Page 29 of You're My Person - For Always

"With Kingsley," muttered River.

"Aw." She nodded in understanding.

As she left for work, she learned Kingsley and Zane had plans to ride. Since it was River's day off, she was stuck home alone. She thought her sister was okay being by herself until they got back.

"You do know it's club business." She softened her voice. "He'll come back."

"What if he doesn't?"

"But, he will." She leaned closer. "They both will."

She understood her sister's worries. The fear of losing contact with Kingsley gave her nightmares. He was the one constant in her life. He'd always come after her no matter how hard she fought or how far she ran. That reassurance that he would love her no matter how she messed up had done more for her than anything in her life.

"Do you know where they went?" whispered River.

"I think Kingsley mentioned St. Maries." She shrugged. "I could be wrong. It also wouldn't surprise me if the ride has something to do with their dad. Yesterday's visit to the prison was intense."

"But you got him to listen to you." River's voice came out louder. "I'm so proud of you."

"I was too scared not to say something." Kenna held up her finger as a customer walked through the door. "I'll be right back."

She took the man's drink order and returned to the counter to make a bloody Mary. Wanting to pep her sister up, she asked if she wanted a drink.

"You do know I'm not twenty-one yet." River propped her chin in her upturned hand and leaned against the bar. "Two more months."

"Don't tell me you haven't had alcohol." She hurried to deliver the drink and returned to her sister. "And, I haven't forgotten your age. I just figured with the club owning the bar and eating ninety percent of your meals here, you would've had a drink."

She stared down at the counter. "I have plans with Zane to drink on my birthday."

"Well, see." Kenna knocked on the scarred wood in front of her sister. "He wouldn't make plans with you if he was going to ghost you."

River looked up and frowned. "I'm stupid."

"You are not." Kenna walked around the counter and grabbed River's shoulders, shaking her. "I get it, sis. The first thing I do each morning is make sure Kingsley is beside me in bed, and it takes me a minute to calm down because I panic. Maybe it would be different if we weren't split apart or we didn't live in foster homes. I don't know. But I understand how badly you need Zane by your side because that's how I feel about Kingsley."

River grabbed her, hugging her tightly. Kenna wrapped her arms around her and the backpack. Her sister started laughing. Kenna slapped her pack, knowing how ridiculous they looked—but she didn't care.

She'd missed too many years of having someone beside her who understood her feelings. No one else would comprehend the fucked-up mess they'd survived.

"Do you think mom knew that her life was in danger and that she'd end up dead?" River pulled away from her. "I keep thinking about her. There's so little information online. There's only that one article about dad's crimes and they hadn't even mentioned mom by name."

"I imagine she had no idea she was going to be killed."

"I hope so." River inhaled deeply. "I hope—I don't know. I hope she didn't suffer."

"She was a good mom," whispered Kenna. "She loved us. She loved Dad."

River looked around the bar and then met Kenna's gaze. "I know you think dad is innocent, but—"

"I never said he was innocent. I said he was alive." Kenna turned her back to the room. "I'm angry, too. He lied to us. He made Kingsley and Zane lie to us." She inhaled swiftly. "It's like we're caught in a web of secrets, and we don't have anything to free us."

"Is someone going to help me?"

Kenna turned around, plastered a smile on her face to greet the customer, and gasped when she found Zora inside the bar. The shock of seeing Kingsley's mom sent her heart racing.

"C-can I help you?" she asked.

"Where is he?" Zora's face pinched. "He's supposed to be here."

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