“Wait here,” I instructed Keith.

He absently nodded as he inspected the beach likely looking for his next groupie. The man was a bigger whore than I ever was.

I had knocked on Keiran’s door for ten minutes before he answered the door appearing very much awake, dressed in loose sweatpants and dripping with sweat.

“You had me standing out here for ten minutes so you could finish fucking?”

“What do you want?” he asked.

“My kid.”

The tension between us was palpable only when we were alone. I had the feeling Lake had something to do with that. For someone who mercilessly tormented, taunted, and belittled, he did any and everything he could to keep her happy. If she so much as broke a nail, he would be ready to murder an entire city.

“She’s down at the beach with Q and Jesse.”

“Are they her nursemaids? Where is Dash?”

“She knows them—better than you even. Dash had to go back. His father demanded his presence for some business dealings.”

“Jeez, he doesn’t let him breathe much, does he? He’s going to pay for not going to Yale or Harvard for the rest of his life.”

“Dash is a big boy. He can handle his father.”

“By being at his constant beck and call?”

“Hi, Keenan,” Lake interrupted. She ducked under Keiran’s arm with only his t-shirt to cover her. He scowled down at her head and then at me when he caught me purposely ogling her legs. “Where’s Sheldon?”

“She’s tied up at the moment.” I meant it as a secret joke, but judging by the frowns on their faces and suspicious looks, it didn’t go over their head as I had hoped.

“Is she okay?” she asked slowly.

“She’s fine. Don’t you trust me?”

“No,” they said simultaneously.

“Oh, look at you two. You’re practically finishing each other’s sentences.”

Keiran pulled Lake inside by her waist to her annoyance and growled, “Fuck off, Keenan.”

“I plan to, but first I wanted to return your car keys.”

“How are you getting back?”

“I have my own ride, a fact I made very clear when you kidnapped me a week and a half ago.”

“Then who the fuck is driving my car?”

“A friend.” Keiran fully stepped from the room and shut the door behind him. I could tell by the angry vein that he was pissed. “You do know that you just locked yourself out, right? Lake probably won’t let you back in since you won’t let her out to play.”

“What friend?” he asked, ignoring my taunts.

“A simple one.”

“Di?”

“Why would you think it’s Di?”

“Do you think I’m stupid? How do you think I found you?”

“That’s bullshit.” My mind was racing even after denying it. Had Di betrayed me?

“She wasn’t too careful the last couple of times she came to Six Forks. On her last trip as your spy, I spotted her. She gave me your address only if I promised not to kill you.”

That explained the hysteria when I disappeared. She wasn’t worried. She felt guilty.

“What does it take for a little loyalty,” I mumbled.

“You tell me.”

We glared at each other for long moments, neither one of us willing to fold. It was the elevator opening and the sound of Kennedy’s excited chatter that forced us to end the silent duel.

“Keenan!” She freed herself from Jesse and ran to me as fast as her short legs would let her.

I stooped down to eagerly accept her hug. “Good morning, princess. How are you?”

“Fine. Thank you. Where’s mama?”

“She’s waiting for you right now to come and play. Will you come with me so I can take you to her?”

She nodded and looked up at Keiran. “Uncle, can I go?”

Behind her, I glared at him feeling jealous rage. My fists clenched at the smug look on his face before he answered. “Sure, kiddo. Be sure to tell your mother to call me.”

He sent me a warning glance, which I chose to ignore. After gathering our bags from the room we never used, I put the resort in my taillights.

My plan worked without so much as a hiccup and the only remorse I felt was for having to lie to Kennedy. I had no intentions of letting her mother near her anytime soon.

Not until after I punish her thoroughly.

* * * * *

I let Di know picking up Kennedy was successful, and after dropping off Keith, we met at a mini mansion across the city from my apartment. I was still surprised at how easy it was despite Keiran’s subtle threat. I knew they would eventually search out Sheldon, so I implemented the second part of my plan.