Trial By Fire - Bouncing Back, Book 1

Ten

He didn’t want to piss off his girlfriend, but he knew that not telling her or lying about it would be worse than just coming clean. Kennedy Rubin was a name feared in their ranks, and she was about to show the new recruits why she was the Mafia’s Golden Girl.

Now, as he watched her stomp over to the group of girls laughing in the corner, he let a small smile grace his features. She was a predator, unrivalled by everyone around her except for the ones she bowed down to. Her every move was not just a graceful display, either. She controlled everything about herself, from her temper to how she would handle the situation they now found themselves in.

“All right, you bunch of pansy-ass bitches. Which one of you thought it was a great day to step on my toes?” Kennedy called out as she got closer to the group.

One stepped away, her eyes wandering to Memphis as he crossed his arms. Her smile fell as he set his jaw and looked away from her. Summoning tears to her eyes, she sobbed. “Why is he here? What do you want?”

Realizing what was going on, Russell stepped from the shadows of the column he was standing behind. “Ken, I got your back, babes. I’ll handle Declan while you get her to the ring. Do this the right way. Got me?”

“Yeah, I got you, Russ. I’m kind of glad Declan made me refocus before I killed you a few years ago. Thanks for having my back, but why would I need you to vouch for me?” She answered.

Thomas walked over with his son, his eyes not leaving the other girl as he watched her pale even more than she already had. He frowned, taking in the fact that she didn’t have a mark on her. Nodding to Russell, he said, “Why back Kennedy?”

“Heard that brat mouthing off about how she managed to snag one of Nix’s crew. Suddenly, Kenni comes in here POBAR, and Memphis looks like his world could end at any moment. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what happened.” The young man replied.

Shrugging, Thomas nodded. “Have fun fighting her, Red.”

The girl shook her head, her skin taking on a sickly pallor, “N-no! I’m not fighting with anyone. Especially her!”

As her finger moved to point at Kennedy, the redhead grabbed it and bent it back as far as it would go. The girl screamed, sobbing as pain shot up her arm from her hand. Pleading for mercy, she continued to curse and scream at the redhead. The more she fought, the more pain Kennedy inflicted.

Another door opened, slamming shut as booted feet angrily made their way over to them.

“Move or be moved,” Ambrosia’s snarling warning had the crowd parting. “Anastasia Drover, you have no place in the ranks here. Kennedy, she’s Carissa’s niece. I only found out when I had her background check done.”

The Cheshire Cat had nothing on the demented grin that crossed Kennedy’s face. “Is that right? I’ve been dreaming about hunting down that b***h’s family since the day she got me and Romie kidnapped.”

Anastasia paled. Leaning on the one excuse she had going for her, she cried out, “He forced his tongue down my throat!”

Twinned chuckles dragged the crowd’s attention to the two young tech geniuses that were walking into the building. Smirking, Kennedy watched as Memphis called them over. “Guys, can you please confirm what happened in the hall when I was on my way to get Kennedy?”

Jaxon blinked, his almond-shaped eyes narrowing slightly. “Dude, that chick just wouldn’t take no for an answer. You did everything right, but holy hell. Girls like her are the reason I’m super glad I’m gay.”

Shuddering, Lukas let his gaze flicker to Kennedy. The way she was clenching and unclenching her fist had him taking a step back. “Ana was like, “I know you want me” and Memphis was all “Hell no, I got a girlfriend that would kill you, then call for help to bury the body”. Then she was all “I can do you better” and he was “I said shoo”. She kissed him, and when he pushed her away, she said she was going to say he got after her so that he’d be single.”

“See, Lukas, like Memphis, has a photographic memory. Except, what he can remember is conversations,” Kennedy said as she crossed her arms. Glancing back at Memphis, she frowned. “Thanks for being honest with me.”

“Same here,” Thomas snarled. “Imma look the other way, Kenni. You didn’t suffer through hell and back for nothing, so you do you.”

Happy that Thomas wasn’t going to give her flack over the situation, Kennedy grinned, “Let’s see how long you last against someone like me.”

“You! You’re nothing compared to me! You’re just an orphan brat looking for a sympathy screw,” Ana exclaimed.

Raising a brow, Ambrosia looked ready to kill. Glancing at Kennedy, she nodded. “Kennedy, feel free to put her in the infirmary, but do not make any kill shots. Let’s give that family of sluts a lesson they won’t soon forget.”

Cowering, Ana paled. “M-my grandfather will hear of this!”

“I’m sure your mother would love to know that she and her sister pissed off two of the most notoriously vicious women in the Veiðimenn Mafia, you little w***e. She tried to ruin my wedding day and failed. Your aunt tried to get rid of my favourite little psycho, but Kenni bounces back faster than the Botox injections your granddaddy pays for.” The older woman snarled.

Dragging the girl to the nearest ring, the redhead glanced at her boyfriend only to realize that he was calmly watching every move she made. He knew that she wasn’t going to have mercy on the niece of the woman who had caused her to switch to being a martyr to save Andromeda. She watched as Memphis crossed his arms, his dark eyes regarding her silently as his lips twitched. He knew she was in her element when the Mafia Queen gave the order she gave.

Thomas took a step as Declan skidded to a halt next to his sister. Someone laughed, and they turned to look at Callum. He walked over, bypassing his wife to move to the edge of the ring. “Kenni, you’re still one of mine. You know that, right?”

Giving the other girl another solid punch to the stomach, Kennedy dropped to one knee next to him. “Of course, I do. Got orders for me, Boss?”

“Kill her. Clarence Thorne has raised his girls to take what they want, so show them we don’t f*****g play.” He replied stoically.

“And the fallout?” The redhead replied as she smirked.

“Will be handled accordingly,” he answered.

Nodding once, she rose to her feet and grinned. Turning back to the other girl, she shook her head. “I killed your aunt. Shot her sorry ass in the shoulders, the knees…”

Anger flashed in Ana’s eyes. “You b***h!”

Her emotions clouding her judgement, Ana rushed Kennedy with all she had. Sidestepping, Kennedy struck, slamming her leg into Ana’s abdomen, and sending her backward to the mat. Gasping and panting, the brunette rolled to her stomach, struggling to her feet as she coughed. Droplets of blood splattered over the pristine white canvas floor of the ring. She sobbed, wiping the blood from her mouth with the sleeve of her shirt.

She turned, only to catch a solid, open-palm hit to her sternum. Screaming, she collapsed, her head spinning as she suddenly found it harder to breathe. She felt her lungs becoming restricted as Kennedy stood over her.

Coughing, she felt the fear settling in her mind as she realized that the girl fighting her was not going to let her walk away. “J-just kill me.”

Kennedy smirked, “In a minute. You’re already dying, but my Don just gave me the signal to hold up for a bit. I wonder why?”

“NO! Don’t! Please release my daughter!” A familiar voice cried out.

Kennedy turned her head to the newcomer, “I remember you. You crashed Donna Amber’s wedding eight years ago by pretending to be married to Don Callum.”

“There must be some mistake. My girl would not do something so callous,” the older man beside Destiny pleaded, his grey eyes seeking Callum out. “Please, have mercy.”

“Mercy? Did Destiny have mercy when she crashed my wedding? Did Carissa have mercy when she was instrumental in having my best fighter and my daughter-in-law kidnapped by a madman? No, they didn’t,” Callum replied darkly.

The man paled, turning to his daughter with hardened eyes, “What have you done?”

“She took what was mine! He should have married me, not that bimbo! Carissa was helping me make her pay, but I didn’t know they would go after my daughter!” Destiny screamed.

An evil smile twisted Callum’s features as he turned back to the redhead waiting for his go-ahead. “Clarence, I’m pulling my funding and terminating all business with your family. Red, end her.”

The man fell to his knees, pale and shaking as he cursed his inability to say no to his daughters. Now, he and his business would fail because they couldn’t take no for an answer.

Kennedy nodded, raising her hand. Her fingertips curled toward the center as she pulled back, slamming her hand down on Anastasia’s ribs. Several of the recruits winced as the sound of shattering bones reached their ears. Watching as the last of the life-light left the brunette’s eyes, Kennedy smiled.

Standing to her full height, she let her gaze travel around the vast building known as the Underground. “This is the most literal definition of f**k around and find out, people. Any questions?”