“GPS,” Kennedy said, remembering that they’d done the same with Jodi’s car.
“Exactly.”
Bernard reappeared in the doorway, his critical gaze taking in her still-full plate. “Ms. Brooks, you aren’t enjoying your breakfast?”
It felt very much as if she’d just been chastised. “I’m sorry. Madison was discussing business and I got distracted.”
“Madison is always discussing business, and if you don’t wish to go hungry you need to learn to eat while she does so.”
Damn, now even the butler was giving her a hard time. She scowled.
Unfazed by that, Bernard added, “Once you’ve finished eating, I’d be happy to let you visit with Chimera and her adorable kittens.”
As far as incentives went, that was a good one.
“Thank you, Bernard. I’ll get busy eating right now.”
He tipped his head in a nod of acceptance and went back inside again.
Kennedy glanced at Sterling. “He doesn’t eat with the others?”
“Sometimes. It all depends on Bernard’s mood.” She gave a crooked grin. “They treat him like family, even when he really ramps up the airs, as he’s doing for your sake.”
He wanted to impress her? Kennedy couldn’t think of the last time that had happened. Then again, it was better than being rudely scrutinized by Parrish.
The conversation turned casual while everyone paid homage to the magnificent breakfast. When she’d finished, Bernard appeared again with fresh coffee. He refilled everyone’s cups, removed the empty dishes to the cart and again excused himself.
Kennedy had just sat back in her chair, the fragrant coffee held between her hands, when Madison again opened her laptop.
“Now that Bernard is appeased, I have one more detail to share.”
“Course you do,” Reyes said, already frowning. “Think you can use a little more tact this time?”
“Not really, because it’s a bombshell.” She turned to Kennedy. “Prepare yourself.”
Good Lord, what now?
With a huff, Reyes came around to her seat. Standing beside her, he said, “Let’s hear it.”
“Delbert O’Neil isn’t alone at the motel.”
Kennedy did her best not to react to that, but dread poured through her. “That’s the name of the man who escaped the car that day?”
“None other.”
Sterling sat forward. “I heard you say ‘they were at the motel’ earlier, but I assumed you meant him and a cohort. Don’t tell me he has women in that room.” Before Madison could reply, Sterling pushed back her chair. “Damn it, Madison, why didn’t you say so right off?”
Cade stopped her with a hand lightly clasping her shoulder.
“Not women.” Cade watched his sister carefully. “Not for a second would Madison let that slide.”
Madison gently confirmed to Sterling, “No, I wouldn’t.”
“Damn.” Sterling dropped back in her seat. “Sorry.”
“No apology necessary, I promise.” To the table at large, she explained, “Delbert isn’t alone...because he has Rob Golly with him.”
Kennedy’s jaw loosened. Her brain scrambled to make sense of that. Jodi’s abductor and her abductor had teamed up together? She reached back for Reyes’s hand and immediately felt his fingers close around hers. “How is that possible?”
“It seems obvious to me,” Parrish said, his expression a mask of cold rage, his tone softly lethal. “One of them knows that you and Jodi are friends, and he’s looking for assistance to—”
“Don’t say it,” Sterling whispered.
But Kennedy already knew. Those evil men wanted revenge, against her, against Jodi. They wanted it enough that they were collaborating. Though her throat felt tight, her voice sounded strong when she said, “I understand.” She stared back at Reyes. This was his expertise, after all. “What should I do now?”
Reyes gently tugged her from her seat and into his arms, where he held her close. “Easy enough.” He stroked a hand up and down her spine. “You let us deal with it.”
“Deal with it how?”
He shrugged. “Like Dad said, we kill them both.”
* * *
FINALLY, HE’D GOTTEN AWAY. Del wiped his brow, wondering when, or if, he’d be the next target. Psychopaths didn’t take kindly to having their plans disrupted.
The second Golly had left the cabin to get coffee from the diner next door, Del had pulled on his pants, grabbed a few of his belongings and dodged out to the parking lot where he got behind the wheel of his junker car.
After weeks in that deranged fucker’s company, Del could practically taste the freedom. Cigarette butt clenched in his teeth, he inserted the key and turned it. Thankfully, the car started.
He realized his hands were shaking and his heart beat double time. Was this how the women felt when they were captured? Oddly enough, that realization excited him.
Usually he feared no one. When threatened, he reacted with deadly force. But the dude who’d been sharing the shack with him had too many people on his payroll, too many contacts who would know to look at Del first. He was part of a bigger machine, and if he crossed Golly...? Del knew he’d rather have cops after him than that vicious bastard.
At least the cops wouldn’t torture him as payback, then dump his broken body off a cliff.
What Del wanted now was to grab Kennedy, maybe enjoy her for a day, then he’d shut her up for good—and get as far from Colorado as he could manage.
First things first, he’d call on Jodi. One way or another, she’d tell him what he needed to know about Kennedy, and then all his plans would fall into place.
* * *
AFTER REYES AND Kennedy left the deck for a stroll down to the lake, Cade glanced at his father. “What do you think?”
The senior McKenzie flattened his mouth. “Reyes isn’t you. This could be nothing. Passing interest, maybe.”
Sterling snorted. “Come on, Parrish. You’re too sharp to believe that BS.” She sipped her coffee. “I think he’s in love and just hasn’t realized it yet.”
“Love?” Parrish dismissed that with a scowl. “That’s a massive leap from mere interest.”
Over the cup, Sterling narrowed her eyes at Parrish. “See, I expected you to have learned from past mistakes.”