Page 31 of Evil Beautiful

“Are the two of you girlfriends of Kellen’s? I know my son likes both men and women and the two of you are touching him as if you’re familiar with his body. Why isn’t he with either of you instead of with Gideon? You are both very beautiful and it’s a no….”

That was all he was able to say before his son, who looked a lot like Kellen, interrupted. The daughter looked like she was about to explode in anger but the brother held her hand, keeping her quiet.

“Dad! Enough of this bullshit. My brother is who he is and you should just love him because he’s your son. And if you had listened to what she said you would know she’s his boss, not his freaking girlfriend. These women are his friends. I’m a clueless bastard most of the time but even I can see they touch him the same way Bronnie does. Like family.”

I held out my hand to the guy, older than Kellen and with the same blue eyes.

“Hi, I’m Strange.” I said as we shook. “Kellen is like a little brother to me and we surf together.”

His sister shook my hand as well then drew her phone from her designer bag. Looks wise she obviously was his sister, but the rest of her, not so much. She was perfectly put together where Kell couldn’t care less about clothes.

Pixie was still pissed off and wasn’t shaking anyone’s hand.

“May I have your number, please?” His sister asked. “Just in case we need to get in contact regarding Kellen.”

I gave it to her and watched as she typed it into her phone. From the corner of my eye I saw her brother do the same. Interesting.

Pixie was still steaming but she gave them her number as well.

While putting the numbers in her phone the sister, Bronnie, kept talking.

“I’ve been meeting with Kellen whenever I’m in the city and we text all the time but I don’t really know anything about him. You are the first of his friends I’ve met. From now on when I come to Cape Town I’ll insist we all spend time together. I want my little brother back in my life. I want to know him and the people who he considers his friends and family.” Bronnie slid her phone back into her fancy bag and leaned into her brother who wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Hugging her to his side. She gave him a small smile and hugged him back.

The woman was seriously beautiful and very well put together. She looked like a model.

“The same here.” Her brother shoved his phone back into his jeans pocket and rested his free hand on the bottom of Kell’s bed, a heavy frown on his face as he stared down at his brother.

“Do either of you know what the hell is going on in his life that resulted in this happening to him?” His blue eyes tried to pin me in place but I shrugged and shook my head.

It was up to Gideon to explain.

“It might have something to do with Kellen’s ex. She’s a truly crazy bitch.”

Pixie was grabbing at straws to do some damage control but I didn’t think it was going to work.

It might on his parents but not on the brother. Those eyes of his saw too much.

I had to get out of there before they asked more questions. As long as I was just a good friend and a surfing buddy who had popped in to check on him I would stay under the radar.

And that’s exactly where I had to remain.

Our mission was too sensitive to screw it up now.

Even though I wanted to ask Kell some questions regarding his kidnapping I would have to wait until he was out of the high care unit. Once in a private room it would be easier to visit and not run into his family or Gideon.

Gideon was far too shrewd to not notice the very specific questions I would be asking.

I would have to wait. And so would my boss.

We were worried about the silence from our man who was undercover in the Harrison/Maingarde Syndicate. Simon Kent, or rather his undercover persona Mitchell “Mitch” Mason, was an experienced agent and I shouldn’t be worried, but I was. I was hoping we hadn’t heard from him because he was keeping a low profile.

A much too low profile.

Our HQ had reported they had received reports of an imminent strike against the Harrison Syndicate by several players in the underworld. They wanted Simon out before that happened and I’ve been ordered not to make any approaches unless absolutely necessary.

I was hoping he would contact me soon. Hopefully he hadn’t been compromised.

If he had been he was in the hands of a madwoman, Winifred Harrison.

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