Stronger Than You Know--A Novel

by Lori Foster

  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.

  And she’d withdrawn.

  Reyes knew it was her worry about Jodi, and maybe about him, too, that kept her mostly quiet. Soon as they wrapped it up and ensured Jodi’s safety, she’d relax again.

  He hoped.

  To keep up appearances, they went to the gym each day. Although he’d have preferred for her to stay at home, she refused, saying she felt safest with him.

  A part of him relished her trust, and another part wondered if he was seeing the future laid out for him, how she’d always react to the danger inherent in his job. For himself, he wouldn’t mind. It was kind of nice having a woman who cared.

  Yet he hated the idea of her continuing to live on edge—because of him.

  That second day at the gym, she went to his office to look over her manuscript while he continued dealing with the public. She couldn’t resume her workouts yet, especially since his dad constantly warned her to take it easy.

  If Parrish had his way, Kennedy would probably still be in bed. It was pretty remarkable how she pushed through, though. More from a sheer force of will to carry on rather than in a bullheaded way meant to prove anything to others.

  A personality trait no doubt learned from her past.

  With the colorful bruising on her face, Kennedy had gotten more than a few stares. She’d simply smiled and acted as if nothing had happened. So as far as he knew, no one had asked her about it. It helped that her warmer clothes covered her body, so the only mark showing was the one on her temple.

  More than a little distracted with thoughts of Kennedy, Reyes almost did a double take when he heard one guy say to another, “Yeah, you just need to keep an eye out for either chick. You get paid by the day, and if you spot one of them, there’s a nice bonus.”

  What were the odds? One guy was standing near the weight bench while another did some presses. They looked like many twentysomething guys who visited the gym, dressed in baggy sweatpants, dingy wifebeater undershirts and expensive gym shoes. Both had elaborate tats along their arms, and one had tats extending over his chest and neck. Stocking hats hid most of their hair, but judging by their brows, they both were dark.

  Going for a casual vibe, Reyes whistled low as he started picking up discarded weights at the other benches to put them back on the rack, which got him close enough to glance at the small phone photo the standing guy showed to the one on the bench.

  Jodi. Son of a bitch.

  He didn’t react as he listened a little more closely.

  “No, I don’t know the dude. Got the info from my buddy, Dub. You’ll check in with him.”

  When he shared a phone number, Reyes committed it to memory long enough to get to the desk where Will, an employee, checked people in and answered the phone.

  In his rush, Reyes rudely shouldered Will aside and grabbed up a paper and pen to jot down the number with the name. With that done, he murmured to Will, “Keep an eye on those guys by the benches. I’ll be right back.”

  “Sure thing.”

  Will was a good worker who knew to keep his mouth shut and his eyes open. He had no real idea what Reyes did for a living other than running a gym, and he didn’t ask. His loyalty had been tested numerous times already.

  Reyes strolled to the office and handed the paper to Kennedy. “Call Madison and share this with her. Tell her I overheard a couple of knuckleheads talking about getting paid to look for you and Jodi.”

  Startled, Kennedy looked up. “What—”

  “No time for questions, babe. I’ll be back in a few. Stay here with the door locked. Got it?”

  She nodded, stood quickly and followed him as far as the door, then closed and locked it behind him.

  Thankfully, the men were still where Reyes had left them, and now they had a third man with them. He eavesdropped without hesitation.

  “No shit? How many is he hiring?”

  “Ten, I think, but I’m only supposed to round up five. So you in or what?”

  “Yeah, sure. Where do I look?”

  “We’re supposed to spread out in this neighborhood, especially here arou
nd the gym.” He glanced up Reyes.

  Reyes nodded casually as he continued on by. When he reached the desk, in a low voice he asked Will, “You up for a side job? It’s worth a day’s pay.”

  Brows up, Will said, “Heck, yeah.”

  “When the kid in the gray hoodie leaves, see if you can spot his license plate number without being noticed.”

  “What if he’s not driving?”

  Yeah, that was a possibility. “See which direction he goes.” Clapping him on the shoulder, Reyes said, “Thanks.” He deliberately moved away from the men to the other side of the gym, where he had brief conversations with two women doing cardio, then a younger guy trying to bulk up his legs.

  Though Reyes didn’t stare at the men, he was aware of them the entire time.

  When two of them finally left, including the one in the hoodie who been doling out info, Will moseyed out and, damn it, Reyes started to worry. If Will was too obvious, they might catch on to him and then he could get jumped later.

  It was a fact that a lot of street toughs hung out at the gym. Reyes didn’t discourage it. He owned the gym in this run-down section of town so that he could hear the word from the street.

  So far, so good.

  He was relieved to see Will cross the road to his truck, where he opened the door, got inside and rummaged in his glove box.

  Good cover. He’d always appreciated Will as a smart kid, though he was probably twenty-two now.

  A minute later he left the truck, locked the doors and jogged back inside. His nose and ears had already turned red from the cold, and he chafed his arms as he went to the desk, made a note and stuck it in the top drawer.

  Smooth.

  Holding up a candy bar that he’d brought out of the truck, he said, “Okay for me to take a break, boss?”

  Will caught on quick, obviously. Appreciating how he covered his tracks, Reyes nodded.

  Aware of the third man lingering inside and now watching them both, Reyes said, “No problem. I’ll cover out here.” Walking over to two regulars, Reyes took time to offer some instruction on a machine they were using incorrectly.

  The third guy lost interest and left.

  With the coast seemingly clear, the urge to check on Kennedy, to give the plate number to Madison, to follow after the knuckleheads all warred inside Reyes, but good training paid off, and he kept up the show of being nothing more than a fit gym owner interested in his clientele.

  Good thing, too, because he spotted the gray hoodie goof peeking back in through the big front window.

  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 s
afe 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.”

  Sterling stood there, arms crossed. “She wants to be with you, you dolt.”

  “I know that.”

  Undeterred by his dark frown, Sterling continued, “I wouldn’t let Cade leave me behind.”

  “You,” he said, “aren’t natural.”

  “Because I’m female? Well, look at you, being all sexist.”

  Cursing a blue streak wouldn’t help anything, but Reyes did it anyway.

  Kennedy touched his face. “I keep telling you. I feel safest when I’m with you.”

  He glared at Sterling, hoping she’d give them a private moment. She didn’t budge. Frustrated enough to make his hair stand on end, Reyes stared at Kennedy a long minute. Best-laid plans and all that. His had just gone horribly awry. “If that’s true,” he said, feeling Sterling’s smile as she listened in, “then maybe you should plan on staying with me.”