When we’re met with their solemn nods, we all step out of the Audi. My nerves skitter like cockroaches over kitchen tile. Ninja lingers on the front walk, typing out a message on his cell that’s no doubt intended to update Cole.
“What did you do?” I ask, gaze flicking from Ninja to the open door of Stone’s house.
“Checked for explosives, cameras, that kind of thing.” He finishes his message and slips his phone into his back pocket. My mouth nearly drops.Explosives? Cameras?Whoever Lance hired is the real deal if they’re worried about that. “You’ll be fine in there. We’ll be out here if you need us.”
I peek at Stone who stands to my right, frowning at his house. I can’t help but wonder what he’s going through right now, knowing what his father is trying to do to us. I also can’t help but think that we’re safebecausehe’s with us. As fucked up as Lance is, he wouldn’t have his own son killed. That’s why his hired men targeted Wyatt, Lucas, and I while we were in the mountains and Stone was safely away, about to get married and ruin his life…but that’s a different matter altogether.
Stone shakes hands with the other black-clad bodyguard, and the four of us enter the house. He sets the exterior alarms once we’re inside, and I let out a heavy sigh. Unfortunately, the moment of relief only lasts a millisecond before a ball of nerves knots my stomach. Cole was most definitely in a fight for his life when he called me. I check my phone but there’s nothing. I tell myself that he does this all the time, and that’s not to mention how loyal his Dragons are to him. Ninja threw himself in front of Cole when he thought his leader was going to get shot—literally threw his own body in harm’s way to save Cole. Call me crazy, but I don’t think you would do that for just anyone. It’s not because of some job requirement, it’s out of allegiance. Out of respect.
I still grapple with Cole, but with everything that’s happened and what my gut instinct is telling me, I’m happy I took out Marissa’s father to save him. Even knowing now what the gang leader did to Clark, I wouldn’t take it back.
“Alright, I’m going to say it,” Wyatt starts as he leans against the arm of the pure white couch. “I can’t figure this fucker out.”
It’s clear whothis fuckeris. Cole’s the only one we’re currently grappling with which side to put him on—good or bad.
Lucas walks toward the opposite couch and sits back, face drained. “I still don’t like how he’s involved himself in Dakota’s life. With killing Clark and everything else he’s done? He has to be here for her and not because of Lance and his rich prick friends.”
Stone’s teeth dig into his lip in concentration. “I can’t figure it out either.” He tracks his gaze to me. Free of sunglasses, his gray-blue eyes pierce every shield I have. He and I haven’t broached the topic of his almost-marriage to Marissa, or anything else that happened at his father’s house for that matter, but we need to. Facts litter the floor between us like broken glass, but sometimes, more needs to be said than just a play-by-play of events.
Stone stood on the altar next to Marissa, listening to the officiant, but when Cole intervened, my blond-haired babe punched his father in the face. Behind all of that, there’s a discussion that needs to happen, feelings that need to be talked through and meted out before he and I can move on.
The phone rings again and as soon as I answer it, a single shot rings out. “Jesus, I’m on the phone,” Cole barks.
“Sorry, boss. That one was still moving.”
I shudder. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what was still moving.
“Dakota?”
“Here,” I answer.
He breathes a sigh of relief. “I wasn’t sure if they were tag teaming us. You know, trying to take us out at the same time.”
“We seem to be fine,” I report, peering around the house as if someone’s going to come running down the hallway with a gun in their hand.
“You are. My men checked your place from top to bottom. You’re safe. I’m sending more guards there now, just in case.”
“Why?” I question. Lucas and Wyatt are right. Why did Cole insert himself into our lives? That’s the part of this that doesn’t make sense.
“To protect you.”
“I get that you’re doing that, butwhy?”
Cole breathes out. “That’s part of the reason I need to talk to you.”
“So talk,” I demand, finally fed up. Lucas is home, so now I can explore the answers I need. It’s becoming painfully obvious that staying in the dark is a risk I can’t take anymore.
“Not over the phone. In person,” Cole affirms, reminding me of the way he likes to do business.
I roll my eyes. “That’s right. I forgot. Business is business.”
“You’ve never been business, baby girl. I just don’t want to throw this at you like some callous asshole. I need to be there.”
I run my hand through my mass of curls, inspecting his words for a lie. When I don’t spot one, my shoulders sag. “Sure,” I agree. “In person.”
Moments of silence greet me until Cole replies, “I can’t get to you for another day or so. I have to clean this up, and I’m in the Heights again. I brought Finn back, thinking you were going to be MIA for a little while to process.”
My stomach twists at the mention of my trainer. “Is he okay?”