Page 26 of The Crowing of Hell
Rooster pulled the duvet over her and looked down at her sleeping face. His heart tugged, prompting Rooster to leave the room to avoid making a foolish action. Like stroke her cheek or kiss her.
Chance stomped into the hallway as he closed the door on Kenny, and Rooster put a finger up to hislips. Chance scowled but followed Rooster into the kitchen, where Rooster pulled two beers out.
“Who the hell is in there?” Chance demanded.
“Keep your voice down. She is fast asleep, and it looks like she needs it. It’s Kendara,” Rooster said, taking a huge swallow of cold beer.
“As in Mac’s Kendara?”
“She’s not his. Mac has Casey,” Rooster answered, frowning.
“Roo, Kendara is not Hellfire,” Chance replied patiently.
“No. But I found and rescued her. That makes Kenny my responsibility,” Rooster argued.
Chance lifted an eyebrow, but Rooster knew his ways and waited him out.
“You and her?” Chance asked when Chance realised Rooster was aware of what he was doing.
“Nope. Friends only. But she looks fucked, and despite her injuries, she’s running around after clients like a lunatic,” Rooster responded.
“She is out after that incident with Inglorious?” Chance murmured, surprised.
Rooster stiffened. “What fuckin’ happened?”
Chance grinned.
And Rooster knew that he’d given something away. Chance was a sneaky shit.
Kendara
This was not my bed. Hell no, mine was comfortable, whereas this one was heaven. I felt like I was floating on a cloud. Sadly, my head felt like two little dwarves had taken up residence and were smashing the hell out of my brain with their tiny hammers.
I moaned and stiffened when a hand touched my leg. What the fuck?
Warily opening my eyes, I was surprised when amber-coloured ones stared back.
“Hi!” the kid said, smiling as he patted my leg. “I found you, so do I get to keep you?”
“Um,” I replied, wondering what was going on.
“Kit, you’ve been home five minutes. How the hell do you lose your brother that quickly?” Rooster demanded from somewhere close by.
I was in Rooster’s house?
“Dad, you know Brax is a little sh—”
“Finish that sentence, and I’ll wash your mouth out. Curse all you want when you’re sixteen, until then, show me some respect,” Rooster replied sternly.
“Sorry, sir,” the child I assumed was Kit said.
“Oh, don’t give me that bullshit,” Rooster replied, exasperated. “Where the fuck is Brax?”
“Brax said something about an angel, and he wanted to keep her,” another kid called.
“Finn, where’s Brax? I mentioned bath, and the little bastard ran quicker than Usain Bolt.”
“Who’s Usain Bolt?” Kit asked.