„Kristen, honey, wake up.“
He watched her lashes quiver, then lift. Slowly she came awake, then lifted her chin with a jerk when she realized where they were. „You said you were taking me home.“
He closed his hand over the back of her neck and gently squeezed. „I will. First I have to see my folks.“ He hesitated and she sat up straighter in the seat.
„What’s happened?“ She studied his face in the darkness of the SUV’s cab, then sagged back against the seat, her expression defeated and for that alone he wanted to catch both Conti and their humble servant and make them pay. „Who?“
„My dad,“ he said unevenly and she closed her eyes. „He says he’s okay, but I didn’t want to take his word for it. Aidan says he’s pretty banged up, but…“
„Let me guess,“ she said bitterly. „Whoever did it wanted to know who ‘he’ is.“
He wouldn’t lie to her. „Yes.“
Wearily she rubbed her forehead. „I told you I shouldn’t come around your family. I shouldn’t be here right now. Go in and see your father. I’ll call a cab to take me home. Truman’s on tonight, I think. I’ll be fine.“
I’ll be fine. The words echoed in his head and something just snapped. He twisted, bringing his angry face within inches of her startled one. For a second they stared, then he took her mouth with a ferocity he immediately regretted. He was angry, but not with her. She was fragile and vulnerable enough without his making it worse. He pulled away, but her hands pulled him back, holding on almost desperately. She kissed him hard and long and when she finally let him go they were both breathing like spent athletes.
„You are not fine,“ he whispered against her lips. „You’re scared and so am I.“
„I’m sorry, Abe. I’m so sor – “
He cut off the apology with another hard kiss, gentling it after the initial searing contact. He adjusted the angle, seeking a closer fit, finding it, backing off only long enough to let them both catch their breath, then returning for more. He ended it without ending it, pressing kisses to the comer of her mouth, her temple. The hollow behind her ear and down her neck, forcing himself to remain gentle when her body shuddered.
„When this is over, I’m taking you far away,“ he murmured, the deep rumble of his voice shaking her down to her core. „We’ll lie on the beach and forget all about this.“
Don’t make promises, she wanted to say. They were here because someone had beaten his father. Because of me. That wasn’t something even the Reagans could easily ignore and she just didn’t think she could bear their reproach, no matter how much they deserved to feel it. Kristen turned her face into his hand and kissed his palm. „Go see your father,“ she said. „I’ll wait.“
„You’re not staying here by yourself. Come with me.“
It wasn’t a request, she knew. Just as she knew it would be foolish to tempt fate and stay in the car alone. Unprotected. So when he opened her car door, she slid down without a protest and walked, his strong arm around her shoulders.
From the laundry room she could smell Becca’s dinner cooking, but there was a forbidding quiet that was foreign to the Reagan household. Abe pushed open the door to the kitchen. Five pairs of eyes turned to look at them, all filled with rioting emotions, Becca’s with fear, Aidan’s with fury. Sean and Annie’s held disbelief. Ruth stood beside Kyle, holding a roll of gauze and she shook her head slightly. Kyle kept his face stubbornly averted and Kristen saw Abe swallow hard before approaching his father. His eyes slid closed and his throat worked as he struggled to keep his composure.
„How bad is it?“ she heard him murmur to Ruth.
„I’ve had worse,“ Kyle snapped, but his speech was slurred. „I’m a bloody pulp, but I can still hear and talk.“
„How?“ Abe asked simply.
Becca drew in a breath. „He was leaving the grocery store and a man – “
„I can tell it, Becca.“ Kyle struggled to sit up in the chair and Aidan was there to help him, but Kyle pulled away. „I can do it. I was leaving the store and a man stuck a gun in my kidney. Told me to walk quietly and took me behind the store.“
„How many were there?“ Abe asked.
„Four,“ Kyle answered and Kristen shuddered from her spot in the laundry room. „Told me to tell you to figure out who the vigilante was or they’d move on to the rest of the family.“
Abe looked around abruptly. „Where’s Rachel?“
Ruth put a steadying hand on his shoulder. „She’s in the bedroom with the kids.“
„Where is Kristen?“ Kyle asked. „You shouldn’t have left her alone.“
„I’m here,“ Kristen said quietly. „I’m fine.“
Kyle raised a bandaged hand. „Come here.“
On trembling legs Kristen complied. Whatever he had to say wouldn’t be nearly bad enough. One look at Kyle’s face made her trembles start all over again. Purple and black bruises covered his face and a patch of thick white hair had been shaved, a bandage in its place. Both hands were bandaged, his right more so than his left. She sank to her knees at his feet and stared up at him, blinking back tears. He’d sat with her all night, playing solitaire, keeping her company. Making her feel safe. And for his kindness he’d been beaten within an inch of his life. She opened her mouth and he made an impatient noise.
„If you say you’re sorry, I’ll be forced to kick your ass,“ Kyle said through swollen lips and a hysterical giggle bubbled up in her chest. Kristen forced it back and responded the only way she knew would preserve his dignity.
„I was going to ask how the other guys look,“ she lied dryly.
His blue eyes gleamed with appreciative humor. „Not as pretty as me,“ he said.
Standing behind him, Becca smiled tremulously. „You didn’t cause this, Kristen. You’re as much a victim as anyone else.“ Kyle nodded, then winced in discomfort.
„Is anything broken?“ Kristen asked him.
„A few ribs. My pride.“ Kyle grew very serious. „You will not tell them anything, Kristen. You have to promise me that.“
Kristen huffed in frustration. „I don’t know anything. If I did, the killer would be in prison. If I thought it would do any good, I’d call Conti and tell him I don’t know anything.“
„It won’t do any good,“ Abe said and she looked up at him. „They called your cell phone while you were asleep. Said they’d be getting in touch with you every day until you had an answer. They don’t care how you get it, they just want to know who the killer is.“
Every day. She controlled the feeling of helpless panic and made her voice steady. „Can you trace the call?“
Abe shrugged. „I already made the request, but I can almost guarantee we’re talking about a stolen or disposable cell phone.“
„Can’t you pick Conti up?“ Aidan asked. „Use any excuse. You know it’s him.“
Abe’s lips thinned. „It wouldn’t do any good, and he’d sue us for false arrest. He’s behind this, but he’s not doing this himself. Spinnelli’s already been warned by the brass not to pick him up until they have something that will stick.“
Kristen stood up. „Well then, let’s find out who’s doing it for him. My first guess would be the man who was with him the day he pushed Julia up against her car. His name is Drake Edwards. He’s Conti’s right-hand man. Rumored to be one sick bastard.“ She looked down at Kyle. „Did you see any distinguishing marks on any of the men who did this?“
Kyle’s swollen lips twisted in a grimace. „Only the ones I put on ‘ em myself. I didn’t see any of their faces, but one of the guys should have a really bad bruise on his left cheekbone.“
„I’ll call it in,“ Abe said.
Becca waved her hands. „Enough of this sitting around. Sean, you get plates down to set the table. Aidan, you can carve the roast. Annie, I need you to help me peel some more potatoes. I’ve got to stretch dinner for four more plus the children.“