Kennedy's Redemption (The Protectors 3)

Taking a sip from her coffee, she leaned her head back against the chair she was sitting in, watching as the sun rose and the pelicans dove for fish before it was too late. Observing the slow-moving fishing boats as their drivers tried to find the perfect spot for their daily catch. So much life around her, so much happening, she’d never truly enjoyed it since coming to Italy two months ago. And what a shame because she loved the Mediterranean. The air was fresh and salty, the sun was almost always shining, and no matter where she went everyone was happy.

So lost in thought, she jumped nearly spilling her coffee when she felt a hand on her shoulder. With fear in her veins, she looked back and up in the direction the hand was coming from and wilted in relief at seeing Linc’s smiling face until it turned to concern at the look on hers. Coming to kneel in front of her he gripped her knees, lifting an eyebrow in question.

“You just startled me is all.” She tried to soothe. Admiring the way his eyes seemed to laser into her mind to gauge her truthfulness. With his jaw locked and lips tight he looked angry, but it was those gorgeous chocolate eyes that told her he was simply worried about how scared he’d made her. Taking a chance she placed her hand on top of his, settling back in her chair, eyes going back to her peaceful view. But not before she saw the shock run across his features at her move.

·?•? ?•?·

When Linc had woken up to find Kenny gone from bed, his chest constricted and panic settled in his veins making them ice cold. He’d searched the room with his eyes frantically while shaking Creed awake. He’d never been so fucking terrified in his life.

Had she left?

Did they push her too hard by sleeping beside her?

How were they going to find her again?

The questions ran through his mind like a movie reel, never stopping on one thought long enough for it to take hold on the chance that she left and they’d set her back in her healing. At least until Creed smacked him upside the head and told him to get dressed, that he’d felt her get up and heard her making something in the kitchen. With that in mind, he’d turned on his other senses and realized he could smell coffee in the air. He was still pissed Creed hadn’t woken him, but the panic was gone.

Finding her on the back porch sitting in one of the chairs they’d watched her from the previous evening, he felt a moment of peace sweep over him. With their lives being what they were he’d never really given thought to settling down, but since meeting Kenny and finding her again, he’d felt a new sense of purpose take over his life. To make her theirs.

Stepping forward, he placed his hand on her shoulder making her jump when she looked back at him. The fear in her eyes brought him to her knees knowing he’d done that to her. Kennedy trying to reassure him that she was fine melted his heart a little bit, but when she placed her hand on his, he fell and fell hard. It was the first time she’d willingly touched anyone since her rescue, and for it to be him left him on a high better than any drug on the market.

Turning his hand over and twining their fingers together, Linc left them on her lap while getting up and sitting next to her, watching her through fresh eyes no longer jaded by life. Anything he had done wrong in his past had just been made right.

She was his beacon of hope. A light in which to follow when all else failed.

·?•? ?•?·

Just as he was about to step outside, his phone started vibrating in his pocket. Looking at the caller ID, Creed almost didn’t want to answer but knew Nate would just keep calling him before he started harassing Linc. The last thing he wanted was for Kenny to feel pressured by anyone.

“Yeah,” he answered shortly and mostly annoyed.

“You’re there? Is she ok? When is she coming home?” Nate rattled off question after question not letting him answer one before the next came.

Throwing his head back and pinching the bridge of his nose, he walked toward the front door before answering as he continued outside and down the driveway. “Yeah, we’re here. She’s alive and yup, the flight was great. Thanks for asking.”

“When is she coming home?” Of course, he would latch onto the one question he didn’t answer. He understood their need to see her but fuck was he gonna get pissed if they tried to rush her in any way.

Letting go of a deep sigh, he prepared to answer one of the hardest questions in his life. “Not anytime soon.”

He was met with silence before the explosion came.

“What the fuck do you mean not anytime soon?! She needs to fucking come home!” Nate yelled at him.

“Calm your fucking ass down, Nate, before I forget we’re friends and end this conversation.”

“Fuck. Yeah, alright. We’re just worried, Creed.” He could hear the worry and defeat in his friend’s voice. They knew there was nothing they could do for her right now, and that was not an easy thing to accept for a big brother; someone who should be able to protect her from anything.

“She’s healing. You guys all need to remember that this is worse than what any of you are feeling by not having her there. You’re living with the hope that she’ll return to the old her, the happy her, but Nate, you need to understand that’s not going to happen. That Kennedy is gone and she ain’t coming back. Until you guys accept that, she may never come home and if she does, she won’t feel comfortable around you all when you keep expecting her to do or say something that she would have a year ago.” He tried to lay it out there as gently as possible, but the truth of who she was now needed to be understood before she could become who she was meant to be.

Letting out a harsh breath, Nate finally answered after that sunk in. “I know. Shit, do I know. Mom, though? She keeps expecting the laughing and fun-loving Ken to show up. Our dads just look sad. It’s hard waiting to find out if your baby sister is dead or alive and knowing there’s not a damn thing we can do for her.”

“She’s getting there, man. She’s got a friend here that seems cool. She has little rituals. Things she does to calm her nerves when her mind takes over. You need to make your parents understand, though, that she is forever changed.” Thinking of the way she ran out to draw the sunset when she was overwhelmed the night before made him realize just how okay she would be. Which made convincing her brother that much easier.

“Fucking hell. I wish I could kill them all over again. Emily’s a fucking mess half the time and Keeley is full of hormones that I swear Ty and I are feeling more than her, and she’s ready to kill everyone that looks at her sideways now,” Nate groused to him.

“Sounds pretty fucking perfect to me.” Creed envied what Nate and Ty had with Keeley. He and Linc wanted that, but it was hard to see that kind of future when Kennedy was still so lost.

“It is man. I never dreamed we’d find her but we did, and I’m thankful everyday, but I can’t wait for this baby to come.” He could hear the smile in Nate’s voice. “Can I at least talk to Kenny? I just need to hear her voice, man.”