Cole (The Ride Series) (22 page)

Chapter Eighteen

We’d been home for two weeks from the
cabin and so far all had been quiet. Sal had painstakingly replaced the
security system in our house, adding even more bells and whistles. He’d been
beyond pissed that Jake had breached his original system. The thing seemed
impenetrable now, which was both reassuring and annoying. I felt like I lived
in the CIA headquarters with all the different motion detectors and codes I had
to remember. Cole had stepped up all security when it came to me, but I
accepted it without complaint, knowing it was needed and that he worried.

I was still feeling pretty good as my
pregnancy progressed. I’d heard all kinds of horror stories of morning
sickness, headaches, and food aversions. So far, aside from feeling more tired
than normal and having tender breasts, I still felt like me.

As promised, we took dinner over to
Cal’s place and had a really special evening looking through pictures of him
and my father. There were several of Cole and me playing together as young
kids. I marveled again at what a small world it seemed to be.

“If that
ain’t
destiny, I don’t know what is,” Cal said as he chuckled, his eyes twinkling
with delight. Cole had looked at me with such warmth and love that I had to
choke back tears. I never thought much about destiny, but I suppose I believed
in it when it came to Cole and me.

We rode home that night through the
cool night air and I felt a peace I’d never felt in my life. It had been
growing in me since I met Cole. It persisted despite everything that had
happened, and I marveled at its ability to grow regardless of the drama that
surrounded us. I clutched Cole’s strong body in my arms as the bike rumbled
beneath me. I felt beyond lucky.

I should have realized that my luck
would run out.

“Babe, I
gotta
go,” Cole’s voice woke me through the darkness of our bedroom.

“Hmm, what time is it?” I murmured.

“Just after two. I’m getting called
out. Knox is on his way to watch the house. I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he
told me, kissing my head as I drifted back to sleep.

When Cole wasn’t back the next morning
I felt a frisson of worry, but I tried to brush it off. I assumed whatever he
had to do had just taken longer than expected. But when my phone started
ringing with an unknown number, my breakfast immediately solidified in my gut.
I just
knew
something was terribly
wrong.

“Scarlet, baby, how are you?” Jake’s
voice came through the phone.

“What did you do?” I hissed.

“Nothing that wasn’t necessary,” he
said casually and my blood ran cold. “You want him in one piece you’re going to
have to come get him, alone,” he growled.

“How do I know he’s okay?” I rasped as
panic seized me.

“You’re just going to have to trust me.”

“Trust you?” I choked incredulously.

“It’s your only option. I’m at our old
hideout. I thought it was appropriate,” he said and chuckled darkly. “You tell
anyone, he’s dead. You try anything sneaky, he’s dead. You come alone, and
without that beast of yours,” he instructed. “Then you and I, we’re going to
take off. And your precious
blondie
here can keep his
life. I figure it’s more of a punishment to lose you to me anyway,” he snorted.

There was no way in
hell
I was going to let that happen
.

“I’ll be there,” I said quietly. I
didn’t have much choice.

“Can’t wait, baby,” he replied, and
the excitement in his voice made me want to throw up.

I was shocked at how clear headed I
felt when I hung up. It was up to me not only to protect Cole but our unborn
child as well. I knew I couldn’t risk going alone, as much as I didn’t want to
risk Cole’s safety he’d never forgive me if I did something that put me and our
baby in danger. I needed backup, but I had to be smart about it.

I didn’t know how clever Jake was
being about this, my instinct said not much, but I planned to err on the side
of caution. I drove to Jupiter and used the phone behind the bar. I called Cal and
on the very off chance Jake was somehow tracking, I knew I couldn’t give him
any details over the phone.

“Yah?” he answered sounding gruff. He
didn’t recognize the number.

“Hi Cal, it’s Scarlet,” I said
quickly.

“Oh, hi
darlin
’.”
He clearly sounded surprised to hear from me and a bit wary, which I expected. “What’s
doin
’?”

I needed something that would tip him
off, I knew he’d be smart and not press me over the phone.

“Cole’s oversleeping like usual. I
forgot my wallet and was hoping you could drop it by my work,” I asked quietly.
We both knew Cole never overslept, in fact he was an absurdly early riser.

“Sure thing, be there in ten,” he
answered without delay.

We sat side by side at the bar amidst
the hustle and bustle of the lunch hour rush and I looked around trying not to
appear as terrified as I felt.

“I wasn’t followed,” Cal stated
confidentially.

I blew out a breath and turned to face
him. “Jake somehow got a hold of Cole. He’s got him up in the old army bunkers
off Route 1,” I told him, my voice shaking. “He called this morning, told me I
needed to come alone. I think he plans to take off with me somewhere,” I
continued, my voice surprisingly calm.

I watched Cal’s entire body stiffen
and eyes narrow as he tried visibly to remain calm.

“If it weren’t for the baby I wouldn’t
have risked telling you. I would have gone alone, but I knew Cole would be so
upset if…”

“You did the right thing,” he
interrupted me firmly, reaching out to give my arm a reassuring squeeze.

“I think I still have to go in alone.
I’m too afraid that he’ll shoot Cole on sight if he spots anyone else,” I said
as my eyes swept the room. “And I think I have a plan if you’re up for it,” I
offered.

Cal looked at me in surprise. “What’s
the plan?” he asked.

I didn’t delay in telling him exactly
what I conjured up, and before I knew it I was behind the wheel of my
pathfinder, off to get my man.

It took me four hours to get to the
deserted army base, just a mile outside of my hometown in Northern California.
It was the longest drive of my life. I knew that Cal, Sal, Wes, and Mack were
somewhere behind me, but I never once saw them, which was a good thing since
this whole plan would be shot to shit if they were spotted.

I hadn’t been back home in almost nine
years, and despite everything, I couldn’t help but think of my father, long ago
lost but never far from my mind. This was the last place I’d seen him alive.
This was where my mother, father, and I had been a family. I’d lost a lot
within these city limits.

Jake and I had played here as kids,
the old bunkers making perfect forts. It was a typically foggy day in the
coastal town, and the weather made the old abandoned buildings appear even more
sinister and unwelcoming than I’d remembered. Jake and I had terrorized each
other mercilessly, hiding in the dark corners and pouncing on each other. We’d
shared countless meals and played endless games of make-believe within the
dilapidated walls. That felt like a lifetime ago.

I had one thing going for me, Jake
wanted me and I intended to play that to my advantage. He was also alone with
no further allies. I knew that my plan was risky given his obviously volatile
mental state, but I was sure it was the best bet we had.

My whole body pumped with adrenalin
when I pulled up to the bunker we’d played in most frequently. I cut the engine
and sat for a few moments with the pounding of my heart roaring in my ears.
Cole had saved me in more ways than one. Yes, he’d kept me safe, but he also
saved me from a life of solitude where I hadn’t really been living at all. I’d
been going through the motions, I’d been surviving, but that was a far cry from
what my life is now. Now, he needed me, and I wasn’t about to let him down. I
steeled myself to what I knew I had to do and I got out of the car.

“That was quick,” Jake said as he laughed,
making me jump when he emerged from the bunker with a gun in his hand. He
strode toward me with purpose and dragged me inside. Despite the dim light, I
immediately clocked Cole’s slumped form in the corner. He looked lucid as his
beautiful eyes met mine and widened in panic. I took a quick perusal of his
body and was relieved to see that he didn’t look seriously hurt. He had some
blood running down the side of his face and his arm but he was alive. Thank God,
he was alive. He was gagged, and it took everything I had not to run over to
him to assure him I could take care of him, of us.
 
It was the hardest thing I’d ever done,
to keep my face clear of emotion as I looked him over. I couldn’t give myself
away, not if this was going to work.

“Yeah, well I’ve been waiting,” I
replied softly, turning my attention back to Jake with what I hoped was an
expectant expression.

It was time for an Oscar worthy
performance.

I saw his brows knit momentarily in
confusion.

I sighed as though exasperated. “He’s
had me followed, the house under surveillance,” I explained. “I was ready to
come to you on my own, I just didn’t know how.”

Jake’s eyes narrowed and he backhanded
me across the face. “Don’t you dare fuck with
me!
What
do you think I’m fucking stupid?” he growled as I saw Cole struggling to get
up. I knew it was killing him to be so helpless. But I had this handled, or I
hoped I did. I held my hand to my cheek and blinked a few times while the
initial sting subsided.

“Do you want to hear me out or do you
want to hit me some more?” I demanded angrily.

I was so tired of him knocking me
around.

He regarded me intently for a few
excruciatingly long moments before he made a motion for me to continue. “I had
to get away for a while Jake,” I explained, hoping my tone was placating
enough. “After my dad died I didn’t know where my place was, and I felt
confused. By the time I decided to come home, come back to you, I’d already
gotten all tangled up with the Knights,” I explained trying to look ashamed and
a bit disgusted. “And then Henry and Benny were back in the picture – and
there wasn’t a way that I could see to get out of it,” I pleaded with him to
understand as he looked at me with a guarded expression. “That night that you
came for me, I wanted so badly for you to understand, but he has the house
bugged and I couldn’t tell you…” I drifted off as he seemed to hang onto my
every word. “I couldn’t tell you that I know I need to be with you. I’ve loved
you since I was a little girl,” I said, nearly choking with disgust at the lie.
“If you still want me, let’s just go. Leave him here,” I gestured toward Cole
with what I hoped looked to be utter dispassion. “It can be just you and me,
like it used to be.” I smiled tentatively at him hoping against hope that he
was buying this. I hated that Cole had to witness it.

I just needed long enough for him to
let his guard down, and though he was skeptical, I could tell that he wanted
badly to believe me. All I wanted was to keep Cole alive. If we got through
this, Cole was going to be seriously pissed with me.

“So you wouldn’t care if I killed him
then?” Jake taunted, taking a few steps closer to Cole and playing with his
gun. Luckily I’d known he’d test me with this and I was prepared.

“Yes, I care,” I scoffed. “If you kill
him, the Knights will never stop coming after us. Is that what you want? Let’s
be smart about this Jake,” I implored. “Let’s just go. I even packed my stuff
before I left,” I said hopefully.

“You did?” he asked with raised brows.
For some reason that fact seemed to convince him more than anything I’d said.

It was a lie, but I was going with it.

“Yes. I’ve had a bag packed for weeks.
I just needed an opportunity,” I said as I grinned and grabbed his arm. “Come
on, I’m afraid I was followed. Let’s get the hell out of here,” I said
insistently.

He pulled me close and the feel of his
body against mine was so repulsive that I nearly shook with disgust. This man
had assaulted me, stalked me, and killed my father. But I would do anything to
keep 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 as
he grinned. He leaned over and kissed me. I’d been prepared for this, too, but
it was still even more unpleasant than I’d bargained for. Everything about his
mouth 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’s
grunts of anger, but I couldn’t risk giving him any sort of sign to cool it.

“Ready?” I asked, breaking away as
soon as I felt I’d made a believable enough impression.

“Yeah, I just really
gotta
give this bastard one more kick,” he said with a
smirk. He put the gun he’d been holding in the waistband of his jeans and I knew
this was my chance. I pulled the gun out of the back of my jeans and held it to
the side of his head before he could move any closer to Cole. I couldn’t
believe it, my hands weren’t even shaking.