Kenzie

 

Even through the thick walls of the Labriola mansion, Kenzie recognized the booming echo of Xavier’s voice. Her heart thundered with fear and excitement as she scrabbled uselessly at the locked door. He had come for her, just like he’d said he would! But Xavier had never said anything about confronting her father directly. Didn’t he know how hopeless that was? Did he think he could just charge in here and demand that she be handed over? It all sounded very nice and romantic, but it would never work. He was only going to get himself killed, and that wasn’t going to help either one of them.

 

Still she pounded on the door, determined to let Xavier know she was there. “Xavier! Come help me! Please!” She hit the door with all the force she had inside her, not caring if she broke her nails or even her hand. None of that would matter as long as she got out.

 

Kenzie flew back in surprise when the door flung open and slammed against the wall. Angelo stood in the doorway, his gun at the ready in one hand and his other hand curled into a fist. He advanced a few steps into the room, just enough to let her know he was serious. “Shut the fuck up!” he ordered. “If you insist on keeping up that racket, I’ll be more than happy to bring you to your knees.” Angelo’s eyes were dark and hard as he leered at her, his scar accentuating the twist of his mouth.

 

Kenzie knew Angelo meant it; he was a sick bastard and her father had chosen him as her guard for good reason. He wasn’t the kind of guy to get soft and mushy just because he was dealing with a woman. If he was, she would have made her way out of her father’s house a long time ago. But she knew that her destiny was downstairs, and the only way to get to it was to get past the thug. “Get out of my way,” she commanded, doing her best to look as intimidating as her father could. “I need to get downstairs.”

 

Angelo laughed, a sound that sent a chill down her spine. “I don’t think so, little girl. Matteo told me to keep you in your room, and that’s exactly what I intend to do.”

 

“What are you going to do to stop me?” She charged up to him, her own fists curled and her chin jutting defiantly. She had nothing to use as a weapon, and even if she did, it wouldn’t be better than a gun. Let him shoot her. That would draw some attention.

 

He puffed out his chest and did his best to fill the doorway. “Whatever it takes, you little bitch. I have a feeling it won’t be much.”

 

“And if I asked to see my father? Would you deny me that, too?” The men in the family were undyingly loyal to Matteo. Maybe there was some way she could play off that.

 

“Then he would come up here to you,” Angelo reasoned, unthwarted. “You think I’m stupid, but you have no clue what I’m capable of.”

 

“Oh, I have an idea.” Kenzie knew Angelo was probably guilty of more crimes than she dared to think of. But when it came down to it, would he really shoot her? Kenzie ducked to her left and then quickly to her right, aiming for the space between Angelo’s left arm and the doorway. It would take only a fraction of a second to get past him and she would be on her way down the hall and the stairs to find Xavier.

 

“I don’t think so.” His fingers curled around her neck as soon as she got within arm’s reach. He wasn’t a big man, but he was stronger than he looked. He charged forward into the room, pushing her in front of him.

 

Kenzie gasped for air, clawing uselessly at his fingers. She could see nothing but his angry face, and for a moment she wondered if this was how she was going to die. The backs of her knees hit the corner of her mattress, and Angelo let her fall backward onto the bed. What little breath she still had left in her lungs was slammed out of her body, and a bolt of fear rippled through her muscles.

 

He loomed over her. “Don’t try any shit like this again, Kenzie. I’m tired of missing out on all the good jobs just because your daddy needs someone to babysit you. Learn to control yourself!” He stormed back out of the room and slammed the door, the tumbler locking with a final thud.

 

Gulping for air, Kenzie wasn’t ready to give up yet. She shot to her feet, only to sit right back down again. The lack of breath had left her dizzy and drained of all her strength. Still, she had to find a way to get to Xavier. Sliding down to the floor, she crawled across her room on her hands and knees to listen at the air vent.

 

“… difficult. See, I have Kenzie on tape saying that the whole thing was set up. Even if you …” Some of what Xavier said was muffled, but there was no doubt it was his voice. Kenzie sat back, reeling. Did he really have her on tape? It was definitely possible. She felt a wave of anger come through her battered body at knowing that he hadn’t trusted her enough, and that he had actually recorded her when she had come to him for help. But then again, what reason did he have to trust her? She was the one who had started their entire relationship—or whatever it could be called—on a lie. If he had her on tape, then it really only showed that he was smart.

 

She rocked back and hugged her knees. At the very least, Xavier had done what he said he would do. He had come for her. It wouldn’t work; she had no false hopes about getting out of her father’s house right then. Matteo wasn’t going to give her up when he thought he might still be able to use her, and unless Xavier had brought his entire club with him he was far outnumbered. But she couldn’t just let this go without doing something. Xavier couldn’t be the only one fighting for her freedom.

 

With her lungs working again, Kenzie got to her feet and went to her desk. Colored dots danced in her vision, and she blinked to chase them away. She scribbled hastily in her notebook, trying to keep her hand moving slowly enough that the words would still be legible. But adrenaline and fear were running rampant in her bloodstream, and she knew she was running out of time.

 

She ripped the sheet out of the notebook just as the front door slammed. Hurtling across the room, Kenzie yanked open the window, shoved aside the screen, and flung the balled-up piece of paper down onto the lawn. It landed squarely on Xavier’s shoulder.

 

Kenzie held her breath as he bent to retrieve it and then paused to look up at her. He was just gorgeous, his short red hair blowing in the breeze and those brilliant eyes, a man who could easily be part angel and part devil. She still hadn’t figured out which side of that line he truly belonged on, but it almost didn’t matter. Xavier was a better man than her father would ever be. And now he would really know the truth. She just had to hope that he believed her.

 

Xavier shoved the note in his pocket without reading it. He flung his leg over his motorcycle, which he had parked on the front lawn. She had to smile at that; this man liked to make a point and he knew how to do it. He sped off into the distance.

 

There was nothing left for her to do but hope and wait.