Page 19 of Knight Watch

Chapter Nine

Sydney scrambled backin the car as Kingsley turned the key, and the engine roared to life. He slammed the car in reverse, and wrapping his arm around the back of her seat, he glanced across at her. “Put your seatbelt on and duck low.”

Sydney obeyed without question, clipping the belt and ducking her head as the inner door to the garage flew open, and three men started firing at them.

Kingsley hit the accelerator, and the car shot through the wooden garage door, bouncing as the bumper hit the pavement. Sydney winced as bullets sprayed the car and Kingsley swore. All she could focus on was the fact her dad’s pride and joy was shot to hell and damaged. Not that she was putting her complete and utter trust in Kingsley Knight to get them to safety but that her last memory of her dad was now tainted.

It made her blood boil as she thought about everything her uncle had taken from her. Hot, angry tears hit her eyes, and she blinked them back determined not to give him that too.

The car sped along the road, fishtailing for a few turns before Kingsley looked at her. “You can sit up now; I lost them.” He ran his eyes over her to check she was okay. “You’re crying. Are you hurt?”

His eyes moved from her to the road and back again as he tried to focus on both. His hand went to hers, and she was glad for the contact. It soothed her, and she felt steadier. She was beginning to rely on him. Not only had he been true to his word so far, but in his eyes she saw real concern. And she liked his touch, way too much, but she couldn’t help herself, and to be honest, she didn’t want to.

“I’m fine, just pissed they shot up my dad’s car,” she grumbled. “Another memory tainted by those assholes,” she said, voicing her thoughts.

Kingsley turned and gave her a dashing smile, which she felt to her toes. This man was lethal in so many ways; it was difficult to keep track.

She frowned, trying to hide the way he affected her. “What you grinning at?”

“You. Your resilience. It’s inspiring.”

She wondered for a second if he was yanking her chain, then realized he was serious. “It’s more a case not having a choice. The only other option is to let him win and that I’ll never do. He’ll have to kill me first,” she said with dogged determination.

Kingsley’s face darkened at her words, and for the first time since they had met, he looked scary, dangerous. “He can try, but I won’t let that happen. You have my word, Sydney.”

She felt her heart skip a beat at his vow to protect her. Burying the feeling deep Sydney nodded. “So, what now?”

“Now, we read the book and see where it takes us.”

Sydney watched the play of muscles on his arms as he handled the beast of a car like a pro and fought the shiver of desire images of him handling other more delicate parts of her body elicited.

“Sydney?”

She looked up guiltily as she realized he had been calling her name. “Sorry, what did you say?”

He grinned at the blush she felt staining her cheeks. “I asked what the book said. It might give us an idea of where to go next.”

“Oh, yeah. Sorry.” She opened the book that was still held tightly in her hand. The sight of her father’s handwriting brought a lump to her throat, which she swallowed. There would be time enough for tears when this was all over, but for now, she needed to make her uncle pay. “It’s a poem.”

“Read it to me.”

“The history you seek is at the beak, but before you go, know where the lamb’s tails grow.” She repeated the words over again in her head as a long-forgotten memory burst to life.

“Well, that was as clear as mud.” Kingsley glanced at her and Sydney smiled at him.

“I think it’s talking about somewhere we would visit when I was very young.” The memory became firmer as she spoke. “We would visit my mom’s aunt, my great-aunt, up in Indiana every spring break. She had ducks on her farm and a hazel tree orchard. Every spring the trees were covered in catkins….”

“And they look like little lambs’ tails.”

“Yes.” Sydney nodded, excited as a clue to her family’s past started to overtake the fear and grief that had been weighing her down.

“Then I guess that’s where we go next.” Kingsley turned the car toward Alliance, a look of determination on his face.

They drove in silence, and Sydney lost herself in thought as she let the memories of her mother and father flood through with the knowledge that the man beside her would keep her safe. She couldn’t remember feeling this safe. Except she did, and it had been before her mother died.

Kingsley pulled into the parking lot at the Alliance Agency and put the car in park. He looked at her as they sat there. “You okay?”

Sydney nodded and meant it. She would get through this and have a beautiful life because it was what her parents had wanted for her. Her parents had loved her, and she had loved them. She would not let anyone stop her from having a life that would make them proud.