~The Binding~

Chapter 38

Crossing his arms and ankles Kevin closed his eyes. "I just can't freakin' believe he was under our noses the entire time. I swear, if I had known the bastard was at the bed and breakfast and then back on the property, I would've killed and avoided a whole lot of bullshit."

Suzie turned pale hearing this news, "He was at the bed and breakfast?"

A.J. lit a cigarette, his thumb flicked the Bic. He drew in a long puff of smoke and let it out slowly.

Kevin waved his hand in the cloud of smoke. "Damn, I think you're trying to kill us."

"Shut up and keep talking." A.J. puffed away but turned his head the other way to exhale.

Suzie gave A.J. a look while rubbing her belly, "Second hand smoke isn't good for anyone." With a grunt, he extinguished the butt with his heel.

Kevin gave a look to Nick and a nod of his head telling him to go away and take Suzie with him. She didn't need to hear any of it.

"Suz, let's go see if we can find Bron and make sure she's alright." With minor protest, she went to find her friend. She really wanted to hear what Kevin was going to say.

Kevin stretched his neck out and rested it on the bench. His arms crossed over his chest again. "It scared the hell out of me. All the photos and shit…. The ramblings of a mad man…."

A.J. turned to face the older man.

Kevin's eyes were squished shut as if to erase the sights he was seeing his mind. "He was planning this for awhile. There were pics of Bron all over the fuckin' place, Kaylin too…. Some of 'um wore ripped up and cut up, it was freaking weird… Like out of a TV show or somethin'. Pictures of my wife, my kids, my house, all of it… Red sharpie scribbled and… Ehhhh," Kevin's body shook and his eyes flew open.

A.J. took a long drag and let it out. "Did you tell Bron about what you guys found over there?"

"Hell no, she'd go apeshit and never let anyone in the house again. Some of the shots were from his cellphone; other ones they're still trying to figure." Kevin shook his head.

"Kev, come on it's not rocket science. The dude had a free pass in your house and the keys to Bron's house in New York." A.J. took another toke on his cigarette.

"That'll never happen again with anyone." Kevin dropped his head and turned to stare at the front door of the funeral home. He was glad he was away from the hustle and bustle since this wasn't what he wanted anyway. He would have preferred to leave Stevie where he had been killed but then that would have tainted the place which held so many good memories for him.

"How's Kaylin?" A.J. brought up his soft spot.

Kevin's head turned from side to side, "I'm not sure yet. She seems fine, but it had to be more traumatic than she's letting on." Kevin stood up and flexed. "Last night was better. She fell asleep in our bed and I took her to hers. She stayed in her bed all night."

A.J. watched him pace but his eyes never broke contact with the door. He was waiting for something. For what, A.J. had no clue, but Kevin's world seemed to hang on the opening of that door.

Pete's cruiser rolled into the parking lot slowly. He pulled up and parked right in front of them as they sat on the wooden bench. Kevin's head swung from Pete's car and back to the door as Pete approached them. Kevin stood up, "Pete--," he stopped as the door that he had been studying opened.

Nobody stood behind the nine panel glass-lite door, but the door eased open slowly. The blonde head poked out from behind the brass plate that held door handle after looking to her left and then right. "DAD!" she yelled.

"I'm right here baby," Kevin walked to the door and scooped her up. He brought her over to sit on the bench between him and A.J.

"Have a seat there Miss Kaylin." A.J. promptly dropped his cigarette and squished it out with his shoe.

"What are you doin' away from Jake?" Kevin dropped his sore arm around her shoulders.

"I was bored. This is so stupid, it's not like when Dad died." Kaylin began to swing her feet since her legs dangled off the bench.

"What do you mean by that?" A.J. seemed confused as he looked from Kaylin to Kevin.

"Nobody is going to miss Uncle Stevie. He was nuts." Kaylin stood up on the bench as she spoke. She hooked an arm around Kevin's neck for support.

A.J. barked a laugh and looked at Kevin.

Kevin mugged a face at him as Kaylin stepped over his leg and dropped in his lap. He swung his bad shoulder away from her as he questioned A.J. "What?"

"Don't taint her Kevin, it's wrong." A.J. stood up and waited for Pete to join them.

Pete nodded a hello to A.J. and then to Kevin. He looked down at Kaylin again and then to Kevin. "Uhh…"

A.J. reached out and lifted the little girl before she could protest too much since she had made a new seat in Kevin's lap. "Let your Dad talk. You and I need to go on a mission anyway."

Kevin began to open his mouth and then closed it as he observed A.J. go towards the car he had used to get here. He looked beyond Pete thoughtfully as he watched A.J. lure Kaylin to his car. "Can't this wait until later?"

"There's nothing to wait for. I came here to give you good news and the entire story." Pete walked to the door. "I'm going in and to get the rest of them. I'm only going to do this one time."

"No you're not. You leave Jake and Bron in there. They don't need to know jack about this. Let them have their memories." Kevin stood up and then walked in front of Pete so that he could get in the door first. He wanted to get to the two other people he needed in order to have this conversation. Pete had split off from him once inside. Kevin headed straight to Mc. He was standing not far from where Bron was sitting with her back to him talking to a group of people. Kevin stepped back for a minute not wanting to get caught in Bron's vision. Mc turned suddenly and spied him. He then slowly walked toward the back of the room.

Pete had managed to make his way to Webster without Jake or Bron seeing them. The four men seemed to head out two separate entrances of the funeral parlor.

The four men met up near the bench again. "Where's Bounce? She's not with Jake. The last time I saw her she was sitting in your lap Kevin." Webster scanned the area in search of her.

Kevin hiked his thumb over his shoulder since he had his back to the parking lot. "Aje has her." Kevin turned in haste back to Pete. He wanted to get this over with quickly There was no telling when Jake or Bron would walk out here since the service had concluded. "What do you have to say Pete?" Kevin slid his sunglasses on.

"Simple, it's open and shut. You'll never hear another word about Steve from the outside world. All the evidence that we took from the bed and breakfast and at the scene was turned over to the Feds. Steve's death was justifiable. Lenny really had his hooks in Stevie. Evidentially most of what Mc had taught Steve hadn't rubbed off. All the entries in the journal that Kevin found under the mattress collaborates everything else." Pete raised his hand to slap Kevin on the shoulder and Kevin backed up with a frown. "Still sore big guy?"

"Yeah Pete I am." Kevin's hand covered the wound that was still tender on his upper arm. "I really wish I hadn't stumbled onto the idea of going over there. I really wish I hadn't."

Mc chewed on the end of his sunglasses tentatively. "I don't know why we didn't see it before this all went down."

"Nobody goes to the bed and breakfast to check on it. It runs itself. He had keys to everything we owned, you to for that matter. Never again." Kevin shook his head as his lips pursed together.

"You still need to be cautious because of Mc's dealings in the past. Because of that Bron is always a target but not like she has been." Webster studied his old friend Mc.

"Not really. I broke all my ties. Muriel threatened me with arrest if I ever set foot back home. The bar is going up for sale this week. All that's left is Bron's house and CW." Mc leaned on the post and watched A.J. and Kaylin play with the windows on the rented car.

"I'm having CW moved down here. It's her right and she needs to have him with her." Kevin cleared his throat as he waited for a reaction. "The house is going up for sale."

"Ahh, did you clear that with the boss?" Webster cocked an eyebrow at him.

"I don't need to clear anything with her. This is a good decision." Kevin began to quirk a grin at them.

"Oh boy… I thought Steve was the only one who didn't learn from mistakes," Mc groaned and walked to the end of the concrete. "Kaylin!" Mc called her back.

Kevin shook his head as he watched her head move in sync with A.J.'s, "They're probably listening to the new track we laid last night."

"Making music on such a somber occasion?" Mc questioned.

"Everyone deals with stress differently," Kevin offered an explanation.

Mc shook his head and took three steps away from him. "Webster has agreed to do security for you on out of town trips and VIP stuff. Jake will take charge of the kids. It's too much for Jake to try and keep tabs on all three of them at the same time." Mc stepped off the small curb. "That's a good decision and I don't have any intentions of running it by any of you."

Kevin's head bopped from side to side for a full minute as he mulled it over. "It works."

Mc headed towards A.J.'s car. When he reached it he placed his hand on the passenger side door handle. He raised the handle up and pulled, but the door wouldn't open. The lock was still engaged. He tried it again and the two occupants of the car started laughing.

"Kevin!" Mc growled from fifty feet away.

Kevin stepped out of the shadows. He merely placed his hands on his hips and frowned at the two hell raisers. Mc lifted the handle again and the door opened.

Webster and Pete chuckled as Mc joined them in the car. "Does that work with Bron?" Webster grinned.

Kevin laughed, "It used to, now she just laughs at me." Kevin watched the three people in the car act crazy. "It still works on Nick though."

"Do you think Kaylin is going to be okay?" Webster asked absentmindedly.

"Funny thing about that. Alexander just asked the same question a few minutes ago." Kevin watched the little girl dance on the seat of the car. "With all the love that kid gets from us and her uncles, I think she'll be just fine." Kevin slid his shades back on and headed for the car.

Pete and Webster had no choice but to follow or go inside.

As Kevin drew closer, he smiled. He knew the song and loved it. It would be on his last Backstreet album. He had made a conscious decision to cut one more album with the guys after Black and Blue and then he was going to do something else. The next album was going to be after a long break from the guys. He needed it, they needed it.

He had an offer to do Broadway and a few other things. He wanted to do the Broadway show but something was holding him back. Too much had gone on over the last week for him to even clear his mind enough to give his decision some weight. Things were changing rapidly in his household and with his immediate family. He was making life adjustments left and right. He pulled his head out from inside the car when he heard a distinctive laugh. The laugh drew closer to him.

"What ya'll doin'?" the mid-western twang wasn't missed.

"Nothing Kris." Kevin motioned for A.J. to turn the radio down

"Oh is that the new track?" Kris rushed around the car. "Turn it on A.J., I want to hear it."

A.J. flashed a slick grin. "Sorry baby, it's only for Backstreet broads."

Kris's mouth dropped open.

"Damn, that's why you two were together for so long. We all know what he likes; us guys, we've been together for like- ever." A.J. covered Kaylin's ears with his hands. "You could fit all of Texas in that mouth."

Kevin started to smile but bit his bottom lip instead. Then he started to shake as the laugh just fell out.

"I'll get you, you little shit." Kris darted around the car. Jerald came running out of the funeral home to find his fiancée assaulting A.J.'s rental car with her purse. Kevin was still laughing to the point tears were coming down his face.

Pete and Webster just stood back and watched. "It's not really an assault."

"No, not really, he asked for it." Pete snickered.

"Really people, show some maturity. It is a funeral." Anne stood with her arms crossed over her chest and one eyebrow arched in front of the car.

"Shit," A.J. groaned. "Guess we know where he got it from."

"Just say you're sorry, she'll forgive you." Kaylin walked over the top of Mc's legs. She stuck her arms out of the car so her father could grab her. Kevin grabbed on as she bounced down to the ground and ran towards her grandmother.

"Kevin, it's almost time. If you're sure you want to do this?" His mother pulled on his sleeve with her free hand as Kaylin stood next to her holding her other hand. Kaylin was swinging Anne's hand back and forth.

Mc lowered his shades as he exited the car. "I'll go get Jake. Just remember this was your idea."

"Come on Kevin, now what are you trying to pull?" Webster questioned

Kevin walked slowly to the doors of the funeral home with Webster right next to him. "I need some time alone with my wife Webster. She's suffering and I can't stand it. You've seen her; she doesn't do anything but scream and yell since we got out of the hospital. She's holding it all in because everyone is around her. Her hormones are taking a crack at her as well as the stress."

"That really isn't telling me a whole lot." Webster held the door as Mc exited with Jake and Cooper right behind him.

"My wife needs to deal with this and begin healing. We're going home. The kids are going to my Mom's. Andrew is going to Cory's. Bron and I are going home alone for a night or two until she can come to grips with this and have her breakdown over it in private."

"You had better tell her everything Kevin. She doesn't need to hear it from an agent or something." Webster informed him.

Webster's tone indicated he had serious doubts about Kevin's next planned intervention for his wife. "Sorry Webster, that's my call. She's my wife and when I married her I took a vow to protect her. That vow was to protect her from anyone or anything, even herself."

Bron came out of the funeral home with Suzie and Nick. Kevin latched onto her wrist and pulled her to his side.

His Mom was already getting in the car to head over to Scout's for a bit and then she would take the kids home with her.

Bron turned to move but made no gains in the direction that she wanted to go. She stopped and turned around slowly, she faced him now. "Where are my kids going?"

"With Mom for the night. We need some time together." Kevin announced smoothly and distinctively trying to hide his intentions but knowing she would see right through it.

"My kids are going home with me." Bron jerked her arm but it didn't fall from the willful hand that had a tight grip on her. "I mean it. You don't want to mess with me today; you will get hurt."

Suzie gave Bron a hug and she whispered in her ear. "Let Kevin take care of you. The kids will be fine."

Bron gave her a look. She watched as Suzie went to her car. Nick was waiting for her.

Webster walked away and began to usher people to their cars. Bron would make a scene and truly in the state she was in, not give a damn either.

Bron turned to Kevin. She licked her lips and raised her face up to his. Her chin jutted out towards him. "We're stopping to pick up my kids."

"No we're not," came out of his mouth in a barking tone. A few people turned to look at them but none of that mattered in his book. Kevin held steadfast as his mother and Gabe pulled out of the parking lot. The people that were staring were all the old friends that had come down from Bron's hometown for the service. Most of them worked at the bar and knew the four New Yorkers very well. Nothing had been said about what had happened. It stated that Stevie became involved in an unfortunate hunting accident. There was no casket to avoid any questions, just an urn since Stevie's body had been cremated after the autopsy.

The two of them waited as the funeral home cleared. Neither of them was willing to yield to the other. Both of them standing outside the doors saying their goodbyes. Kevin had few and no intentions of taking his hand off of Bron's arm either.

When the crowd cleared Bron let him lead her to the truck. By the time they reached the truck, she was dragging him. Once the doors were closed Kevin watched her sunglasses slide off her face and he knew the gloves were officially off as well.

"I have no idea what you are planning, but it will not happen." Bron slid her glasses back on.

Kevin pushed his aviator glasses on his face. "I'm not planning anything more than you and I having some private time so you can deal with what has happened."

"I dealt with it. Steve's dead. It's over." Bron barked at him.

"Oh, it ain't over until the fat lady sings baby," Kevin crowed knowing this would be a knock down drag out fight. In his mind he heard his own voice, "Or until she cries." Kevin slid the truck into the proper lane and headed towards home and he was pretty sure he was in for another fight of a lifetime with his wife.

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This is a work of fiction.
The characters and events portrayed are fictitious.
Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental.

Used with Permission
No part of this text may be copied or reprinted
without the author's permission.

~The Binding~

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