Kennedy's Redemption (The Protectors 3)

“Cool your jets, Black. I was hired by Deidre’s father to bring her home, but she ran off here and I had to find her again.”

“He’s not my father, and it certainly isn’t home,” Dee told him mutinously.

“You’re coming with me, Princess. Even if I have to drag you back kicking and screaming,” he warned her, leaning in close to her face.

“Ahem,” Kenny cleared her throat, drawing the attention of everyone. “Who exactly are you? And why do you need to bring her to her father? It’s called free will for a reason.”

Laughing, he looked to her saying, “I’m Dominic Slade, and I have to bring her home in order to own her.” She wanted to smack the arrogance from his face.

“Own? When did she grow a tail?” she snapped, getting more pissed by the second at the way this man was talking about her friend. Fear forgotten she continued on. “You’ll back the hell off. If Dee’s going anywhere it’s with me. She’s not leaving with some egotistical bastard like you.”

“Wait… What?” Dee sounded confused so she shut her mouth. “What do you mean bring me back so you can own me?”

“He never told you?” Dee shook her head no so he continued. “Fuck sakes. Your father and I had an agreement when you were younger. Once you hit a certain age you were mine, no matter where you were in the world. Only I had to bring you back to him one last time.”

Shock. Yes, the feeling running through her system was shock. It’s the only possible reason for everyone’s silence at his admission.

“You mean he sold me to you?” Dee asked quietly.

“No. He traded you. Your life for his.”

“I don’t understand.” Dee shook her head repeatedly in confusion.

Going to her friend, Kennedy held her hand in both of hers, silently offering her strength.

“I was sent to kill him eight years ago, so I had to infiltrate his life. I was your bodyguard until he noticed the attention I was giving you. I treated you like you were a person rather than a thing, and he didn’t like it so you were sent away and I was reassigned. Instead of taking the new job, I used my time wisely and waited for my opportunity to strike. As I was about to, he was in the middle of a deal and I took advantage.”

“What kind of deal?” Dee asked, her voice shaking with emotion.

“He was about to sell you to a human trafficker for top dollar. Your eyes are a very unique color; therefore, bringing in the highest bidders. He was going to get millions for you. I gave him a choice,” Dom told her softer than she could have imagined.

“My life for his.” The defeat in her friend’s voice worried her.

“Yes.”

“Sunshine,” Creed called her. “Let’s go on back home.” He went to reach for her hand but she pulled back.

“I won’t leave her like this, and with him! Are you insane?”

“It’s fine, Ken. I’ll be okay. I have nothing to fear from Dom, never have. Just don’t like his arrogance,” Dee explained to her with a small smile.

“Are you still leaving tonight?” she asked, worried she would be forced to go somewhere she obviously didn’t want to go.

“Yes,” she shot a dirty look to Dom. “But I’m going back home, not to his royal asshole’s.” Laughing at the growl Dom let out, Dee hugged her whispering, “I’ll see you soon. Go home, Kenny. Your folks miss you.”

“You’ll be ok?” she asked pulling away and looking into her odd-colored eyes, trying to gauge how she was really feeling.

“It’s time to go home, Kennedy. For both of us.”

With one last hug and sad smiles shared, she went to walk away but stopped by Dominic. “You hurt her and I’ll hunt you down myself, Mr. Slade. Understand?” He looked like he was going to laugh her threat off at first until their eyes met and he searched hers, seeing she meant it.

“She’s safe with me; you have my word,” Dom promised her. She would hold him to it, too.

The men did their weird fist bump/half hug thing with whispered words she had no chance of hearing before they each grabbed one of her hands, pulling her back home.

Fifteen

She’d watched Deedee and Dom leave the night before with her heart full of dread. Knowing she might never see her friend again broke her heart. She would miss her fiercely. But she realized Dee was right; it was time to go home. She hadn’t told the guys of her decision yet. She needed to be one hundred percent sure of it herself before she broached the subject with them.