But now wasn’t the moment.
I wasn’t a killer.
And neither was the man I loved. My goodness. I was in love.
“Not like this, Kendrick,” I said softly. “Think about Emily. This isn’t what she would want.”
Kendrick turned his head, studying me with such emotion on his face that I momentarily forgot where we were.
“She’s right. Your little slave is right. You are one of the good guys. Or are you? Drake? You fit the role pretty well. Maybe you’re more like me than you believe.”
“Maybe I am.” Kendrick wasn’t giving up nor did he have any intention of allowing Franklin to intimidate him. So he shoved the barrel against his forehead. Right between his eyes.
Now Franklin was sweating.
“You promised witness protection,” Franklin continued.
Kendrick didn’t budge. Didn’t move a muscle. He simply held his position for another ten seconds before taking a step away.
The savage crack as the weapon was driven against the side of Franklin’s face was jarring.
Yet the moment was also freeing.
As he slumped to the floor once again, Kendrick stood over him. “I lied.”
He gathered me into his arms, holding me tightly against him. “It’s almost over, baby. I’m taking you to a safe place. Then I’m going to get your sister.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“Over my dead body.”
“You can’t stop me. This is my sister we’re talking about. I promise you that I will bring her back to me.”
I found myself clinging to him, wanting nothing more than to curl up in his arms.
“Trust me, my beautiful slave. I’ve never lied to you, and I don’t plan on starting now. Can you place your trust in me one last time?”
“I’ll always trust you. Please bring her home.” As he scooped me into his arms, I found myself melting into him and without hesitation or thoughts of what it would mean, I whispered words that created a sense of peace and hope for the future. Three little words I never thought I’d be able to say.
“I love you.”
CHAPTER 27
Kendrick
Love was a complex emotion.
It toyed with your mind, every nuance and expectation, every understanding that it could and should be life changing. It ebbed and flowed like any other feeling, whether anger or sadness.
But love was also defining. A relationship. A family. Even a friendship.
The four little letters in and of themselves meant little, but when put together, they were life altering.
For a man who’d not felt much of anything over the years, somehow the beautiful woman with a heart of gold had peeled away every layer, refusing to allow me to fall into the very darkness that I’d come close to appreciating. Even wanting. I’d almost killed a man in cold blood and in truth, I wasn’t certain I’d done the right thing in calling John and letting him know there was some trash that needed to be taken to jail.
I still had visions of killing Franklin myself.
Maybe later I’d realize Reese had done me a favor, but right now, all I could think about was finding the women and eliminating everyone involved.
