Chapter 7
7
COLE
“Dad,” I said as soon as I answered the call coming into my cell phone.
“Cole.”
I pushed off the car I was working on and stood straight, something in his tone telling me this was serious. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Bailey.”
“What the hell happened?”
“Don’t know much yet except that someone’s been bothering her for a while. She wouldn’t tell anyone who it was. Chase walked in on him with his hand around her neck and beat the hell out of him.”
“Good,” I replied, relief flooding me that Chase was there. “Is she okay?”
“Yeah,” Dad replied, but it was obvious in his voice that he wasn’t doing as well as she was. “Happened yesterday. Chase stayed with the girls last night.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“I was busy trying to keep your mom from hunting him down.”
I grinned. “That bad, huh?”
“You know your mom, Cole.” He sighed, and I could imagine him running his hand through his hair. “She doesn’t get mad often, but it’s hard to reason with her when she does.”
“I’m surprised you weren’t the one she was trying to reason with,” I admitted. “And that you weren’t hunting him last night.”
“Bay asked me not to, and I’m trying like hell to respect that, but I’m struggling.”
“She’s pressing charges, right?”
“No,” he replied, but I could easily hear the frustration in his tone. “She doesn’t want him to press charges against Chase for assault. Guess he didn’t hold back. She figures if she doesn’t press charges, then he won’t either.”
“Chase agree with that?”
“No, but your sister has planted her feet on this one.”
“Where is she now?”
“Work.” He grunted. “Tried to get her to stay home today, but she wouldn’t. Ben and Jake have the foremen watching the worksites to make sure he doesn’t show up.”
“Doubt he’d be dumb enough to do that.”
“He was dumb enough to attack her.”
“Good point.” I lifted my hat from my head and scratched my forehead before putting it back on. “I have some time. I’ll head over to the office now, see if I can catch up with her.”
“Maybe you’ll have luck talking some sense into her.”
I snorted. “Doubt it, but I’ll try. What’s this fucker’s name?”
“Paul Lewis,” Dad replied with clenched teeth. “Not a name I’ll forget.”
I grabbed my keys. “I’m heading there now.”
“Thanks, kid.”
I called out to Billy while shoving my phone back into my pocket. “Be back soon, Billy. Call me if you need anything.”
“Gotcha, boss.”
It wasn’t too far of a drive to the Dimarco Construction offices, but today, it felt like hours to get there. I was pissed I didn’t know about this when it happened, but I had a feeling my dad did that on purpose. I was protective of my family, especially my sisters, and he probably thought that giving Ben time to handle the situation would keep me from reacting.
Parking my truck, I walked across the parking lot and pushed open the door to the offices. I immediately heard voices and followed them until I came to an office that had to belong to Chase, considering I saw him standing behind a desk and facing Ben, who had his back to the door.
Ben turned to face me and tilted his head. “Hey, man, what are you doing here?”
I glanced at Chase before turning my attention back to Ben. “Talked to Dad this morning. Heard what happened to Bailey. Just wanted to see for myself that she’s good.”
“She’s good,” Ben replied. “She’s on a jobsite now if you want to see her.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Is that safe?”
“Yeah. She’s back on Race’s crew, and he has eyes on her.”
I trusted Ben, but the fact that someone was able to get to her made me nervous. Glancing around Ben, I focused on Chase. “Think there’ll be any retaliation?”
“Not sure,” he replied, and I appreciated his honesty. “Jake’s in the field now asking around to find out who was friends with Paul Lewis. Once we know that, we’ll know who to keep tabs on.”
I pulled off my baseball cap and scratched my forehead with my pinky. “I hate that she’s alone out there.”
“She’s not, brother,” Ben replied. “More men on the crews are watching out for her than not. If I thought she was in danger, I would’ve pulled her from the crews until shit died down.”
I glanced into the hallway, assuming I would also see my dad lingering near Chase’s office, especially knowing I was headed here, but I hadn’t seen him yet. “Where’s Dad?”
Ben grinned. “He said he and my dad were stopping for coffee this morning, but if I had to guess, he’s on the sites, already talking to the guys.”
“Should’ve guessed that.”
When Ben’s phone rang, he pulled it from his pocket and held it up. “Gotta take this.”
Nodding, I watched him go. I should leave too, but after my dad shared that Chase spent the night at my sister's apartment, I had some questions. We’d all been watching Chase and Bailey dance around each other, but I was curious if that was changing.
“Something else on your mind?” Chase asked.
Again, I considered if it was my place to ask but then dismissed the hesitation. This was my sister. I spent my whole life protecting them, and I wasn’t about to stop now. “Got a minute?”
“Sure.” He pointed at the chair in front of his desk.
I jerked up my chin and shut the office door before moving to sit in the chair across from where Chase sat behind his desk. “You seein’ my sister?”
He didn’t even hesitate before replying, “Yeah.”
My eyebrows raised slightly at his honesty. “It serious?”
He seemed to consider my question before finally replying, “Bailey and I haven’t figured it out yet.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Chase sat forward and leaned his elbows on the desk. “I’m working through some shit of my own. Came a lot closer to figuring it out after watching that bastard attack your sister.”
I grinned slowly. “Puts things into perspective, huh?”
“Yep.”
I settled back into the seat, a little more relaxed since he was being so honest with me. “I knew at the police station how you felt about her. It told me everything I needed to know about you when you were out looking for her and obviously pissed as all hell that she was in a cell.” I sighed. “It’s hard for me to see the girls as anything other than the girls. My little sisters. And to be honest with you, man, I spent a lot of years chasing off little bastards. It’s hard to stop and see them as grown women.”
He tilted his head. “Are you warning me to stay away?”
“No.” I shook my head. “Just getting a read on things.” I leaned forward and put my elbows on my knees. “Bay’s always had a good head on her shoulders. Always knew what she wanted and refused to bend to what anyone else thought. I’m not surprised about how this is unraveling, but as her brother, I need to make sure she’s not gonna get hurt.”
“I’d never hurt her,” he answered immediately. “That’s why I’ve treaded so carefully. Don’t want to lay my shit on her.”
“She can handle it.” I exhaled loudly, knowing the amount Bailey could carry and still keep going. She was tough, but then again, she had to be to work in the field she chose. “Besides, no matter what you do, you’re screwed if she’s decided you’re something she wants.”
He grinned. “Yeah, I got that.” His grin subsided, and he appeared thoughtful before he continued, “You ran off a lot of guys over the years, which means she didn’t date much. You really think she knows what she wants?”
I considered that and realized that was his concern. Her inexperience. It made sense when I thought about it. “That the shit you’re trying to work through?”
“Yeah,” he answered.
Deciding he deserved to know Bailey a little better, I shared a story I was positive she hadn’t. If nothing else, it would show him that Bailey knew her own mind and didn’t second-guess something when she knew she wanted it. “She ever tell you when she decided she wanted to be a builder?”
“No.”
“She was fourteen.” I shook my head, remembering the night she made the announcement. “One night at dinner, she announced she wanted to build houses and help run Dad’s company.” I ran my hand over my forehead. “You could’ve heard a pin drop. Mom hated the idea of her doing that kind of work, and I knew Dad was thinking about the crews and what she’d hear every day. He tried to talk her out of it, but she refused to hear it. He even pointed out she couldn’t know if she liked it because she had no experience in building. Over the years, she’d always hung out with me and Ben and Jake, and even was around when we built the tree house on their property, but we didn’t let her do much. We were always afraid she’d get hurt.” I lifted my eyebrows. “I don’t know how she knew she loved building without ever doing it, but she did. She knows her mind.” I snorted. “Just told Dad I’ve never seen her happier than I have after a long day building, and as much as it pisses him off, he hasn’t either.”
“She said those exact words to me. That she knows her mind. Never knew anyone at twenty-three who knows their own mind like your sister seems to. Last night, I shared some stuff with her that she needed to know, and we’re figuring this out.”
I was a little surprised he so easily shared that with me, but maybe he needed to hear more about Bailey from someone close to her. Either way, from what I’d seen and he was saying, Bailey knew what she wanted, and Chase was the one struggling. “If I had to guess, your hang-ups have little to do with Bailey and everything to do with yourself.”
He sat back in his chair. “It almost sounds like you’re good with this.”
“I trust Bailey.” I admitted what was true. My sister made good decisions. Actually, both Bree and Bailey always had. Harper was a different story.
He narrowed his eyes. “And your cousins?”
I nodded. “Ben and Jake think highly of you. That holds a lot of weight in my book. Dad’s too.”
“I appreciate that.”
“Then I’ll ask you again. Are you and my sister serious?” When he didn’t reply, I grinned. “That’s a yes. Guess I should say welcome to the family.” I lifted my eyebrow. “You sure you know what you’re in for?”
He chuckled. “I’d like to think I do after knowing the Dimarcos for so long, but something tells me I haven’t even scratched the surface of the crazy.”
I laughed and decided it was probably time to change the subject. Besides, I was curious about something else. “How’s Harper doing with your family?”
“Good. I’m as surprised as everyone that she’s stuck it out this long.”
We were all surprised Harper was still working on their family’s farm, cleaning the house and cooking. It wasn’t a job we ever thought she’d want. Farm life tended to be slow, and Harper lived her life in the fast lane. We’d all just been waiting to hear she quit. “You may want to have a plan B just in case.”
We both laughed again, and he replied, “Bree said the same thing.”
I pushed out of the chair, needing to get back. “I gotta head out. Keep me updated.”
There was a knock on the door, and I turned when it opened. Ben popped his head inside and glanced back and forth between us, but whatever he saw must’ve satisfied him because he pushed the door the rest of the way open. “Look who I found getting ready to knock on your door.”
Jesus, every fucking time I saw her was like a gut punch. I didn’t want to see her today. I wasn’t prepared for it, not to mention all the emotions it stirred. We seemed to walk a fine line between love and hate. Most of the time, we were angry with one another, but I wasn’t sure either of us knew why.
When no one spoke, Chase smiled at her. “Hey, Paige. Guess everyone’s coming out of the woodwork today.”
“What are you doing here?” I asked, barely acknowledging Chase spoke.
Paige put her hands on her hips, her eyes on me. “I could ask you the same question.”
I narrowed my eyes, immediately defensive, but again, there was no reason for it. “I’m checking on my sister.”
“I’m checking on my friend.”
I snorted. “When did you and my sisters become such good friends?”
“What do you mean?”
“How the fuck do you even know them?”
“Lanie introduced us. Not that it’s any of your business.”
I already knew she was spending time with Harper, but I assumed she was just a party buddy. Jake told me Bree and Paige were planning the party they were having, but I didn’t know she was also getting close to Bailey. The question I really wanted to ask was how she became so close to them that she would make a special trip to Bailey’s place of work to check on her, but just like every other time I was talking to Paige, I made a dumbass comment that only made things between us worse.
“If you’re worried about Bay, why didn’t you go to the apartment?”
She laughed without any humor. “I didn’t want to run into you.” She gestured around the office. “Yet here you are. Pretty ironic, huh?”
Ben glanced between us but when his stare landed on me, all I saw was confusion. I was just about to answer her when Ben cut me off, which was probably for the best. “Bailey’s on-site right now, Paige.”
“Okay.” She smiled and looked around me, focusing on Chase. “Would you tell her I stopped by and I’ll catch up with her tonight after work?” She shrugged. “Just want to see her in the flesh to make sure she’s all right.”
“Yeah,” he agreed, but almost hesitantly.
She grinned, easily understanding his confusion. “Bree told me you’re staying with them.”
He chuckled. “I’ll tell her you’ll stop by tonight.”
“Thanks, Chase.” She smiled again before she abruptly turned on her heel and marched out of the room without another word.
She never looked at me before she left.
And I felt that like the dismissal it was meant to be.
“Whoa.” Ben whistled, his eyes on me. “Wanna tell me what the hell is going on between you two?”
“Not a damn thing.” I shoved my hands into my front pockets.
“You’ve been saying that for a while now,” Ben replied. “Not really buying it anymore, brother.”
“It’s the truth.” I walked past Ben, needing to get the hell out of here. “Believe whatever the fuck you wanna believe.”