Page 12 of Unlocking Hope

“You’re not staying?”

“I thought you would want some time with your friend. He’s a good guy, and I trust him.”

Zoey let out a snort. “You mean Brock ran a background on him.”

Cole didn’t deny or confirm her suspicions; he jumped out of the SUV and came around to her side. She was used to it. He liked opening the door for her even though she always said it wasn’t necessary. When he opened the door, she climbed out, wrapped her arms around him, and placed her lips to his.

When she went to pull back, he tightened his hold and deepened the kiss. His tongue swiped against her lips, and she opened, letting him in. Her body felt like it was melting into his.Cole released his grip and pressed his forehead to hers. “If Paul hadn’t seen us drive up, I would take you back home and spend hours worshiping your body.”

Looking around, she quickly saw the curtain drop, and her face heated up. Cole leaned in and kissed her nose. “Let’s go see Paul.”

“You could’ve told me he was watching.”

“I like this shade of pink on you.” He teased.

Zoey lightly punched his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her and directed her toward the first-floor apartment. The door swung open before Cole even had time to knock. Paul stood in the doorway, looking much better than he had when she’d last seen him. He was clean-shaven and wearing new clothes. Zoey hadn’t asked Cole how he’d gotten Paul an apartment, but she knew Cole had something to do with it. The older man stepped out and squeezed her with one arm. The other hand rested on a cane.

“I’m happy you’re alive,” he whispered into Zoey’s ear.

She pulled back. “Me too.”

Paul stuck out his hand to Cole. “And you, I don’t know how I will ever repay you for this.”

Cole shifted from foot to foot. “I didn’t do anything but find a few veterans benefits.”

“It takes years to get moved through the list. I don’t know who you know, but it has to be someone powerful.”

“It’s the least I can do to repay you for looking out for Zoey. I’m going to go run some errands while you guys talk. You have that gun, right?”

Paul nodded.

Cole kissed her on the cheek and left before she was able to ask about a gun. He had done so much without her asking. She’d been worried about Paul and how he was going to handle thestreets with his wound. Every time she asked Cole, he said it was being taken care of and that she could see him soon.

Paul moved her through the small apartment. The place was barely decorated, filled only with the necessities—a couch, chair, tv, and table. There were no pictures on the walls, no knickknacks, or even a splash of color. Zoey made a note that when she had money and could work again, she would do whatever it took to help make Paul’s place a home.

Over the next hour, Paul told her how Cole’s friend, whom she assumed was Brock, had gotten him into veteran supportive housing. She felt guilty for not having known he was a veteran. He told her about his time in the military, and she couldn’t believe he was part of Delta Force. His story was inspirational and sad. When he talked about the people he’d saved, his face lit up. When she asked if he had a family, a shadow fell over his face.

“I lived for my job and each mission. When I met Sarah, we were young, and she got pregnant. She wanted to stay at home and raise our son, but I wanted to save the world. The more deployments I took, the more we grew apart.” Paul wiped his eyes. “One day, when I came back, they were gone, and I threw myself into the next mission and the next. Until one day, I was so angry at the world for what people had done. When I was medically discharged, I had nothing. My son hates me for leaving his mother. Sarah remarried, and my son considers him more a dad than me.”

“Someday he will see what a good guy you are.”

Paul rocked back in his chair. “I can’t change what I did in the past, but I can change how I act in the future. Now that boy you found is a good one. He will protect you and keep you safe. Not sure how, but he has contacts deep inside the government.”

“He is a goo?—”

The sound of squealing tires cut her off, and before she knew what was going on, Paul threw her to the ground and covered her with his body. The sound of glass breaking echoed through the room. They’d found her.

6

COLE

“How’s the new roommate working out?” Ian asked Cole as he took a sip of beer. On his way to the store, Ian had called to tell him they’d made it in a day earlier. Instead of meeting at the house, they were stopping to have a beer together. Cole figured it would give Zoey more time with Paul.

“Good.”

“Have you talked to your dad or uncle and tried to get information?”

“No.” Cole shrugged. “I gave Brock full authorization to tear into my family. He’s wanted to do it for years, and I think he already did a couple years back when he told me I should watch out for them. Back then, I still wanted nothing to do with them.”

---