“That’s why you’re with the big guy?”
“I met him at the gym where I work out.” She cradled the phone closer. “Jodi, what were you doing at my building that night?”
“Trying to watch out for you. Jesus, Kennedy, I didn’t know you were still out of town and when I saw the whole thing burning, I panicked. I thought you were inside.”
“But how did you know to be there?” she pressed.
“So here’s the thing. You can’t tell that hulk, okay? I don’t trust him. He’s incredibly shifty.”
“He’s not, actually,” Kennedy replied. “He’s one of the good guys, Jodi.”
“There are no good guys. They’re all creeps, as you should know by now!”
Reyes reached over to touch Kennedy’s knee, letting her know he wasn’t insulted, that in fact he got Jodi’s anger.
She nodded, then said gently, “You trust me, Jodi. So trust me to know a monster from a protector. Reyes won’t hurt me, I promise.”
“Maybe not physically,” Jodi sneered. “Some just use women as conveniences. He’s that type of man, Kennedy. Do you know he’s banging several women already? While he’s with you?”
Kennedy’s brows shot up. “While I’ve been with him, he hasn’t gone anywhere, and what he does in his free time is his own business. We’re not together that way.”
For some reason, it irked Reyes to hear Kennedy say that. It was true, but still...
Sharp with disbelief, Jodi hissed, “You don’t care that he’s using them?”
It bothered Reyes that the woman’s voice had risen. She teetered on the brink of rage, and it wouldn’t take much to push her over the edge.
“You don’t know him, Jodi, but I do. If he’s sexually involved with anyone, it’s consensual. I don’t think he’d lie to them, either. Odds are they’re as satisfied with an open-ended agreement as he is.”
He noticed that Kennedy avoided his gaze.
New concerns intruded. There were only three women he’d seen lately, and if Jodi knew about them, then it meant she’d been spying on him for a while.
Which likely meant she’d been spying on Kennedy, too, and had seen her with him at the gym.
Kennedy must have figured the same thing, because she said, “Listen to me, Jodi. I need you to explain a few things, all right? First, why were you at my apartment?”
All the heat evaporated from her voice. “You’re like family to me. The only family I have. I’ve watched over you for a while.”
Pressing back into her seat, Kennedy paled. “By hanging outside my apartment? By following me?”
“Sometimes, yeah. You remember that jerk that was hassling you, right? I want to make sure no one else bothers you. You’re not like me. You don’t fight.”
Briefly closing her eyes, Kennedy nodded. “That’s true. I’ve tried to get better, and I’m more in shape. I’m just not much of a fighter.”
Now wait a minute! Reyes hated the hint of shame he heard in her voice. Of course she was a damn fighter. Anyone could see that.
“I knew you’d been out of town,” Jodi continued. “I try to keep up with your schedule.”
Kennedy’s gaze met his.
Disturbed, Reyes turned down the drive to his house. The fine hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and he used extra caution surveying the area.
“All right,” Kennedy said, trying to soothe her. “You were there and you saw something?”
“I thought you were already back. You were supposed to be back.”
“I had delays.” Kennedy rubbed at her forehead.
“I’m glad, because if you hadn’t, you’d...” The words trailed off, then renewed with a vengeance. “I saw those assholes dicking around your apartment! I knew they were up to something, and I was right.”
“When I saw the fire,” Kennedy said, “I called Reyes. He picked me up. You didn’t see that?”
“No, I left once everyone was out of the building. That’s when I figured you weren’t in there.”
If she’d already left, then who killed the two men?
Kennedy asked her exactly that, being more direct than Reyes expected. “Those two men were found with bullets in their heads.”
“I know,” Jodi said. “Good riddance.”
Kennedy stiffened. “Did you...?”
“No, but I would have.” Her voice lowered with grave determination. “The world is better off without their kind. I didn’t have a chance to get to them, so I’m glad someone else did.”
“But who?”
“I figured it was your boyfriend.”
“He is not my boyfriend, Jodi. I already explained this to you.”
“Okay, okay. Don’t get your panties in a bunch. I’m just saying. He seems like he’s capable, right? Who’s to say he didn’t off them?”
“I say he didn’t. Remember, he was with me.”
“Yeah, okay. So someone else did us a favor.”
By the second, Kennedy got more frazzled. “You’ve been following Reyes, too?”
“Sometimes. I mean, I’m not going to trust him with my girl, am I?” Her attempt at levity fell flat. “He’s a creep.”
Dark with suspicion, Kennedy asked, “Do you know the women he’s been with?”
“No. Want me to check into them more?”
“No! Absolutely not.”
Reyes squeezed her knee, then pressed the garage door opener so he could pull inside. Immediately, he shut it again.
Already he felt better, knowing Kennedy wasn’t exposed to her lunatic friend. He hadn’t seen anyone following them, but there was a chance Jodi was good enough to be somewhere on the property and not get spotted.
After a steadying breath, Kennedy reclaimed her calm. “I don’t want you to do anything else, Jodi, okay? I mean it. I’m an adult and I can take care of myself.”
“Yeah, right,” she said with caustic sarcasm.
In contrast, Kennedy softly chided, “That’s not kind, Jodi.”
Seconds ticked by, then Jodi said, “Sorry. I just don’t want to see you hurt again.”
“Then don’t assume the worst about Reyes, don’t spy on his girlfriends and, please, trust in my instincts and intelligence.”