“Kenna, are you okay?” Kelsey waves her hands in front of my face, pulling me from my thoughts. Her eyes hold nothing but concern as she reaches out and puts her hand on my arm. “McKenna?”
I blink a few times until her full face comes into focus, nodding to keep her from freaking out again. “I’m fine, Kels. Just thinking.” I turn to Joaquin with what I hope is a grateful smile. “Thank you for saving us.”
“You never have to thank me for saving a pretty girl. Not ever.” He tosses a wink at me and laughs when I roll my eyes. “I’m growing on you, admit it.”
“You’re all right,” I tell him and then remember Coop got shot. “Is Coop is okay?”
He nods easily. “Coop? Hell, yeah. That fucker is strong and crazy, two things required to live this life for a long time. Plus, he grew up in the club life, so he knows what’s up.”
As if realizing his words might upset Kelsey, Joaquin squeezes her shoulder. “We’ll go up as soon as we get the all-clear from Ace.”
Kelsey nods as if she’s used to this, waiting around for someone else to issue orders, fidgeting with her fingers, lost in thoughts of Coop. At this very moment, I envy my sister more than I ever have, more than I’ve coveted any of her other accomplishments.
She has a man who loves her, and she’s confident in that love, so much so that she thinks it safer to wait it out and do nothing rather than make a run for it. That kind of certainty must be comforting, especially after being kidnapped, beaten, and assaulted.
I don’t have that. All I have is a very brave man, a heroic man who cares about me not nearly as much as I care about him. A man whose life doesn’t match my own, whose goals are opposite mine. A man who probably will never touch me again when he learns what Hector did to me.
“All clear.”
Ace’s gruff voice echoes in the basement, and Joaquin leads us up the stairs.
There’s blood and bodies all over the place. I step over each of them, staring for such a long time at their lifeless eyes. I’m numb, or maybe worse. I’m an asshole because I feel nothing for these dead guys. No, that’s not true. I feel gratitude and a sense of vengeance. I hope hell is real, and they’re burning in it for what they did to Grace.
We got them, Grace.
If nothing else comes out of this mess, I know the truth of what happened to my friend. The only real friend I’ve ever had. And since I’ve done the things I set out to do, it’s time for me to go back home, back to my boring old life, back to the comfort of my disapproving father and absent mother.
“Hey.” Ace’s voice is deep and gentle, his eyes are soft as they scan my face and my body.
“Hey.” I take in his ruggedly handsome face. I have a feeling this might be the last time I see him.
“Are you all right?”
I shrug. “Honestly? I’ve been better. This was fucking terrifying.”
His lips tug into a reluctant grin. “You’re all banged up.”
“I feel like it,” I admit. “Those guys don’t go easy on women.”
His jaw clenches and his nostrils flare with anger; fire ignites behind his eyes. “No, they don’t. Fuck,” he bites out and scrubs a hand over his face. “Did he…did any of them…fuck.”
I smile. “Hector did…things but nothing I’m eager to talk about. I’m all right, Ace. Really, I am.”
His hands cup my face, and his eyes bore into mine. “I want to kill that fucker for putting his hands on you, McKenna, and I promise you, I will. I will make him fucking regret doing anything to you.”
“Don’t worry about me. Kelsey isn’t doing too well.”
He smiles softly at me, and my legs go soft. “Don’t tell me what to do, Princess.”
Why is this so hard? Why can’t I just thank him and turn away without looking back? “Thank you, Mark. Thank you for helping me figure out what happened to my friend.”
His dark brows dip in confusion which quickly turns into a dark scowl. “Whoa, that sounds a lot like goodbye.”
I nod because I’m not sure my words won’t betray me. “Mark.”
“No,” he growls and shakes his head. “We need to talk, but now isn’t the time. How are you really?”
“I’m fine,” I assure him. Again.
Ace is back, all dark and demanding, hands roaming over my body, lingering too long in the spot just under my breasts. His hands slide a little lower, and I wince. “Fine?”
“He punched me a few times, but nothing is broken,” I assure him.
“You sure?”
I nod again, lifting my head in defiance. “I am.”
“Good,” he gives a short nod. “Then you can ride back to Angel Harbor with me.”