Total pages in book: 183
Estimated words: 174715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 874(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 874(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
“How did this even happen?” Reese demands, standing up to pace in front of the window.
“A paperwork issue,” Cole explains. “They let him out without informing us.”
“My ass,” Reese says. “The DA is behind this.”
“He’s pissed about the lawsuit,” Cole concedes, “but a revenge act would be foolish. What if Lori had been hurt?”
“But he would have been told Roger was cleared and safe,” Cat interjects. “Maybe he thought he’d spook us when we found out Roger was free and we didn’t know.”
“And it backfired,” Reese says, looking at Cole. “He knows we’re investigating him. This was a threat that went further than he expected. I’d bet my right arm on it.”
“I’ll be paying him a visit in the morning,” Reid says, speaking for the first time, eyeing Cole. “Care to join me?”
“I’ll be there before you,” Cole says.
“I’ll be there as well,” Reese adds.
“I want to go,” I say.
“No,” Cole declines quickly, turning to me.
“Yes,” I say. “I might be shaken, I admit that, but never have I been better ammunition for that man’s defeat.”
He studies me several long moments and then looks at the rest of the room. “I need to be alone with my wife.”
They all agree quickly, and Cat and Reese hug me. Reid gives me a stoic nod. They head to the door and Cole follows them. I grab the blanket on the couch and wrap it around me, walking to the floor-to-ceiling window wrapping the room to press my hand on the cool glass, stars twinkling in the dark sky, tiny lights in the darkness. The way Cole was my light in the darkness, but Roger has no light. He’s been cut and cut again, bleeding rivers, and I felt like I was drowning in them tonight.
I feel, rather than hear, Cole approach. He steps behind me, pressing his hands next to mine on the glass, his big, hard body a shelter I welcome. “You scared the hell out of me tonight,” he whispers by my ear.
I rotate to face him. “Please tell me you aren’t going to fight me about going to the DA’s office. I need to do this. I need to not only do this, but I need to be the best at my job I can be. I need to learn from you and do more. I need to make a difference.”
He studies me for several long moments, his expression hard then softening. “I’m not going to fight you.”
“You aren’t?”
“No, but there is much I want to say and do to you tonight. For me and you. To remind us both we’re here, and we’re staying here, present, together. For fucking ever.” He tangles fingers in my hair. “You want to deal with this by fighting back. I do, too.” His mouth closes down on mine, in a passionate, burning kiss I feel in every part of me, and then he is picking me up and carrying me toward the bedroom.
Chapter seventy-six
Cole
Icarry Lori into the bedroom and set her down on the bed, and as much as I’d like to make love to her, now is not that time. We need to talk and she needs to come down from tonight’s high, not be taken on another one. “Are you hungry?” I ask, standing in front of her.
“Actually yes. Starving.”
“How about Chinese?” I suggest.
“I’d love that, but can we hold off for a few?” she asks. “I just want to sit in a hot bath and get my thoughts together.”
I stroke her cheek. “Of course. I’ll give you some space to unwind. We can talk over dinner.”
She catches my hand and kisses it before her eyes go wide. “Oh, God. Is this on the news? Will my mother hear about it and freak out? I don’t want her stressed. I never even told her about Roger. We had it so hush-hush and she was in the Hamptons at the time. Now, what if it’s not?”
“I’ll call her to be sure and reassure her you’re fine. If she seems worried, you can call her after your bath.”
Her body softens, tension easing from her muscles. “Thank you, Cole.”
“Go take your bath.” I step back to allow her room to get up and she pushes to her toes, kisses my cheek and heads off.
I turn and watch her enter the bathroom, amazed at how strong she is. I’d really believed that she was hiding from a meltdown over Roger, but I’m not so sure anymore. Sure, she cried tonight, but over his pain, not her fear, and her response to all of this was—she has to do more. That’s what she needs and realizing this helps me shove my own demons back in the box. I cannot love a woman and keep her by my side as I want to for the rest of my life if I suffocate her, if I keep her from her version of more.