Chapter 14
LUNA
The two men are getting antsy.
They’re going to kill me, that much I know.
I’ve seen their faces. I can identify them. There’s no way they’re going to let me go.
“Have you heard from Cole?” one asks.
The other looks at his phone. “No, the account balance still says zero.”
I clench my eyes shut. I should have known he wouldn’t pay. I guess it doesn’t matter anyway. These guys planned to get the money and then leave me for dead anyway. At least that’s what they keep saying.
I whimper at the thought, even though no one would know it. My mouth is still covered with duct tape. I twist my hands, trying to get loose, but it’s not possible.
A phone rings, and one of them picks it up. “What?” His eyes widen. “Fuck. Shit. Damn it.” He hangs up the phone. “We gotta go. They’re on to us and on the way here.”
The other stands up. “We can’t just leave her here. She knows what we look like.”
I shake my head side to side, trying to tell them I won’t say anything, but they ignore me.
“Plan B,” one says, and there’s a silence between them before they both nod.
One walks out of the room and then comes back, carrying a gas can.
I start bouncing in my seat as much as I can while being tethered to it. I’m screaming, but it’s so muffled, it’s like I’m not saying a word.
The one starts pouring gasoline over everything. When the can is empty, they toss it across the room, hitting a wall. “Do it, let’s go,” he hollers.
The other one lights a match, and seconds later, the room fills with flames and the men leave.
I try to stand up, but they tied me to the seat. I have to get out of here.
I topple over and try to get up on my knees with the chair strapped to my back. I try to crawl, to move, but I can’t. Every time I think I’m making traction, I realize I haven’t moved anywhere.
The flames are getting closer, and I don’t want to give up, but I don’t know what else I can do.
That’s when I hear it. “Luna!” Cole bellows.
I try to scream back, but nothing but mumbles come out.
I want to tell him to get out while he can, but I can’t.
I’m looking through the smoke when suddenly I’m lifted up, chair and all, and carried through the burning building.
As soon as we get outside, Cole sets me down and wraps his arms around me.
“Oh my God, I thought I lost you. I thought…”
His voice drops, and he holds me tighter.
I mumble through the tape, and he leans back to look at me.
He pulls the tape from my mouth slowly, flinching when he sees he’s inflicting pain on me.
When I’m finally free, I say the first thing that comes to mind. “You came.”
He nods. “Of course, I came. You’re going to be my wife.”
I nod and try to hide my disappointment. I’m not sure what I expected, but I had hoped that he would say something about his feelings for me. I want his love more than anything.
“She okay?” Bennett asks.
Robert comes to stand before me. “Yes, she’s okay. She’s going to be a Kingston. She’s tough.”
Instead of answering, I ask, “Can you untie me?”
Cole nods and pulls a knife from his pocket. While he cuts me loose, Bennett nods. “Stone and the guys got Chris and Jess.”
“Hold them,” Cole says angrily. “I want to take care of them.”
My hands are loose. “Please, don’t leave me.”
I look at my father, who gestures to Luna. “She needs you, son. I’ll take care of those two.”
Bennett nods in agreement, cracking his knuckles. “I’ll help.”
Cole helps me stand up and wraps his arms around me. He tries to lead me away, but I stop and turn to Robert. “Will I ever see those two again?”
Robert shakes his head. “No, I promise to you that you won’t.”
I study his face, looking for any kind of hesitation, but there isn’t any.
I nod and turn away, letting Cole take me to an SUV. My hands are not shaking. My chest isn’t tight. Those two men meant to kill me. Whatever happens to them now is not my concern.
Cole helps me into the front seat. He buckles me in, kisses me softly, and then closes the door. I watch him walk around the car and get into the driver’s seat.
I lean my head back and mumble.
Cole holds my hand as he drives. “What was that?”
I turn my head to look at him. “I was wondering if you could drive.”
He looks confused, and I smile. “This is the first time I’ve ridden with you and Stone wasn’t driving.”
He squeezes my hand tighter. “I can drive.”
I lift my chin. “Who were those men?”
His voice is like steel. “Desperate men. They wanted fast money, but they picked the wrong family.”
I look out the window as Cole drives out of downtown.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
His voice is gruff. “When something happens like this, we go home. We all go home.”
My eyebrows skyrocket. “Does this kind of thing happen all the time?”
He flinches. “More than I like.”
I turn my head to look out the window.
Cole is quiet the rest of the way to the Kingston mansion.
When we get there, he helps me inside, where we’re greeted by his mother.
She takes one look at me and pulls me into her arms. “Oh, sweetie.”
That’s all it takes. The tears come hard and fast, and I can’t stop them.
Cole hesitates for a second, as if he’s unsure what he should do, then he steps closer. He wraps his arms around the both of us. His hold is so tight, it’s as if he doesn’t want to ever let me go.
And for the first time tonight, I feel safe.
Eleanor is the first one to let go.
“Maggie is drawing you a bath. Do you want me or Cole to help you?”
I look at Cole, and Eleanor assures me, “There’s no wrong answer, honey. Whatever you need to be comfortable.”
I meet her gaze. “I would like Cole to help me.”
She nods as if in approval and then hugs me again. “Okay, I’ll be here with some food when you’re ready.”
Cole assists me up the stairs and into a bedroom, shutting the door behind us. “This is my bedroom when I stay here. Now it’s our room.”
I sit down on the edge of the bed, and a woman steps out of the en suite bathroom. “Oh, I’m so sorry. The bath is ready. Can I get you anything else?”
Cole shakes his head. “No, thank you, Maggie.”
She quietly walks out of the room, and then Cole comes to stand in front of me. He squats down and puts his hands lightly on my legs. The dress is ruined. It’s covered in dirt, grease, and soot. As if in a daze, I shake my head. “This dress was three thousand dollars.”
He shakes his head. “The money doesn’t matter, Luna. All that matters is that you’re safe.”
I suck in a harsh breath. Cole searches my eyes. “Honey, talk to me. Did they…” He flinches. “Did they touch you?”
I shake my head emphatically. “No, they just wanted the money.”
He lets out a breath and then tenses when he looks at me. He inspects my wrists that are red and sore. He lifts the dress and looks at my ankles. He touches them softly but pain ignites. I try to hide it, but he’s watching me closely. “Stay right here.”
He moves behind me and slowly starts to unzip my dress.
He then comes back around and helps me stand. He pulls the dress from my shoulders, carries it to the door, and then drops it in the hallway before shutting the door again.
He comes toward me and helps me out of my bra and underwear, then lifts me in his arms.
He’s silent as he carries me to the bathroom and gently places me in the tub.
I sigh at the luxurious feel of the bubbles against my body.
“Get in here with me, Cole.”
He shakes his head. “Let me take care of you, Luna.”
I hate that he denies me, but I’m not going to beg. Cole washes my hair and every inch of my body. He’s slow and meticulous about all of it, but it becomes unnerving when he doesn’t say anything.
The only thing he utters is instructions. “Lean your head back,” he says as he rinses my hair.
When that’s done, he sits on the edge of the tub and just watches me for what seems like hours.
“I wanna get out,” I tell him finally because I’m starting to feel like I’m under a microscope.
He’s on his feet instantly. He unplugs the stopper from the tub and helps me stand up. He rinses me off and then wraps me in a hot towel.
He carries me to the bedroom, and there are clothes, including underwear, folded on the bed.
He unfolds them and starts to put them on me, but I frown at the clothes in his hand. “Whose are those?”
He shrugs. “I’m not really sure, honey. Maybe my mom’s or Maggie’s. Knowing my mom, she sent someone to get them for you.”
I keep my hand held up. “So they’re not an old girlfriend’s or anything?”
He frowns at me and seems offended that I even asked. “No, of course not.”
I lower my hand, and Cole starts to dress me.
His movements are slow and deliberate. His eyes stay on the task at hand.
There’s no warmth in his gaze. He’s controlled and protective.
It’s not like he’s touching his fiancée right now.
He’s treating me as if I’m someone that he has to put back together or something.
As soon as he’s done, he steps back. “Food?”
I’m about to shake my head when my stomach growls loudly.
We both laugh, and he takes my hand. “Want me to bring it up here? Or do you want to come downstairs?” He holds a hand up. “Just so you know. If you don’t come downstairs, my brother, father, and mother will all be up here to check on you.”
“Check on me?” I ask, surprised.
He nods. “Yes, Luna. You are a Kingston now, and they will all want to make sure you’re okay.”
His words hit me in the gut. “I’ll go downstairs.”
When we get downstairs, Eleanor is pacing the living room and stops as we walk in.
Her arms open. “Luna.”
I let her hold me, and she wipes the wet strands from my face. “I’m going to get a brush. Maggie’s going to bring in some food.”
I sit down on the edge of the couch, and soon, Eleanor is back. She sits down behind me and gently brushes through my tangled hair.
Cole paces the floor, flexing his hands and cracking his knuckles.
Eleanor admonishes him. “Honey, sit down. She’s safe, and those men have been taken care of.”
I tense when she mentions the men.
Maggie walks in and sets a tray on the coffee table. Cole sits next to it, picks up the plate, and holds it out to me. There’s a huge sandwich with all the toppings. “Eat.”
I pick up half the sandwich and take a small bite.
Eleanor and Cole talk while I eat, and when I’ve done as much as I can, I gesture to the other half. “I’m full.”
Cole shakes his head but stops when the front door opens. He’s on his feet at full alert, but it’s only his father and brother that walk into the house. Both men look at me.
Robert is the first to speak. “You okay, honey?”
I nod. “Yes.”
Bennett comes to me and grips my shoulder softly. “Glad you’re okay, sis.”
My chest tightens.
I’ve never had this. People that show up. People that save you. People that would kill for you.
My eyes start to burn, and there’s no stopping the tear from rolling down my cheek.
This is what family feels like.
And they’re acting like I’m just a part of it now… no questions asked.
I take a deep breath. “Thank you, everyone. Really. But I need to lie down.”
Cole doesn’t even hesitate. He picks me up in his arms and without a word carries me back upstairs to our bedroom.
He turns off the light when we walk in, and in the dark, he fumbles with the covers, pulling them down and then laying me on the bed.
He sits on the edge of the bed, and I reach for him. “Cole, lie down with me.”
“I need to shower, honey.”
He stands up, and I watch him undress in the darkness and then disappear into the bathroom. I’m not sure how long he’s gone. I mean to stay awake, but sleep pulls me under, and I succumb to my exhaustion.