Page 41 of Grave Kisses
Tim runs after Kendra, and Collier runs his hands down his face as he rests his elbows on his knees.
“Why didn’t you tell her?” I ask.
“Tell her what?” Bellamy asks.
“His wife died about a month ago,” I say, watching Collier.
“Oh my God,” Bellamy says. “Why the fuck didn’t you tell her?”
“Why didn’t I tell her that Archer killed my wife?” Collier asks. “She was already dangling over the edge. The last thing I wanted to do was send her off that bridge out of fear.”
“How… Marcus, how did you know?” Bellamy asks me.
“Because I called him, and he was drunk. He told me but didn’t remember,” I explain. I never told him that he was damn near suicidal, but I don’t think I ever want to hear that man sound so broken again. “We talked when he was sober, and he asked me not to tell anyone, especially Kendra.”
“How did she die, if you don’t mind me asking?” Hannah asks gently.
“He uh… Somehow, he managed to get the address of where she lived. We were separated. He broke in and did the same thing he did to Kendra in that video, only he slit her throat after. It wasn’t unusual for her to not try to talk to me for days on end, but aftera week, I went and checked on her. The heat was on, and it was blazing hot outside…”
“Oh no,” Bellamy says. “That’s… Horrific.”
“The smell hit me, and I knew… I don’t know how I knew it was him, but I did. The next day, I got a text that said, ‘Tell Kendra I said hello.’ He’s using prepaid phones, and he doesn’t keep them for more than a day or two… I am trying so goddamn hard to find the bastard before he gets to her… but smelling that… reading the autopsy results… It fucked me up. I promised my boss that I was okay to continue. I should have just handed the case off, but I didn’t want to abandon her. I couldn’t trust that someone else would have the same vested interest that I do.”
“When she gets back and it’s just us three,” I say. “You are telling her.”
“I was going to drive back tonight,” he says.
“Have somewhere better to be? You need to talk to the cops here anyhow,” I say. “Unless there is more to this.”
At first, when I saw the way Jeff looked at Kendra, I was pissed. I fucking hated how she would talk to him but give us the cold shoulder. As the days went on, it became very clear that there might be something there. I don’t know how deep that goes for Kendra, but Jeff is fucking hooked on her. I can’t blame him either, because I am in love with this woman. What is there not to love?
“Ohhhhh!” Bellamy says with a wicked grin. “You want to dick down our girl, huh?”
“Man, lucky girl,” Cynthia laughs. “Three big strong men to toss her little ass around?”
“I don’t know how to reply, but… It’s clear that you care about her,” Hannah says to Jeff. “Your wife died, and your first thought was to protect her… That means something. Also, she blew up at you because she is scared. She hides it well, but she is terrified for those babies.”
“I’m not…”
“Yes, you are,” I say. “She deserves to hear it from you on why you have been struggling.”
“And if she hates me?” he asks.
“She won’t,” Bellamy says. “Just tell her the truth.”
“He’s with Kendra,” Hannah says.
“Is it weird calling her that?” I ask.
“Not at all. I’ll call her whatever she wants. I’m just glad I have my baby back,” Hannah says, choking on emotions.
Chapter Fifteen
Kendra
I am sitting onthe edge of the bridge with my feet dangling off the edge. I hear someone coming up to me. “Scared I’ll wanna fly” I ask. I expect it to be Marcus or Bellamy, but Tim sits beside me. “Oh. You aren’t who I expected.”
“Well. I’m who you’ve got,” he says teasingly. “What’s on your mind?”
