Cole (Hunting Her)

by Eden Summers

  I’m pulled in different directions, my body begging to relax into satiation while my mind admonishes my stupidity.

  “Eventually, you will stop second-guessing yourself.” He steps back, leaving me cold, and makes for the bathroom to return with a damp cloth. “When you quit fighting this and realize it’s fate, you’ll be much happier.”

  “Is that what you’ve done? Do you simply ignore the fact we’re enemies?”

  He stares down at me, his eyes gentle despite his hardened face. “You’re no enemy of mine. Even if you wanted to be.”

  His sincerity tears strips from me. Layer upon layer of hardened skin.

  I ignore the offered cloth and scoot from the bed to escape into the bathroom. I lock myself inside and use the facilities. I wash my face. Scrub my hands. Glare at myself in the mirror.

  “Quit fighting, Nis,” he calls from the bedroom. “I won’t let you shut me out again.”

  I clutch the counter, feeling compelled to comply.

  I want to stop fighting. I want it more than anything.

  It seems as though the last few years of my life have been one unending battle. First, I waged war against those who tarnished my father’s name. Then I fought with my hatred toward Cole. And now, I combat my yearning for the same man.

  I don’t want to struggle anymore. But what’s the alternative?

  I grab a towel from a nearby rack and secure it around my breasts, as if the plush material can shield me against more foolish decisions, then leave the bathroom.

  The bedroom is now in shadow, the soft glow from the living room seeping in from the partially opened door.

  Cole is back in bed, the sheet covering him to the waist, one arm resting behind his head. “We’ll make it work.”

  “How?” I remain a foot from the bathroom. “My conflicts aren’t something that can be wished away. My career is—”

  “I’ll figure it out.”

  “You can’t.”

  “Nissa, let me deal with one problem at a time.” His voice is tired. “Let me get the kids back, then I’ll convince you.”

  Guilt assails me at the reminder of why I’m here. But I can’t help wanting him to convince me. More than anything, I want to stay in this bubble of passion and possession.

  I’ve spent too long surrounded by people in a big city while remaining entirely alone. Even with Easton practically living in my apartment, I felt completely detached from the human race. But it’s different when I’m with Cole. Our arguments are adrenaline-filled challenges. He wakes me up to the reality of the world. He teaches me—

  “Get back in bed.” He rolls away from me, toward the middle of the mattress, and pats my pillow. “And take off that goddamn towel.”

  I smother a half-hearted smile, vowing to never admit how much I love it when he slips into bouts of dictatorship. Especially when the directives are for my benefit.

  I pad around the bed, meeting his gaze before I drop the towel to my feet.

  His eyes don’t stray from mine. He doesn’t take the opportunity to visually ravage my nudity, and it’s more than slightly disappointing.

  “You don’t care too much about looking at me anymore, do you?” I climb onto the mattress, fighting insecurity, and pull the sheet up to my shoulders.

  “Why do you say that?” He reaches out, locking an arm around my waist to haul me closer.

  Because since I put on the tiny bit of extra weight he so kindly pointed out this morning, he doesn’t seem to want to do anything other than hold my gaze while I’m still entirely starved of the sight of his body. I could stare at the contours and sinew forever and never grow tired.

  “It’s just an observation, Cole.”

  He remains quiet for a while, his eyes holding mine, his fingertips lazily circling my back.

  “I never stopped watching you in Greece,” he murmurs. “I ate up every moment with you naked beside me. I watched you while you slept. I learned every curve. I even have the security footage from your room when we first arrived.”

  I tense, not appreciating the reminder of my invaded privacy. The hit to my pride is made all the worse when a subtle smirk curves his lips.

  “Good night.” I shuffle backward, moving away from his touch.

  “You’re not going to let me finish?”

  “Nope.” I roll over, turning my back to him. I need rest. It’s not in my best interests to let him stir up my anger before I try to fall asleep.

  He huffs out a breath. “The reason I hold your gaze is because I’ve never forgotten the beauty of your body, but what I struggle to recall are the memories of you looking at me in return.”

  My pulse increases, the gentle thump building into a tremendous boom.

  “I crave the truth in your eyes, little fox. I need to see those feelings you work so hard to hide because they’re what keep me fighting for you. They’re the only things that help convince me you can’t be entirely in love with that piece of shit who spends all his time in your apartment.”

  My heart squeezes, my lies gouging at me with sharp claws.

  “I’m not in love with him,” I admit.

  He doesn’t respond. The only shift in the room is the anticipation thickening the air.

  “I haven’t slept with Easton. I’ve kissed him once. And that was at the exact moment you knocked on my door the other night.” I place my hands under the pillow at my cheek and tangle my fingers together. “There’s never been anything substantial between us. Not even a proper date.”

  I wait for the gloating to start. But the boasting and bragging I expect doesn’t happen.

  Instead, there’s a subtle shift in the bed before Cole’s arm glides possessively around my waist.

  “Don’t.” I scoot toward the edge of the mattress, needing space to come to terms with my admission. My feelings. I can’t avoid them any longer.

  There’s no Stockholm to excuse how much I want to be with him. There’s no manipulation or intimidation. Just misguided, unavoidable love. It feels like home here with him, and I don’t know how to make it stop.

  “Don’t deny me.” His arm turns to stone, imprisoning me as he closes in tight against my back. His mouth finds my shoulder, his warm lips brushing my neck. “Not when this is the best news I’ve heard in weeks.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

  “Then we won’t. But I will hold you. It’s all I ask.”

  I shouldn’t allow myself the affection. It’s one thing to fuck in the heat of uncontrollable lust. It’s quite another to succumb to tenderness. And that’s exactly what it feels like when his lips continue to pepper kisses along my shoulder blade—pure loving tenderness.

  His soft side slays me. Enslaves.

  “Get some rest, my little fox,” he murmurs against my skin. “I’m going to need your strength tomorrow.”

  I close my eyes, aching for a myriad of reasons. The danger upon us. The emotional exhaustion. The inevitable goodbye.

  This will all come crashing down.

  “Good night.” I attempt to clear my mind, forcing unwanted thoughts away. I pretend this thing between us is normal. Natural. We’re not complete opposites. Or enemies. We’re everyday smitten schmucks who have white-picket-fence and two-point-five-kids potential.

  His arm grows heavier, his breathing deepening into something resembling slumber. I will myself to do the same. To be at peace.

  It takes forever to get to sleep, and when morning comes a few seconds pass before I register the lack of muscled warmth surrounding me.

  Cole isn’t in bed. He’s not even in the room.

  “Where are you?” I sit and throw back the covers, sliding from the mattress.

  “Out here.” His voice carries from the living area, behind the now closed bedroom door.

  What also carries are other voices. Hunter’s. Decker’s. Layla’s.

  Shit.

  I rush to tug on my pajamas and stumble to the door, pulling it open a crack to see everyone scattered
around the living room. Keira, Benji, and Sarah are on the sofas. Luca and Layla drink from mugs in the kitchen. Decker and Hunter give me scathing scowls from Cole’s side, while Penny smiles with gentle warmth as she picks up a piece of bacon from a large serving tray.

  Goddamnit. How the hell did I sleep through this?

  “Have you heard anything yet?” I pull the door open a fraction wider and rake a hand through my tangled hair.

  “Not yet.” Cole meets my gaze. “But one of my assets from the bank has some potential leads on where they could be.”

  “Why didn’t you wake me?” I regret the question as soon as it comes out. I regret it even more when the knowing stares of everyone in the room weigh down on me. “Don’t answer that. I’m going to get dressed.”

  Their murmured conversation rekindles as I retreat into the bedroom, closing the door behind me, and hustle into the bathroom. I take a quick shower and brush my teeth.

  I’m barely dressed and frantically combing my hair when Cole opens the bathroom door.

  “I’m leaving,” he states simply. “I should be back with the kids soon.”

  He speaks as if he’s picking them up from school or band practice, not from the clutches of a man who could potentially kill them all.

  “You heard from Emmanuel?” My hands fall to my sides, my heart dropping along with them.

  He pulls his cell from the pocket of his suit jacket and passes it over, showing a text message with an address.

  “I want to come with you.” I rush to place my brush on the counter and straighten my blouse. “I’ll keep watch from nearby.”

  “No, you need to stay here.” He steps closer, reclaiming his phone. “Look after my sisters.”

  “But it could be a setup. I should—”

  “I know.” He stands tall. Strong. Not an ounce of fear in sight. “But my hands are tied regardless. If we have to shoot our way out of this, we will, which is just another reason why I want you to stay here. If this turns south, I know you’ll get my sisters home.”

  My stomach sinks, and not only from the responsibility he lays at my feet. This feels like goodbye.

  “Cole—”

  “We’ll be fine. I thought about this all night and Emmanuel can’t be stupid enough to risk a legitimate empire to start a war with me. The handover will be smooth.”

  He doesn’t believe that. I know he doesn’t.

  No sane person would keep those kids like Costa has.

  “Look after my sisters.” He leans closer, pausing when he’s a breath away from my mouth, as if waiting for me to back away.

  I don’t. I can’t.

  I bridge the space between us, placing my lips against his, and wither into the kiss. I don’t want to be scared for him. I don’t even want to care if he lives or dies. But I’ve never been more fearful for someone’s death than I am right now.

  I can’t lose him.

  “It’ll be okay.” He pulls away, turning to walk for the door before I can meet his gaze. “I’ll see you soon.”

  20

  Cole

  Hunter and Benji climb into the Escalade with me, while the injured party of Decker and Luca ride in another vehicle behind us. It only takes a few short minutes to get to the apartment building where Emmanuel told us to meet.

  I park in the one available space nearby and climb out, straightening the lapels of my suit as I stalk across the road toward the front doors of the towering construction.

  My plan is fluid, the myriad of multiplying strategies dissected with my men this morning while Anissa remained asleep.

  All that matters is getting those kids out.

  “Decker and Luca are going to try to get on the rooftop across the street like you asked.” Hunter keeps pace at my side. “Let’s hope they can get eyes on us once we figure out what floor we’re on.”

  Benji jogs to catch up. “Let’s hope we’re not in there long enough for them to bother.”

  I ignore the chitchat. I don’t need the distraction.

  “What happens if they’re hurt?” Benji asks. “What if they’re not there at all?”

  I reach the glass doors at the front of the building and pull one open, letting them precede me. “They’ll be there.”

  “But if he’s done something to them—”

  “The kids will be fine.” I won’t be able to control my rage if they’re not. I’m at risk of putting all our lives on the line if Emmanuel has hurt them. “We’re getting them back and taking them home. End of story.”

  I follow them inside, my focus switching to Hunt as we continue toward the sign pointing us to the elevators around a corner. “Are you ready?”

  He nods. “Always. This isn’t going to be a problem.”

  I don’t know if he’s faking the bravado, but I appreciate it. I need all the confident positivity I can get because the farther we walk through the lobby, the more this feels like a trap.

  Nobody is around. Not a single soul.

  I’m already antsy to draw my gun. I’ll be a fucking hair-trigger away from a bloodbath by the time I face Emmanuel.

  We turn the corner and find a hulking man standing in the middle of the elevator bay, the three gleaming doors positioned to his right.

  He uncrosses his arms from his chest and stares past Hunter and Benji to look me up and down. “Are you Mr. Torian?”

  “Yes. And you are?”

  “I’m the one escorting you today. The others will need to remain in the lobby.”

  My plan takes its first hit. I’d hoped I wouldn’t have to do this on my own. No backup. No fucking shield for those kids. But this isn’t unexpected.

  “Like hell,” Hunter growls. “He’s not going anywhere alone.”

  “Then he doesn’t go at all.” The guard shrugs. “Your choice.”

  Hunt reaches behind his back, preparing to retrieve his gun. “What’s to stop us relieving you of your duties and going floor to floor until we find them?”

  “Probably the infallible level of security.” The guy smirks. “I’m merely the gatekeeper.”

  “You fucking son of a bitch.” Benji rushes for him.

  I lunge, grabbing my brother-in-law by the arm to haul him back to my side. The guard doesn’t flinch. There’s no fear or concern. Whatever he means by infallible security, it’s enough to make him confident of his protection while in front of three men salivating for revenge.

  “This is the father of the little girl.” I pat Benji on the chest in a subtle warning to remain calm. “Surely he’s allowed to accompany me for the sake of his daughter’s comfort.”

  “She’s comfortable enough. All you’re doing is wasting time. Nobody else will accompany us. Take it or leave it.”

  Benji bristles. “What the fuck does that mean? If we refuse, what happens to my daughter?”

  “Those decisions are above my pay grade.” He steps toward the bank of elevators, hovering his finger above the call button. “Are we going up or not?”

  Hunter mutters a string of unintelligible garble under his breath as he retreats, then says, “Cole, I need to speak to you.”

  I contemplate escaping into the elevator before he can outline more issues to compact my already heavily stacked deck. Panic isn’t something I need right now.

  “Give me five seconds.” He continues backward.

  I follow, keeping my attention on the guard. “Call the elevator. I’ll return in a minute.”

  Benji remains at my side as we meet around the corner, Hunter immediately reaching into my suit jacket to retrieve my phone.

  “What are you doing?” I scowl.

  “Calling myself,” he murmurs, holding the device up to my face to unlock the recognition software. He taps through screens until a vibration sounds in his pants. “I’m not going to bother talking you out of this. I already know you’ve made up your mind. But at least this way I can hear what’s going on.” He keeps his voice low, barely above a whisper as he pulls out his device and answers the call. “We’ll s
tart scouring floors. If there’s all this security that asshole spoke about, it won’t be hard to determine where you are.”

  I agree. But starting a search isn’t an option. Not when Benji is fidgeting like a crack addict. He’s not in his right mind. I never should’ve brought him along.

  “I want you to remain down here.” I reach into my pants pocket, pulling out the car fob. “Better yet, wait in the Escalade. I can’t risk this being fucked up by someone acting on emotion.”

  “No.” Benji gives a frantic shake of his head. “I won’t fuck—

  “Go to the car.” I shove the fob at Hunter’s chest. “Keep him under control, and link Luca, Deck, and Anissa into the phone call.”

  “Anissa?” he snarls.

  “You heard me. If this is a trap, I need her to be aware so she can get my sisters to safety.”

  His eyes harden with disapproval. I don’t give a shit.

  I’m so fucking impatient to have this over and done with. “Go.” I jerk my chin toward the doors. “Be ready for when I return with those kids.”

  I don’t wait for compliance. I turn on my heels and walk around the corner, coming face-to-face with the guard who shoves his finger against the elevator call button, the doors gliding open instantly.

  I lead the way into the enclosed space and clear my head of toxic pessimism.

  I’m going to get those fucking kids. It’ll be a cakewalk. No dramatics. No foul play.

  The guard follows, pressing the button to close the doors once he’s inside. “I’m going to need you to surrender any weapons you might have.” He holds out a hand. “And before you think about keeping any hidden, I’ll be patting you down to make sure you comply.”

  I grind my teeth and retrieve my gun to slap it into his palm. “I expect to get that back.”

  “What else have you got?”

  “Nothing.” I spread my arms wide and glower as he frisks me.

  “You’re a smart man.” He says once he’s done. “Mr. Costa will appreciate that.” He turns to the doors, using a security panel to tap in a pin code before pressing the button to the penthouse.

  The restrictive coffin glides into movement, the smooth ascent raising the hair on the back of my neck. My only saving grace is the cell in my pocket giving me some sense of backup. But that’s a mirage at best. Nobody can help me here. The success or failure of retrieving these kids is on my shoulders.