Lili #2
Self-consciously, I smiled and gripped the fabric of my skirt. He set the beer down and rose. Then he led me to the seat beside his and pulled it out.
As I sat, he leaned down, his mouth brushing my ear. “You look beautiful, Lili.”
My heart set off like a racehorse out of the gates. Did that mean he was interested in touching me again? Or better yet, letting me touch him?
“Thanks.”
“I’ve ordered food,” Bastian announced. “A little bit of everything. So help yourselves.”
Servers brought platters of amazing pasta, woodfired pizza, lightly fried calamari, and lush salads. I loaded up my plate.
Soon, everyone was eating and drinking. The men were talking work, and every now and then, they’d stop to share some funny story of something that happened in the casino. They spent a lot of time ribbing each other.
“Lili, cocktails for us.” Georgie sat beside me and plunked a long, fancy glass of something frothy and pink in front of me.
“Thank you. And thanks for being so kind to me. Cole has really gone out of his way to help me, you all have—”
She put her hand over mine. “That’s what these guys do.”
Lark appeared, sipping her own pink cocktail. “They sure do. Deep down, they’re all protectors.”
“They all helped me when I was in trouble,” Georgie said. “My sister was killed.”
“Oh, Georgie, I’m so sorry.” I put my hand on hers.
“Thanks. Someone powerful took advantage of her. I was determined to make him pay. To kill him.”
I gasped. I couldn’t imagine pretty, blonde Georgie killing anyone.
“I got myself into some trouble…and Nash got me out of it. He helped me.”
“And dragged her into his bed and didn’t let her go,” Lark said. “I came here to kill Bastian.”
My eyes got huge.
Lark laughed. “I had some dramas of my own. I’d known Bastian for years.
We’d had the same mentor, and long story short, I thought I hated Bastian.
Turned out I didn’t hate the guy, I loved him.
” She glanced down at the other end of the table.
“They all helped, and yet, they all think they should sacrifice their own happiness. They think they can do the dark deeds and save the day, then brood, alone, for the rest of eternity.”
I pulled a face.
“Ah,” Georgie noted. “You’ve already gotten the same story from our Cole.”
I leaned forward and glanced at him. He was deep in conversation with Landon. I kept my voice low. “He says he’s too old for me, too bad for me.”
Georgie rolled her eyes. “I’ve heard a variation of this story.”
Lark sipped her drink. “I didn’t. Bastian decided I was his and moved like a freight train at high speed. But he has his own demons. They all do.”
“I’ve seen bad men,” I said. “Cole is not that.”
“Agreed.” Georgie nodded, then chewed on her lip. “But I know losing his team scarred him deeply.”
“You know about them?” I asked.
“Only a little. He doesn’t say much. I just know he’s desperate to destroy Chadwick Goodyear.”
Everything inside me froze. “Goodyear killed Cole’s friends?”
Georgie froze. “You didn’t know.”
My pulse fluttered in my neck. “He didn’t mention it.”
Georgie flicked a glance at Cole and lowered her voice. “He only found out recently. Goodyear didn’t pull the trigger but he gave the order.”
“Oh, God.” I set my glass down, feeling a little sick.
“Cole searched for a long time to find out who was responsible,” Lark added, her face serious. “He’s biding his time, but Goodyear is going down. When Cole was an assassin, he was called Darkwolf.”
I met her gaze head on.
“He took his time, hunted his prey down until they were terrified, then took them out when he was ready.”
And that’s what he was doing with Goodyear. Toying with him, until it was time.
Was I just another way for him to hurt Goodyear?
I pushed my chair back. “I think I need the restroom.”
“Lili?” Georgie grabbed my arm. “Are you all right?”
I nodded. “It’s…a lot.”
“It is, but Cole is a good man. A good man who needs a good woman.”
“I don’t think that’s me. He’s really set on me driving off to start a new life.”
Lark rolled her eyes. “Because he’s a man, who thinks he knows what’s best for you. You get to decide that, not him.”
“I just need a minute. I’ll be right back.”
“What’s going on?”
Cole’s voice made me jump. I didn’t meet his gaze. “Nothing. I just need the ladies room.”
I hurried away. I spotted the sign for the restrooms and aimed that way. They were down a short corridor of more glossy marble. When I stepped into the ladies’, two women in short dresses were just leaving.
Standing at the sink, I looked into the mirror.
Cole had demons. I knew that. And maybe winning me in the fight was just another way for him to dig the knife into Goodyear, but he’d gone above and beyond for me. Lark and Georgie were right. Cole deserved to be happy. Revenge might help, but it wouldn’t give him happiness.
I deserved to be happy, too, and I was the one who decided what was best for me. I might not get to keep a man as magnificent as Cole Black, but I wanted him, at least for a little while.