Page 24 of Kennedy

Jimmy groaned. “You’re right. He’ll definitely use it, and he’ll do it in a way that will hurt me as much as possible. This isn’t good. I need to call Seymour and tell him what’s happening, just in case my father decides to go to the facility.”

“He won’t be allowed inside, but yes, you should call Seymour.”

Jimmy finished his coffee and got to his feet, his phone in his hand. Lewis and Kennedy stayed at the table since Kennedy was pretty sure that Jimmy would want privacy. He watched as Jimmy peeked outside, maybe to ensure that his father was nowhere to be seen, then stepped out.

“I hate that man,” Lewis whispered. “I hate that my brother has to deal with him. I heard the stories, and I know what Seymour thinks of him because he’s been ranting at me anytime he can, and it’s not fair.”

Kennedy reached out to squeeze Lewis’s arm. “Life seldom is, especially when it comes to family. Unfortunately, you can’t choose the family you were born in.”

Lewis snorted. “I’m pretty sure that both Wallace and Jimmy would have chosen another one if they’d been able to.”

“If anything, they wouldn’t have wanted their father.” Kennedy knew even less about their mother, but if she was still with Wallace Senior, she couldn’t be a good person.

Or maybe she was. Kennedy had no idea what happened behind the closed doors of Wallace Senior’s home, but he was sure that Jimmy and Wallace would have offered to help her get away. She hadn’t taken that offer. She hadn’t fought for her children, especially Wallace. Kennedy wouldn’t say she was getting what she deserved, but he wouldn’t think twice about her. He was more focused on Jimmy and Wallace because he knew them and were his friends.

Jimmy came back, his expression grim. Kennedy expected him to say that he wasn’t in the mood to shop anymore, but he hadn’t changed his mind, so the three of them headed out. Kennedy allowed Lewis and Jimmy to walk ahead while he stayed behind them, keeping an eye open in case Wallace Senior decided to do something stupid. There were no signs of the man as they walked through town, though, and Kennedy allowed himself to relax.

But not too much. Wallace Senior might have left, but it wouldn’t be for long. The man was bent on destroying his sons’ lives, and now that he couldn’t get to Wallace anymore, it was obvious he’d turned his attention to Jimmy. He would try to ruin what Jimmy and Seymour had by any means necessary.

If Lewis really had been Seymour, Kennedy wouldn’t have disagreed. He would have wanted Jimmy to be aware of what was happening. That wouldn’t be the reason why Wallace Senior used the kiss he’d seen between Kennedy and Lewis, though. No, he would use it to hurt his son, and he might have succeeded if Kennedy and Lewis hadn’t told Jimmy right away.

There was no way Jimmy was leaving town, not with Wallace Senior still here and gunning for his son. Kennedy was home here, too. That meant they couldn’t avoid dealing with Jimmy’s father.

But for now, they could try.

* * * *

AFTER AN AFTERNOONof shopping and looking over his shoulder, then a nice dinner with Jimmy and Kennedy, Lewis was ready to go home. He couldn’t wait to get in bed, burrow under his blankets, and allow himself to fully relax.

He knew he was safe as he, Jimmy, and Kennedy walked where Jimmy had left his car. The two men wouldn’t allow anything to happen to him.

Jimmy seemed to be doing okay with what had happened earlier today. He’d warned Seymour while Kennedy had called his superior to tell him about Wallace Senior, but Lewis couldn’t help but wonder what the man was planning. Whatever it was, he’d do it in a way that would hurt his target as much as possible. He’d wanted to make a scene today, which didn’t bode well for Jimmy and Seymour.

Or maybe it did. They’d be humiliated, but most people at the facility knew about Lewis’s existence now. They’d welcomed Lewis as if he was one of them just because of Seymour.

Lewis wouldn’t be surprised if Wallace Senior tried using the cheating thing to get Seymour kicked out of the facility. He had to know that even though the program was over, Seymour would be sticking around. He’d been offered a spot as a trainer, and he’d eagerly accepted it.

Lewis was relieved and grateful. Knowing that his brother would be here, teaching people how to fight and defend themselves, meant that he wouldn’t be out there killing people and risking getting hurt. Lewis wouldn’t have to worry about his brother or his mate.

No, he only had to worry about an asshole who was trying to make life hell for the people Lewis cared about by using him. If Lewis ever saw him again, he’d make sure the man knew what he thought of him. He doubted that Wallace Senior would care, but he didn’t think he’d ever hated anyone the way he did that man.

“Do you need a ride back to the facility?” Jimmy asked Kennedy.

“I’ll take him back,” Lewis quickly said. He wasn’t ready to let go of Kennedy just yet.

Jimmy looked at Kennedy again, and when Kennedy nodded, he opened his driver’s door. “All right. I’m headed home to Seymour. Good night.”

Kennedy and Lewis stayed where they were and watched him drive away. Lewis was a bit uncomfortable, mostly because he didn’t know what to do next. He’d offered to shimmer Kennedy back to the facility, and he would, but he didn’t want to do so yet. Would Kennedy want to spend more time with him, or was he ready to go home? After what had happened, Lewis wouldn’t blame him.

“I can take you home now,” he said, offering Kennedy his hand.

Kennedy took it even as he shook his head. “I don’t have to go yet. Unless you’re too tired?”

“I’m not. I just thought you’d want to go.”

“Well, I don’t. What do you want to do?”

Lewis had a long list of things he wanted to do, but he wasn’t about to say any of them. He could feel himself blushing just thinking of them. “I haven’t seen your lion form yet,” he offered instead.

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