I hold my jacket to my chest, facing my brother head-on. “That fucker needs to pay. They all do, but we’ll start with him.”
“Agreed. We’ve just placed someone on the inside with Lawrence. Wewillget that sick bastard, but we need to find hard evidence or catch him in the act. It’s going to take some time to build a rock-solid case against him. And we can’t guarantee he won’t discover she’s living in Boston in the meantime.”
“He can’t get to her, Kev. I will fucking take him out myself before I let him anywhere near Selena.”
“No heroics, Keanu. The last thing Selena needs is you locked up for murder. We’ll keep her safe. I promise. Morgan Security is the shit, and those guys would die before they’d let anything happen to her. And my boss is assigning an agent to her full-time. He’s also got an undercover guy and a full-time agent on Lawrence. Plus, the guy’s a public figure and he’s got cameras on him twenty-four-seven. He won’t be able to do much without someone capturing it on film.” He grips my shoulders again. “He’s not getting near Selena, brother. And that’s a fucking promise.”
23
Selena
Imeet with Denise every morning the following week as I spiral in the aftermath of the FBI meeting. I’m proud of myself for telling them everything, but reliving it all has brought everything to the forefront of my mind again, and I’m struggling to cope.
Keanu provides steady support, reassuring me he’s going nowhere, that he doesn’t feel any differently about me, and holding me in the middle of the night when I wake up screaming, but he’s quieter than normal, and I think he’s struggling too.
My natural inclination is to dive deep into myself. To lock out the world. Hold onto the pain and bury myself even deeper. But I’m trying not to do that.
For me.
For the man I love.
For my sanity.
Hence, the daily therapy sessions, and I’m going about my routine as usual. Attending classes, swimming, going to yoga, talking with Mom, and hanging out with Todd and Kelly.
But it’s difficult because that monster is still out there. Way too close for comfort. I’m on edge. Constantly looking over my shoulder. Waiting for the moment he finds me.
So, when my agent Jessica calls, asking to reschedule my shoot with Miranda Fanning to this weekend, I jump at the opportunity to get out of the city. Now that Keanu’s schedule has been cleared, he is free to come with me, and I’m excited for our weekend in the Big Apple.
Keanu canceled all planned shoots last week, telling his agent Frankie he wasn’t available for the foreseeable future. He wants to be there for me, but I wasn’t comfortable with him sacrificing his career until he explained he’s not that into modeling anymore. That he’s considering quitting for good. It would be a shame, because he’s such a natural in front of the camera, but if he’s not feeling it, he’s not feeling it. No one should be forced to do something they don’t enjoy, and Keanu is fortunate he has the financial means to follow his heart. He’s also decided he doesn’t want to set up a modeling agency when he graduates Harvard. He has set his sights on creating his own fashion label. It’s a great idea, and I told him that.
“Thank you so much for agreeing to fly us,” I tell James, Keanu’s dad, as we board the Kennedy family jet. Although, calling it a jet isn’t doing the plush plane justice.
“It’s not a chore. I love flying, and it’s my version of Dad’s taxi,” he quips, chuckling. “Make yourself at home,” he adds. “We’ll be taking off shortly.” He walks off in the direction of the cockpit.
“Wow.” I turn around, gawking at the lavish interiors. “I wasn’t expecting it to be so big.”
“That’s what all the girls say,” Kent supplies, cupping his crotch and thrusting his hips forward.
“Jesus fucking Christ, Kent.” Keanu drags his hands through his hair. Irritation is transparent on his face as he gestures in my direction.
“K, relax.” I place my hand on his arm. “It was funny, and Kent didn’t mean any harm.”
I know Keanu is only trying to protect me, but he can’t jump down everyone’s throats any time they make a suggestive comment. I’m determined to be more chilled out, because I know my mood is impacting my boyfriend. And he’s already dealing with the fallout from my revelations. I want him to relax and enjoy himself this weekend. For us to leave all the stress and tension on the tarmac and be a normal couple living it up in New York.
I run my fingers up his chest, locking my hands behind his neck. “We’re going to New York for the weekend.” I smile as I stretch up and press a quick kiss to his lips. “And it’s going to be awesome.”
“Damn straight,” Kent says, flopping in a chair behind us.
“You better not make me regret inviting you,” Keanu grumbles, sitting in a chair across from his brother, pulling me down beside him.
“You make it sound like I’m the antichrist,” Kent complains, reclining in his chair and kicking his feet up.
“Close, brother,” Keanu says, grinning. “Very close.”
* * *
“I’m beginningto think ‘supersize me’ is your family’s motto in life,” I tell Keanu after he’s given me a grand tour of the plush penthouse apartment the Kennedys own in New York. It’s prime real estate, overlooking Central Park, and only a few blocks from Miranda Fanning’s offices.
