Reyes asked, “Why the hell not? I do. My brother does.”
Turning in surprise, Jodi stared at him. “Don’t bullshit me,” she said without heat.
“Doubt I could.” He came to stand by Kennedy. “Now quit being such a hard case and accept a friendly offering from people who care.”
“Your pa doesn’t know me, so how can he care?”
Kennedy spoke ahead of Reyes. “His father, who is a wonderful man, by the way, lost someone he loved to traffickers. Believe me, he cares—about me, about you, about every woman who’s ever been in such a horrid situation. You’re not the only one who wants to make a difference, Jodi.”
Reyes smiled at her with pride. “So passionate. And one-hundred percent correct.”
Jodi’s eyes grew glassy again. “Okay, fine. I’ll do it.”
“Yes!” Reyes stepped forward and swept her into a hug, shocking poor Jodi senseless. He seemed to catch himself and quickly set her back, but when he saw her slow grin, he laughed. “You’re a woman of your word, so I trust you won’t forget this conversation.”
“No, I won’t.” She gestured to the door. “Now go make plans, and keep me updated. The waiting is miserable.”
Obviously, Jodi wanted some time alone to digest it all.
Instead, Reyes rubbed his hands together. “Let’s get pizza first. I’ll send someone out for it.”
Jodi eyed him warily.
His smile never slipped. “We can stuff our faces and visit. Kennedy’s feeling as cooped up as you are.” He turned to her. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you, babe?”
Her heart felt too big for her chest. “Very much so.”
“There, you see? Surely you can suffer me long enough to eat?”
It took her a second, and then Jodi laughed, not a fake laugh, or one inspired by anger, but an honest, joyous expression. “You’re nuts—but okay, sure. I haven’t had much appetite, but suddenly I’m starved.”
“There you go.” He turned to Kennedy. “This’ll be fun.”
She was so overwhelmed, words stuck in her throat. The best she could manage was a nod. Reyes gave her a wink and went to the phone to call the lobby.
He’d won Jodi over so easily, just by being himself. Kennedy felt caught between a good laugh—and a hard cry.
She was afraid for Jodi yet ecstatic to see her so happy, madly in love with Reyes yet anxious about the future. It felt like she was on a wild roller-coaster ride of shifting emotional extremes—and she’d never been happier in her life.
With that realization came a new fear: If things ended with Reyes, then what? Would she be able to go back to her mundane existence of writing, speaking engagements and slogging through each day without enthusiasm?
If things ended, she’d be more devastated than ever before.
Thanks to Reyes’s influence, she was a stronger person now—but was she strong enough to survive that particular heartache?
Before it came to that, she’d tell Reyes that she loved him and hope it made a difference.
For now, she’d just enjoy seeing the smiles of the two people most important to her.
* * *
“YOU’RE SURE HE’S DEAD?” Rand asked. “He couldn’t just be in the hospital?”
“He’s dead, all right. The news interviewed some witnesses who saw the car go off the road. Said he was carried out of the ravine in a body bag.”
“Did you check the local hospitals anyway?” He wouldn’t leave anything to chance.
“Just like you told me. Couldn’t find him anywhere. He’s dead.”
Rand smiled. Perfect. Delbert O’Neil had become a liability with his endless complaints and impatience. And that damned chain-smoking. The stench alone had been vile.
If Del hadn’t taken off when he did, Rand would have enjoyed cutting his throat while he slept.
Pinning the small-time thug with a glare, Rand asked, “Any news on Jodi?”
“Her car was towed, that’s all I know.”
“Hmm.” He rocked back and forth, thinking. The same behemoth who’d destroyed his men to protect Kennedy was likely protecting Jodi also. “Can you round up a few more guys?”
“How many?”
“Ten ought to do it.” Added to the ten he already had, they could cover a lot of ground. “Offer them a hundred dollars a day to keep on the lookout for Jodi or Kennedy. You still have photos of them you can share?”
“Yeah, on my phone.”
Rand tapped his fingertips together and prodded his tongue between his missing teeth. “Whoever spots one of them first will get a bonus of five hundred.”
“Sweet deal. I’ll get the word out right away.” He turned to go.
Rand waited until he was out the door of the cabin before he turned to the remaining man. This guy was a little more reliable. “I need some supplies.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
He went down the list of necessary items. “Don’t buy more than two things at any one store. Shop around in different places so you don’t draw attention.”
“Got it. Anything else?”
“Yes. Early evening, go by that construction site down the road and gather up anything that can be used for shrapnel. Nails, staples, broken glass. Even small chunks of rocks will do.”
Eyes wider now, the guy said, “Uh, boss, are we building a bomb?”
“We?” Golly smirked. “Do you know how to build a fucking bomb?”
He shook his head fast.
“I do, so yes, I’ll be building a bomb.” It wasn’t how he wanted to kill Jodi, but things were getting dicey now that Delbert O’Neil had screwed up the plans. He had to be prepared, just in case. “Get everything back to me tonight.”
With that clear dismissal, Rand finally found himself alone in the cabin. He, too, was getting tired of being cooped up. Shouldn’t be for too much longer, though. He’d either have his hands on Jodi, where he could enjoy his revenge, or he’d blow her into tiny bits. Either way, justice would be served.
He rocked a little harder as he imagined each scenario.
* * *
FOR TWO DAYS, they worked on the details of the trap. It wasn’t easy, but Reyes convinced Kennedy that it would be better for them to stay at his father’s house for now. She’d reluctantly agreed.