Keeley's Fight (The Protectors Series) (19 page)

N:
Missing you like crazy, should be home Sunday. Love you <3

K:
Looking forward to it. I have a surprise ;) Love you!

Opening the one from Tyler she laughed out loud.

T:
Miss your sexy ass, what are you wearing? Love ya!

K:
Miss you too, and not much! See you soon, much love <3

Putting her phone back, she made her way to the pantry to grab Rowdy his treat. “Here you go, boy.” Watching him walk away after she gave it to him, Keeley gestured to Emily to follow her out back to wait for Kennedy to get there. “How are you really doing, Em?”

Looking at her, she could see the fear and uncertainty lurking in her eyes; she knew the feeling all too well. “I don’t know Keels, I’m so scared to do anything anymore. It’s been so long since I’ve felt safe. Like I could live my life again. I just don’t know what I’ll do if Dane and Cooper can’t find this person,” she said sounding defeated.

Reaching over to her, she grabbed her hand and squeezed it saying, “We will all do everything possible to find this person, and make sure he gets locked up for as long as possible.”

Nodding her head at Keeley, she stared off, lost in thought. Shaking her head Emily looked back to her and said, “No more drama talk, tonight is about fun. I’ve never had a girl’s night before.”

Smiling at Em, she confessed, “Neither have I, but I think we’re in for a real treat with Kennedy in charge.” As they were laughing, Kennedy came around the side of the house asking, “What’s so funny? You didn’t start the party without me did you?” She cajoled with a fake pout, before bursting out laughing.

“Ok ladies, I have movies, I bought as much ice cream as I can carry, AND I brought everything needed for manicures and pedicures,” Kennedy said, turning and walking back to her car. Getting up and following her, Keeley was shocked at just how much ice cream she brought.

“Geez what’d you do, buy out the whole aisle?” she asked her only half kidding.

“What? It’s girls’ night, your men aren’t here, Emily has some psycho stalking her, and me? Well, I got nothing, I’m boring. I think we could all use some icy relief,” Kennedy dead-panned, grabbing the movies and instructing her and Emily to get the rest.

After they had everything inside and most of the ice cream in the freezer, they set up their snacks, mani/pedi stuff, and movies in the living room. Leaving no surface empty with their things. Choosing to watch
Pretty in Pink
first, they set up to do Emily’s nails for their impromptu spa. Keeley did her nails a bright yellow, while Kennedy did her toes a soft pink. They talked about everything and anything, so long as it wasn’t heavy and heart-breaking.

Hearing Rowdy growling and scratching at the back door after they finished all of their nails, and had just popped their third movie of the evening in,
Grease
, Keeley went over to investigate what had him so worked up. “What’s the matter, boy?” She asked walking into the kitchen and turning on the light. When he barked again and looked at her, she unlocked and opened the door for him to go out.

When he took off for the woods behind the house, she chased after him, calling out his name. Stopping at the edge of the tree line, she didn’t go in any farther, since the sun was just setting and she knew finding her way out would be unlikely. Going back to the house, she didn’t want to worry the girls but saw no way around it. “Hey guys, Rowdy’s acting funny and took off for the woods when I let him out. I’m gonna call Dane, see if he can come take a look around.”

Grabbing her phone, she dialed him. Answering after the first ring he barked out, “What’s wrong?”

“Hello to you too, Dane. Girls’ night is great, how is yours?” She asked sarcastically.

“Keeley,” he growled out.

“Ok, ok, sheesh. Look, Rowdy was barking and scratching at the door and when I let him out he took off for the woods, and he’s not coming when I call him. It’s too dark for me to go in there. Will you come see if you can find him, please?” She asked knowing the worry she felt about her dog’s odd behavior was bleeding through in her voice.

“We’re on our way,” was all he said, ending the conversation as abruptly as it started.

“Well, grumpy pants is on his way with Coop, I assume,” she relayed to Kennedy and Emily, since they both looked slightly worried.

Looking out the big bay window in the living room, she couldn’t help but be worried someone was out there. What if it was Emily’s stalker? What would they do?

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Hearing a vehicle
pull up out front a little while later, all three girls raced out the front door to see Dane and Coop climbing out of their truck. “Could you have taken any longer?” Kennedy asked smartly, earning a growl from Coop.

“Watch it little girl, or I’ll put you over my knee,” he threatened, making her stick her tongue out at him. Chuckling, he called her a brat, before they went around back to check things out and see if they could find Rowdy.

“You girls get back inside and lock the doors until we get back,” Dane shouted following Coop. Sighing, they all went back inside to wait.

A little while later when Keeley heard Rowdy’s nails clicking on the porch, she ran for the door to see the guys coming from the woods and talking quietly. “Well?” She asked impatiently.

Giving a sigh, they looked at each other before answering her. “I think it was a deer or coyote, but we’re staying the night, and we’ll take a closer look in the morning.”

“Well there goes girls’ night!” Kennedy said dramatically.

“You’re pushing it, Ken!” Coop said teasing her, knowing she hated that name. Kicking his shin, she stomped back into the house. “Shit!” He exclaimed.

Laughing at their juvenile teasing, Keeley called Rowdy in and started cleaning up the living room and kitchen, before saying good night and going to bed, knowing Dane and Coop would find their own place to sleep.

The following morning after the guys checked things over in the light of day, and the girls had gone home, she started cleaning the house and getting things ready for when Nathaniel and Tyler came home on Sunday.

Hearing a car door slam outside had her slightly confused. Heading to the front door with Rowdy following close behind, she opened it and was startled when the dog started growling and baring his teeth. Looking up she saw who it was; definitely not someone she expected to see ever again.

Before she had a chance to grab Rowdy, and go back inside and shut the door, a gun was pulled out and leveled at her chest. Freezing from shock and fear, she didn’t know what to do.

“You thought you could just live a happy life, after everything you’ve done to me you ungrateful bitch?” The person snarled at her menacingly, walking closer, only stopping when Rowdy let out a loud, ferocious bark.

S
hock at seeing
her father again, held Keeley immobile with fear. “What are you doing here?” She asked. “You kicked me out.”

“You’re such an ungrateful cunt,” he retorted. “You think you deserve all this, after the hell your mother and I put up with when she had you.” Mack was waving his hand around, indicating her surroundings. “Do you know how many times we had to move because you just couldn’t stop whining and crying about your punishments? Hell, we had to move clear across the country and change our names, when your stupid bitch of a grandmother wouldn’t let shit go. Dumb old hag couldn’t just fucking die.” Keeley could hear the slurring of his words now.

Not wanting to say anything to anger him further, she stood there trying to come up with a plan, wishing Nathaniel and Tyler were here with her now. Or even Dane and Coop. When Rowdy started growling again, she looked at him to see his gaze fixed on the woods. Watching where he was, she felt a huge sense of relief when she recognized Nathaniel’s bulky form moving along the tree line.

Knowing she had to distract her father, she slowly started walking down the steps, with Rowdy matching each one. Gaining his attention once again, she did something she never thought she would do, and yelled at her father, telling him what she thought of him and her mother. “It’s your fault, you know,” she antagonized. “You guys didn’t have to have me. Hell, you could have given me up for adoption for all I would have cared. Anything would have been better than having the stigma of being Mack and Judy Stone’s child. It was horrifying that people knew I was the product of you two. I hated my life. I wished for you to kill me, so many times. But you know what? I’m glad you didn’t, because now…,” pausing to take a breath she continued, “now I get to live the life I deserved, with two men who love me and show me that love daily. Knowing I’m better than you gives me such relief. And when I do have kids, because I will have a bunch, they’ll never even know you exist. They’ll know the love of what a REAL parent is like.” Emphasizing her point she put both hands to her stomach, implying she could be pregnant now.

“You bitch! You always thought you were better than everyone, but you’re no better than the scum-filled whorehouse you were conceived in. Tell me something, Keeley,” he sneered her name like it was filth. “Do your men know you were born addicted to crack? Do they know you’re just as worthless now as you were at birth?” He lied.

Seeing Nathaniel pause, she knew he was shocked to learn that her parents really did hate her. “What you fail to remember Mack, is that I am better than you. And you’ll have to live with that for the rest of your life. I fucking hate you, but after today you will no longer be a speck on my radar. I will never think of you again,” she told him and turned, knowing Tyler and Nathaniel had her back. Tensing when she heard the crack of a gun, Keeley expected to feel the burn of a bullet. Not feeling anything she turned around, only to be pulled into Tyler’s arms. Squeezing her as tight as he could she finally squeaked out, “I can’t breathe”, before he let her go, looking her over from head to toe.

“Don’t ever fucking provoke someone with a gun again, darlin’!” Tyler admonished her angrily, but she could also hear the worry in his voice, and see it in his eyes. “You understand, baby? I can’t…, no, I won’t, fucking lose you! Not now!” Burying his face in her neck, she held on for dear life. As the adrenaline started to leave her body, she started shaking violently. When Tyler called Nathaniel over, it sounded like he was yelling through a tunnel; her vision started to get cloudy with black dots, and she knew she was going to pass out. Accepting the blackness she let go, knowing her men would keep her safe.

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“Shit, Nate, she’s
passing out.” Ty called to his brother. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Nate shake his head in the negative with his fingers on Keeley’s dad’s neck. Knowing his brother so well, he knew taking her father’s life was going to weigh heavily on his mind. Walking over to him with an unconscious Keeley in his arms, he told Nate, “You take her inside, I’ll call this in. She’s safe man. That’s all that matters. Don’t beat yourself up, yeah?” At Nate’s nod, Ty thought he just might be ok. It really was a kill or be killed situation, only in this case it would have been Keeley dead, instead. And he knew that wasn’t an option.

Calling for the police and an ambulance to make sure she was ok, Ty went into the house, pausing when he saw Nate sitting on the couch with Keeley still passed out in his lap. To his surprise there was a very gorgeous dog with its head resting on her stomach, and he was whining. Looking up when Ty walked in the room, the dog chuffed and went back to its vigil watch over their girl.

“Think this was her surprise?” Ty asked Nate who sat there watching the dog.

“Pretty sure it was. Dane sent that text about watching for snow. Didn’t really get it at the time. I do now,” he mused chuckling.

“He has her eyes. That’s kinda weird, isn’t it?” Ty wondered out loud, sitting down and grabbing her feet to put in his lap. “I wonder if what they say about pets looking like their owners is true. Maybe he liked her so much his eyes changed.” Chuckling at his own joke, Ty wasn’t prepared for the heel to his gut. Rubbing his stomach, he looked to Keeley and laughed. “Sorry darlin’, I was only kidding. But damn, am I glad to see those beauties open up for me.”