“I think I’m starting to be okay with it.”

Not trying to hide my surprise, I grabbed her waist and pushed her back until she was lying on the bed and I was hovering over her. “Really?”

One eyebrow rose in confirmation, and a soft smile slowly crossed her face again. Her long legs easily wrapped around my hips, pulling me closer as her fingers threaded through my hair.

“It’s about time, Kennedy Ryan. How many times did I have to tell you that you were mine before you finally started being okay with it?”

“But it never stopped you from telling me.”

I shook my head and brushed my lips across her forehead. “No, it didn’t. I’ve known you were mine, just as much as I’ve been yours.”

“I have never claimed you as my own,” she responded, but there was no bite to her words. She was looking at me in wonder, and I knew this was a turning point for us.

“Not yet, but you will.”

“Oh, will I? You sound a little sure of yourself.”

“I haven’t been wrong when it came to you yet.” I pressed my mouth to hers, and then only moved far enough away that my lips brushed hers when I asked, “So what’s your answer? Are you going to come with me tomorrow?”

Before she could say anything, there was a knock on the front door. I almost told her to let Kira answer it when I realized no one else knew where the girls lived except their family, and I currently had a naked Kennedy pressed between my body and her bed.

I pushed away from her, my body tight as I stared at her beneath me. “Are you or Kira expecting someone?”

She shrugged and started to move out from underneath me. “No, but it’s probably just a solicitor or something. They’re always in this complex.”

I pushed her back gently to where she’d been. “I’ll get it. Just wait here.”

“I can get it,” she said on a laugh.

“You’re not dressed yet,” I argued, and quickly climbed off the bed. Grabbing my jeans off the floor, I stepped into them and snatched my shirt up as I began walking out of the room. “Put some clothes on.”

“Don’t tell me what to do!” she called back as I reached the hall.

I smirked and walked over to the entryway, the entire time wondering if any member of their family other than Eli knew about my relationship with Kennedy. But my worries of Mason and Kash coming after me died as soon as I opened the door to a guy I’d never seen before.

The guy’s forehead creased in confusion, and he took a step back to look at the number near the door.

“Can I help you?”

His hard eyes shot back to me. “I’m looking for Kennedy.”

I straightened and held his stare. “And you would be?”

“Look, just tell me if she’s here. Or do I have the wrong building?”

Before I could answer, I heard Kira’s door opening and Kennedy’s voice coming from down the hall. “Who is it, Liam?”

The guy’s mouth twisted into a mocking smile, and he looked behind me, at whom I guessed was Kira.

“I need your name,” I told him, stepping closer to him and closing the door enough that I was all he could see. “You’re out of your mind if you think I’m letting you in here without knowing who the fuck you are.”

“Liam, seriously, who is it?” Kennedy touched my arm as she came up behind me, and I hated that every time he heard her voice, the man standing in front of me looked like he’d just won a prize. Kennedy ducked under my arm, and immediately scrambled back when she saw the guy, but was blocked by my body. “Holy shit!”

Releasing my hold on the door, I pushed Kennedy back and slammed the door shut before locking it. “Who is he?”

Kennedy just stood there staring at the door with wide eyes, not saying anything. I looked over to Kira, and she shrugged.

“I didn’t see him,” she replied, and walked up toward her sister. “Is it—” She cut off abruptly and looked up at me for a few seconds, then turned her body so she was facing away. That didn’t stop me from hearing her when she asked, “Is it one of Juarezes?”

“Who the fuck is Juarez? Someone tell me what’s going on,” I demanded. I had to know if I needed to go outside and beat up the guy who was asking for Kennedy, or call the cops.

“No, it isn’t,” Kennedy replied to her sister, but her eyes stayed locked on me—nothing but confusion and pain in them. “Kira, it . . . it’s Rhys.”

Kira looked at Kennedy with a confused expression, then her head jerked back and she turned quickly to look at the door and I saw the sudden surprise and confusion in her eyes. “Uh . . .”

“For fuck’s sake, will one of you tell me what’s happening. Is this guy dangerous? Do you need me to call the police?”

“I don’t think he’s dangerous,” Kira said, her voice sounding a little unsure. “But maybe you shouldn’t open the door for him again.”

As soon as Kira took a step toward the door, I stopped her and turned to get it myself. I still had no idea who Rhys was, or why he was here, but I sure as hell wasn’t letting the girls talk to him until I knew.

Unlocking and opening the door, I eyed the guy still standing there.

Before I could say a word, he asked, “Do you mind if I see my wife now?”

13

October 24

Liam

WHATEVER QUESTION I had for Rhys quickly escaped me, and I stood there staring at him as his question played over and over in my head. The guy was asking to see his wife . . . to see Kennedy.

I took a step away from the door and turned to look at the girls standing there with a mix of emotions on their faces. Kennedy looked like she was worried and hurt, and Kira’s face was full of confusion and anger.

“Kennedy?” I asked softly, and her head snapped around to look at me before going back to Rhys, who was standing in the doorway.

“Well, I can say that I’ve never been more surprised by anything in my life,” Kira sneered. “Who’d’ve thought that you would show up after four years? And what is this, the second time I’ve seen you . . . ever?”

“Kira, stop,” Kennedy whispered, and even though there was no force behind her words, Kira obeyed. “You’re here. How? How did you know I was here?”

Rhys started to say something, but I spoke over him. “So he wasn’t lying? You’re his—you’re married to him?”

The sharp tone of my words had Kennedy looking at me again, her face apologizing when her words couldn’t do the same. “Liam,” she pleaded, and reached for me when I stalked past her toward her room, but I didn’t stop or respond.

As soon as I hit her room, I was searching for my phone and keys. Just as I was turning to leave, she was beside me, tears streaming down her face.

“Please, you don’t understand.”

“I don’t understand? You’re fucking married, Kennedy! What isn’t there to understand?” I laughed harshly and ran a hand roughly through my hair. “So he’s why you continued to push me back? He’s your past? He’s why you’re fucking terrified of letting yourself get too close to me?”

“Liam, please!”