Kennedy In Denver (In Denver Series Book 1) (15 page)

Making it to the door of the bakery, I see my Dad, and Liam shooting out of Liam’s office building a few buildings down from the bakery. I see two black SUV’s pulling up and Reed and his team get out. My dad, Liam and I enter the bakery and we hear Edwin calling Estelle a
“whore.”
Kennedy is so focused she doesn't even realize we are in the bakery. Reed is moving in with his team to place Edwin under arrest when he grabs Kennedy’s arm. Reed steps forward to grab him, but Kennedy stabs Edwin in the hand and slams his head down on the table. He is bleeding all over the place and he seems stunned, but it's not till he feels the gun at his temple that he realizes just how seriously he fucked up. It’s silent in the bakery, none of the men have moved a muscle, and Reed seems to be enjoying the show. Putting the gun to his temple, she starts speaking. Then we see the wetness spread through his pants as he pisses himself.

Sergeant Green, one of Reed’s men whispers, “I'm in love!” And a second one says, “I just instantly got hard.”

I whip around looking for the men talking. Reed is grinning from ear to ear, Liam is stoic, and my dad is a little horrified. The minute Mayò says “
crazy bitch
” I know she is gonna make him suffer. She twists the knife, causing the men behind us to wince and then she delivers a punch that makes his head bounce off the table with a sickening crunch.

“Son, you need to get her.” I hear my dad say when Mayò whispers, “Please” and she flips the table, stomping it as she makes her way to our group.

I realize when she is like this, she isn't the Kennedy I know and love, she isn't caring, or warm. She is devoid of feeling. Holding her bloody hand, she says she is going to wash her hands. Reed’s men break into two teams; one starts cleaning up the blood and table, the other team cuffs Mayò and leads him to the SUV. Kennedy is still in the bathroom.

“Son, I love Kennedy. I do, but the woman that just went into the bathroom was not our Kennedy. I don't know who that was, but you need to call her doctor and let him know what's going on. We all love Kennedy, but she just tortured a man in public in full view of people and only seemed to be concerned with washing her hands.”

Frankie comes out with the security footage, I think she’s still in shock, but she agrees to keep Kennedy's secret. Kennedy is on the phone with Estelle, having her set up a press conference, and we are making our way home. Once we get to the penthouse, I know I have to talk to Kennedy about what happened at the bakery, but I really don't even know where to start.

“Baby, I'm really concerned with what happened today. I called you a few times before you acknowledged me, honey. You didn't show any emotion while you stabbed and beat Edwin. I think we need to call Dr. Franklin. I think you need to talk to someone, baby. It was like you were turned off and someone else was in your body. It was really scary to watch. She starts kissing me.

“Baby, I was just angry.” She is kissing down my chest.

“Baby, as much as I want to make love, we need to talk about this.”

She starts unbuckling my pants, I feel her hands wrap around my cock, she lowers her mouth licking the head.

“Baby, we need to talk!” She slides my cock all the way to the back of her throat, causing my eyes to roll into the back of my head. I look down at her and see the most erotic picture my mind can process. Here is my girl, down on her knees sucking the living shit out of my cock, but I don’t want to come down her throat. I reach down and grab her under her arms, lift her up and take her to the bed.

“Well since you don’t want to talk, this is what's going to happen, Kennedy. I want you to take your sexy ass to the middle of the bed and get comfortable on your stomach”. She does as I told her, and I come up behind her and slowly start to massage her perky ass. My finger gently brush against her puckered opening causing her to jump.

“Relax baby, I'm not going to take you there just yet, but one of these days I will.” Slowly, I take my hands and start massaging her lower back and go higher and higher until I reach her shoulders. Working my way back down I lean over her body and whisper in her ear

“Are you ready for me, baby?” I ask while one of my hands proceeds to check out her state of wetness. “Ohh, my baby is so wet! You must really want this cock, don't you?” She looks at me over her shoulder with heavy lidded eyes.

“Yes please. Don't make me wait!” I take my cock in hand and tease the outside of her pussy before sliding in a few inches and pulling all the way back out. I do this a few more times before she lets out a frustrated growl and says, “Easton, I swear if you don’t fuck me right now, I will nut-punch you so hard you will still be singing soprano next month!”

By the tone of her voice and knowing her history of beating the living shit out of me, I chose not to take the chance. I plunged into her deep and hard, earning myself a moan of approval from her. I didn't want her to start getting uncomfortable being on her knees for too long so I tapped her thigh and told her to lay down on her side. Crawling up behind her, I lifted her leg and began the process of slow deep strokes again while my other hand is caressing her breast. I noticed her breasts have become bigger and more sensitive, but I wasn't about to mention their size after that threat she just gave me.

I started to pick up my pace and began to fuck her harder and faster, loving every minute of being inside my girl. I could feel she was almost at her peak, so I changed our position for a final time. I had her on her back and crawled up between her milky thighs and slid my cock back home. I feel her starting to grip my cock with the walls of her pussy at the same time my balls became tight, and I get that tingle going up my spine.

I look her in the eyes and say, “You will forever be my girl,” as we both come simultaneously and I swear I saw stars that time. I just lay there with my head in the crook of her neck with my weight on my arms, so I don't crush her while I catch my breath. I roll off her and lay on my back pulling her close to me. Her head is on my chest and her arm and leg are both wrapped around me. I tighten my arm around her lightly grip her chin with my other hand and give her a tender kiss. I look in her eyes and whisper, “Sleep now baby, I got you.”

Estelle has flooded social media and the local colleges with news of the press conference. A lot of women's groups agreed to march together to the press conference in a show of support for victims of violence, so the day of the conference we leave early. When we get to the staging area, Estelle hands everyone in the family a shirt with a picture of the girls on it. She also has boxes of shirts that say different sayings. We help pass out shirts to everyone waiting. Some have shirts with women on them. One woman is holding a sign that says

‘MY SISTER WAS RAPED AT COLLEGE. SHE KILLED HERSELF HER RAPIST GRADUATED WITH HONORS’

I know Kennedy is worried that no one is going to be there for her, but we plan to make a bold statement. Some people may not want her here, but a majority of the people feel Kennedy did the world a favor. So we begin to march. I see Kennedy at the podium and my heart hurts, I know she feels so alone. When she hears the sirens, she looks up and the cameras turn to the mob coming. My family as well as the families of the girls and Tristan all stand on the podium while I take my place by her side.

She makes her statement and answered questions once it’s over I'm ready to take my girl home.

Waking up Saturday morning, I feel so good after making love all night. I feel content, rolling over I see a note, and it’s from Easton:

Baby,

See you soon

I love you so much

E~

I'm eating a bowl of fruit when Estelle and Stacy come in and tell me to get dressed we have somewhere to be. We pull up to the spa.

“We are getting you ready for your wedding. It's at six o’clock tonight at the estate.”

“My wedding?” I smile and feel the butterflies in my stomach.

“Yes,” Stacy says. “Easton has set up a garden wedding.”

I'm smiling from ear to ear. “Really?”

Estelle comes and gives me a hug, “You're going to make a beautiful bride.”

After getting a pedicure, a manicure, and a massage, and my hair and makeup done we head to the estate. In Stacy's bedroom, Estelle pulls out the most amazing dress I have ever seen. It's long with an empire waist, and along the bottom are flower petals. It looks like something right out of a Jane Austen novel. When we slip it on, it’s light and airy. They add flowers in the same colors as the petals on my dress, into my hair.

My mom comes in and cries out, “Oh honey, you look like a princess!”

“Don't start me crying, Mom.”

“Are you ready, honey? Your dad is just outside the door.”

I look to Rose, Stacy, and Estelle, “None of this, not just the wedding, would have been possible without you guys. I love you guys so much!” Stacy and Estelle give me a hug. Rose is standing by the door with a nervous look on her face. “Rose is everything okay?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said with a smile. “It's your special day. We will talk about it after you get back from your honeymoon. Let’s go so you can finally be a Kerrigan.”  

Walking out and seeing my dad in a light gray suit, I almost break down. “Baby girl, I love you so much!” We walk to the garden entrance, and I step forward towards the only man I will ever love.

I see Easton walking towards me. He doesn’t look happy.

Breathe, stay calm, and show no emotion. Breathe, stay calm, and show no emotion. I just have a few more feet until I make it to the house. I feel my air supply cutting off. I make it to the house, and I see the staff rushing around. I make my way upstairs and start removing the flowers from my hair. Estelle walks in along with Stacy.

“Can you please help me get out this dress?” I ask Estelle.

I’m trying to pull the dress off but my hands are shaking, FUCK! I can’t get the zipper down. I don’t understand, how could he do this to me? what did I do to deserve this? It’s getting hard to breath I have to calm down; I don’t want to have another panic attack I just need to calm down, Breath, Breath, and Breath.

I'm able to calm myself, even though both Estelle and Stacy have tears streaming down their face. I brush out my hair and put it up in a ponytail. I remove as much of the makeup as possible and get back in my clothes from this morning. Michael knocks just as I'm putting on my shoes. I grab my purse and walk down the stairs, with them trailing behind me. My parents are waiting for me. I smile at the staff that's milling around the bottom of the staircase and I thank them for all their hard work. Michael, Stacy and Rose are standing by the door,

“Thank you all so much for all you have done. Rose, I will mail the final payment to the contractor Monday.

“Stacy, thank you for helping me get the building, I think it's going to be something really special.”

I turn to Michael and give him a kiss on the cheek, I whisper so only he can hear.

“Go find Katie, you deserve to be happy.”

I walk to the waiting limo where I see Tristan and Estelle waiting.

“Tristan, Monday afternoon you will receive paperwork transferring ownership of the Conservatory to you. Estelle, I need you to make this grand opening a huge success. I don't know what I'm doing right now but I need to be somewhere I can be stress free for me and the babies. Can you please release a statement that for my health I have decided to step away from the Conservatory at this time, leaving it in Tristan’s capable hands?”

I lean in and hug my friends goodbye; I get in the limo with my parents and head towards the penthouse. I pack my clothes and a few pictures I have on the nightstand. I also pack a few pictures of Easton and I leave my keys, my phone, and a note with my lawyer’s information on it. There is nothing in Denver keeping me and there is nothing worth coming back here for. As the limo pulls away, I see Easton running into the building. It's too late, I'm already gone; I've been gone since he met me half way down the aisle.

I wake up on a plane; sitting across from me is Paloma and Thea Valle on their private plane.

“Where are my parents?”

“They are in Denver. They are going to stay until everything is settled. 

“Kennedy, querida, you can't go into hiding this time. You have to fight! I understand that what this man has done to you is heartbreaking but you have three children that will come shortly and you are young, beautiful and rich. You will survive this as you have survived everything else you have overcome. I want to thank you for killing the monster that killed Pilar. I never got a chance to say it, but I was only able to heal after he was dead. If you walk away from the life you built in Denver, you are going to regret it. Enjoy these next two weeks, heal your heart as much as possible, and go back. Open your Conservatory and do what you set out to do in the memory of Pilar, Emma and Whitney. Rest love, we will be there shortly.”

When we land, I feel relief. No phone, no one knows where I am, just time to think. For the next week, I enjoy long walks on the beach, Spanish cooking and loving from Paloma and Thea and quiet. On the second week, I contact Estelle, who has told me Tristan has refused to sign any paperwork and that she never released a statement about me stepping down. However, it was leaked to the media that I was jilted, not even making it all the way to the altar. Video surfaced and it showed me walking down the aisle and Easton meeting me half way, it showed me kissing his cheek, and returning the ring. It seems so strange to watch it unfold, I felt like I was watching someone else's heartbreak unfold. The headlines were awful, the article even worse, making Easton out to be a heartless monster who had left me alone five months pregnant with triplets. There were articles about him being seen with a woman at dinner and articles about the woman who apparently broke up my engagement, causing Easton to leave me seconds before the wedding.

Estelle released a statement saying I wished Easton and the Kerrigan’s nothing but the best. Tristan had gone through the hundreds of resumes sent for teaching positions and hired twelve teachers and a receptionist. Four of the new employees were Barton alumni and four were graduates of Julliard, and the other four were retired musicians. The conservatory was ready to open the week after regular school started. That gave parents a chance to find out if their kids got into one of the limited music classes they offered at the school. He also set up four workshops with celebrity teachers. Estelle also informed the Kerrigan’s they were uninvited to the event. She didn't know if I would be upset, but I wasn't. I loved the Kerrigan’s, but they weren't a part of my inner circle anymore. Elena, Rose and Stacy had taken the request hard, but understood. I spent the next couple of weeks getting myself together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The morning of the grand opening, I arrived in Denver. Tristan rubbed my belly and kissed my forehead, heading to the new house he purchased.

“I love this house,” I told him.

“I know that's why I bought it from Dr. Franklin. I figured we could all stay here until we all figure out what we are doing. Estelle is staying here until she can find a condominium of her own. Once I find a bachelor pad, this house will be for you and my god babies. It's got more than enough space and it has a mother-in-law cottage, that's where your parents are living.”

“It's perfect!” I spent the rest of the day working on a tribute to the girls with Thea's help. I had created a slideshow that would play on the screen behind me as I sang. It spans four years of the
September 4
. I kept the red carpet look glamorous in a long mint green gown with a sweetheart neckline that fell in layers over my stomach and into a long train of ruffles. My hair is down in soft, shiny waves and my makeup is muted. Tristan walked the red carpet next to me in a black Tom Ford suit and a tie that was a similar color to my gown.

He comments, “I look like a cupcake!” and I elbow him in the ribs. We posed for pictures and made our way into the building.

Dinner was delicious. I was caught off guard when Rose Kerrigan came up to me.

”You look beautiful, Kennedy.”

“Thank you Rose, you look amazing also.”

“I'm not here as a Kerrigan, I'm here as part of the design team.”

“It's okay, Rose. I can't avoid you guys forever, but I'm not really ready to talk to any of the Kerrigan’s, especially you. Right before I walked out, you knew something was wrong. You were nervous, did you know, Rose? Did you know how Liam felt about me and what Easton was going to do?”

“I swear to god, Kennedy. I had no idea what was going to happen!” Rose said. “Liam told me he believed you were unstable. That he wasn't going to allow the kids to go to Hope. That's what I didn't want to tell you; that the kids wouldn't be coming to your Conservatory because Liam feels you’re unsafe.”

The look of shock must have been evident on my face. Estelle walked over to me.

“Rose, this event is for people who support me and what I'm doing here. Since your husband seems to think, I am mentally unhinged and you obviously agree with him since you pulled your children out of the Conservatory, I would like you to leave. I have paid all your invoices. We aren't friends and I don't need or want you here. Rose turned and walked away.

“Damn Kennedy, that was harsh!” Estelle said.

“Life is harsh Estelle, if anyone should know that it's you.”

The rest of dinner was amazing. The concert was almost half way through, Tristan had really pulled through. My family and friends took up most of the front row, the staff & media as well as local patrons of the arts filled the theatre. This is the first time I would be performing since the attack, so I steel my nerves.

“Please put your hands together for Kennedy Brennan,” Estelle said to the crowd.

“Good evening everyone, this has been a long journey but I know I'm finally where I'm supposed to be. The night that Emma, Whitney and Pilar died, we had a funny conversation; they were all going off to amazing things. Emma was heading to Chicago to play Elphaba in ‘Wicked’, Whitney was auditioning for pilots in LA, and Pilar were optimistic of getting a guest spot on her mother’s telenovela. I was the odd one; I was going to teach music at an inner city school in Boston. The girls joked that I should teach at a private conservatory. In the end, that's what I'm doing. I have dedicated a floor to each one of my friends in this building. I actually prepared a small video I would like to show. The theatre went dark then Emma popped up on the screen. Someone off camera.

“Emma when you win your first Tony award who are you gonna thank?” Emma's face lit up, “the first ones I'm going to thank are my parents! They always told me I could do anything I put my mind to. When I wouldn't get a part and I would want to quit, my parents wouldn't let me. My parents had these super important careers, but never missed one single play or performance.”

The screen cut to Whitney, she was sitting in a circle of people under a tree, “Smile for the camera,” Pilar says as she throws her hand up in a pose. Then her phone rings, “I gotta take this, it's my dad.” she steps off screen then comes back and sits down. “My parents are coming in; they want to take us to dinner.”

The guy in the circle says, “Who in college still gets excited about dinner with their parents? I dread when my parents come here,” he said. Whitney says, “That's because your parents properly suck. My parents are awesome ,and I wish I got to see them more.”

Finally, it was Pilar; she was pacing, “Stop filming me, Emma!” “No, I'm not!” Emma replied, “We are about to go look at the cast sheet for the spring play, if you get the lead of Maria I want to record it!” We see Pilar waiting, she looks nervous as she steps up and sees her name next to Maria and she starts jumping. She yells to the camera, “I got it!” and pulls her phone out, “I have to call my mom!” She starts jumping up and down speaking in rapid Spanish. When she hangs up, she says, “My mom and Thea are coming this weekend! I can't wait to see them!”

The screen goes black. A spotlight lights up in the center of the stage, I step into the spotlight as the photos start on the screen. Tristan plays the first few chords on his guitar and our other piano teacher, Hadley, starts the soft intro to

Josh Groban's ‘Remember’
. When I open my mouth I feel every emotion, but mostly I feel peace.

The last photo is of me and the girls when we went to try on our caps and gowns.

The theatre goes dark as I walk off the stage. I make it to the trashcan before throwing up. Estelle is there.

“I need to go lay down, I feel drained.” She walks me to the green room and I lock the door and take a nap. I wake up about an hour later and Tristan and Dr. Franklin are in the green room with me.