Chapter Twenty-Three Addie
Standing on the sidewalk in front of my condo, I assure my friends I’m okay. “I just want to be left alone,” I tell them.
Cole has already called, but I let it drop into voicemail because I can’t deal with him right now. How my phone managed to survive tonight’s dip in the river is beyond me.
“I can stay with you,” Brighton offers softly, but I shake my head.
“Thanks, B, but I’ll be fine.”
“If you want me to kick his ass,” Linc growls, “I will.”
Barely able to muster a smile, I nod. “Thanks, Linc.”
“You’re okay with their deal?” Knox asks. I’d told him on the way here and then just briefly shared Sergeant Mahoney’s terms with the others.
Looking from him to Linc then Ryder and Brighton, I know it’s not fair of me to ask them to put themselves in any more compromising or dangerous situations. And change is good. Right? “Full immunity is what we wanted—what you all deserve. We have to take it.”
“We don’t have to do anything, Addie,” Knox states, voice full of concern. “They’ve got no fucking proof we ever did anything.”
“Yeah,” Ryder adds. “We can tell Vaughn and the Denver PD to kiss off. Let them find some other patsy to do their job.”
“We’ve done a lot of illegal stuff,” I say.
“They might not have evidence today, but what if they do tomorrow?” I focus on Knox and Linc.
“You have more important things to worry about. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to ruin your newfound happiness.
Something I could’ve prevented.” I force a smile.
“Besides, I thought we were taking A-Squared in a new direction, anyway.”
“As long as you’re onboard,” Linc says.
“Of course, I am,” I assure them. “Not sure how I’m going to break it to The Man, but I’ll worry about that tomorrow. Right now, I’m going straight to bed.”
They seem reluctant to leave, so I give everyone a quick hug goodbye.
Emotions hit me hard, all at once, and I need to get into my condo fast before I burst into ridiculous tears.
I can already feel them burning the backs of my lids, so I spin around and hurry to the door, waving a hand.
“Goodnight, love you, talk in the morning!”
As soon as the door closes behind me, and I’m alone, hot tears begin to slide down my face.
I take a moment to let it all out, then quickly compose myself.
Tears never looked good on me. I’m built much stronger than that and never considered myself an overly-emotional, weepy woman, so the amount of wetness I swipe away surprises me.
Other than when I wept in Cole’s arm, I haven’t cried since my mom’s funeral.
God, I miss her. More than anything. I wish with all my heart I could sit down and talk to her again.
She always had an answer, always knew what to say, always made things better.
She was my best friend, and living without her is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.
That deal I’ve managed to work out with the Denver PD seemed pretty sweet when I was sitting across the table staring down an uncertain future.
But now, standing here, with my quiet memories of someone I won’t ever get back, I can’t help but wonder—if I stop pulling off heists, will I lose that connection to my mom? I don’t think I could bear it.
Plus, how the hell am I supposed to work with Cole Vaughn? He used me to get what he wanted, and somewhere along the way, I fell in love with the idiot. Guess that makes me the bigger idiot.
With a sigh, I decide to take the stairs instead of the elevator, needing extra time to mentally prepare myself to step into my apartment, which now holds so many memories of Cole. Trudging up, lost in a fog, I wonder why he called earlier.
Who cares? It’s clear he doesn’t, and I was far more invested in him than he was in me. Getting over Cole Vaughn is at the top of my to-do list, but I don’t think it’s going to be quite as easy as I’d like. That man is under my skin, in my heart, and removing him is going to hurt like hell.
When I reach my floor, I walk down to my door, unlock it and step inside. After locking up again, I belatedly realize the alarm is off. Did I forget to set it? A throbbing headache flares to life, and I honestly can’t remember. I suppose it doesn’t really matter because who’s left to come after me?
Heart heavy, I decide to shower the South Platte River off me and go to bed. Or, more than likely, toss and turn for the next few hours.
Turning on a small lamp, I head for the spiral staircase. Halfway up, I pause, lift my phone and stare down at the message notification. Yeah, okay, I’m a glutton for punishment. Hating myself for being weak, for wanting to hear his voice, I pull up Cole’s message and hit play.
“Addie, Simon Nyx is alive! Don’t go back to your place until I send a squad car over for protection. Call me when you get this.”
Wait, what? Nyx is alive? I suppose it’s possible. None of us checked him since it all happened so fast. But knowing now what a shit shot Warrant was…
A chill runs down my spine. Nyx admitted he was the one who placed the explosives in my car. And now he’s out there somewhere.
Ice cold dread freezes the blood in my veins and, as every nerve comes to life in my body, I sense another presence. Glancing down, I see a shadowy figure emerge from beneath the stairs and my pulse hammers.
“Boo!” Simon Nyx whispers, looking up at me.
Oh, shit.
“Guess who’s back from the dead and out for vengeance?” he asks.
“I’m not the one who tried to kill you, Nyx,” I remind him. “That was Billy Warrant.”
“You and that fucking detective tried to kill my livelihood, and that’s just as unforgivable. You think I didn’t put two and two together? I know you made a deal with him to save your own ass. It’s the only reason they’d let you prance around with that ruby necklace on your neck.”
No point in denying the truth. I don’t owe Nyx anything. He’s always been the competition. Ruthless and ready to cut anyone’s throat in order to get what he wants. “Whatever deals I make are none of your business.”
“I had a buyer all lined up for that fucking score,” he says, voice low and deadly. When he steps up onto the staircase, I automatically begin to move up, too, keeping my distance. “You’re gonna pay for fucking it all up.”
When he lifts his hand, I see the knife. Fuck!
Moving fast, I bolt up the staircase and race straight for my bathroom. The flimsy lock probably won’t hold for long, but right now I need to get something between me and Nyx until I can figure out a way to defend myself or escape.
I’m halfway across my bedroom when I hear someone start pounding on the front door. My phone starts buzzing and I see it’s Cole calling again. But there’s no time to answer with a knife-wielding maniac after me.
Before I can reach the bathroom, Nyx tackles me and we go down hard. He puts all his weight into the hit, knocking the breath from my lungs and pinning me to the floor, my cheek pressing into the carpet. I try to kick and lash out, but he’s so heavy. It’s impossible.
So instead, I conserve my strength and stop struggling. He has a knife and I have no doubt he’ll use it if I keep struggling beneath him. I’ll bide my time, and when an opportunity presents itself to escape, I’ll take it.
Nyx leans closer, trailing the edge of the knife up along my arm. “You’ve been a worthy adversary, Addie,” he murmurs. Pretending submission, acting like I’ve given up, I wait for the first cut. “You know, at one point, I may have even had a bit of a crush on you.”
The blade moves to my cheek then slides along my jawline. I’m not sure what he expects me to say, so I keep quiet. Waiting.
“It’s too bad it has to end this way, but you’re a thief without honor. And that’s bad for business.” He presses the knife’s tip into my neck, leans down right near my ear, and whispers, “I’ll make it fast.”
Now! a voice screams. Before he can slit my throat, I snap my head back, slamming it against his nose.
With an enraged howl, he lurches sideways, cupping his nose as I roll away and scramble to my feet.
Without looking back, I race into the bathroom and lock the door.
I dropped my phone when Nyx slammed me into the floor, so I can’t call Cole, but I hear a massive crash from downstairs.
And if I have to guess, he just broke the door down.
“Addie!” Cole yells.
“I’m upstairs!” I holler back. “Nyx is here!”
Pressing my ear to the door, I listen closely, trying to pick up on what’s happening, but it’s suddenly so quiet.
I’m sure Cole is armed, but what if Nyx gets the jump on him?
No, I refuse to let that asshole hurt Cole.
Because despite how he deceived me and broke my trust, there’s no denying it—I love my difficult, infuriating, rumpled detective.
And if anyone is going to be his downfall, it won’t be a prick like Simon Nyx.
Heart pounding, I unlock the door, twist the handle and slowly open it.
Cole stands across from me, at the top of the staircase, gun in hand.
Our gazes lock, and he steps forward, his attention fully focused on me.
At the same time, Nyx launches out of the closet, kicking a booted foot against Cole’s hand.
The gun goes flying and they hit the floor, scuffling and wrestling.
Fists fly, and while they brutally attack each other, I scan the dark floor, searching for Cole’s gun. Where did it go?
I finally spot the pistol near the edge of the bed and grab it.
Spinning around, lifting the weapon, I see Cole on his back struggling to shove Nyx aside.
I can’t get a clear shot because they’re moving a lot and it’s dark.
I flip on the overhead light just as Cole throws a punch, hitting Nyx in the chin.
But Nyx reacts lightning-fast, swinging his blade down and plunging it into Cole’s shoulder.
Cole releases a low groan of pain and my whole world tilts, panic consuming me.
No! My heart sinks as Nyx jerks the blade out, stands up and turns his attention on me. Before I can pull the trigger, Cole grabs Nyx’s ankle, yanking him right off his feet. He wrenches the knife from Nyx’s hand and cuffs him so fast, if I blinked, I’d have missed it.
“You’re under fucking arrest, asshole,” Cole hisses, breathing hard as he hauls Nyx to his feet. Blood covers Nyx’s face, mostly courtesy of me breaking his nose twice, and his body sags. Meanwhile, Cole looks over at me, scanning me from head to toe for injuries. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
“No,” I whisper. “But you’re bleeding.”
“I’m fine,” he grunts then drags Nyx down the spiral staircase.
I follow closely behind while Cole finishes reading Nyx his rights.
Then while he calls for backup, I call 911 and tell them a policeman has been stabbed.
Because I don’t care what my brave detective claims, I want him thoroughly checked out.
It doesn’t take long for officers to appear because the ones Cole called to watch my place just arrived. An ambulance rolls up seconds later, and my condo turns into a three-ring circus as more officers appear. Meanwhile, I make Cole sit down so the paramedic can check his shoulder.
“I’m okay,” he stubbornly insists, shrugging out of his torn, bloody sweatshirt with a wince.
“No, you’re in pain, so let this man take a look.”
“Addie, I have a job to do and—”
“The other officers can handle it. I need to know you’re okay.” I lay a hand against his stubbled cheek. “Please.”
With a huff, he drops down on an island stool and allows the medic to check his wound. The moment he mentions taking Cole to the ER, my detective instantly balks.
“I need to go down to the station,” he says, raking a hand through his mussed hair and looking absolutely exhausted. “We need to give statements and—”
“No,” I tell him firmly, reaching for his hand. “You’re doing exactly what he says.”
“Fine,” he relents between gritted teeth, which tells me he’s in pain. Because he refuses to let go of my hand, I stay by his side during the ride to the hospital. He doesn’t say much, acting all broody, but I don’t care. As soon as we arrive, he’s whisked into a room to be treated.
Waiting in the emergency department, I keep remembering the moment the knife slashed down, piercing his shoulder. My stomach turns because I know it could’ve been so much worse. Nyx could’ve stabbed his heart.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I send up a silent prayer. I can deal with stitches. But anything that would take Cole permanently away from me…
Absolutely not.
It doesn’t take long for them to fix him up, probably because he’s a cop. A bandage covers his shoulder and relief fills me. He’s going to be alright.
There’s an officer waiting outside and he drives us back to my condo. Cole hesitates, seeming intent to go to the station, but I shake my head. “Out,” I order. The other cop smirks, and Cole seems on the verge of arguing, but then sighs and climbs out of the vehicle.
Once we’re upstairs, I’m happy to see everyone has cleared out. I’m finally alone with my detective.
“I should go—” he starts to say, but I shake my head.
“In case you’ve forgotten, you were stabbed tonight. I think that earns you a day or two off.”
“A day off?” he snorts. “What’s that?”
“It’s when you don’t work. Crazy concept, right?”
He arches a brow then reaches for my hand.
“I’m sorry how everything went down. But if I didn’t follow everything to a tee, Sarge could’ve pulled the immunity deal.
And I refuse to let you wind up in a cell, Addie.
I know you’re mad and probably don’t believe me, but I fought really fucking hard for you.
Harder than I’ve ever fought for anyone. ”
“I believe you,” I whisper. My attention drifts over to the bandage on his shoulder and I swallow down any leftover fear.
It’s a miracle the blade managed to miss important arteries, veins and whatever else might’ve led him to bleed out.
The idea that Cole could’ve died right before my very eyes tonight leaves me more than a little distraught and highly rattled.
“Addie?” He cups my face. “You’re shaking, baby.”
Stupid tears flood my eyes. “I know you’re not mine, but what if I would’ve lost you? I don’t think I could’ve handled that, Cole.”
He presses a kiss to my lips. “What if I want to be yours?” he asks huskily. “Because I’d like you to be mine.”
“I can be hard to handle,” I warn him, smiling through my tears.
“I know, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
I lay a hand over his heart, reveling in its strong, steady beat. “Don’t you dare get stabbed again. You hear me?”
“I hear you, baby.” Then he tugs me into his arms and kisses me passionately.
As I kiss him back fiercely, his words echo through my mind. “What if I want to be yours? Because I’d like you to be mine.”
Sliding my fingers through his thick hair, I know there’s nothing I want more.