screeching halt in front of my guest house. He looked ridiculous climbing from the vehicle that was so low to the ground, the gravel had probably injured the undercarriage. “Kenna, we need to talk.”
I raised my chin. “I’m pretty sure we have nothing left to talk about.”
Grant’s jaw hardened as he crossed to my front door. “You need to stop with this ridiculous charade and give The Gables back to my family. It’s ours.”
A laugh bubbled out of me. I couldn’t help it. I had hit my limit on people who were out of their minds trying to steal my happiness, my peace, my home. “Have you gotten a head injury lately? I’m not giving you or your parents The Gables. It’s not what Harriet wanted. What she wanted was for you to grow up and take some responsibility for your life. To have to earn something instead of having it handed to you on a silver platter. So, you have to do some volunteer work before you get the money she left you. So you’re not getting every last dime she had. Deal with it!”
Grant’s hand struck out so fast, I barely registered the movement before the slap snapped my head to the side and sent me stumbling back a few steps into my guest house. Shock and the pain blooming on my cheek froze me. The truth in front of me didn’t compute. Grant was an entitled asshole, but he’d never been violent towards me.
Before I could make sense of what was happening, another blow landed. This time, a fist to my ribs. “It looks like someone needs to remind you of your place in this world.”
All the air was forced from my lungs by the blow. I struggled to suck in a breath. I turned, trying to protect my stomach, my baby. This was not happening. Another punch landed around my kidneys, sending me to my knees.
I quickly scrambled back up, darting around furniture to place the coffee table between us. “Get out of here, Grant! Before I call the cops.” Except I didn’t have my phone. It was lying on the counter, and Grant was between us.
A sneer stretched across his face. “This podunk island? It would take them too long to get here. And who would believe you anyway? A nice, high-priced defense attorney and this all goes away.”
The gleam in Grant’s eyes that accompanied his words had ice-cold dread sliding through my veins. He’d done this before. And he’d gotten away with it. My gaze darted to the front door and to my bedroom.
“Try and make a run for it. I dare you,” Grant taunted.
Tears burned the backs of my eyes, but I refused to look away from the man who had cost me so much. He wouldn’t destroy my shot at happiness, at true joy. Not now. I charged, hoping the move would stun him, and I could get free, move into the open. I’d run to the water and swim away. Grant had always been slow in the water.
Grant’s hand latched on to my hair, yanking violently. As my body snapped back towards him, I twisted, bringing my knee up in a swift kick to his balls.
“You fucking bitch!” he screamed. His fist swung out, making contact with my temple. The world flickered around me.
And then there was nothing but blackness.
49
Crosby
I pulled to a stop in front of Kenna’s guest house. The late-afternoon sun seemed to make the whole estate glow with a golden hue. And now it was all Kenna’s. Forever. I hoped that knowledge gave her some peace. But most of all, I hoped she’d let me back into that world of hers.
I picked up the bouquet of brightly colored blooms that rested on the seat next to me. I hadn’t spoiled Kenna the way I should’ve, taking her on dates and making gestures both big and small that let her know she was on my mind. That changed now.
I climbed out of my truck and headed for her door. I forced myself to keep my grip on the stems light when nerves had my hand wanting to snap them in two, just for a sense of relief. It didn’t matter if Kenna was hesitant to believe me at first, I’d just wait her out, proving that I was here to stay.
I stepped up onto the front porch and froze. The door was open just an inch or two. “Kenna,” I called.