Read Online All I've Ever Wanted by Adrianne Byrd - Free Book Online

her coming to us with her information.”
    â€œOh, she definitely knows something. I’m more convinced than ever that she was there that night. I’m willing to bet my life on it.”

Chapter 9
    A fter Eve went home, Kennedy tucked her inquisitive and, thankfully, sleepy son into bed with one of his favorite bedtime stories. Long after he’d fallen asleep, she remained perched on the edge of the bed, gazing down at him.
    He was all she had left in the world—all that was truly hers. Now, through no fault of her own, she could lose that fragile gift. The ache in her heart was so profound she thought she’d die from it. Better that than to risk her child’s life.
    Kennedy leaned down and kissed Tommy’s brow. He smiled in his sleep and she escaped from the room before another flood of tears broke free.
    Alone in her kitchen, she wished that she was more than a social drinker. Alcohol would have been a great prescription for what ailed her. Then again it was good to have her wits about her while she tried to sort things out—come up with a plan.
    Jerking open the freezer, she was disappointed that she hadn’t replenished her banana-strawberry short-cake ice cream and to hell with the low-fat version.
    Grudgingly, she settled for one of Tommy’s chocolate pudding pops as a consolation prize.
    In a daze, she entered the living room, her gaze danced over the various items that made it home. But now something was missing—something unseen, yet tangible—security.
    They weren’t safe here anymore. That realization hurt.
    â€œWhat am I going to do now?” she questioned in a soft whisper. Packing and getting the heck out of Dodge topped the list. In fact, they could leave tonight—now. But where would they go?
    She returned to the kitchen for a second, third, then fourth pudding pop. They weren’t half bad after all.
    Somewhere between two and three o’clock in the morning, she all but made up her mind to send Tommy to her grandmother’s in Tennessee. Of course, Nana had only seen Tommy a few times. But that didn’t stop the annual birthday and holiday cards.
    Kennedy exhaled a long and tired sigh. A few minutes later, she yawned. Eventually, she surrendered her fight with the sandman and drifted somewhere between the dream world and reality….
    Â 
    She was back in the woods, running, but this time there were no bullets flying. There were people. But instead of them chasing her, she chased them. Her parents ran just ahead of her; their musical laughter filled the air like a symphony.
    The seemed so happy, so carefree, that she was envious. When they glanced over their shoulders to smile at her, their faces morphed into Lee’s and Tommy’s.
    She started to run faster, and then suddenly her legs grew heavy—too heavy.
    â€œCome on, Mommy.” Tommy waved encouragingly.
    She cried out, yet no words passed her lips.
    Farther and farther, father and son ran. She feared that she would never catch up—feared that they wouldn’t come back for her. Then, she would be alone. She struggled more vigorously. Her arms flailed in desperation.
    â€œShe ran this way,” a hauntingly familiar voice instructed.
    She turned to see Keenan wave on a group of men. Cloaked in black, eyes menacing, the men more closelyresembled a pack of snarling Doberman pinschers than a human gang. Her gaze fell onto the crossbones stitched on the men’s front lapels and she realized that she would have preferred to face the dogs.
    Kennedy stumbled, then struggled to climb back to her feet. Her limbs were so heavy…
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    â€œMommy?”
    A cool touch landed on her fevered brow and Kennedy’s eyes flew open. Before she was able to discern the figure standing before her, she inched up on the sofa with a startled gasp.
    â€œMommy, you’re scaring me.” Tommy’s voice hitched—a sign that he was close to tears.
    Kennedy’s