“If that’s so, why was she at the college?”
“My guess is that she was looking for something, anything, to give her purpose so she wouldn’t dwell as often on what she’d gone through.” Giving up her intent study of his hand, Kennedy shifted away and crossed her arms. “That’s why I took up speaking, you know. It makes me feel like I’m helping.”
“Is that also why you write?”
“It’s cathartic,” she said. “Spelling it all out helps me understand it, and gives me a sense of control. Jodi hadn’t found a direction yet. She was still floundering in her fear and hatred. Once we became friends, I think it helped her.”
“You’re not sure?” Reyes asked.
“Jodi disappears for long stretches. Sometimes a month will go by before I hear from her. Then I’ll get texts for three days in a row. I just never know with her.”
“So,” Cade said, “we can’t be certain why she was checking out the gym.”
“She was stealthy about it,” Madison said. “Hanging out across the street, trying not to be obvious.”
Kennedy stared at Reyes. “There have been times when Jodi thought I was in trouble, and she acted without discussing it with me.”
“Example?” Cade prompted.
“One time after I’d spoken with this gigantic group, a guy asked me out. He was loud and obnoxious about it, saying he’d help me through all my troubles, like I was a joke.” Her mouth firmed. “Overall, I ignored him. Things like that happen sometimes. A lot of people get uncomfortable with my story. Guys try to laugh it off. Girls make snide comments about it, as if I’d brought it on myself.”
“Immature, clueless brats,” Madison commented, though not with any heat.
Kennedy agreed. “They’re young and dumb, and thankfully, reality hasn’t yet knocked them down. What they say doesn’t matter much to me.”
Much? In that moment, Reyes wanted to protect her from everyone and everything, even mouthy college knuckleheads.
“Jodi takes the insults to me more personally. Apparently, she was there that day, and she waited until she found the boy—”
“Man,” Cade corrected. “If he’s college age, he’s a man and should behave like one.”
Kennedy’s amused smile slipped into place. “I get the feeling that being a man might mean something different to you and Reyes.”
Reyes couldn’t deny that. His father had treated him like a man before he’d ever become a teenager. From a young age he’d been taught that stupidity wouldn’t be tolerated and cruelty was an unforgivable sin, most especially where women were concerned.
“Anyway,” Kennedy said, exasperated with them all now that his siblings were speaking up. “Later that night, she caught him alone and hit him in the back of the head. He ended up with a concussion and twelve stitches.”
Damn. Reyes didn’t blame Jodi for wanting to defend her friend, but that was a pretty harsh way to go about it.
“You know it was her?” Madison asked.
“I didn’t, not at first. The police contacted me after some of the other students told them the guy had been hassling me. I was at the hotel restaurant having dinner, so they knew I hadn’t done it. At the time I didn’t have a clue what might have actually happened. Later, though, when I thought about it, I got a... I don’t know. A hunch? I contacted Jodi the next morning and found out she’d been in the audience when she told me how much she’d enjoyed my talk.”
Reyes frowned. “Does she live near the college where you were speaking?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure where she lives. She seems to travel a lot.”
Maybe, Reyes thought, she traveled to follow Kennedy. Creepy. “You asked her flat out about the guy?”
“Yes. She didn’t confirm it, but neither did she deny it. Basically she repeated back to me one of the things I often say in my lectures—that no one has the right to treat you as if you don’t matter.”
None of them said anything for far too long.
Finally Madison spoke up, directing her comment to Reyes. “I’ve put a few safeguards in place. When she comes near the gym again—and she will—we’ll know it right away.”
“I suggest the direct approach,” Cade said.
Kennedy stiffened. “What does that mean?”
“I’ll go up to her and find out what she’s doing.” Reyes lifted a shoulder. “No biggie.”
“Absolutely not!” Turning to half face him, Kennedy insisted, “I’ll call her and—”
“No,” Reyes said.
At almost the same time, Cade and Madison echoed him.
“If she’s involved in the fire,” Madison explained, “our way is better.”
“And if she isn’t, no harm done,” Cade said.
Kennedy gave him a dark frown. “You and I will discuss this later.”
“My brother is smart, Kennedy. You can’t strong-arm him just by getting him alone.”
Reyes grinned at Cade’s observation. Would Kennedy try to badger him into doing things her way? Probably.
Less blunt than Cade, Madison said, “We really do know what we’re doing. Trust us, okay?”
Kennedy’s eyes narrowed. “Actually, I have no idea what you’re doing. Now might be a good time to tell me.”
Of course, no one spoke up. Grunting, Reyes muttered, “Thank you for nothing” to his brother and sister. “I’ll handle it, okay?”
“Sounds like a plan,” Madison said. “Enjoy your day.”
“Don’t go overboard,” Cade warned. “And keep me posted.”
With the call ended, Reyes put his mind to choosing a place for breakfast. He scanned the streets, looking for somewhere that wasn’t too busy.
“Well?” Impatience crackled in that single word Kennedy threw at him.
How come everything she said or did made him want to grin? For such a small woman, she sure packed a lot of attitude. Even in such an untenable position—with thugs after her, a sketchy friend and the loss of her possessions.
“How about I give you the broad strokes?” Hopefully, that would appease her. No way could he share the nitty-gritty. Other than immediate family and, of course, Bernard, his father’s assistant, chef, butler—and now cat kidnapper—no one knew the details of their operation. Yes, Cade had confided in Sterling, but only because he’d fallen in love with her.