Page 13 of Playing Hardball
He’s still so shocked. I wonder how he’ll react when he hears the full story.
“When did you attend Harvard?” he asks
“I graduated about 12 years ago.”
“The same 12 years ago when the FBI locked your file away,” he observes and I nod.
“Start at the beginning, babe. Tell me everything. You can trust me.”
“It’s a really long story,” I say.
“I’ll listen,” he assures me.
The look in his bright green eyes is fierce. It tells me he would do anything for me. He would never hurt me. I take a deep breath and tell him a short version of my story.
“Growing up was a dream. My mom died giving birth to me, but my dad was around. My dad was rich, he was a mobster, and by the time I was in high school, I knew he was bad, I just didn’t know how bad. Regardless, he was still my dad so I loved him all the same. But things changed when I found his right-hand man raping my best friend.”
“Raping?” Benton questions.
“Yeah. Matt Sloan raped Laura,” I answer, and try not to show the searing pain I feel. So many years after and it still hurts like the first day.
“She was screaming. There was blood everywhere. It was messy. I tried to get him off, he wouldn’t stop so I stabbed him in the face with the jagged ends of a broken bottle. My dad came in just as I did that and held me. His right-hand man got up and killed my friend as revenge for me hurting him, right in front of me.”
I pause and take in a deep breath. Even now, white anger kindles inside of me.
“What did your dad do?”
“Nothing,” I say and feel the same hatred for my father that I felt that day. “He defended Sloan, and ordered that Laura’s body be shredded in an industrial shredder and buried. Laura was killed like livestock. I was incensed and I could never forgive him, so I bid my time and gathered as much dirt as I could on my dad. Then I sent all of it to the FBI. The FBI came for my dad. I was their star witness so they had me protected before coming. My dad, in typical style, went down fighting. He got killed in a shootout. Matt Sloan escaped and took with him access details of my dad’s secret offshore accounts. My dad was dead, Sloan was on the run, the case was open and shut. I didn’t qualify for Witness Protection Program so the FBI let me go. Now Sloan is after me, with enough money to buy the police, and enough fury to destroy anyone who stands in his way.”
I end the story. For a few minutes, neither of us says anything. I can see that Benton is trying to absorb all the information I’ve unloaded on him.
“In all 39 years of my life, I don’t think I’ve ever met a woman as strong as you, Kim,” Benton says softly.
That was not what I was expecting so I chuckle and for an odd reason, a tear streaks down my cheek. Benton raises a palm to my face and uses his thumb to stroke the tear away.
“You never have to feel scared with me, Kim. I promise to protect you. Now, and for as long as you need me to,” he promises.
“Forever?” I ask, risking a dangerous request.
His eyes fill with determination and he nods gently.
“If you want,” he replies.
He places a kiss on my cheek. I want so badly to believe him but I can’t shake off the fear that something bad is going to happen. I would die if anything bad happened to him.
I fall asleep in his arms after a while. And despite my sadness, I’ve never felt safer.
Chapter 8
(Benton)
______
“Hey, do you want to go for a drive?” I ask Kim.
We’re seated on the couch trying to watch a movie. She isn’t really concentrating though. She’s been spaced out all morning and I have no idea how to cheer her up. It kills me to see her this sad. I finally understand though. I get why she was so secretive and why she’s such a strong person. Kim’s story is tragic and I’m in awe of her strength. Most people break down when they go through even a fraction of what she went through. But not Kim. She found the strength to keep fighting and to stay alive. She’s pretty damn awesome.
I already called Thomas and the other guys. I briefed them about the situation. Thomas is probably already doing all in his power to get Matt Sloan caught. I’m sure he’s already on wanted lists around the country. Sloan might have some power but it's nothing compared to what Thomas can do. I guarantee the bastard will be apprehended before the end of the week.
