33. Jake
I’m at my desk, dealing with a hiccup with a contract for China that should have been dealt with weeks ago when the call comes through. My muscles tense as I see a call from the man watching Nick Kendrick. Unexpected calls never bring good news.
“Yes?” I answer briskly.
“I’m sorry to bother you, but I wanted to let you know that I lost eyes on Kendrick.”
“What the fuck do you mean you lost eyes on him?”
I crack my knuckles as I stand, grabbing my jacket. Something telling me to get to Cherry.
“He went into his club but got thrown out. I followed him to a bar down the road and watched him go in, but he never came out. I went in and the barman said he’d left through the back with some woman.”
“What did she look like?”
“I didn’t ask.”
Fuck me!
“Find the fuck out and call me immediately.”
I hang up and dial Cherry, but only get the engaged tone. I keep trying as I go to get in my car and then decide to take the bike I sometimes kept here for when I need to let off steam.
I link my phone through the helmet, wasting precious seconds, and then dial again. This time it rings and rings with no answer. No need to freak out, she’s probably busy or has the music loud again. Yet I can’t help the blind fear that is scratching at my insides like a rat trying to escape a hot steel drum.
My phone rings and I answer as I hit the freeway at breakneck speed. “Yes?”
“A blonde. Tall, slim, who was dressed like a socialite.”
Fuck, that has to be Lorelei. I knew she’d been working with Kendrick and they hooked up a few times from the report and the gossip rags. It seems they’ve teamed up again and that can’t be anything but bad news. “Call the police and have them sent to my property in Mariemont. Then find Kendrick before I do, or this will end badly for both of you.”
I kill the call and dial Hunter.
“Please don’t tell me they fucked this deal over a tiny detail, Jake.”
“I can’t get hold of Cherry and the fucking PI lost Kendrick.”
I knew my best friend would pick up the abject terror in my voice.
“I’m heading that way now. Is she at the house?”
“Yes.”
“It’s probably fine.”
“I’m five minutes out. Just get to her, Mac.”
“I’ve got you, Jake.”
I throttled the engine, taking curves way too fast, my knee skimming the tarmac as I race to get to her.
My phone goes again and I answer without looking.
“This better be good, asshole.”
“Jake, it’s Darla. I was on the phone with Cherry when something happened. I think she’s in trouble. ”
“Fuck. I’m already on my way and so are Hunter and the police, but tell me everything.”
“We were talking and then went kind of distant like she wasn’t listening. I heard her say what the fuck do you want or maybe it was who the fuck are you, I can’t recall, and then the call went dead. I tried to call back but she isn’t answering.”
“I’m just a minute out, and as soon as we confirm it’s all a misunderstanding, I’ll have her call you.”
The words die in my throat as I round the corner and see smoke billowing out of my property. Thick dark plumes of it roll out of the windows as my heart almost beats from my chest.
As I fly down the drive, I hear sirens behind me, but I don’t stop. I don’t think, all I care about is getting to Cherry. I let the bike fall to the ground and I race to the door. I try the handle but it’s locked. I spend precious seconds putting my shoulder into it before I give up and race around the side. Flames lick at the windows as I try and see, calling her name like a prayer.
Memories assault me of the last time I was in this position and ended up carrying my dead sister out in my arms. I won’t lose Cherry the same way, I can’t. I’ll never survive it. I skid on the gravel near the back French doors and try and peer inside. I squint, feeling hopelessness drag at my chest, trying to carve me in two.
That’s when I see it, a shot of shocking pink near the door on the ground.
“Cherry! Fuck, I’m coming. You just keep breathing, Blossom.”
I hunt around for something I can use to smash the windows. As I grab a rusty spade, Mac races around the corner.
“She’s inside. Help me.”
Never in my life have I felt such desperation. Not the night my sister died, not when my mother overdosed, not when I was arrested, and not even when I watched Cherry walk away from me, her heart broken ten years ago.
Between Mac and I, we smash the glass and are driven back for a second as smoke pours ou t of the space and poisons the air. I push forward and Mac grabs my arm.
“The fire department is here.”
“Fuck that, I’m not waiting.”
I shake his hand off and push through the gap, hardly feeling the glass cut my arms. I gather her limp body in my arms and cradle her to my chest as I cough and splutter. Turning, I let Mac help me through the broken glass as heat singes my back.
Stepping through the broken door, I rush toward the ambulance as the firemen take over. A paramedic tries to take her from me, and I almost bite his head off, but then I feel Mac’s hand.
“Let them take care of her, Jake.”
My arms shake as I fight the urge to run away with her. The thought of letting her out of my arms is torture, but I know deep down I can’t help, only they can. I sit on the bench as the EMTs, two female paramedics, check her over, listening to her lungs, checking her airway, and placing an oxygen mask over her face.
I reach for her hand, not willing to sit here and not let her know I’m here. Tears track down my cheek, and I choke on a sob. I can’t lose her. I love her so much. It would be hell on earth without her. If she dies, I’ll live for one reason and one only, and that will be to hunt down Kendrick and Lorelei and torture them to death.
“Jake.”
My head snaps up at the weak, raspy sound that is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.
“Blossom. Oh my God, I thought I’d lost you.”
Her face is covered in soot and dust but her weak smile almost stops my heart as she reaches out to stroke my face. “You’ll never lose me, Jake. I love you.”
I never thought I’d be the type of man to lose it, but at her words, I put my head on her belly and hold on to her while I sob. Her hand stays in my hair as the paramedics give us some space for a minute.
When my mental breakdown is over, I lift my head, and she’s looking at me with so much love .
“You really like me, huh?”
Her ridiculous statement has me laughing as I sit forward and kiss her beautiful lips, tasting the smoke she’s inhaled.
“I really fucking love you, Blossom.”
“I love you, too. I’m sorry I was so afraid to say it before.”
“I’d wait a lifetime for you, Blossom.”
“Sappy.”
“You love my sappy.”
“I do.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but we really need to get her checked over at the hospital.”
I glance at the blonde paramedic who addressed me and nod. “Fine but I’m coming with you.”
“That’s fine.”
I know Mac will handle things here, and I don’t give a fuck if the house burns to the ground, we can rebuild. The only thing that matters is my Cherry Blossom.
At the hospital, they check Cherry over and run some blood tests and lung function tests. I growl at the nurse who tries to clean her up and take the cloth from her so that I can wipe the dirt from her face. Her eyes are closed and I know she’s exhausted and needs rest but I’m not leaving her alone.
“Jake.”
“Hey, you.”
“It was Kendrick.”
My jaw practically snaps with the force of my anger when she confirms my fears. “I’m sorry. I should have known he’d find a way. That bastard is dead when I find him.”
“He’s jealous.”
I frown, not understanding what she means. “Why? He has more money than God.”
Cherry shakes her head, a hacking cough taking hold and I help her sit up and take a sip of water, fucking hating that he caused this and knowing for every second she suffers, he’ll suffer ten times worse before I end his m iserable life.
“He was jealous of Hunter and then me. He says he loves you.”
What the fuck kind of twisted messed up bullshit is this? “We were never more than friends, and barely that.”
“I know but he’s clearly sick.”
“Don’t give a fuck. He’s still going to pay with his life, so please don’t ask me to spare him, Blossom. That’s twice now he’s tried to take you from me, and I’m not giving him the chance to have a third go.”
“I’m not asking you to. I just want you to know what you’re facing with him.”
I stroke her hair back from her face and her eyes close. “Don’t worry about me. You just get better so we can go house hunting.”
“You have a house. You can rebuild.”
“No fucking way. We rebuild, Blossom. From now on, I’m not wasting time. We’re moving in together. We’re starting our life together and that includes you in a white dress, saying I do, and a handful of obnoxiously gorgeous kids.”
“Worst proposal ever.”
I laugh at her sass, even as the weakness in her voice makes me want to rip out Kendrick’s heart and feed it to him.
“That was a statement of fact, not a proposal, Blossom. When I propose, you’ll know.”
Her energy fades then and I sit by her side until her mother and Lexi come rushing in like the hounds of hell are chasing them. I lift my finger, indicating she’s sleeping and the two women nod, and sit on either side of her in silence.
“How is she?”
“She’s going to be okay. They want to keep her in overnight to be sure her lungs are clear. But other than a few bumps and some minor smoke inhalation, she’s going to be fine.”
“Thank God.” Her mom sniffs and I wrap an arm around her while she gets herself together.
“Is Mac outside? ”
Lexi nods and I ask if they’re okay to stay with Cherry while I talk to my best friend and get an update. I’d rather never leave her ever again, but I need to end this threat to her for good.
Mac is waiting when I exit Cherry’s room and this is too reminiscent of the time we spent waiting for news on Lexi. Lines of stress bracket his mouth and, for the first time, I can honestly say I understand how he felt and I wish with all my heart I didn’t.
“How is she?”
“She’s gonna be fine. Just an overnight stay for observation.”
“Good.”
I place my hands on my hips and try and control the rolling rage trying to break through my skin.
“Kendrick?”
“I have a team looking for him and my dad put a call into the Mancinis. They won’t get involved but they’re happy to clean up any mess for us as an apology for letting him slip through the net.”
“Okay. Call me when you find him. He’s mine, Mac.”
“You got it. You just take care of Cherry and I’ll handle this.”
“Thank you.”
“No need, it’s what friends do.”
That’s more than I deserve. I certainly didn’t have his back quick enough with Lexi, but I’ll make sure that going forward, I don’t let anything happen to the people I love and that starts with Cherry.