Cravings (Fierce Hearts) (15 page)

She jumped, running her hand through her hair. “He’s my parents’ son. Randy and I have no relationship.”

“Randy Novak. That name reminds me of something that was in the paper a couple of years ago.” Asher tried to recall the memory. “Oh, yeah. He was the contractor who used substandard materials in a low-income apartment complex.”

Kennedy slanted her head. “I’ll never forget that. A small fire that started in a family kitchen grew rapidly to engulf the building because the integrity of the materials deteriorated rapidly. People died in that fire.”

“That was an awful thing.” Asher shut out the knowledge of the terrible way the tenants died. “I know your father is a Laurelwood County prosecutor. He’s been in trouble for corrupting a crime scene and coaching witnesses to tell lies that have influenced trial outcomes.”

“I don’t know anything about that.”

“What does your mother do for a living?”

“She’s a psychiatrist. She has her own practice. It’s located downtown in the Forty-Four Tower building.”

“Woo-hoo. Ritzy clients, I gather. That office complex is an expensive place to do business in.” Asher rolled his eyes and whistled quietly. “You’ve done a great job, Kennedy. You’ve told us who we’re dealing with.”

“It wasn’t hard.” She smiled. “But thank you.” Suddenly, Kennedy’s mood shifted. A sober look slid over her face. “You’re going to check on Asia?”

“Yeah. She’s at Casey’s house.”

“I know. Michelle is taking care of her while she’s recovering from the gunshot.” Her voice turned soft, distant. It caught him up short.

“If we go now, I’ll be able to talk with Asia and still be able to spy on the lunch meeting of TNG people at the Golden Star Lounge, as well as make the press conference. You can stay with Michelle, and I’ll be back later to pick you up. Or better, I can take you to Lara’s veterinary clinic where you can help out.” He didn’t like the look on her face. She wouldn’t look him in the eye. She stared at the screen, transfixed, her eyelids blinking rapidly. “What’s going on, Kennedy?”

“I just memorized the BOD list.”

“Oh. That’s amazing.”

“I don’t want anyone else in the colony to get hurt because of me. I’m going with you to the meeting.” Her eyes now still, fixed on his. Darkness, like clouds, drifted over her face.

He pulled her to her feet, resting a hand on her waist and stroking her cheek. “You haven’t hurt anyone. Asia got shot by someone in TNG. You didn’t give me bruises, TNG did. You didn’t kill Adrian that night at the research facility, William Carter did, with his diabolical drug research project. And they hurt you, over and over, during your lifetime.”

“I don’t want you to look for them at the Golden Star Lounge. It’s too dangerous. At least take me with you. I can help you get in, get the information we need, and get out without getting caught.”

“No. I’m not going to put you further in harm’s way.” His heart pounded in his ears. The walls were closing in, boxing him into a situation that made it hard to breathe.

“I can take care of myself, and I’ll have your back.” Fear darkened her eyes. It plucked at his heart, coaxing him to change his mind simply to stop her fear and bring peace back to her mind.

He reached into his center, gathered up the warm energy there. He added a suggestion.
You want to go to Lara’s clinic this morning. You want to help her out.
He wrapped the words in the soothing, seductive energy and aimed …

Instantly, he broke up the energy before launching it toward Kennedy. He pulled her close, relief filling him. He’d stopped himself. He’d controlled his instinct to ease her pain and avoid suffering his own pain at facing her will. He recognized he’d do more harm by nudging her into compliance, stealing her right to feel her fears.

“I know you can hold your own, and you would be an asset in a fight.” He stroked her cheek. “But I’m not going to bring you to those people. Besides, I’m not going to burst into their meeting and confront them. I’m going to be stealthy and just listen discreetly.”

She shuddered. “I don’t like it. It’s not safe. And you don’t know what you’d be getting into.”

“Could you memorize the building plan? I’ll use your brain to help me get in and do what I have to do and get out without detection.”

Her eyes lit. “I guess I’m not winning this argument. Sure, I can help you.”

She slipped into her seat in front of the computer, and her fingers flew across the keyboard, opening page after page. “Here.” She pointed to the building blueprints from the city’s Planning Committee files. “This is good. This is an updated blueprint of the restaurant following recent renovations.”

While Kennedy studied the blueprints and fluttered her eyelids, Asher committed the layout to memory too, knowing everything relied on it. “Geez, I wish I had your memory.”

“That is why I should go with you this afternoon.” She nodded her head and gave him an exasperated look.

“We’ll stop by the phone store on our way and get you a phone. I’ll call you and let you know I’m in, and if I need help I’ll call you.”

• • •

The drive to Casey’s house gave Kennedy an opportunity to collect her thoughts. The wintry morning outside the truck windows calmed her churning nerves. When they drove beyond the city onto rural roads, her body reacted to the soothing nature sounds and scents. Since her rescue, her body had reveled in the freedom of nature more than ever before in her life. The strangeness of living freely was settling nicely inside her.

And it was from that place of peace and assured self-acceptance she was learning that she formulated a plan. With the names of The Nexus Group BOD fully committed to memory, she had a better sense of these people who exerted so much control over her life. Acquiring all the information she would need to make her move had gone smoothly that morning. While Asher researched the newspaper for tips, she’d taken the opportunity to memorize addresses of the members’ workplaces and locate them on the map.

Determination burned in her body. If things proceeded as she planned, not one more were-cat in Casey’s colony would be harmed.

“You’re very quiet.” Asher interrupted her thoughts, his voice startling her. “Something on your mind?”

From her experiences, Kennedy had perfected the dodge, the false front. But with Asher, she wanted things to be different. She longed for his trust and genuine, unabashed connection based on who she really was—flaws, wounds, defenses, and all.

“Oh, you know, contemplating what’s ahead.” She ducked her head. It wasn’t completely a dodge. “It scares me to realize I’m beginning to trust you.”

He smirked. “It is scary. I’m a scary guy.”

She punched him in the arm. His muscles flexed instinctively. Her punch barely fazed him, but pain shot through her hand and she winced. “You know what I mean.”

He sobered up. “I do. But since we’re both scared and unsure of what happens next, we agreed to take things one moment at a time.” His eyes trained to the road, he gave her hand a squeeze. “But it’s hard to control the push to know more; I understand.”

He turned the truck up the lane that led to Casey’s house.

Inside, Michelle led them to the living room, where Asia lay stretched out on the couch. “Hey, guys, what’s up?”

Asher breathed deeply, letting the shine in Asia’s eyes and the normal pink in her cheeks relieve his tension. “You look better.”

“I am better. Michelle has been very helpful.” Asia raised her arm to point to Michelle.

“She’s not a good patient.” Michelle chuckled. “She thinks she’s ready to escape.”

Michelle wrapped a hug around Kennedy, then leaned back, eyeing her thoughtfully.

Asher patted Asia on the head, to which she responded with a kick at his shins with her good leg. “Take it easy. Don’t overexert.”

“Kennedy, can you get him out of here?” Asia teased. “He’s a pest.”

Kennedy released a tight smile. “I think he has plans.”

Asher pulled a chair from the dining room and set it beside the couch. He pulled out the paper with the names of The Nexus Group and showed Asia. “Kennedy got this for us. It’s the names of the Board of Directors for TNG. What can you tell me about these creeps?”

She slit her eyes, wincing again. “These are the criminal elite in this county. The people who care nothing about right and wrong or hurting people. Their interests are purely self-centered. Each one has something—some crime, some manipulative practice—that helps them maintain their personal wealth and power.”

Kennedy’s fingers started the pattern. “Spoken very succinctly.”

“Yes, a bad bunch as a whole,” Asher said. “What can you tell me about them individually?”

Asia studied the list again. “Cicely Sage, married to former prosecutor turned politician Daren Sage. Cicely is a physician and she works as a research scientist.”

“Where?” Asher’s heart jumped.

“I don’t know. I didn’t think of that when you told me about Phoenix Biosciences. Then Jared and Cindy Armory. He’s an investor and she’s a nurse. He’s dark haired; she’s a blonde. He’s known for tax evasion, fraud, and insider trading. She’s clean, as far as I know. But they’ve been in the paper for his crimes. It’s taken a toll on her. Anger issues. She was arrested for assault of a photographer who took a photo of her at Adam Stewart’s bar.”

“Okay. What about Adam and his wife Jennifer?” Asher saw Michelle eye Kennedy, and he wondered if she was picking up something psychically that bothered her.

“He runs a network of drug pushers from his bar, The Pit Stop.”

“Wow, that’s a name. I wouldn’t think that would attract quality patrons.” Michelle shook her head and chuckled.

“It gets worse,” Asia said. “His specialty is highly potent drugs. They’re very unstable and can literally blow a user’s mind.”

“Sounds like someone who would attract Jennifer, the town pimp, er, I mean, owner of an escort service.” Asia’s eyes remained focused on the list. “Davis Benton. He’s a sad case. He’s a geneticist, but his work has been completely dismissed by his peers. His family committed him to an institution a few years ago, but he got released. He’s dealing in prescription drugs, last I heard.”

Asher cast a look at Kennedy. She was perched on the edge of her chair, seemingly absorbing all the details Asia listed.

“We don’t have to discuss Kennedy’s parents. Their membership in TNG says it all,” Michelle suggested.

Asia offered Kennedy a sympathetic smile. “I understand. I think you need to know that your mother is well known for her radical psychotherapy techniques. She’s never been charged with anything, but it’s probably only because no bodies have ever been found.”

Kennedy sucked in a gulp of air. “I didn’t know that.”

“Both of them are on a mission, it seems, to wreak revenge on the police department and the
Laurelwood Gazette
for, quote, ruining their son’s life. But actually, I think they simply share the same goals as the other members. To compile wealth and power for themselves by any means.”

“I surmised that,” Asher said. “Thanks, Asia. That information is very helpful. Can you give me brief descriptions of these individuals?”

“Well, I described Jared and Cindy Amory already. Davis Benton is tall, slender, has thinning brown hair. Both of the Stewarts are fit and have brown hair. Hers has dark highlights. We know Kennedy’s father has dark hair, and her mother is a redhead. Daren’s hair is sculpted dark brown, and his wife has short, blond hair.”

Asher glanced at Kennedy, and his stomach twisted. Her head sat in her hands, as though hiding. He shot a look at Michelle, but she was staring at Kennedy. She stretched out a hand to Kennedy’s shoulder and closed her eyes. He didn’t know what Michelle was doing, but he trusted her. If he had to guess, he would suspect Michelle was giving Kennedy a container for the emotions coursing through her, assisting her in feeling the pain but not becoming overwhelmed and disassociated.

“Thanks again for your help, Asia. You should probably rest now.” Longing to comfort Kennedy thrashed in his soul, but he had to get to the press conference.

“Sure. How did you say you got this list?”

“Kennedy hacked into their network.”

Her eyes grew large. “My God. She can do that? Without getting caught?”

Kennedy sat upright, breathing a sigh. “I can. I did. It’s a very secure system, but I got in. I back engineered to erase my footprint. And I uploaded a Trojan that will enable us to keep track of their activities. If it’s posted on their network, I’ll get an alert on my new cellphone and the colony’s loop will, too.”

“It was a good thing she did the analysis on our system. She discovered that TNG has hacked into it,” Asher said.

“Oh, that’s not good. It sounds like you know your stuff. Thanks, Kennedy.”

Nerves chattered inside Asher’s body, reminding him he had to move on to the next activity. He put his arm around Kennedy and spoke softly. “We need to go. I’ll drop you off at Lara’s office. I’ll be back soon.”

Dogs barking, cats meowing, birds twittering and squawking. It was a busy day at Lara’s veterinary clinic, and some of the patients were less than pleased with their visits.

Actually, Kennedy loved the feel of the clinic. Lara’s healing touch tended to make people happy. Their animals received not only quality care, but love also, all topped with her special ability to heal.

Kennedy sterilized instruments in the autoclave and basked in the comfortable atmosphere in the clinic and around Lara. She didn’t realize she could ever feel this comfortable. So much had changed in the last few weeks.

Still, her mind whirred, returning over and over to Asher. Wondering if he was finding the information he needed to put a stop to The Nexus Group and the carnage they specialized in creating.

She stood a part of the chaos and harm visited by TNG. Since her rescue, members of the colony had been hurt. They’d suspended their daily lives to take of care her, keep her secure, and once her biological relationship with Casey was established, to bring her into the group as a member. Well, a member in hiding. A member in training.

She walked out to the receptionist desk where Holly was checking in a pit bull named Happy.