10. Cole
COLE
Ipaced my living room.
Nash and Landon stood nearby. Lili was asleep.
“She saw Goodyear shoot this Chuck Jones?” Nash asked.
I nodded.
“Fuck.” Landon rubbed the back of his neck. “When she mentioned it before, I didn’t realize this guy was dead.”
“Nor did Lili. She didn’t know Bronco’s girlfriend was dead either.”
“Poor thing’s been through the wringer,” Landon murmured.
“That’s fucking ended. No one is touching a hair on her head.”
My friends traded a long look.
“It’s not like that,” I growled.
“Like what?” Nash asked.
“She’s too young for me. Once I get her free of Goodyear, she’s leaving. She can finally live free.”
They traded another look.
I ignored it. “She says no one saw her, but one of Goodyear’s goons nabbed her afterward.”
“They probably suspect she saw something.” Nash met my gaze. “Word on the street is that they’re looking for her.”
My fingers curled into fists. I wasn’t surprised.
“And I got wind Kamensky is fucking obsessed with her,” Nash added. “He’s likely going to be a problem.”
“I’ll take care of Kamensky.” I’d beaten him twice in the ring. The guy was an asshole, and if he was determined to have Lili, against her wishes, I had zero problems taking him out.
“I’m done fucking with Goodyear. I want my revenge.” I wanted vengeance for Delta Team. “And I want to protect Lili.”
“We’ll help,” Landon said. “Whatever you need.”
Nash nodded.
“Thanks.”
“I’d better get back to Georgie,” Nash said.
“And I have an early shift at the clinic,” Landon said. “Lili doing okay?”
I released a breath. “Yes. She seems to find pleasure in the smallest things, and looks vaguely surprised whenever I do something for her. Her father is an asshole of epic proportions.”
Nash grunted. “Everything I’ve gathered on him corroborates that.”
If Brock Armstrong came anywhere near his daughter, I’d deal with him, too.
After the guys left, I grabbed a pillow and blanket, and tossed them on the couch. That’s where I’d be sleeping.
Because Lili was in my bed.
I suddenly felt an overwhelming need to see her.
Without making a sound, I crept into my bedroom. Moonlight shone through the window, illuminating the bed. Her hair was spread out on the pillows. She was sound asleep, curled up on her side. Her face snuggled into my pillow.
I swallowed and moved closer. I stood there, watching her sleep.
I’ll keep you safe. No matter what. No matter who I have to fight.
Lili Armstrong would breathe easy, as long as I was drawing breath.
I knew she was in danger. Goodyear would cover his ass. Kamensky was obsessed with her.
And you’re not?
She made a soft sound and turned over onto her stomach. The covers slipped down, and I saw she was wearing one of my T-shirts again, even though her battered suitcase was sitting in the corner of the room. The tee rode up, and I got a glimpse of those gorgeous thighs and a panty-covered ass.
Fuck. My cock filled with blood.
No one would hurt her. That included me, no matter how hard she made my cock.
But did I leave? No. I moved right to the bed and reached out. I ran the strands of her silky hair through my fingers.
Stop acting like a fucking stalker, Black.
I stepped back, ready to force myself to head to the couch, where I knew I’d get no sleep.
At the door, she made a sound. It wasn’t soft, or sleepy.
Spinning, I saw her jerk awake violently. “No!”
“Lili?” I was back beside the bed in a heartbeat.
She sucked in air, her chest rising and falling rapidly. I could see her eyes were wide and panicked.
“Lili, you’re safe.” My voice was low and gritty.
“Cole?” She blinked.
“It’s me. You were having a nightmare.”
A breath shuddered out of her. “I…Anton. He was chasing me through the warehouse. I couldn’t escape, there were dead ends everywhere. I could smell him, hear his breathing—”
My mouth flattened. Yeah, I was going to end Anton Kamensky.
“He’s not here. He’ll never touch you.”
Her hand shot out and she gripped my wrist. “Cole…”
I heard the plea in her voice. I sank onto the edge of the bed.
In a flash, she moved, crawling onto my lap.
Damn. I wrapped my arms around her. She held on, shivering. I’d hugged her more in the last day than I’d hugged anyone in my entire life.
I ran a hand down her back, loving how perfectly she fit against me. “You’re safe, sunshine. I promise. Not letting anyone touch you ever again.”
She pressed her face to my neck, her breath warm on my skin.
I closed my eyes and breathed her in. Damn, I liked holding her. Some part of me warned I should put her down and stay far away. The other part…It wanted to fight anyone who tried to take her away from me.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m not usually this much of a baby.”
“You’ve been through a lot.” I ran a hand down her hair. The strands caught on my calluses, reminding me that a rough bastard like me wasn’t for the likes of her. I set her down. “You should get some more sleep.”
She grabbed my bicep. “No.”
“Lili…”
“Please, don’t go. Don’t…leave me alone.”
I struggled for three seconds, but even in the dim light, I saw the look on her face. The pleading.
I couldn’t leave her. Not when she needed me.
Lifting her, I moved back into the middle of the bed, then shifted beside her and leaned back on the pillows. They already smelled like her vanilla scent.
She lay down, settling half on top of me and snuggling in.
She fell asleep quickly, her hand clutching my chest, her breathing evening out.
I lay there in the moonlight, holding her, and didn’t sleep at all.