Shame Golly had stooped to hiring scrawny troublemakers. Reyes would almost feel bad for schooling them on the error of their ways.
His issue now would be getting Kennedy out of the gym without them spotting her. He didn’t doubt that at least one of them was already aware of her, but he’d prefer not to engage with them tonight. It’d be better if he could get her out of harm’s way first.
Screw it. He went to the desk, picked up the landline and called Cade. His brother would be at the bar now, but he could work it out.
Making sure no one was near enough to listen in, and assuming the idiot peering in through the window couldn’t read lips, Reyes explained the situation to Cade.
Of course Cade had a solution. He always did. “I can have Sterling pick her up at the back door. If you’re ready to leave at the same time, you can follow behind them. Make sure Kennedy is wearing the sunglasses Dad gave her, and Sterling can bring a hat to stuff on her head.”
In that moment, Reyes realized something interesting. He loved coordinating with his family.
For years he’d told himself that he did it because he’d been groomed for it, he was good at it, and it made a difference.
Now he knew it was more than that.
He thrived on this shit.
Cade would always be the older brother he looked up to, and Madison would always be the baby sister he adored.
Working with them was not only rewarding, it was special in a way few families ever experienced. They weren’t just close, they routinely depended on each other. He knew his family would always have his back.
And because they understood that Kennedy was important to him, they had her back, too.
God, he was lucky—and until Kennedy, he’d never realized it. “Tell Sterling I appreciate it.”
“She knows, but I’ll tell her anyway.”
They figured out a time for Sterling to arrive, and after Reyes disconnected, he grinned. Done playing, he went to the front door, opened it and said to hoodie-boy, “What’s up, dude? You forget something?”
Like a deer in the headlights, the guy went blank. “What?”
“Saw you looking in. If you lost something, let me know. I’ll look around.”
Full of belligerence now, he said, “No, man. I ain’t lost nothing. Can’t a guy hang out?”
“Sure, no problem. It’s warmer in here, though.”
Lip curling, the guy turned and stalked away, going the opposite direction this time. So was he meeting someone? About a block down, he peered over his shoulder, and Reyes ducked back inside.
While he had a chance, he fetched the note Will had made and put it in his shoe. Once Will returned from his break, he thanked him again and finally went to Kennedy.
It really felt like things were coming together. Soon he’d remove all the obstacles, and then he’d tell Kennedy how he felt and ask her to stay with him.
Forever.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“I WANT TO go with you,” Kennedy said, and he heard a frantic note in her voice.
“Not a good idea, babe.” Reyes paused in the middle of sorting his gear to press a kiss to her mouth. God, he loved that mouth. Loved her ass, too, as well as that particular obstinate expression she was giving him now.
Her soft blond hair, her blue eyes. Her stubbornness and strength.
Hell, he loved every part of her, everything about her, all the things she made him feel and the ways she’d changed him. She’d become the center of his world and he didn’t mind at all.
“Reyes—”
“Kennedy,” he teased back. Even if she wasn’t in a teasing mood, he sure as hell was.
The day had finally come to put the plan into action. It was made easier by Golly’s watchdogs, who now haunted the gym and the streets around it.
The idea was that he’d stop in at the gym with Jodi, just long enough for them to spot her. Shortly after that, once the goons had a chance to notify Golly, he’d head out to a more remote area, where they could try their luck at ambushing him again. This time Reyes planned to be ready. He’d already chosen a nice high point where he and Jodi could wait them out.
He’d pick them off one by one without hesitation or a single moment of remorse.
For the other problems, meaning Golly’s cohorts, Madison had found locations for them by using hoodie-boy’s plates. The girl was a whiz at tracking. Hoodie-boy met with one person, and that led them to another person, and on it went.
He, Cade and Sterling would round up all of them. With Madison on watch, none of them would get away.
Once it was over, Kennedy would be free to choose whatever life she wanted. He planned to convince her to choose a life with him.
“You have it all covered,” she insisted. “You said so yourself.”
“True.” It was as planned out as it could be. “But we have to split up. I’ll be with Jodi. Cade and Sterling will get the other creeps. Madison will keep an eye on Golly at the motel, and bam, it’ll be over.”
“See? It’s safe,” Kennedy reiterated. “You know Jodi will be more comfortable if I’m there with her.”
“There are too many things that can go wrong.”
“Reyes.” She slipped up against him, her arms around his neck. “If it’s not safe for me, how is it safe for Jodi?”
I’m not in love with Jodi. Damn it, he was so close to having it all that he didn’t want to blurt out a half-baked declaration now. He wanted to do it the right way.
The way Kennedy deserved.
He settled on saying, “Jodi knows how to shoot.”
“I can shoot.”
He gave her a level look. “Practicing a few times is not the same as using a gun in a high-pressure situation.”
“So I’ll be a lookout.”
Damn it, he wanted to know she was tucked away some place safe, not out in the thick of it. Yes, he was confident of his ability, but shit happened. He couldn’t bear it if it happened to her again. “Kennedy—”
“I’ll get her geared up,” Sterling said as she stepped through the open door of the suite. “Come on, Kennedy.”
Smug, Kennedy blew him a kiss and hurried after his sister-in-law.
Reyes was right on her heels. “Now wait a damn minute.”
She turned, a desperate expression on her face. “I swear I won’t get in your way. I won’t cry and I’ll follow orders to the letter.”
“Ah, hon...” He closed the space between them. “I’m not worried about any of that.”