Bogs stood up, digging his hands in his pockets. “No one here thinks that was justice, Kenzie.”
“I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” She wouldn’t even look at him.
“Kenzie.” He moved forward but she shifted to the right. “Bogs, it’s over. I won’t say anything. Can you just take me back to Jonah’s so I can get my things? I just want to go to bed and wake up and go home.” She stared at the door. “I just wanna forget this whole thing ever happened.”
It was like a knife through his heart. Did she mean everything, as in, with him? She was hurting, so many emotion and memories rushing back to her. He knew it and all he wanted was to make it right. There was no right answer with this situation, whatever he did, he’d lose.
“I’ll be in the car.” She walked to the door but stopped and turned back. She tilted her head and smiled but it was strained. “It was nice meeting you, Evie.”
“I’ll take care of her, Kenzie, don’t worry.”
Kenzie nodded and whispered, “Thank you.” She slipped out. Bogs followed her steps until she was through the door.
The rest of the guys filed into the kitchen area and got rid of their beers. Bogs couldn’t. All he could think about was Kenzie and her pain. Evie passed by him, squeezing his arm then made her way down the hall to Taylor.
The men walked to the door with Declan at lead. He gripped the knob and turned but didn’t open the door. His gaze was pegged on Bogs.
“You change your mind and this goes down, I’m in.” He glanced at Trent then back to Bogs. “Just make sure if you do, it’s for her, and not to keep her. Shit like that, it changes a person, and some people aren’t cut to do it, they’re not built that way. You want my take on it? Your girl is not built for it. But that’s her call and yours.” He opened the door. “Just know, I’m in.”
Declan walked out to the porch followed by T and then Stone. Trent came up behind him and gripped his shoulder. “I’m in too, if that’s what you decide.”
Bogs acknowledged him with a chin nod but stayed silent. They walked to the truck and he noticed as first glance, Kenzie wasn’t there. It wasn’t until he scanned the back window and saw her seated in the backseat.
Stone, who was walking next to him called out, “T, I’m riding with Bogs.”
“You don’t have to, man. I got this.”
Stone slapped his back and smiled. “Long ride home. All she wants is to ignore you and my advice, let her. I know you, Bogs. You wouldn’t make it down the driveway before demanding she talk it out with you.” He shook his head. “This shit will blow up in your face. So, I’m gonna ride with you and serve as a distraction and keep you from fucking it up with her.”
ChapterTwenty-Two
The ride back to the city was eerily quiet. Hours of silence gave her time to muddle through everything. Bogs and Stone talked occasionally but the subject was light when she bothered to listen. Mostly, she tuned them out focusing on her own situation.
The thought of killing James Harris had never crossed her mind in the last twelve years. Even on her worst days, when she missed her mom the most, and was wishing he was suffering a miserable existence, she never envisioned herself killing him. Or killing anyone. She tried not to let Taylor’s words influence her but it was nearly impossible. The man killed her mother, she should seek her revenge if the opportunity was offered. Why should he be allowed to go on, live his life with a mere slap on the wrist? Four years was no real punishment for what he did.
Bogs dropped Stone off at his house. When he pulled up to the house, Stone turned in his seat and glanced back at Kenzie. She jerked her head out the side window. Anything he might say was of no interest to her.
“Later.”
“Later, man. Thanks for coming up.”
Stone nodded and got out. She waited for the car to move but it remained idle on the street. The rustling of his clothes indicated Bogs was turning around. She kept her gaze on the front of Stone’s house and watched as he walked up his stairs.
“Wanna come up front?”
She shook her head not making any eye contact. They would talk. There was no doubt Bogs wanted for her to hear him out. She regretted not going with him when he practically begged for her to talk to him alone. She needed answers of her own. Why had he been so quick to turn her down yet it was something he did for others? There was no discussion or even a maybe. Did she mean so little to him? It was a stab to her heart and hope for anything in the future.
The ride to Jonah’s house was the longest twenty minutes of her life. Even the ride from the cabin hadn’t felt this long. As soon as he pulled in the drive, she was out of the car. She went to the porch and waited for him to follow. He opened the door in silence and she walked in making a beeline for the stairs. She would hide out in the bedroom alone for the night until he took her home tomorrow.
“You don’t even wanna talk about it?”
She thought about ignoring him but, why should she? She jerked her body to where he was standing.
“There’s nothing to talk about it. You let me see Taylor, so thank you. As Trent said, he’ll clear everything up with Dante. It’s over.”
“That include us?”
She turned her head looking over her shoulder. She was too raw with too much emotion to have a conversation on where they stood right now. Her feelings for him hadn’t changed, not really. She loved him but sometimes that wasn’t enough. Her mother’s death was a part of her, and if he couldn’t see that then he was not the man for her. She inhaled deeply. “You should have told me.” She grasped the railing and made it up to stairsbefore he spoke.
