Kennedy's Redemption (The Protectors 3)

Turning to look behind him he called, “Linc, let’s go.” Looking back at her asking, “You wanna say goodbye?” as he helped her off the hood.

“Yes.” Walking over to her parents, Linc reached up and grazed her cheek with his knuckles as he passed her walking towards Creed.

“I can’t breathe here. So much has changed and being here where I grew up with so much happiness… It’s suffocating. I’m sorry.” Squeezing her momma’s hand reassuringly, she gave a small smile and walked back to the open door waiting for her. With a last look at her parent’s sad faces, she gave a small wave before climbing in.

·?•? ?•?·

Linc was pissed. Kennedy’s parents seemed to bring it out in him. They wanted to smother her, turn back time and get the old her back. For a while, he thought for sure they’d worked out their own issues about what happened to her. They were being supportive about what she was telling them. Not pushing for more than she was ready to give. But then they had to go and fuck it all up again by insisting she stay at home.

He tried to understand. To put himself in their shoes if it was his own child going through what she did. But he still couldn’t picture himself forcing them to stay home when it wasn’t what they needed. He liked to hope that he’d listen to what they wanted even if they didn’t say the words.

The drive to the small acreage they’d planned on renting but then decided to buy was only three miles from her parents, so they were there in no time at all. They had known she would want to be close to them in the future, so land with lots of wide open spaces was something they figured she’d enjoy.

On the plane back to Texas, she’d told them she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with her life anymore but an art studio was something she was thinking about. To become a teacher or even just donate her drawings, which she planned on turning into paintings, to charity auctions. Over the next couple of months they planned on building her a studio in the small barn just a few hundred yards from the house.

Maybe they were moving too quickly for what most people would, but she was worth it and so much more. Making her happy was their only plans for now. They eventually wanted to open a PI business, something where they could stay as close to home as possible and not be bored. They might have retired from the spy game, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t put their well-honed skills to good use.

As they pulled into the driveway of their new home Linc heard a small gasp from the front, bringing a smile to his lips. That sound told him more than words ever could. She loved it.

“It’s gorgeous!” she exclaimed.

“You think so?” he asked her.

“Those pillars are stunning. The hand-crafting that went into it alone must have taken months.” She sounded amazed.

“Would you like to go inside?” Creed asked her.

Nodding her head, she jumped out and ran to the front door, admiring the porch as she went. Marvelling at the pillars at the top of the steps. Watching her enjoy something so simple gave him an immense amount of pleasure. He couldn’t wait for her to see the inside.

They both stood back, leaning against the hood of the SUV watching as she took in the outside of the house. He never would have guessed her to be an architectural lover. “You think she likes it?” He joked with Creed.

“Ya, I’d say it’s a hit.” His brother smirked.

“Think we can convince her to move in permanently?” Linc wondered aloud.

“We can sure as fuck try.”

With that they walked up to her. Circling his arms around her waist as Creed unlocked the door he asked her, “So, you like it, huh?”

“I can hardly wait to see inside. The craftsmanship is absolutely stunning. I wonder if the owner did it?”

“I can assure you that we most certainly did not,” he laughed.

“Well, I’d love to find— wait, did you say we? This your home?” She looked between them.

“About a month before we came to Italy we thought about renting it, but quickly made an offer. Creed got hard over the workmanship too.” He ducked when Creed went to swat him upside the head.

“I love it! But don’t you go away for work a lot? Who would take care of it when you’re gone?” she asked as they walked inside.

He’d been thunderstruck by the marble staircase in the middle of the foyer too. Her mouth was flapping like a fish out of water as she drooled over it.

“Well, Sunshine, we were kind of hoping you would…” Creed trailed off.

Shooting a look at his brother for saying something when they hadn’t decided on how to broach the subject yet, Creed just shrugged it off. Looking back at Kennedy’s surprised face, he waited for her reaction to his offer.

“You mean, you want me to house sit?” He could hear the hopefulness in her voice. She needed the words.

“No, Sunshine, we’re saying we want you here. Permanently.” Letting that settle in he moved on to the kitchen hoping she’d follow.