His Light in the Dark

by L. A. Fiore

  Dad reached my side in a heartbeat and I felt the fury building in him as his entire body went rigid. “Goddamn it.” Reaching for his phone, he made a call as he marched to the front door.

  “Dad is that wise?”

  “Stay here.”

  My dad was a tower of rage and yet the man across the street didn’t even flinch. Climbing from his car, he stood toe-to-toe with Dad even though Dad had several inches on him. Even from my distance, I knew it was a very heated discussion. Footsteps behind me nearly had me dropping the dish I held as I twisted around only to see Cole heading for the refrigerator.

  “Where the hell did you come from?”

  “Was in the area.”

  A part of me was skeptical of his claim, but Cole Campbell stood in my kitchen. I didn’t really care if he came down the chimney like Santa.

  “Are you hungry?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I made chicken parmigiana, but fair warning, it is not very good.”

  Cole reached for a plate, and the fact that he remembered where they were made me happy, before grabbing a fork and knife and settled at the table. I dished out his food, poured him a glass of water and brought him a napkin. It was all so homey and I could see us in ten years, a house of our own, sitting like this every night, sharing a meal, a bed…Pull it together, Mia.

  Butterflies took off in my belly as I waited for him to take his first bite, then waited to see if he threw it up, or spit it out, but instead his eyes lifted to meet mine. “It’s good.”

  Was it wrong that I wanted to do a happy dance, all around the kitchen, one that ended with me in Cole’s lap and my lips on his chicken parmigiana covered ones? Changing the subject before I acted on that impulse, I asked, “Who’s that man?”

  “Trouble.”

  “And his pale-hair friend?”

  Cole’s expression turned dark, but it was the look in his eyes that had my heart beating faster because it was the first time since that day in the alley that Cole looked crazy dangerous. “Stay away from him.”

  “I intend to.”

  “He approaches you, you run.”

  “Okay.”

  “You have a cell?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Get it.”

  I didn’t question him, not with all that dangerous energy swirling around him, and retrieved my cell. He took it and punched in a number. “You see him or his friend anywhere in your general area, call me.”

  “Okay.”

  “I mean it, Mia.”

  “I’ll call you, Cole.”

  He resumed eating and as excited as I was to have his number, I worried too because these guys were bad news and for whatever reason, they seemed to have a problem with Dad.

  My dad came storming into the kitchen a few minutes later, anger making his face flush, his muscles flexed. His focus went right to Cole.

  “Mia, give us a minute and no eavesdropping.”

  I hadn't even reached the door when Dad grabbed my arm, pulling me to him to kiss my head. “Thanks for dinner, kiddo”

  “You’re welcome. Night, Cole.”

  “Night, Mia.”

  And for the first time ever, I didn’t eavesdrop but went to my room and stared at Cole’s number on my phone.

  It had been eight days since Cole put his number in my phone and for eight days I had to keep myself from using it. I had Cole’s cell number and even though it was just a phone number, it felt as if I had hit the jackpot. Stupid, really, but I had an extra pep in my step, a constant sense of excitement fluttered just behind my ribcage because I had that connection to Cole. I was being a complete goof and yet I didn’t care in the least. Dreamily, I looked around at the neighborhood as I walked to Dad’s garage and was surprised to realize that Aunt Dee had been right about the progress happening; our neighborhood had had a face-lift almost overnight. Many of the older stores had closed down and newer buildings were going up. Had the older stores been forced to close like Tony’s hardware store? I guess Cole had been right about Carter Stein being interested in the land Dad’s garage sat on. Was he the one responsible for all the change happening in our neighborhood? Was he the one pushing the older businesses out? If so, the progress being made, and Carter, weren’t so great in my book. And while I pondered that, I saw the man with the pale hair again. It had been a couple of weeks since the last time I had seen him. Parked across the street and further down it from me, leaning against his car. But it was the fact that his shade-covered eyes were staring in my direction that had my feet moving faster. He moved from his car, heading toward me in long strides. My heart galloped in my chest because what did he plan to do when he reached me? My speed picked up while I reached for my phone. And even wanting to dial Cole, I hated that this was why I had to. My fingers shook as I pulled up his number. He answered on the first ring.

  “Mia?”

  “That pale-hair creep is following me.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Down the street from the garage.”

  “I’m coming.”

  Practically running, I still felt pale-hair gaining. Fear, it had been a long time since I had felt it and this made what I felt for Cole pale in comparison. In the next instance, a motorcycle roared down the street, pulling up right next me, acting like a buffer between the creepy man and me. Cole. I had never felt relief the way I did in that moment. He said nothing, just removed his helmet and held it out to me. Wasting no time, I pulled the helmet on and settled behind Cole on his bike. It was a testament to my feelings for Cole because the terror I had only just felt, took a backseat as a more pleasant emotion moved through me being so close to him. Welcoming warmth unfurled in my belly as I nestled closer to his big, strong body. My fingers curled around his waist and the need to press my chest to his back almost had me doing so. This was wrong, this was Cole, and yet it didn’t feel wrong at all.

  We started down the street and even feeling the elation I did, worry lingered too because that man had been determined to get to me, but for what purpose? Pulling into one of the bays, my dad’s expression was scary. “Who was it?”

  That was directed at Cole.

  And though Cole didn’t speak a word, he somehow still had answered because Dad looked even more pissed. He paced, clearly a lot going on in his head, before he turned his focus on Cole. “Thanks, Cole.”

  “Yep.” Cole’s only response before he walked back to the car he’d been in the middle of working on and though he was going for casual, fury seemed to radiate off him too. Why? When I looked over at my dad that question fizzled, as did every other thought in my head, because I knew something was very wrong. Instead of sharing with me though, he just said, “No more walking to or from school.”

  “Because of the man.”

  “Yeah.”

  “You won’t tell me what’s going on, will you?”

  “Safer for you to stay in the dark, but no more walking. Understood.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Sorry, Mia.”

  “Is everything going to be okay?”

  He answered me immediately, but instead of feeling comforted, I grew uneasy because his eyes gave him away. The look in them contradicted what he said. “Yes.”

  Cole found me later as I worked on my homework at the picnic table.

  “Mia?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Have you ever had self-defense classes?”

  The timing of his question wasn’t coincidental. So whatever was going on it had both Dad and Cole unnerved. “Dad taught me some things.”

  “Like what?”

  “Go for the eyes, nose, neck, knees or groin.”

  “And could you?”

  “I don’t know, but I think so.”

  “Stand up.”

  As much as the idea of sparring with Cole appealed to me on every level, I wasn’t so sure it was a great idea. “Why?”

  “Mia, humor me.”

  “Fine.” He sounded so much like my dad in that moment. Dropping my pe
ncil, I moved from the table and stood just in front of him.

  “I’m going to come at you, deflect me.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “You won’t. I want to see your moves.”

  “Okay.”

  And then he attacked; I wasn’t prepared for how fast he was. His arms came around me so hard I had trouble breathing. He released me, his face tight with some emotion before he bit out. “Again.”

  And again he moved too fast. “Again.”

  For an hour he drilled me, but by the end of that hour he wasn’t getting the slip on me. “I’ll bring in some pepper spray tomorrow. Carry it in your bag and make sure you keep your phone charged.”

  “Cole, should I be worried?”

  “No, just be smart.” He took my hand and the sensation of my small hand being held in his large, calloused one left me breathless.

  “Anything can be used as a weapon. Your backpack, even your phone will put more behind your punch.” He pulled me through the garage pointing out every day items that could be turned into weapons. He even suggested the lid of the toilet, if swung properly, could disable an attacker. It wasn’t likely I’d need that bit of info, but I stored it away anyway since it seemed very important to Cole that I do. The fact that he was concerned, made me concerned, but it also stirred those feelings I tried not to feel for him.

  After his weapon’s tour, he walked me to the picnic table before he headed back into the garage. I called to him, “Thanks for the lesson.”

  He called back. “You can thank me by staying safe.”

  I experienced a wicked case of déjà vu when I opened the door to Cole a few weeks after dad made the decree about walking to school, because he’d been in another fight. Dad came up behind me.

  “What the…you said you were out.”

  “I am.”

  “Then what is this?”

  Cole gaze sliced to me.

  “Mia, give Cole and me a few minutes. Can you get the first–aid kit?”

  “Sure.” I was halfway down the hall, but I still heard Cole’s reply.

  “Was at the bar, heard some fuckers talking. Didn’t like what they were saying.”

  “What were they saying?”

  A pause before Cole said, “You can guess.”

  “Goddamn it.”

  “It’s more who was doing the talking.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Associates of Donny’s.”

  “And you don’t think it’s a coincidence?”

  “No.”

  “This shit has got to stop.”

  “Agreed.”

  Another pause before Dad said, “Thanks, Cole. Let’s get some ice for that eye.”

  My legs weren’t quite steady when I reached the bathroom. What the hell had that conversation been about? Returning to the kitchen, Dad and Cole were drinking beers at the table.

  “Anyone want to share with me what’s going on?”

  Two sets of eyes turned in my direction but neither said anything.

  “You’re not letting me walk to school, Cole’s teaching me self-defense and buying me pepper spray; he comes here looking like that needing to talk to you after two creeps have been harassing us. I’m not a complete twit and yes I realize I’m the little woman, but enough is enough. What’s going on?”

  Dad spoke, temper behind his words. “It isn’t because you’re the little woman. You don’t need to be involved. All you need to worry about is graduating high school and staying safe.”

  “And Cole? Someone used his face as a punching bag.”

  “Several some ones and they look worse.” Cole muttered and honestly, it’s just annoyed me.

  “Really, your ego’s hurt that I assumed you got the shit kick out of you by just one person?”

  “Just keeping it real.”

  “Humor now? You’ve been doing a fair interpretation of a cyborg since you returned to us and now you’re being funny. You are both impossible.”

  Dad stood, wrapping me in his arms. “We want what’s best for you and what’s best is to not get you caught up in this shit. It’s not the first time Cole’s been in a fight and it won’t be the last.”

  “But there was more to this fight.”

  “Yeah, but again it’s not something you need to worry about.”

  “Fine. I’m going to bed.”

  I didn’t wait for an answer before I stormed from the room. About an hour later, there was a knock at my door. “Come in.”

  Expecting my dad, I was more than a little surprised to see Cole standing in the doorway. Wearing pajamas, I lucked out to have grabbed the yoga pants and tank and not the little silk nightie. His eyes moved over me, I didn’t know if it was a conscious act, but they did and I felt his gaze like a lover’s caress.

  Heat and something darker burned in his gaze when it returned to mine. “It's just bullshit going on. Annoying and heated, but nothing for you to worry about.”

  “Right, you say that as you stand there with your face all bruised.”

  He closed the distance between us, getting right up into my space, and my body responded by growing warm but having chills all at once. “They made inappropriate comments about you that I took objection to.”

  “Me?”

  “Yeah.” His finger brushed down my jaw; a sweet, delicate and intensely intimate gesture.

  “Cole?” My body moved into his, which seemed to break him free of the spell he had cast over both of us. He stepped away. “I’ve got your dad’s back.”

  And as was his way, he turned and left without another word. Unlike how he seemed to have shaken off the moment, it took me longer including a really freaking cold shower.

  Graduation Day. I couldn’t believe I was a high school graduate. Dad had a surprise for me but he was so good at keeping it a secret. The ceremony at school had been really nice but I couldn’t lie, I was thrilled to be out of there.

  In the fall I’d be attending a small university not far from home, but I’d be staying on campus. Even with the excitement I felt, there was sadness too at the idea of leaving Dad. Sitting outside my house, I waited for Aunt Dee. We were stopping at the garage for Dad and Dylan, who were running a little late and so were showering at the garage, before heading to Vincent’s for dinner. A motorcycle came from down the street, the rider now as familiar to me as my own reflection. Cole. Watching as he climbed from his bike, caused the familiar and very pleasant sensations to burn through me, the same ones I’d been experiencing for a really long time for this man.

  “Mia.”

  “Cole.”

  “You heading to dinner?”

  “Yeah. Are you joining us?” He never did but that didn’t stop me from asking.

  “No.”

  “Why don’t you join us?”

  “It’s for family.”

  “You’re family, Cole. You should come.”

  “A Campbell darkening a Donati table, no way.”

  He meant it as a joke, but he believed it. In some measure, he believed he wasn’t good enough. “Why do you do that? Stay back in the shadows like it’s the only place you belong.”

  His easy grin faded and yet I hadn’t a clue what he was thinking. “It is where I belong.” It was on my tongue to protest, but he didn’t let me reply when he changed the subject. “Congratulations.”

  My heart pounded. So simple an acknowledgment but coming from Cole, it meant the world. “Thanks.”

  “University in the fall.”

  “Yeah, I’m excited and a bit nervous.”

  “Nervous?”

  “New experiences do that to me.”

  “You’ll be fine. Your dad will miss you.”

  “I’m going to miss him, I’ll miss you too.”

  For just a moment, I thought I saw what I was feeling staring back at me. But he wiped his expression so quickly I couldn’t be sure I hadn’t just imagined the heat that swept his features. Aunt Dee pulled up.

  “Are you sure you won’t
join us?”

  He nodded and I couldn’t help the disappointment that followed both because he wasn’t coming and because he thought he didn’t belong. I climbed into Aunt Dee’s car and as we drove away I wondered about Cole’s visit to the house. Had he come solely to see me?

  Reaching the garage, Aunt Dee waited with me while Dad went to get my gift. I was glad she lived close, that Dad would have her near. She was four years younger than him, but there was no denying they were siblings, especially their eyes; eyes I too had. Cat eyes are what Aunt Dee called them, a golden yellow…like whiskey. I looked like Dad, the spitting image Aunt Dee said, and not Cynthia, which I was glad about. She was prettier in person but hard, something that didn’t come across in pictures. I wondered about her friend. Dad hadn’t mentioned her again so I hoped that meant she turned up and all was well.

  The sound of a car pulled me from my thoughts. My dad sat behind the wheel of a vintage Mini Cooper. How his 6’4” frame fit, I didn’t know, but I loved the car. He climbed out and dangled the keys in front of me.

  “Happy graduation.”

  I launched myself at him. “I love it.”

  “It’s been completely overhauled. It’s old on the outside but she should last you a good long time.”

  Burying my face in his chest, I hugged him hard. “You’re the best.”

  “You earned it, but it’s a selfish gift too. Now you have a means to come home and visit, often.”

  Lifting my head, our eyes locked. “I would have come home regardless.”

  “I’m going to miss you.”

  “We still have the summer.”

  “Proud of you, Mia. You’re the first in the family to go to college.”

  My heart felt like the Grinch again, swelling so much in my chest it was surely going to burst. “Love you, Dad.”

  “Love you, kiddo.”

  Wrapping his arm around my shoulders and the other around Aunt Dee’s, we headed to Vincent’s for our celebratory dinner. Dylan went ahead to get our table and if only Cole would join us, the night would be perfect.

  “You know I won’t be far from home and when I graduate, I’m going to work for you.”

  “Really?” Dad’s eyebrow rose very slightly. “Doing?”

  “Office manager. You need one.”