by Jill Sanders
Cole’s shirt shredded away from his body as dark red colored the stark material. She must have screamed and kicked out, catching Niccolo off guard, because suddenly she was free of his grasp.
Jumping from the back of the car, she rushed towards Cole as they tumbled over the blacktop. She watched in horror as Max sat on top of him, slamming his fists into Cole’s body repetitively.
Traffic and cars were stopped completely now, their headlamps lighting up the horror scene in front of them. Several people yelled at the men to stop, but Max wasn’t letting up anytime soon. She rushed over and tried to pull the massive man off of Cole.
Then she felt it, the hilt of Cole’s gun under her bare feet. Reaching down, she picked it up and placed it against the bigger man’s temple.
“Stop!” she screamed. “Now!”
The man stilled, his fist raised in mid-air for another blow to Cole’s chest.
Cole smiled up at her, blood gushing from his nose and mouth.
“Get off him,” she said with a shaky voice. The larger man complied slowly.
Cole quickly got up and took the firearm from her. “Over there.” Cole motioned for the man to move towards the car. “Let’s go collect your boss.”
Ashley was a little shocked to see a very unconscious Niccolo in the back of the car. She must have kicked him hard enough to knock him out.
The sound of sirens had the first wave of shock rolling through her. “Sit down.” Someone tossed a blanket over her shoulders. “You’re in shock. I think your man has control of the situation now.”
Even though she fought him, Cole convinced Ashley to ride in the back of the ambulance to the hospital. He knew he looked a mess, but after a quick assessment, he’d walked away with only a split lip and a bloody nose. Maybe a few bruises on his ribs and pride, but nothing he hadn’t had before.
Ashley, however, had some serious cuts on her hands and knees from the accident.
He’d been lucky to see the car leave the alleyway when he’d rushed outside and even luckier when Tom had followed him and tossed his keys, pointing to his car a few feet from the edge of the street. It had taken him a while to find the dark car in traffic, but once he had, he’d known exactly what to do. Making sure the traffic was light enough that the PIT move wouldn’t cause any other cars to get in the way, he took his chance.
Seeing the car spin around and knowing that Ashley was trapped in it was the scariest moment in his life. Seeing her resting now, he was more thankful than he could have imagined.
RJ had met them as they were brought into the Denver ER, and Ashley and Cole filled him in on all the details about Niccolo. An hour later, they were both released. The police had questioned Cole, but RJ had flashed his badge and pulled the cops into the hallway, and they had disappeared shortly after.
Her family and his met them in the waiting room when they walked out.
He quickly filled them in, but explained that Ashley was tired, and he wanted to get her home to rest.
“Well, that was one way to end your first exhibit,” Tom joked as they walked to the parking lot.
“Shut up.” Amber slapped him playfully.
“I’m sorry about your car.” Cole frowned down at the fresh dent in the fender. “I just keep smashing your things.”
“That’s what insurance is for.” Tom shook his hand. “Besides, if it means that you keep Ashley safe, you can smash whatever you want of mine.” Cole chuckled, then groaned when his bruised ribs ached. “Come on, we’ll drop you off at home.”
The car ride back to Golden was quiet. Ashley rested her head on his shoulder the entire way. At one point he thought she had fallen asleep, but then she reached for his hand and he wrapped his arm around her and held onto her.
“Are you two sure you’re okay?” Amber asked, before they climbed out of the car.
“Yes,” they both said at the same time. Ashley smiled over at him.
“We are now.” Cole wrapped his arm around her and held on.
“Tomorrow.” Amber’s eyes narrowed. “Dinner, here, we’ll bring the food. You can tell all.”
“Agreed,” Ashley said quickly. “Night.” She turned, and he followed her into the house.
Locking the door behind him, he watched as she peeled off the sweater she’d borrowed from her sister to throw over her ruined silver dress. Then she shimmied out of the dress.
“It’s a shame,” he said, moving towards her. “I was so hoping to slide that thing off you slowly.”
She turned to him and tossed the dress into a trash can. “It’s ruined now.” She sighed and started walking towards him in only a pair of silver undies. The cuts and scratches on her body were covered in small white bandages slightly bigger than the piece of silk covering the rest of her. “Along with your shirt.” She used her bandaged hands and pulled his shirt off of his shoulders. “How does that feel?” she asked, running her hands over the road burns that covered his shoulders. They had bandaged them up, but he had pulled the cotton off in the car. It was no longer bleeding and the tape itched.
“Probably as bad as your cuts.” His hands took hers and carried them up to his lips. Placing a soft kiss there, he closed his eyes. “I thought I’d lost you.” He rested his forehead against hers.
“Me too.” She sighed.
Picking her up gently, he carried her upstairs and laid her down on the bed.
“Cole,” she whispered when he crawled in beside her and wrapped his arms around her.
“I just want to hold you,” he said into her hair, pulling her so close, he could feel her heart beat next to his. “Just let me hang onto you.” He hadn’t realized tears were sliding down his cheeks until she reached up and kissed them away.
“I love you,” she said, placing a kiss on his lips.
“I love you,” he replied. “I never want you to go through anything like that again.”
“No.” She smiled. “Nor you. This”—she motioned between them—“runs deeper than anything else.”
“Yes.” He placed a kiss on the tip of her nose.
“Do you think they’ll find the paintings?” she asked after a moment.
“If not, they won’t stop looking for them. If Niccolo wasn’t just showing off and really is the one who has them, then once they find the trail from Moscow, I’m sure we’ll have them.” He leaned back and smiled. “If so, there was mention of a reward.”
“None of that matters to me, only you.” She kissed him. “Knowing you’re safe and that you’re not going anywhere.”
“No, I’m staying right here and, with a little luck, we can start our new lives, together.
“Promise?” She ran a hand through his hair as he leaned in for a kiss.
“Forever,” he answered and kissed her.
Also by Jill Sanders
The Pride Series
Finding Pride
Discovering Pride
Returning Pride
Lasting Pride
Serving Pride
Red Hot Christmas
My Sweet Valentine
Return To Me
Rescue Me
* * *
The Secret Series
Secret Seduction
Secret Pleasure
Secret Guardian
Secret Passions
Secret Identity
Secret Sauce
* * *
The West Series
Loving Lauren
Taming Alex
Holding Haley
Missy’s Moment
Breaking Travis
Roping Ryan
Wild Bride
Corey’s Catch
Tessa’s Turn
* * *
The Grayton Series
Last Resort
Someday Beach
Rip Current
In Too Deep
Swept Away
High Tide
* * *
Lucky Series
Unlucky In Love
Sweet Resol
ve
Best of Luck
A Little Luck
* * *
Silver Cove Series
Silver Lining
French Kiss
Happy Accident
Hidden Charm
A Silver Cove Christmas
* * *
Entangled Series – Paranormal Romance
The Awakening
The Beckoning
The Ascension
* * *
St. Helena Vineyard Kindle Worlds
Where I Belong
* * *
Haven, Montana Series
Closer to You
Never Let Go
* * *
Pride Oregon Series
A Dash of Love
For a complete list of books: http://JillSanders.com
About the Author
Jill Sanders is The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Pride Series, Secret Series, West Series, Grayton Series, Lucky Series, and Silver Cove romance novels. She continues to lure new readers with her sweet and sexy stories. Her books are available in every English-speaking country and in audiobooks and have been translated into several languages.
Born as an identical twin to a large family, she was raised in the Pacific Northwest and later relocated to Colorado for college and a successful IT career before discovering her talent as a writer. She now makes her home along the Emerald Coast in Florida where she enjoys the beach, hiking, swimming, wine tasting, and of course writing.