answer for her. But he was certain of one thing. Kenna wouldn't be alone.

He kissed the top of her head. "Do you want to go back inside?"

She inhaled deeply and looked up at him. "My sister doesn't need me."

"What would make you say that?"

She shrugged. "She has Zane."

Right now, Kenna couldn't see through the storm that rained down on her. But one day, she would.

He picked up her hand and held it. "I'll go back to the house with you. You can ask Zane all your questions about your dad, okay?"

She walked with him, and that time, she never pulled away from him.