Page 32 of Unlocking Hope

“We are out,” Bryson said over the comm.

“On our way,” Ian growled back. His partner wasn’t happy about the unexpected guest, either.

Nobody said a word as they rushed down the street. Cole tugged at Zoey’s hand to get her to run faster. He wanted to get the hell out of there. He also wanted to get back to his house and see what was on the thumb drive. Cole planned to give the info to Brock, so he could make sure it was taken care of properly.

Cole opened the door to the SUV, pushed Zoey through the door, and shut it behind him. When he rounded the corner, he stopped and looked at Bryson. “You better take him down tomorrow. I’m not going to wait much longer before I take things into my own hands.”

“I got you, brother.” Bryson leaned around and gave his brother a hug—the first one in years. “I promise to take them down.”

Nathan gave Cole a two-finger salute before jumping into the SUV. Ian climbed in next. Cole turned the key and took off without waiting for his brothers. Cole squeezed the steering wheel, partial pissed the mission wasn’t as easy as it was supposed to be. They hadn’t been caught, but it’d been too close, and his adrenaline was high.

Cole hit the phone button on his steering wheel and barked out Brock’s name. The phone rang once before Brock’s voice came over the line. “Jesus, that was close. I’m trying to figure out what went wrong, because your uncle is also in Las Vegas. I’m not kidding. There is a man identical to your uncle sitting at the craps table in Vegas. He’s on my screen. We need to figure out who this man is and when your uncle set this up. Nobody had been to the warehouse all day, and someone shows up when you did. Did you give the info to your brothers?”

Zoey smiled at Cole and handed him the drive. “Yes, but we made a copy for ourselves. It was a last-minute decision, and I wasn’t sure we were going to be able to pull it off. But when Bryson left the room, to go check out the sound the cat made, we were able to make a copy for ourselves.”

“Damn.” Cole could hear the smile in Brock’s voice.

“Once we get to the house, we will upload a copy to you. I want to know what is on the USB, and if Bryson doesn’t hold up his end of the deal, I know you will do what it takes to get something done. That was close, too close, and I’m not putting Zoey through that again.” He reached over and grabbed her hand.

“I will send you a secure link where you can send the data.”

“Thanks.”

They talked for a few more minutes before hanging up. The car was silent for the rest of the drive. Cole was watching every car behind him. Something still felt off, and he wasn’t sure what would happen next.

14

ZOEY

“Does this mean it’s over?” Zoey asked as she curled up on Cole’s lap. “Your uncle looks pissed, but not as mad as your mom. I have to give it to her—she looks good for someone going to jail. Most of the time, the press photos are bad, but she looks like she’s almost Photoshopped.”

Cole and Zoey were sitting in his media room, watching the latest episode ofImpractical Jokers, when Brock sent Cole a text, telling him to turn on the news.

“She does look a little smug for having her hands cuffed behind her back. I’m a little mad my father isn’t in cuffs. Brock is going through the files to see if my brothers missed something.”

Eighteen hours ago, she’d helped steal the data they needed then gotten up and gone to work. They both decided to stay in and wait for the news to break on the evening news report. Cole wanted his brothers to push for the arrest, but he’d told Zoey he didn’t think they would get it done quickly. “Maybe your dad isn’t as bad as you remember.”

Cole closed his eyes and rested his head on the back of the couch. “That’s the thing—I left when I was eighteen, and for the next eighteen years, all I saw was my mom throw charityevents and drink. My dad, on the other hand, left at night, and numerous times I saw him with blood on his clothes.”

“Your brothers said she set him up to do it.”

Cole shook his head. “That might be the case, but they aren’t telling us everything, and I’m hoping this wasn’t some ploy. Bryson has so much anger underneath.”

She had noticed how Bryson watched Cole’s every move. They’d said they were going to take down his mom and they had. “We have to give them the benefit of the doubt.”

“I still don’t like it,” Cole ground out dryly.

“I know,” she conceded. “But the bad guy is in jail, and I don’t have to worry anymore.”

“And Senator Cramer’s family was informed about his death.” Cole sighed.

“Maybe I should look for an apartment this weekend.”

Cole didn’t say anything for a few seconds as he ran his hand down her arm. She loved living with him, and they had worked so well together. They were dating and loved each other, but how long would that last? She worried he only felt obligated to let her stay because his family had tried to kill her.

“Do you not like it here?” Cole asked, and she could hear the hurt in his voice.

She’d never meant to make him feel like she didn’t want to be there. “I love living here, but you asked me to stay because I was homeless and your family was after me.” She bit her lip before continuing. “I have money again, and your family is behind bars.”

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