There were other memories, though. The time she’d fell from the swing and skinned her knees. Cord had paled so alarmingly even Kenni, only five at the time, had stared at his face in wonder. Then he’d ordered her to never get on that swing again and swore he was going to cut it down.

She’d run to Poppy and he’d made it all right. He’d kissed her skinned knee, bandaged it, and even though he’d been in the middle of a meeting, he’d given her his time and love.

There had been picnics in the backyard, family reunions that often filled the grassy acre of land next to the house.

There hadn’t been a family reunion since her mother’s death.

As time passed, the tension increased inside her, twisting its way through her stomach and tightening sickeningly every time she let herself wonder what his reaction would be.

Would he welcome her? Would he denounce her?

The man she had known as her father would never denounce her, she thought, but ten years was a long time when a heart felt betrayed. If he felt betrayed by her silence all those years, then he could turn her away.

“We’re in place.” Cord spoke through the small transmitters he’d passed out before they’d headed to the Maddox mansion.

The earbuds tucked securely into the ear canal, almost invisible but strong enough to both send and receive every word. Though not a lot had been said once her brothers entered the house.

Putting the truck into gear, Jazz drove along the street then turned into the drive as Kenni listened to her brothers pull everyone into place. Poppy came from his office, Luce was drawn from her rooms, and Luce’s daughter, Grace, sent to a neighbor supposedly to babysit.

Cord had wanted her out of the way while her mother was dealt with. Once Luce was contained then Grace would be brought home and everything would be explained.

Explanations wouldn’t help, though, Kenni thought as Jazz put the truck in park and turned off the ignition. Nothing would ease the painful realizations Grace would have to endure.

“I’ll come around and let you out,” Jazz forestalled her as she moved to open the door. “Stay still.”

He was still trying to protect her.

Loping around the truck, he pulled the door open and extended his hand to her again. Taking it, Kenni held on desperately as she stepped from the truck and he led her up the short walk to the porch where Deacon and Sawyer waited.

“Poppy?” she whispered, almost breathless at the thought of seeing him again.

“He’s in the front room,” Deacon nodded, his gaze heavy as they entered the foyer.

Breathing in slow and deep, her fingers holding tight to Jazz’s hand, she moved toward the living room.

“Cord, what’s going on?” Luce demanded, her strident voice overly loud as Kenni neared the open double doors. “I have things to do.”

“Like meeting with Colby and Phoenix?” The latent violence in her brother’s voice was like a lash of fury. “That meeting’s been canceled, Luce.”

Silence met his announcement for long moments.

“What are you talking about?” Luce demanded, the icy confidence in her voice almost amusing.

“Colby’s dead. A corkscrew to the heart by the woman you sent him after will do that. Phoenix spilled his guts, though. Know what I’m talking about now?”

“I won’t tolerate this.” There was the fear.

“Sit your ass down and shut your fucking mouth.” Vinny Maddox didn’t raise his voice; he didn’t have to. Years of commanding strong, independent warriors had given him a tone no one dared to disobey. “Cord? Would you like to explain yourself?” His voice softened slightly for his firstborn.

“Let’s see if Luce wants to explain her side of the story first,” Cord suggested.

“You’re crazy. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Then I’ll explain it,” Cord promised. “Pop, Mother wasn’t killed as a strike against you. It was Luce’s attempt to make certain the evidence Mom had against her never saw the light of day. Evidence of collaboration with Clan family members to take over the Kin and to steal information and possible gold locations for her own gain. I have the proof, Luce. Want to keep protesting?”

Poppy was silent for long moments.

“She had your mom and sister killed?” Her father’s voice hardened, turned stony, merciless.

“No, Pop, she managed to have Mom killed. But Kenni escaped with Charles Jones, the brother Mom called Gunny. Kenni’s alive.”

“Where?” Hoarse, filled with hope, her father’s question was all she needed.

Kenni stepped into the room.

She didn’t speak. Her gaze went instantly to the still-tall, still-powerful form of her father where he sat in his recliner, his expression quieting so suddenly Kenni felt her heart collapse.

She had no idea what Luce or Cord said from that moment. Clenching Jazz’s hand with both of hers now, she stared at her Poppy with a desperation she couldn’t contain.

His hands clenched on the arms of his chair and slowly, so slowly he rose from where he sat.

Dark blond and brown hair had turned gray in many places. His deep, emerald-green eyes flared with emotion, his expression becoming eagle-fierce.

She wanted to breathe, but her lungs didn’t seem to work as well as they once had. Her knees were weak, her heart racing so hard she was breathless.

“Poppy,” she finally managed to breathe out, the tightening in her throat returning, her voice hitching, pain resonating through every part of her body.

“Kenni?” He took one step forward then looked behind her at Jazz desperately, and she knew who he was looking for. She knew that agonizing hope that filled his eyes and for the first time since she was eighteen her eyes filled with tears.

“Poppy,” she whispered. “They took her.” She had to swallow but a sob ripped from her instead. “They killed Momma.”

His expression collapsed. Tears filled his eyes as her own gaze blurred and burned.

“Kenni. Ah God, my sweet Kenni…” His arms opened and Kenni hesitated only a moment before releasing Jazz and racing to him.

*   *   *

Jazz let her go, the tension he’d felt since the moment he’d realized she was alive evaporating.

The woman he’d brought into the Maddox home wasn’t the lover he’d held in his arms for the past weeks. This woman was the sixteen-year-old girl who had lost everything in her world in one tragic, pain-filled night.

As Vincent Maddox clasped his daughter in his arms, Luce actually thought it a moment of weakness. Turning to run she barreled into Jazz when he moved into her path, nearly falling on her ass before Cord caught her.

Nylon restraints were snapped expertly around her wrists as several Kin waiting for that moment entered the room. The two men who had arrived at the house with Cord earlier as well as several others positioned themselves around the room to ensure that Luce didn’t escape justice.

Vinny was holding Kenni to him like a lifeline now, father and daughter weeping with a loss ten years past, yet never truly faced until this moment.

Jazz stepped back as Cord, Deacon, and Sawyer joined their surviving parent and the baby sister they could now realize as part of their lives again.

Swiping his hand through his hair, he looked around the room. He wasn’t needed here now, he thought wearily. This was a time for Kenni to share with her family; with her father and her brothers. He had no place here.

Turning, he left the room slowly, glancing back when he reached the doorway and letting the scene sink inside him. Kenni was home, that was what mattered. When everything had settled and she’d shed her tears with her family, then he’d come back. Maybe talk to her father again. Vinny was big on tradition sometimes.

Until then, it was time to go.

“Jazz?” The sound of her voice as he slipped past the doors drew him back. “Jazz, you can’t leave.”

Tears covered her face, and that need for him that he’d longed to see in her eyes was there.