Renewed Faith (CSA Case Files 3 / Military Romance) by Kennedy Layne Page A

That’s still not a motive. Why would Bee kill his hard won source of income? There are too many unanswered questions, but as long as he stays away from you, then we won’t have a problem. As it stands, Taggart’s scheduled a patrol car to swing past Reformation every now and then to make sure things don’t escalate. It’s just not in the budget to give Rachel round the clock protection, not that I truly think she needs it. She’s more likely to be talked back into working for Bee, in which case putting herself at risk because of her occupation.”
    Elle played with a string that must have come from a snag in her sweater. She spun the white thread, questions circling through her mind. Kevin had hit on a point that she never really followed up on in this last year because she didn’t really want to know the answer. Curiosity was getting the best of her today.
    “I was able to get out relatively easy,” Elle admitted, going back to studying his square jaw. He used to have longer hair, but now he kept it short in addition to his sideburns. There was no question that he was a handsome man, along with a very wide protective streak. She’d wondered if that extended to her and was about to find out. “That life…I guess what I’m saying is that Bee isn’t the type to just let his girls walk without doing everything in his power to make them stay. He likes them to be dependent upon him, whether for drugs, money, food, or a place to stay. When I told him I was out, he didn’t say a word. Did you have something to do with that?”
    “It depends,” Kevin replied, shooting her a sideways look as if to gauge her reaction. “If it’s going to put further distance between us and make the rest of this trip harder for me than it already is, then I’ll plead the fifth.”
    Elle couldn’t stop the small smile from forming on her lips. She could understand why he would think that would be her reaction, but it was far from the truth. What she told Jax earlier that morning hadn’t been a lie. She didn’t mind being given a helping hand as long as she worked damn hard for it. Jax and Connor had given her a chance and she’d repaid them twofold. Kevin had done the same and as far as she was concerned, she was settling a debt with this trip. Upon their return, she was hoping she wouldn’t feel so loaded down with gratitude.
    “Pretty.”
    Elle found that she was once again studying the little thread she held between her fingers. Her eyes flew to his upon hearing that one word. A heartbeat later, he broke their connection by concentrating on the road. What was pretty? She looked out the windshield, but only saw the snowflakes coming at them like angry hornets.
    “Did I miss something?”
    “You smiled.”
    Elle lost her breath for a moment and she didn’t have the oxygen to reply. She wouldn’t react, for that would defeat the purpose in what this trip was intended for. When he started talking about mundane things, such as why he was a Vikings supporter instead of a Packers fan, she settled back into her seat to enjoy the stories of his youth. Apparently she’d been wrong and Kevin talking about his grandfather was his way of letting go. A niggling of worry that she was learning too much was pushed away as she marveled at what a different life he’d led compared to her. She felt like a sponge that had been on the sand for too long and the water was now just nipping at her edge. Elle soaked it up.

Chapter Ten

    K evin didn’t bother to hide his smile as they drove farther into the country. If Elle thought she was staying at some hotel versus with his parents, she had another think coming. That wasn’t the type of people his family were and it was just something she’d have to accept. If one of their children brought someone home, regardless of the relationship, his parents would see to it that they were comfortable and welcome in all regards. He noticed Elle’s brows furrowed a little deeper as she studied the area