“Yes.” She never went anywhere without them, not even when she traveled. It was why she always checked her bags.
Moving to the suitcase, she opened it again, lifted aside a sweater and a pair of jeans, and removed the heavy firearm case that held her guns. Gingerly she set them out.
Not so gingerly, Reyes lifted them with an expert touch, looking them over. “Plenty of ammo?”
“Yes.” She lifted away the egg crate foam to show the bullets beneath.
“Where’s the stun gun?”
“In my purse now. I got it out of my luggage once I left the airport, before I got my ride.” Exiting the room, she went up the spiral staircase on light feet to reach his bedroom. Her heart beat a little faster, now for entirely different reasons.
Reyes came in behind her. He must have returned her weapons to the case, because he was empty-handed. It didn’t surprise her that he hadn’t made a single sound on his approach. The man moved with stealth even when there was no reason. It seemed to be an intrinsic part of his psyche.
Being in a bedroom with him again caused her to babble. “Here it is.” She put her hand in the grip to show him how she’d use it. Much like brass knuckles, it allowed her a firm grip. “I like the way this one is made. Instead of having to poke someone with a long stick, I just squeeze the handle and it works, plus it has a really bright flashlight. See the spikes? Those can be removed, but why would I?”
“Never know when you might need to gouge someone.”
The deadpan way he said that put her on edge.
Carefully, he closed his hand over hers and relieved her of the weapon. “Tell me what else is going on, okay?”
She probably should, but first she needed out of the bedroom. Hurrying past him, she trotted back down the stairs and...wasn’t sure where to go. Her gaze bounced around, taking in her options. The kitchen, then.
Her butt had just settled in a chair when Reyes appeared in the doorway. “So.” Lifting one brow, he asked, “Are we done racing around the house?”
Feeling like a fool, Kennedy nodded.
He gestured at the chair opposite. “If I grab a seat, you won’t bolt out of the room?”
“No.” At least, she hoped she wouldn’t.
With his hands raised to look less threatening—the ass—he came forward and eased into a chair. “I didn’t mean to spook you.”
Kennedy snorted. “You didn’t.” The memories did. The harsh reality of the threat did. The insidious fear did. Best to get it all said. “A few weeks after the prowler on my balcony, there was another incident in the grocery parking lot. Middle of the day, other people around.” Her mouth went dry, remembering the brazenness of the attack. “I was loading my groceries into the back seat and a guy asked for my cart. I said sure, took the last bag, and while my hands were full he started shoving me into the back seat. Another guy was already getting behind the wheel. My car is keyless and the fob was in my purse over my shoulder, so he started the engine with no problem.”
Something violent glittered in Reyes’s hazel eyes. “Clearly you got away.”
“I tried to scream.” Her throat grew tight, so tight she couldn’t seem to get enough air. “But he put his hand over my mouth and I thought he would crush my jaw. I dropped the bag I was holding. A can of peas fell onto my lap.”
Quietly, calmly, Reyes listened, his gaze locked with hers as if to offer silent support.
“I used that can to bash in his face.”
“Yes!” When she startled at his exclamation, he moderated his tone. “Good for you, honey.”
For some reason, his praise made her feel better. “Blood went everywhere. It looked like I’d fractured his eye socket. His nose was crushed.” She swallowed heavily. “I hit him again.”
Slowly Reyes smiled. “Good girl.”
At any other time, that patronizing phrase might have offended her. Now? It just felt nice to know he approved of her actions.
She took pleasure in saying, “He screamed, loudly enough to draw plenty of attention. I quickly joined him, and soon people were swarming around us. A black car screeched up next to mine, the two of them jumped in, and then they were gone. The whole thing probably lasted less than three minutes, but God, Reyes, it felt like a lifetime. I knew what would happen, what they would do, and that made it worse.”
“I’m so damn proud of you,” he said with gruff sincerity. Slowly, he slid his hand, palm up, across the table. Offering her his touch. A connection.
How could she resist? Clearly she couldn’t, so she placed her much smaller hand in his and was immediately engulfed in his comforting strength.
“You know how hard it is to keep your head when being attacked, but you did it, Kennedy. You fought hard, and sometimes that can make all the difference.”
Nodding, she squeezed his hand. “Or no difference at all.”
The truth of that hung between them.
Watching her, he lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “All those workout sessions at my gym are starting to make sense.”
No reason to fudge the truth any longer; Reyes now knew it all. “I know I’m small, and not all that strong, but there are ways to slow a man down, right? That’s what I was trying to learn. I can’t best a man, but if I can thwart him, then I’d at least have a chance to get away.”
He seemed to come to some decision. “No more talk about leaving here, okay? Not until we have this all wrapped up.”
“That could take a long time.” Or it might never happen.
“Nah. Like Madison said, you have a team at your back now. So let’s come to some agreements.” He turned as businesslike as Reyes could. “One, you’ll stay here, and no more talk of leaving. Done and done. Two, I’ll get your car for you, but you have to give me your word you won’t take off.”
She didn’t want to go anywhere alone until she knew it was safe, so she shrugged. “No problem.” The thought of ever again being held in captivity paralyzed her with fear.
“Three, we’ll spend the next few days replacing things you lost, starting in about an hour. I’ll be your escort-slash-bodyguard-slash-whatever, and you’ll be patient with me. Agreed?”
Her mouth twitched. “You’re not so hard to be around, now that I know you better.”
Disbelief narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, okay. Believe that if you want.”
Just by being himself, he’d lifted her mood. “Which part?”
“That you know me.”
Ah, so he didn’t deny being difficult. “You’re still an enigma?”