Page 11 of These Reckless Hearts

I pull my phone out of the little clutch I also found in the closet and send Cole a text letting him know where Stone and I are going. Now that I know he’s here for me and not against me, it feels natural to keep him updated with what we’re doing. Also, when someone rubs your back while you puke, that person suddenly isn’t so scary. He’s turned into a giant teddy bear in my eyes.

BE CAREFUL OR I WILL CASTRATE JACOBS.

Hmm. Maybe not a teddy bear. A stuffed lion?Your guys are with us. I’m good.

Take care, baby girl. Keep me updated.

I put the phone away and slide into the Audi. Stone closes the door and strides around the other side. The car starts with a low hum, and then we’re off. Stone pulls out onto the main road and runs his hands through his hair, checking his reflection in the rearview mirror. “I think all of us should put in requests to place our matriculation on hold.”

My chest constricts. I’ve been wondering how we were going to juggle everything, but I’ve been hanging onto school with a tight grip. “How would that work? My scholarship—”

“I’ll handle it,” Stone answers. “It’ll be fine. We’re vulnerable at school, and besides, whoever my father has hired to find the treasure won’t be worried about schoolwork or going to class. Once this is all over, we’ll start back up again.”

He’s right, but I can’t help but feel defeated. School was my only ticket out of my father’s house, and to think I’m giving up that goal right now hurts even though it’s only being put on the backburner.

Stone reaches over to place his hand on my thigh. “I’m glad you liked the flowers.”

“I loved them.”

The silence that stretches between us on the way to Phoenix isn’t awkward. When we pass the city limits, however, nerves get the better of me, but Stone’s steady hand does wonders for calming my frayed emotions.

Our first meeting is in a glass high-rise building. He parks on the street, grabs his briefcase, and we walk toward the front entrance hand in hand. We take the elevator to the penthouse and the secretary greets us, smiling. She leads us straight into a conference room where Stone stops so abruptly that I run into his back.

“There he is,” a familiar voice grinds out, and my stomach tightens. I peer around Stone’s taut body and find Lance’s beady eyes greeting us. The wicked glint shining there promises danger, and after what happened at his mansion, I know he can follow through.

6

Stone guides me behind him again, shielding me from his father’s view. He reaches back to clasp my hand, squeezing my fingers tightly. “Hello, Father. Mr. Cummings.” His hard voice is all business, bursting in calm confidence—the complete opposite of the cacophony buzzing inside me.

“Come. Sit down,” Lance demands.

I peek at the other man in the room. He’s balding, sweat dots his brow above sharp eyes and a wide nose. He flicks his stare between father and son, and it’s evident that he’s not comfortable being here.

“I see you’re in another meeting,” Stone says, nodding at Mr. Cummings. “I’ll wait to speak with you when you’re free.” Stone starts to lead us from the room, but his father’s dark laughter stops us.

“Mr. Cummings insists. Don’t you, Fred?”

“Please. Stay,” the man deadpans in a voice that brooks no arguments. These are powerful men, and the fear deadening my limbs tramples any idea of running at the moment. I’ve seen what Lance can do.

Stone’s father beckons two men forward who are standing on the other side of the glass wall. They close ranks around the entrance, guarding the door. There are no visible weapons, but the threat is clear. We’re not to leave, and Lance, once again, is holding all the cards. For all I know, these two muscular guys could’ve been at Jacobs mansion that night, toting guns at his behest. Who’s to say they wouldn’t do the same right here, right now?

We turn to face the room again, and it’s clear how we walked right into this trap. The only person that can be seen through the wall of glass is Cummings, seated on the opposite side of a long, rectangular table with round corners. Lance Jacobs sits in the shadows to our right, hiding just behind the only solid wall in the room, a square jut out that most likely conceals a closet.

Stone turns to me, an apology in his blue-gray eyes. I shake my head, letting him know this isn’t his fault. He traces his fingers over my chin, a loving gesture that belies what’s really going on. “I won’t let anything happen to you,” he whispers so only I can hear, his featherlight touch only grazing my skin. I tuck the feel of him away, memorizing the feel of his skin on mine so I can call it forward to use as strength if I need it. Stone turns, straightening his shoulders to address the room. “I thought you were hiding, Father.”

Lance snorts. “From what? You? No, Son. That won’t be necessary.”

I nearly laugh because if Lance isn’t afraid of Cole, he’s a moron. The smile on Stone’s face says everything I’m thinking. “You know who from.” Stone pulls out one of the high-backed chairs at the table and waves me into it before sitting to my right. Mr. Cummings and I lock gazes, and I can’t help but think that he and I are on the same page. His guarded expression is one of necessity, but his stiff demeanor says it all. Neither of us want to be here, and I wonder how the hell he got pulled into this shit.

“Thugs don’t bother me,” Lance growls.

I clench my hands into fists in response. I no longer count Cole as a thug. He may look the part, but there’s so much more to him than that. The way he opened up yesterday, I’m pretty sure I have a ride or die for life in him.

Slowly, I open the clutch on my lap. I don’t know what’s about to happen, but this isn’t the place to be with no backup. Ninja and the other guard are around here somewhere, but nothing is out of the ordinary at present. For all I know, they’re standing in the penthouse lobby, watching for threats anywhere else but here.

However, if I can contact Cole, there’s the added bonus that we happen to know Lance’s current location. I lift one end of my clutch until the corner of my phone peeks out.

“Well, you’ve got us here, what do you want?” Stone demands.

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