Rebound: Passion Book 2 (12 page)

Josh
came into my room just as I was finished reading. “Well?” I didn’t have to ask
what he was talking about I just threw the papers at him and waited while he
read it.

“I want
to hurt him. This shit just got as real as it gets. I want to find him and make
him pay for every second of fear.” I pounded my fist against the mattress in
frustration.

“We need a plan.”

“I already
know what I want to do to him I’m going to need you to show me how to do that
computer thing. How to hack into his system.” The little fucker cracked his
knuckles and grinned; I never knew until just here lately just how much of a
delinquent my brother is. He thrives on shit like this.

“I want
to do it myself so just get me in don’t go doing anything, this is my fight
remember.”

“Damn that’s no fun, can I at
least watch?”

“Sure
Joshua.” He did some shit with my computer again mumbling the whole time as I
watched trying to figure out what he was doing but I hadn’t a clue. Funny thing
is I want to study engineering but when it came to this hacking shit I was at a
total lost.

“What
the fuck is all that?”

“His bank statements, 401K,
trust, the whole works.” The screen was covered with an excel spreadsheet with
rows and rows of numbers. Shit was scary how easily he did that. “What about
his social security number and pins and stuff like that?”

“That’s
next.” He went back to work getting me the information I needed while I paced
and thought. This was all about getting her
her
freedom back somehow, more so than seeking revenge on this asshole, though that
would be an added bonus. I’d had a few moments of doubts when I wondered if
this guy was mentally ill, it wouldn’t be fair to go after someone who had no
control over his actions because of a mental issue, but from what I’ve seen he
wasn’t ill, just evil.

I’d
seen shit like this on TV before, who hasn’t?
and
always I wondered where were the fathers and husbands of these women, and why
weren’t they fucking this douche’s shit up? Now I find myself in the same
position and I know it couldn’t be easy for them to sit back and do nothing,
especially with the law telling them their hands were tied. I’d be fucked if mine
were.

“Damn
this fucker is good, he has his shit safe coded like Fort Knox; this might take
me a while.” Not what I wanted to hear but beggars can’t be choosers. In the
meantime I switched gears. Obviously it would be more important for her to have
this taken care of but then what? How did Matt and Kadyn move on after this? It
was the after that I was focused on now because I had no doubt that I would
eliminate the threat, there was no other alternative. I refuse to accept that
someone else could have that much power over what belongs to me. Fuck that.

By the
time Josh signaled that he was in I had come to a decision. As far as dating
goes I’ll just go with my gut and my heart, maybe I’ll be a combination of the
three men in my family: dad with his old world charm, Andrew with his
compassionate and doting ways and Josh with the crazy over protectiveness. They
each had their own merits. With that settled in my head I could breathe easier.
I wasn’t going to treat her like a victim either; her new life was going to
start now, a life without fear and uncertainty. But in order to that I have to
take steps to show her that she was safe.

“Thanks
bro I’ll take it from here, I’ll get started in the morning this shit has left
a bad taste in my mouth.” It was amazing that less than twenty-four hours after
learning about this that I already had a clear-cut plan worked out of what I
wanted to do. Seems to me the law could’ve done a hell of a lot more to protect
one so young instead of telling her time and again that there was nothing they
could do. Since they wouldn’t do their fucking jobs I’ll do it for them.

“So
what’s the plan bro, what’s the end result here?”

“Best case scenario, death,
barring that I want him to spend some time in a maximum security prison where
his housemates know of his love for terrorizing little girls.”

“My man.”
He gave me a high five before leaving the room, saying something about being
away from his wife for too long already. I finally got it. That unerring
devotion, that all consuming emotion that made everything else nonexistent. I
was beginning to feel that way for her and I hadn’t even known her as long. We
were starting in the dark but hopefully we’d reach the light before too long.

I
slept fitfully that night because she wasn’t there; I’m not sure how old man
Stan would react to the shit that was going through my head but I had to figure
out a way to get her in my home where I could keep an eye on her myself. I was
not willing to let even her father have that responsibility but I knew I had to
take my time, couldn’t rush things. To everyone else it would appear that we’d
just met and it would be too soon to do certain things, in my heart it was
never too soon. She was mine, and she needed that security. I was the only one
who could give her that.

“Dad?” I
woke to find my father sitting next to my bed looking haggard.

“Morning
son; your brother showed me the report you got from Stan, all the papers he
kept. I have to tell you that as soon as I was finished reading I went to your
sister’s room and looked in on her. I tried to imagine someone doing the same
to her, my little girl. I remember how she’d drag me off to the doll store in
the mall whenever we were there. Or the tea parties she’d make us have with her
when she was eight remember?” I nodded my head yes.

“Or
those infernal sleepovers she had as a teenager.” He grinned and I smiled
fondly at the memory. It was true Nessa had a normal well rounded childhood
full of love and light and laughter.

“I don’t think Kadyn had any of
that dad; breaks my fucking heart.”

“I know son but we’ll fix it.”

“What do
you mean we?” he looked at me without speaking for a while before clearing his
throat.

“I
wasn’t too involved with Josh and Carrie’s relationship in the beginning, didn’t
know all that was going on there. She’s now my daughter and the thought of what
had almost befallen her makes me nuts. I’m not going to be asleep at the wheel
this time. Your mom and I talked and we decided that we’ll do whatever it takes
to help this young girl get on with her life. We would’ve done it for anyone in
the same situation but the fact that she’s yours makes it more personal. I know
you and your criminal minded brother are up to something, all I’m asking is
that you don’t do anything that would entail me looking at you through bars.”

“Not
making any promises dad, all I know is that he’s not getting away with it and
she’s not spending the rest of her life in fear. Speaking of which I have to
get a move on I’m brining her home today. Just for a visit for now, I want her
to spend as much time here as possible. Get her used to another way of life. At
least here she can move around outside freely instead of being cooped up in her
father’s place over the diner.”

“Okay
son, go get your girl.”

I
called her first to let her know I was on my way after I’d taken care of my
morning shower and shave. I said a few words to Stan before going up to get
her. She looked sexy as hell in a little sundress and sandals, her hair falling
down her back. She also looked scared which I knew was going to take time. I
decided then and there we weren’t going to even touch on the trouble today,
today was going to be all about making her happy.

“You
ready baby?” she nodded yes and took my outstretched hand. She said a quick
goodbye to her dad once we got downstairs and we were off.

“How did
you sleep baby? I was going to call you last night before I fell asleep but I
got caught up in something, that won’t happen again. From now on my voice will
be the last thing you hear at night and the first in the morning. Well unless
Stan is an early riser and he beats me to it.”

“I
was about to say, he does get up at an unholy hour every morning and the first
thing he does is wake me up. I don’t mind though, we have the most amazing
talks then.” I wonder if she knew he was probably doing that to reassure
himself that his kid had made it through the night safe under his roof? Not now
Matt, remember? today is about the good only no dark clouds.

“Did
you pack a swimsuit in that suitcase you’re carrying?” she looked down at her
bag and I was pleasantly surprised when she swatted my arm for the insult.
“It’s not that big come on, besides I can get lots of stuff in here. I didn’t
know we were going swimming so I didn’t bring a suit sorry. We can turn back
and get one…”

“No
it’s fine I’m sure mom or one of the girls have one that you can use, don’t
worry it won’t be worn, these women buy multiples of every damn thing. Do you
do that too?”

“Um,
not really, I’m not really big on shopping.” I gave her a disbelieving look. A
female that wasn’t into shopping, an enigma for a Steele man. “Come again, you
don’t like shopping?”

“Not
that I don’t like shopping, mom usually bought my stuff or we’d get it online,
it wasn’t always…safe to go to the mall.” her voice trailed off and I gritted
my teeth. I guess I knew what we were doing today.

As
soon as we got to the house mom ambushed us. You’d think she’d known Kadyn her
whole damn life the way she carried on, but that’s what I wanted for her so it
was all good. She gushed and crooned over how pretty my girl was before
dragging her off to the back of the house for who knows what, her lips going a
mile a minute.

I
found Carrie and Nessa upstairs having some sort of wardrobe consult. “Girls I
need your help.” They stopped mid sentence and turned their attention to me.
“What do you need?”

“
Kadyn’s
never really been shopping before I want her to
have a day at the mall doing all the shit you freaks do when you go there.” The
squeals were loud enough to bust my eardrums. Josh came running when he heard
his wife’s voice and I just rolled my eyes at his hyper ass. “What the fuck?”

“Calm
down bro the girls are just a little over excited.”

“Why what’re you all up to?”

“I just asked them to take Kadyn
shopping.”

“Shit bro,
are you mental? Have you seen Carrie on a shopping spree? Fuck.” They started
bickering about whether or not she was shopaholic and then the make up session
started and it was time for me to go. “Be ready in ten minutes let me go rescue
my girl from mom.”

Not a
minute too soon I realized because I found them in the family room where mom
had broken out the family albums and my ass was on display. “Mom geez.” She
gave me her innocent ‘I’m not trying to embarrass my kids look’ my ass. I’m not
sure who’s worst sometimes, her or dad. Speaking of which. “Where’s dad?”

“He was in his office doing
something or the other.”

“Fine,
we’re going shopping.”

“Ooh
how fun let me get my purse.” She was off and running which was something I
hadn’t expected, I might not have seen Carrie on a shopping spree but
mom’s
were legendary. “Mom I’m not sure, we don’t want to be
there all year. I want Kadyn to hang out by the pool…” I was talking to the air
because she was long gone yelling for dad as she went.

My
little experiment turned into a Steele family three-ring circus. Two cars and
one hour later the whole damn family was headed to the mall. Kadyn rode up
front with me our hands clasped while Josh and Carrie were in the backseat. Mom
dad the douche and Nessa were in the car behind us. Dad had given me the stink
eye for interrupting his day with what he calls my mother’s only vice.
Whatever, my girl seemed excited at the prospect though her hand did tremble
just a little in mine.

When
we reached the mall it was like an unspoken rule or some shit, the boys and the
girls in separate camps. Mom and Carrie were actually talking strategy like
they were going into battle. They had a course mapped out of where to go first.
Poor Kadyn looked bewildered until I squeezed her hand that I had yet to let go
of and promised to stick to her like glue. Dad and Josh griped and mumbled the
whole time while the douche acted like he was at an amusement park, fucker was
almost as bad as the girls.

The
first hurdle was getting her to accept my credit card to buy whatever she
wanted, she seemed to think that was breaking some sort of etiquette or some
shit. “Babe
remember
what I told you? We’re a couple
now,
this is what a man does for his woman if he can. Don’t
think about what shit cost I can afford it just buy what you want.” That didn’t
do the trick either, so I gave Carrie a secret nod to enlist her help and she
took it from there.

I
won’t say she ever seemed completely comfortable with things but the pile of
bags kept growing because there was always something one of the others thought
she just had to have. It helped that they got things for themselves as well and
took some of the attention off of her, which went a long way to helping her
relax.

“Matthew
this is too much what’re you doing?”

“Are you having fun?” I didn’t
need to ask because I could see the light shining in her eyes, she’d forgotten
to be afraid, surrounded by all of us it was easy to let herself go and be a
teenager just having fun at the mall.

“Yes,
your family’s almost as crazy as you are and your mom’s just so amazing. I
don’t understand why everyone’s being so nice to me though, they’re acting like
I’m one of them, like we’ve known each other forever instead of just a few
hours.” I just squeezed her in answer. I had come to the conclusion that in
this case actions would speak louder than words. This was just the beginning of
my campaign to undo the damage that had been done. By the time I was through
Bruno would be nothing more than a distant memory, a blip on her walk through
life and nothing more.

I
didn’t tell her that the women knew what had happened to her and were going out
of their way to make up for it, each in their own way. We didn’t have to
discuss it but I knew the women in my family, including my new sister in law. I
knew with them in my corner it wouldn’t be long before my girl was on the road
to healing. It might seem like a silly thing, shopping, but already I could see
the difference in her. Mom included her the same way she did Nessa and Carrie,
that was just her way, but I’m sure the knowledge of what my Kadyn had endured
was never too far from the forefront of her mind and that added a little extra
something.