Hidden Away (KGI #3)(46)

Tom closed his eyes and shook his head. All the color had drained from his cheeks, and Sean felt sorry for him. Tom was a good man. He was a longtime school board member and a huge supporter of the high school. He didn’t think for a minute that Tom would condone his son’s behavior.

“He’ll do whatever it takes to make amends,” Tom said hoarsely. “You have my word on it.”

Matt’s face reddened and swelled up with anger, but his father’s look prevented him from speaking his mind.

“I want him to stay away from Rusty and keep his mouth shut.”

Tom nodded. “He will.”

Sean turned and started toward his car when Matt’s outburst reached him.

“She’s nothing! Just some little tramp. Why do you give a shit about her?”

Sean stopped and then slowly turned back around. He pinned Matt with the full force of his glare until he saw fear glimmer back in Matt’s eyes.

“That’s where you’re wrong, you little prick. Take my advice. Forget you ever heard Rusty’s name. She’s very much a part of the Kelly family now, and if you know anything about them, then you know they don’t suffer any insult to their family. She now has six older brothers who’d love nothing more than to kick your little arrogant ass all over Stewart County.”

“Matt, for God’s sake, shut up,” Tom snarled. “You’re in enough trouble as it is.”

Sean tipped his hat in Tom’s direction and then continued to his car.

Satisfied that he’d given Matt Winfree plenty of incentive to keep his mouth shut and to leave Rusty alone, he drove toward the Kelly house.

A few minutes later, he pulled to a stop beside Marlene’s car and sighed. This sucked all the way around. Especially for Rusty. But he could at least allay her fears of the incident making the rounds at school.

He knocked and waited. Marlene opened the door, her eyes fiery. Oh, he’d seen that look plenty of times. She was such an easygoing, loving woman, but God help the fool who messed with one of her chicks.

“How is she?” he asked quietly.

Marlene sighed. “Upset but trying not to let me know how much. She’s playing it off, of course, but it scared her to death. Tell me you beat the shit out of that little ass**le.”

Sean’s shoulders shook with laughter. “I might have threatened to.”

Marlene made a disgruntled sound.

“Can I see her?” he asked.

Marlene opened the door wider. “Of course. Come on in. She’s in the kitchen. I made her put an ice pack on those bruises.”

Sean scowled at the mention of those bruises. It made him want to go back over and bruise Matt Winfree’s face.

He followed Marlene into the kitchen and braced himself for Rusty’s belligerence. But when she looked up, he saw no sign of anger or hostility. She looked ... young and extremely vulnerable.

“How are you doing?” he asked.

She leaned against the kitchen sink and let the hand holding the ice pack fall away. “I’m okay. Thanks to you.”

She sounded subdued. He almost preferred her mouthy and obnoxious. He didn’t know how to take the quiet and beaten-down Rusty.

“I just came by to tell you that you don’t have to worry about Matt Winfree causing you any more trouble. And school won’t be a problem. He won’t be running his mouth.”

Her eyes widened in surprise and to his extreme discomfort tears shimmered on the surface.

“What did you do?” she asked hoarsely.

He shook his head. “What I did isn’t important. What is, is that he won’t be a problem for you. And Rusty? If you ever need me, you call, okay? You seem to think that no one is on your side and that you can’t depend on anyone. By now you should know that isn’t true. The Kellys stand by you, and so do I.”

Her eyes held the faint glaze of shock as she stared wordlessly at him. Marlene’s phone rang, breaking the growing silence that followed his announcement. She picked it up and he listened as she said hello and then broke into a wide smile.

“Sophie’s had her baby!” she said over the mouth of the phone.

Sean smiled. “That’s great. Tell Sam I said congratulations.”

Marlene spoke on the phone a few more seconds and then hung up, beaming from ear to ear.

“Why don’t I drive you two up to the hospital to see Sophie and the new baby?” he offered. He glanced at Rusty as he spoke. “Seems to me this is a good time to be surrounded by your family.”

A smile hovered over her mouth, the corners lifting as her eyes lightened.

Marlene looked over at Rusty and then reached out her hand to squeeze Rusty’s. “What do you say? Want to go up and see the newest addition to the Kelly clan?”

“I’d like that,” Rusty said in a soft voice.

“Well come on then. I’ll give you code-three treatment,” he said with a grin.

CHAPTER 17

“MEXICO? What the hell is she doing in Mexico?” Garrett demanded.

Donovan rubbed his hand over his hair and yawned as he stared with bleary eyes at his computer. “Yeah. A cargo pilot gave her a ride. She paid him a bundle.”

Garrett’s eyes narrowed. “Apparently not enough to buy his silence. How’d you dig this up so quickly?”

Donovan lifted one eyebrow. “Like I’m going to tell you. You and Sam just think you run this operation. Neither of you could manage without me.”