9. Lili
LILI
Blinking, I woke up, not exactly sure where I was.
My heart hammered hard and I sat up fast, making my head spin. I took in the masculine living room, the huge TV, the leather couch beneath me.
Cole’s place.
There was a soft blanket thrown over me, and I tugged it closer
He’d set me up watching television—a delightfully cheesy romcom movie I’d found on Netflix—but since I didn’t remember watching the end of it, I figured I’d fallen asleep. I hadn’t originally had a blanket on me. I fingered the smooth fabric. Cole had obviously tucked me in.
I wasn’t surprised I’d fallen asleep. I hadn’t slept a whole lot in the last twenty-four hours.
I glanced around, but there was no sign of Cole. My neck tightened slightly. Knowing he was with me made me feel so much safer.
With a shake of my head, I rose. I’d essentially been on my own my entire life. I never expected my dad to protect or take care of me. And this week, he’d shown just how little he cared. I couldn’t get used to having Cole around. I wouldn’t be here forever.
My thoughts turned to Ava-Jane, and I wondered where she was. If she was safe, or being made to do terrible things. My heart squeezed.
From what I’d seen and heard, none of Cole’s friends liked Chadwick Goodyear.
In fact, the way Cole had spoken about the man…I got the sense there was a lot more to his dislike of Goodyear.
“There you are.”
Cole’s deep voice jolted me out of my thoughts. He’d come out of the hallway.
“Hey. Sorry I fell asleep.”
The side of his mouth quirked. “No need to apologize. You needed the rest.”
“What time is it?”
“After five. Alessio packed up your apartment and brought your things.” He jerked a head toward the entry.
Near the door sat a stack of items, consisting of my battered suitcase, a duffel bag, laptop bag, and several boxes. “Oh. Thank you.” I raced over and grabbed my laptop bag.
“Not much stuff.”
I glanced at him. He sounded unhappy. “I only had a small place.” I chewed my lip. “My lease isn’t up for a few more months. My landlord isn’t the most understanding guy, he’ll probably want money to—”
“Alessio sorted it. Your lease is finished.”
I’d only gotten a brief look at Alessio in the SUV this morning, but he’d struck me as quiet and a little scary. I stared at Cole. “Just like that?”
“Just like that.”
I pulled in a breath. “I really don’t know how to thank you for everything you’ve done for me, Cole. You fought for me, you…” killed for me “…rescued me from that house.”
“Don’t need the thanks.”
I walked over to him and pressed a hand to his chest. “You have it anyway. No one has ever had my back like this before.”
Something moved through his eyes, then he nodded once.
“I’m going to check my emails. My clients might have been in touch.” I sat back on the couch and pulled my laptop out. I called it the Beast. It was a hulking old thing, but it still ran. I’d bought it a few years back from a pawn shop.
Cole moved closer, scowling at my computer. “Clients?”
I opened the machine and booted it up. “Yes, I do some bookkeeping for a few small businesses. I took classes a few years back.” I smiled. “I’m good with numbers.”
He grunted. I saw I only had one email and quickly responded. I didn’t have anything due for another week.
A car engine rumbled out front, and I tensed.
“It’s okay,” he said. “No one can get on the grounds here without passing through security. It’s my buddy, Rafe. He drove your car over.”
“Oh.”
I followed Cole outside. My beaten-up, silver Ford Fiesta sat in Cole’s driveway. She had a lot of miles on her, and a few dings that were there when I bought her, but she got me where I needed to go.
The driver’s side door opened and a man sliced out.
A very handsome man.
He had a hell of a face with a square jaw, high cheekbones, and blue eyes shades lighter than Cole’s.
This guy could model expensive suits or cologne.
His hair was brown, streaked with some blond strands, and well-cut.
He wore tailored suit pants and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up.
An expensive watch graced his wrist. I expected him to open his mouth and ask for a martini.
“You must be Lili.” He had a sexy voice, and an even sexier British accent. I managed not to swoon. Despite the good looks, and a shirt that fit him like a glove, I found I liked Cole’s ruggedness more.
I nodded.
“I’m Rafe Archer, Cole’s best-looking friend.”
“Most annoying,” Cole muttered.
I bit back a smile. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Rafe just smiled wider. “Darling Lili, your car is a piece of shit.”
That startled a laugh out of me.
“Ignore him,” Cole said. “He drives an Aston Martin and thinks anything else is a piece of shit.”
Rafe looked offended. “That’s not true. I’ll drive something Italian-made if I have to.”
Cole snorted.
“I know my car is a piece of shit, Rafe, but it was all I could afford. Thanks for bringing it.”
I saw the men trade a look I couldn’t quite read.
“I do believe it needs a service,” Rafe said.
“I’ll take care of it,” Cole said.
I whipped around. “No, you’ve done enough.”
He crossed his arms over his broad chest. “Don’t worry about it.”
“By the way,” Rafe said. “Nash said to tell you still no sign of the woman you’re looking for, but his team is working on it.”
My good mood faded.
“He’s got eyes on Goodyear. Apparently, he’s at some big party tonight at the Bellagio with his family. Looks like he’s thinking of making a run for governor.”
I suddenly felt sick.
“Thanks for bringing the car, Rafe.” Cole took my elbow. “Come on, sunshine.”
Back inside, I tried to stop thinking about Goodyear, but thoughts kept churning in my head.
“I’m going to cook us some dinner.”
I looked up. “You cook?”
“Yeah, don’t sound so surprised.”
“Sorry.” I held up a hand. “My dad is hopeless in the kitchen, unless it involves heating leftovers up in the microwave.”
Cole made a sound. “Sounds like your dad is hopeless at a lot of things. I’m no chef, but I can grill. I’ve got some good steaks in the fridge.”
“How about I make some vegetables to go with them?”
“Deal.”
Soon, I was humming as I chopped and cooked. I liked this. Moving around his modern kitchen, roasting some potatoes and cooking up some asparagus. I cooked sometimes, but never anything fancy since I was usually cooking for myself. It wasn’t much fun to cook for one.
When he came in from the outside patio where his grill was with the cooked steaks, we maneuvered around the kitchen like we’d been doing it forever.
Licking my lips, I stared at his broad back. His black T-shirt stretched tight over his muscular body. He was so big, so strong. I wished he saw me as more than a young woman in trouble and in need of rescuing. I’d give anything for him to see me as a woman.
“Ready?” He glanced back at me.
I pinned on a smile. “Ready.”
We plated up and ate at his table. Cole drank a beer, but I stuck with water.
“Do you work in security at the Avernus like Nash?”
He shook his head. “I help out if the guys need me, but I actually have a business. Darkwolf Tactical.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I have a training facility in the desert, where I teach tactical training and CQC. Close quarters combat. Mainly for private military contractors. I just take a few jobs when it suits me.”
“So you still use your mercenary skills.”
“Yeah. I did a short stint in the Army, then joined my Dad and uncle. They had a small outfit.”
“So it’s a family business.”
“It was. They’re both dead now.”
My stomach clenched. “I’m sorry.”
“They both lived exactly how they wanted. Dad had a heart attack while drinking whiskey and smoking cigars. He was alone at the time. By the time someone found him, it was too late. A few years later, Uncle Heath had a stroke.” His lips twitched.
“Old bastards probably liked going out before they got too old.”
I wondered if Cole was living the life he wanted. I wanted to ask him how he’d become an assassin, but I didn’t know how to bring it up.
“I had a great team I worked with. Delta Team. Some of the best men I ever knew.”
Past tense. My heart squeezed. I saw the dark look that crossed his face. “You lost them too?”
His lips pressed together. “Yeah.”
He didn’t say anything else, and I didn’t push.
I ate as much of the steak as I could, but it was enormous. He eyed my plate like he was contemplating forcing me to eat more.
“I’m totally stuffed. Can’t fit anything else.”
“Want to watch some TV?”
“Sure. I’ll try not to conk out on you this time.”
He rose, taking their plates with him. “You need to sleep, Lili, you sleep. Your body needs the rest.”
He walked into the kitchen, and my gaze stayed locked on him. I just wasn’t used to anyone taking care of me like this, in both big and small ways.
We settled on the couch, Cole at one end and me at the other.
“Stretch out.” He patted the couch beside him.
With a smile, I stretched my legs out, my toes brushing his thigh. He grabbed the remote, shuffling through the channels.
He found a comedy show and soon, I was laughing as I watched. When I glanced over, he wasn’t watching the screen, he was watching me, a small smile on his face.
I curled my toes. Don’t get used to this, Lili. You’ll be leaving soon and he’ll no doubt be happy to see the back of you.
Absently, Cole grabbed my feet and lifted them into his lap. My heartrate picked up speed, and when he started to massage one foot, I swallowed a moan.
His big hands paused. “Okay?”
“Don’t stop.”
His lips twitched and he went back to massaging.
I kept my gaze on the television, but I was so aware of those strong fingers kneading my foot, sensation throbbing up my leg. I felt every touch, every brush of his fingers.
This was nice. Too nice.
The show we were watching ended, and a news bulletin came on. I didn’t pay it any attention, fully focused on Cole’s amazing fingers.
“The two bodies were found in a shallow grave in the desert north of Las Vegas today. The male victim has been identified as veteran boxer, Chuck ‘Bronco’ Jones.”
I jolted.
“Lili?”
I sat up, staring at the TV.
“The police are investigating it as a homicide, and are notifying next of kin of the victims.”
“Fuck.” Cole’s voice held an edge. He shifted closer.
The screen showed several police vehicles in the desert, blue and red lights illuminating the desolate scene.
“Goodyear killed them,” I whispered. “He shot Bronco and killed his girlfriend, Gloria.”
Cole cursed.
“Gloria was unconscious. I…I didn’t realize she was dead.” My voice rose.
“It’s okay.” He slid an arm around me, pulling me close.”
“Poor Bronco, poor Gloria.” I felt numb and horrified all at once.
“She was always nice to me.” I stared at the desolate stretch of desert road where they’d been found.
“Goodyear just dumped them like trash. He just takes whatever he wants, does whatever he wants, and doesn’t care about anyone else. ”
“I know.”
Now the edge had turned jagged. I looked up at him. “He did something to you.”
A muscle in his jaw ticked. “I need to talk about this with Nash.”
I nodded. He clearly wasn’t ready to share.
“Lili, did Goodyear know you saw him kill Bronco?”
“No. I…no, but one of his thugs caught me afterward.”
That muscle ticked again. “Why don’t you go and get ready for bed?”
“I can sleep on the couch—”
“No.” His tone brooked no argument. “I’ll take the couch. You’re sleeping in my bed.”