He pulled me close and the feel of hisbody against mine was so repulsive that I nearly shook with disgust. This manhad assaulted me, stalked me, and killed my father. But I would do anything tokeep Cole safe. He looked down at me with raw emotion and I knew I had him. “Ah,babe I’ve waited so long for you to come around. I knew you would,” he said ashe grinned. He leaned over and kissed me. I’d been prepared for this, too, butit was still even more unpleasant than I’d bargained for. Everything about hismouth on mine was repugnant, and I had to fight the urge not to shove him off.Instead, I put my arms around him and pulled him closer. I could hear Cole’sgrunts of anger, but I couldn’t risk giving him any sort of sign to cool it.
“Ready?” I asked, breaking away assoon as I felt I’d made a believable enough impression.
“Yeah, I just reallygottagive this bastard one more kick,” he said with asmirk. He put the gun he’d been holding in the waistband of his jeans and I knewthis was my chance. I pulled the gun out of the back of my jeans and held it tothe side of his head before he could move any closer to Cole. I couldn’tbelieve it, my hands weren’t even shaking.
“Not one step closer,” I said sharply.I saw Jake’s entire body freeze and I held my ground, bracing for whatever wasin store. I couldn’t even look at Cole for fear of the look on his face.
“You fucking cunt!” he roared, turningthe full extent of his rage toward me. He looked completely demented as he tooka menacing step toward me.
“Not another step. I swear to God JakeI will fucking shoot you,” I said sharply. Adrenalin raced through my veins asI held the gun facing him, my feet planted firmly on the ground. “Give me yourgun,” I commanded.
He snorted. “You’re going to have tocome get it,” he leered, raising the front of his shirt so I could see the gunthat was shoved down his pants.
I wrinkled my nose in disgust.
“So what’s the plan now, baby?” hetaunted.
My plan was to have the guys comebursting in at any moment, but for now it looked like I was on my own.
Understanding showed on his face andhe smirked. “Got friendscomin’, huh? Well, if youthink for one second I’m going to stand here and wait, then you are out of yourfucking mind,” he hissed.
“And if you think I’m going to let youwalk out of here only to let you continue to fuck up my life, then you’re outof yours,” I retorted. “Don’t fucking move.” I was shocked at how calm andcollected I felt. I was beyond done letting this psycho fuck with me.
“Notgonnalet me walk out, huh? Well if I’m staying I won’t be breathing soon, noconfusion about that. So if I’m going, I’m taking you with me. He can come, too.He said, gesturing to Cole with a manic glint in his eye.
Shit, I was going to have to shoothim. I really,reallydidn’t want todo that. It wasn’t that I cared about Jake’s well-being. He’d done enough to meto ensure that. But I still didn’t want to be responsible for taking someone’slife.
“Jake,” my voice was practically awhisper. “If any part of you still cares about me – if you ever caredabout me at all, then please do not make me do this,” I pleaded. It was thefirst time I’d shown any real emotion since I’d walked into this mess.
“Don’t you get it, Scarlet? I careabout you more than anything. That’s why I can’t let you go. If I’m going,you’re coming, too.” he replied, his own voice hoarse with emotion.
The resulting shot that rang out litup the dark bunker with blinding light and a thunderous sound.
Chapter Nineteen
“Baby, wake up, we’re home,” Cole’sdeep voice murmured as I felt a warm hand brush against my cheek.
I woke up groggily for a moment beforeremembering that I was in the back of Wes’s SUV. It was very early morning witha hint of dawn in the air as I stepped out in front of our house. I looked overat Cole, relieved to see him standing whole and strong in front of me.
A large amount of the blood I’d seenon him had been from the initial head wound he sustained when Jake took him bysurprise with a tire iron. During the drive, I’d gotten the story that the guyshad indeed called Cole out for a club errand. Jake must have been following himbecause he jumped him at a gas station and sedated him with something.
We’d stopped at a hospital on our wayback to get Cole stitched up. I couldn’t believe he was lucky enough to onlyneed ten stitches to sew up the gash. I was still reeling from everything thathad transpired, and I stood on wobbly legs trying to pull myself together. Iknew I’d done well during the ordeal, but now that it was over I was on theverge of a meltdown. I’d almost lost Cole, I’d almost been killed. Cal, Wes,and Sal had arrived just in time, and Cal shot Jake once in the chest. I didn’tthink I’d ever get Jake’s expression out of my head. It was as though he wasshocked that it was over, that he’d lost. He looked more pissed off thananything. But I watched him die, and it would take a while to recover from that,if I ever did at all.
“Cole, man,” I heard Wes warn as myknees started to give out. I was swept up in Cole’s arms before I had thechance to fall and he carried me into the house.
“I’ve got you, baby,” he said softlyin my ear.
I laid my head on his shoulder,wrapping my arms more firmly around his neck, trying to get as close to him aspossible. Chief was all over us as soon as he opened the door, but Colecommanded him softly to be still. I was vaguely aware of Cole carrying me intoour bathroom, of my bloody clothes being peeled off. He got me into the showerand tenderly cleaned my body and hair. I just closed my eyes and let him carefor me. I knew he must be tired, he’d been through the same ordeal as me and hewas injured. But he needed to do this and I needed to let him.
When we finally got into bed, the sunwas out and a new day was beginning. Cole pulled me into his body and strokedmy bare back. He hadn’t bothered with clothes for either one of us. The skin toskin contact was just what I needed. I fell asleep almost immediately,relishing in the comfort of his hold on me.
When I woke up, I realized I hadbarely moved. I was still lying on Cole, my legs entangled with his. I lookedat the clock to find that it was nearly dinnertime. We’d slept all day.
I looked up and found Cole’s blue eyesstaring into mine. “Hey,” I said, my voice raspy.
“Hi,” he said as he smiled tenderly,leaning down to kiss me.
“How do you feel?” I asked as I eyedthe bandage on the side of his head.