BlackJack (A Standish Bay Romance Book 1)
Page 25
“Hmm, that sounds like a wonderful idea, but my family’s here.”
He kissed her again, only this time it was deeper. “They’ll understand.”
Shannon leaned into him and her body relaxed against his. “I’m going to stay. John asked me if he could spend the night with Cameron. I can sleep later.”
This time she kissed him with the promise of doing much more than sleeping come nightfall.
When they arrived back in Cameron’s room, Cole took Cameron’s guitar once again and played the afternoon away for Amber. Every time her dad called Amber’s name, Cole’s heart soared as he finally felt as though he were doing something worthwhile with his music. Nothing would please him more than to make a difference in Amber’s life, the difference between life and death.
She still didn’t wake up that afternoon, but she squeezed her father’s hand numerous times. Cole figured her brain still needed time to heal, and he was convinced she would wake up when she was good and ready.
The night turned out to be a crazy one. Everyone but John went out to dinner to a French restaurant. Cole slowly became more comfortable around Shannon’s family, and boy could they talk. He really didn’t have to join in the conversation going around the table like a tornado because with all the Gallagher’s talking at once, no one noticed his silence, no one that is, except Shannon who kept silently apologizing with her eyes for the whirlwind which was her family.
What she didn’t know was he thought it was great, and he had a touch of nostalgia as he remembered the last time he sat around the table and ate with his mom, stepdad and his two sisters. God, it seemed like a lifetime ago. He almost couldn’t connect with the person he’d been then, and that scared the shit out of him. Had he really changed that much in all these years?
A side trip to Wales to see his two sisters would definitely be put on his agenda after, he shuddered, AJ’s burial. Maybe he could finally put the past behind him and visit Lindsey’s gravesite as well.
“Cole.” Hearing Shannon’s soft voice and feeling the warm touch of her hand on his knee brought him out of his private thoughts.
“Yes?”
“Are you ready to go?”
“Sorry I was…” He shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. “I was thinking about AJ and Lindsey.”
***
Shannon would have to be blind not to see the sadness and pain in his eyes. God, would he ever find peace? Her stomach rolled. She hoped so because she loved him so much, and she wanted him to be happy and comfortable in his life again. He deserved it and it was high time he had it.
Hopefully his trip and the burial of AJ would help lead him in the right direction. A pain knotted in her heart with worry for him. It would be hard burying AJ, and she wondered who he would lean on during his time of grief?
Thank God the other band members were going and he wouldn’t be alone. Although she knew Cole well, well enough to know he would be alone surrounded by hundreds of people.
“Hey,” Cole now interrupted her thoughts. “I thought we were going,” he said with a warm smile that melted her heart and made her forget her concerns and think about the night ahead. Think about the lovemaking that was sure to come during the long, cold, dark hours of the night.
She rose from her seat, bid her whole family goodnight and dragged Cole by the hand out into the night. Immediately they were blasted with cold air. They walked hand in hand in comfortable silence the short distance to the hotel. Shannon kept glancing Cole’s way, knowing he thought about the things she thought about. Where were her bodyguards? Did they see anyone suspicious following her? Tomorrow would be a much different day than this one. A day they would have to say goodbye once again. Only this time the goodbye wasn’t going to have their future hanging over their heads. This time, thank you God, it would be under the knowledge of when they would see each other again. Not if.
Even though they never had the relationship conversation, Shannon knew in her heart and in her mind that they were now a team forever. A team to be reckoned with if anyone so much as batted an eyelash to keep them apart.
***
“Hmm, good morning,” Shannon murmured as she snuggled closer into Cole’s wonderful arms, the arms that had held her tight the entire night. There was nothing in the universe like making love, and then being held the whole night long in the arms of the one you loved.
“Morning,” he said as he kissed her neck.
Shannon regrettably pulled away. It was time to give John a break from spending the night with Cameron. She also wanted desperately to see her son. To see the progress he made during the night in the healing department. She also wanted to stop by and see Bill, hoping he would have good news about Amber.
“Hey, where are you going? It’s still early.” Cole yawned and stretched. “At least I think it’s still early.”
“I want to get to the hospital.” Shannon walked naked to the bathroom door, paused and said over her shoulder in a sexy voice to go along with her wanton look, “Care to wash my back?” She scooted inside the door laughing, knowing damn well he was already out of bed and halfway to the bathroom.
The morning flew by. Shannon rarely saw Cole as he hadn’t left Amber’s bedside once since they arrived. Shannon could only imagine how tired he must be, not to mention the soreness in his throat and arms. She stopped in now and again to bring him juice and crackers or coffee because he refused to take a break. He wanted to play as long as he could until his late afternoon flight.
Amber proceeded to show more and more signs of pulling out of the coma. Even Doctor Splaine was hopeful and that, in itself, meant a lot.
Shannon watched and listened as Cameron argued and pleaded with Doctor Splaine to let him see Amber.
“Why can’t I go see her?”
“Cameron,” the doctor said, trying once again to reason with him. “I don’t think it’s in your best interest to be moved at this time. Your body has been badly damaged, not to mention your concussion. I’ll revisit the idea in several days.”
“But...” Cameron stammered, “I need to see her.”
“Soon.”
Shannon knew her son all too well, and she knew he was not happy about the doctor’s answer, and she also knew Cameron would defy the orders and crawl down the hall to Amber if the doctor didn’t give him the okay soon.
John had gone to the hotel to grab some sleep while Shannon’s parents, Rachel, Bridget and Mitch crowded in Cameron’s room with her. They all snuck out once in a while to listen to Cole play for Amber. My, Shannon mused, how times had changed. Everyone, including John, finally treated Cole with the respect he always deserved.
Before Shannon knew it, the time for Cole to leave had come, and she could visibly see him tense up. She couldn’t blame him. The next couple of days would be tremendously challenging for him, the other band members and AJ’s wife and children. Shannon could only imagine the Macleod family’s grief. Death was tragic enough—suicide had to be the worst. Never mind the circumstances leading up to it. They believed him to be a murderer.
Shannon did not envy Cole one bit for what the next several days would bring him. She only wished she could be there to offer her support, comfort and love.
She accompanied Cole to the parking garage, and as soon as they neared his rental car, he pulled her close and buried his head in her hair.
“I wish I didn’t have to leave you. I’m worried about your safety,” Cole said, sounding as though the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. “I wish I didn’t have to leave Cameron or Amber. Cameron is looking better, isn’t he?”
Shannon tried to make her voice sound light, but found it hopeless. Her heart was being eviscerated ever so slowly.
“He is. And Amber does as well. Thank you so much for what you did.”
“Shannon.” He cradled her face in his large, cool hands. “I love you. I’d do anything for you.” He brought his lips down to hers and kissed her deeply, lovingly and reverently. He finally pulled back
, and she watched as a single tear slid down his cheek. “Stay safe. I’ll call you.”
Shannon didn’t want to cry, she wanted to be strong, but damn if she didn’t lose the battle and cry tears straight from her breaking heart. “I love you,” she said before Cole left her alone, except for her bodyguards, she presumed, in the chilly parking garage. Her arms hugged herself as she watched him drive away and disappear completely from sight.
She’d been without Cole nearly her whole life. She could be without him a while longer. She hiccupped as she wiped her tears away and went back inside to be with her family. Thank God she could always count on her family. It was a good feeling and one she wouldn’t, or at least would try not to, complain about again, at least not anytime soon.
Chapter Twenty-One
Cole sat in first class, his hand gripped a glass of soda water like a vise as he thought ahead to Chicago where he was meeting his bandmates at the airport. Then they had an immediate flight out to Heathrow with a connection to Scotland. AJ’s body would be on board the plane. Cole couldn’t believe the laughter spewing out of his mouth as he thought what if the coffin got lost? If the airlines could lose luggage, they could most certainly lose a dead guy. As quickly as he laughed, he began to silently cry. Damn it, this sucked. He missed his best friend. He missed Shannon.
He knew he acted like, oh poor me, but he’d spent so many years wanting things. Things like Lindsey’s love and his freedom from prison, why should his life continue to be any different now? The difference being, now he wanted Shannon and he wanted AJ. One was lost to him forever, and one, God willing would belong to him. Correction, they would belong to each other, like equal halves of one whole.
Surprisingly, things went smoothly in Chicago even though he had a small moment of panic when he saw Kyle Ward enter the plane. What was he doing going to Scotland? He ignored him and found his seat just as a text arrived from Shannon.
“Thank you for coming to Colorado. I don’t know if I could have managed without you.” He cracked a smile as he read the next line. “It meant so much to me having you here. Bill wanted me to thank you as well. Unfortunately not much has changed with Amber. Dr. Splaine said Cameron can go home in a few days. Mitch’s company has generously and graciously offered the use of their jet to fly us home. Cameron says he won’t leave without Amber. We’re working on that. I believe my boy’s in love. Call me when you can. Not a second goes by that I don’t think of you. All my love, Shannon.”
While he sat quietly, he came to a conclusion. Shannon needed him and he wanted to think his presence helped Cameron and he knew Amber responded at the times he played his music for her. So the big question was? Did he continue on this quest or go back to the people who needed him? AJ would understand if he turned right around and went home. Cole could hear his voice in his mind. “Life’s too short, go for love. Nothing’s more important than love. Without it, what would any of us be? Dull, empty, lonely humans wandering the earth in a lifeless haze, struggling to survive. Love, we all need love.”
Cole knew Brad and Ted could handle everything. And when Cameron was better, they could travel to Scotland and pay their respects to Elizabeth and her children, AJ’s children. He could introduce Shannon and Cameron to his sisters. And while they were in Wales he would ask Shannon to marry him in this beautiful stone chapel near the house he grew up in. It was built in 1670 and was still used today for special occasions. And his marriage to Shannon fit the title of special occasion.
His heart pounded painfully and he sweated profusely. Damn, what the hell was he doing in this tin box, flying over the black of the Atlantic, when he should be taking care of securing his future? Shannon meant more to him than anything. She should come first. She and her injured son should come first. If something happened to Amber? He would never forgive himself. He could make a difference in her life. AJ was dead, there was nothing he could do for him now, but Amber, my God, she was only seventeen and still alive.
His thoughts turned dark. What if the security people screwed up and Shannon was killed? He suddenly had difficulty breathing, and Cole fought hard to keep the anxiety attack at bay. That would not help the situation any.
In four more hours, the plane would land in London, and Cole would turn right back around. His gut told him he had to. He closed his eyes briefly and whispered, “AJ forgive me. But I know you of all people would understand someone in need.”
“Cole,” Brad said from his seat across the aisle. “I forgot I had this. The concierge in Chicago said this was dropped off by a messenger service this morning.”
Cole took the sealed note from Brad, opened it and his world tilted once again. His stomach tumbled as though the plane did a barrel roll. Oh shit. His hands trembled as he read the typed note.
“I hope you said your goodbyes to Ms. Gallagher as you will never see her alive again. I may not be able to frame you for this murder, but I will have succeeded in taking another person you love away from you. Possibly I’ll take her son as well as an added bonus. This time, I hope you take a cue from AJ and join him in taking your own life. AJ was so easy to convince he killed Lindsey, I almost feel sorry for him.”
Cole stole a look across the aisle and up several rows from him at Ward. Deep down in his gut he knew Ward killed Lindsey. If he just threatened Shannon and Cameron, who had he hired to do the killing? Were they professionals? What a perfect alibi he’d planned. Although his gut could be wrong, and it was someone else entirely.
***
Cole ran through the Denver airport, his feet barely touching the ground, his breathing labored and his heart pounding. He had to get to Shannon. Ever since he read the note on the plane he’d been in panic mode. His stomach twisted up in knots as he felt desperate and on the verge of collapse. Everything that had happened lately came crashing down around him as he tried to crawl out of the dark abyss and into the light of day. Only he was lost in a labyrinth of endless tunnels and mazes.
He’d contemplated texting her about the note the second he landed in London, but decided not to make her panic. She was safe, he had to believe that. Had to believe the security people and John were keeping her safe. Just keep telling yourself that.
He ran past the lobby desk at the hospital, past the nurses’ station and straight into Cameron’s room waving the note and mumbling like a lunatic. He handed the note to John and pulled Shannon into his arms and held her close and tight. He could feel his heart pounding inside his chest and knew Shannon could as well. But the longer he held her, the calmer he became. She centered him and led him out of the maze and into the light, into life. This one woman would never know how much she changed his life, more than changed it, saved it. Before he met her, he was a hollow human being struggling with life, and when he met her she gave him life. Oxygen, love and everything else a person needed to survive. He now had to give the gift back to her.
“Cole. What...how...” Shannon asked, her voice breathless with surprise.
“I couldn’t go. I’m needed here more.” He pulled back and kissed her with all the love he felt for her. He didn’t care if every member of the Gallagher family watched, and he was quite certain they were, and watching no doubt with their jaws hanging open. Let them watch because this was something they would have to get used to because he planned on kissing Shannon every chance he got for the rest of his life.
“We need more security,” John said as he left the room with his cell phone in his hand.
Cole took Shannon’s hand and led her out into the hall where he explained everything. His heart broke for her when he told her about the threat to Cameron’s life. Her face lost all color and her body shook uncontrollably so he wrapped her in his arms and held her close, murmuring soothing words he would never remember later. “Will you be okay?”
“I…I think so. I can’t believe this bastard would threaten my son. Who is this asshole?”
“Do you remember me telling you about Kyle Ward?”
“The senator?”
“No.”
“I figured as much,” Cole said as he took her hand once again and led her back to her son, then had a private word with Mitch. “Do me a favor and don’t let Shannon or Cameron out of your sight unless John or I are with them.”
Cole gave Mitch credit, he hadn’t blinked an eye or questioned the why of it, he just said yes.
Knowing they were in good hands, there was one more thing he needed to do. He needed to play for Amber, and when he walked in the room and found her alone, he took a seat next to the bed and played. Halfway through the song he heard a soft female voice.
“You really were here. My father told me you were, but…”
Cole nearly dropped the guitar in shock. “You’re ...awake?”
She fluttered her eyes open, they were a brilliant shade of blue, much like Shannon’s, and Cole’s heart melted.
“Yes. Last night. I thought I dreamed all the music. I kept hearing it and trying to reach for it, but the darkness wouldn’t let me through.” There were silent tears dripping down her face onto the pillow. “Thank you. Without your music to guide me and make me strong enough to fight the force that kept sucking me into the dark, I don’t know if I could have found my way out.”
Cole wiped away his own tears and hugged Amber gently to him. “Welcome back.” Then he ran down the hall and burst into Cameron’s room. “She’s awake and talking.”
“Mom?” Cameron pleaded with wide eyes full of moisture.