“How the fuck could you let this happen?” Keiran began to pace angrily, ignoring the investigators questions.
I never got the chance to respond because Lake had flown out the corner and into Keiran’s face. “She didn’t let anything happen, Keiran.” She stabbed him in his chest with an angry finger, backing him against the wall. “Look at her. Look at where she is. I think it’s obvious she did all she could to save Kennedy. This is her child we’re talking about. She isn’t to blame here, so quit it because you’re not helping.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this shit before?”
“Because I wanted you home safe. You and I both know you would have gone berserk and Kennedy needs you now.” She looked over at Keenan with disgust. “She needs both of you.”
Keenan’s brow lifted, but thankfully, he didn’t question her statement. Either he still had no idea who Kennedy was to him or he was bastard enough not to care. I secretly hoped it was the former.
“Kids, we really need to get started if we want to bring Kennedy home soon,” Mr. Chambers interrupted.
The lead investigator cleared his throat and pulled out a notepad and pen. “Yes. Let’s first start with her age. How old is she?”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Keiran barked. “Let me put it this way… she’s too fucking young to survive on her own. Would it matter if she was older or younger?”
“Look, kid, I’ve been doing this long enough to know what I’m doing. Your ruckus and bad attitude are what will get this little girl killed.”
Oh, shit.
Keiran was on him before he could finish. Before anyone could know what would happen, Keiran brought one of the hospital chairs down on the investigator’s head and proceeded to beat him over the head repeatedly until he was a crumpled mess in the corner of the room.
It took every hand to pull him away. Surprisingly, it was Keenan who managed to subdue him well enough to keep Keiran from killing the man.
My attention was diverted by a nurse entering the room to see about all the commotion and quickly dashed back out likely to call for help or the police or both.
“Keiran!” Lake yelled. She was crying hysterically. I hadn’t realized how fast my own heart was beating until the machine I was hooked up to started to sound. My hands clutched the sheets while I willed my trembling to stop.
If Keiran reacted this strongly for Kennedy when she was only his niece, how would Keenan react when he found out she was his daughter?
It took another few moments for me to realize that everyone but my mom had exited the room. Vick had just managed to pick up his unconscious partner and carry him out of the room.
“Where did everyone go?”
“Your father and John took Keiran to cool down. Keenan and Lake followed after them.”
“This is bad. Who are those guys? They don’t work for dad.”
“No, but your dad’s men are tied up with something else, and these were the only investigators we could find on short notice.”
“Something else? That’s it? Dad only uses the best. Are you saying my daughter—your granddaughter—isn’t more important?”
“It’s not like that, Sheldon.” My mother’s lips tightened in anger. Her perfected features seemed distorted and almost ugly as she glared down at me.
“Let me guess… business?” It was always business. Business always came before us unless there was legal trouble they needed to clean up. We couldn’t and shouldn’t ever tarnish the family image.
“How dare you speak to me this way.”
“Whatever, mother. I get it. My daughter may not have her grandparents on her side, but she has me…” I paused when a thought hit me like a Mack truck. “Would you prefer it if she were never found? Would her disappearance salvage the family name and image?”
“Sheldon Chambers, where is this coming from?”
“You and Dad have made no attempts to keep secret that you hate Kennedy for being illegitimate.”
“I don’t hate my grandchild. How dare you!”
“No, but you resent her. You hate me for having her.”
“We always wanted better for you, Sheldon. I never supported you dating that boy, and then you insult us further by having his child. His family members are nothing more than common criminals hiding behind their stolen wealth. If you ask me, they should just let their family line die with those young boys.”
“You are a piece of work, Mom. Does Dad feel this way as well?”
“Of course. Your Dad and I have worked hard to give you and Dasher the best life has to offer. Then you spit in our faces by choosing trash.”
“So why bother to help Keiran when he managed to get in trouble?”
“Because if we didn’t, then your brother, as naively loyal as he is, would have done so himself. We couldn’t risk our name being entangled in his mess.”
“You cannot continue to choose our life for us. You have no right.”