Page 101 of Bravo

“Ahh, I get it now.” Frank clasps me on the shoulder. “You know where to find me if you change your mind.”

“That I do.”

“You should know, though, after we got off the phone, I did some digging. I have a friend in the marshals, and he looked into what happened that night.”

“The night Oliva Brown and Kennedy’s parents were killed?”

He nods. “It was all buried pretty good, and Olivia’s identity was hidden, but he pressed in the right places and got his hands on the real file.”

“They’ll get justice then; that’s good.”

“That’s the thing, though. Aside from the three marshals, only one other body was recovered that night.”

“What do you mean?” I turn away from Kennedy and focus fully on him.

“The murders were called in by a man who was also living at the residence.”

“What are you telling me?” I don’t dare read into what he’s saying because, if I read between the lines and I’m wrong—well—I don’t want to be wrong.

“I’m telling you that not everyone died that night,” he says. “There were two other survivors.”

CHAPTER 35

KENNEDY

“Ireally am okay,” I insist as Bradyn carries me up to the porch of his parents’ house. He’s insisted on waiting on me, hand and foot, from the time we left the hospital this morning to our arrival back here tonight.

Staying by my side the entire time the hospital kept me for observation. His brothers went home, taking Bravo with them, but he stayed there. Right at my side.

Bradyn Hunt has been my rock while the world cascaded around me, a rushing river that might sweep me away.

“I know you are,” he says with a smile. “Maybe I like feeling you in my arms.”

“Maybe I like being in your arms.”

His smile spreads, and he leans down, capturing my lips with his. Then he pulls back and rests his forehead against mine. “You have my heart, Kennedy Smith.”

Lord, how will I ever thank You enough for bringing this man to me?

“That’s good, because you have mine, too.”

He smiles and pulls away then reaches for the handle, but his mom pulls it open first. She beams at me.

“Kennedy!” Rushing out, she wraps her arms around me and pulls me in for a hug. “Let me look at you. You look good. Are you good?”

“I am,” I reply, appreciating her lie. I know I don’t look good. I’m bruised head to toe, and I look like I’ve been hit by a truck which then had the courtesy to back over me.

But I’m alive. And that’s all that matters. Everything else will heal.

“Thank God for that, darling. Come in, come in.” She ushers me inside. “We have some guests, too. And I think you’re going to want to see them.”

“Who’s here?” I ask, noting that all of the brothers, Lani, and Mr. Hunt are lingering at the edge of the living room, smiling softly at me. “Bradyn? What is it?”

He lifts my hand and presses a kiss to it then releases me and steps away, joining his family.

I eye him nervously, trying to figure out just who would be here, but then a man comes into view. I stare, unsure if what I’m seeing is real. Surely it’s not. It can’t be real. Can it?

And then a second person comes around the corner, a worn Bible in her hands, and my chest feels ready to explode. “Mom?” I choke out, my eyes filling with tears. “Dad?”

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