Lili
Ifiddled with my hands.
Waiting sucked. I wanted this over. I wanted Ava-Jane safe. I wanted Goodyear stopped.
And my father had come to check on me. Maybe he did care.
I shook my head. Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t. But I knew who showed me with his actions that he cared.
Cole.
I glanced out the window toward the ranch. My chest felt tight, like it was squeezed by a hard band.
Please be okay, Cole.
That’s when I noticed a dark smudge in the distance. I narrowed my gaze, staring out the window.
Smoke.
Everything inside me froze.
A plume of dark smoke was rising into the air. My stomach cramped.
Something was wrong. I could feel it deep inside. I chewed on my lip. Cole had ordered me to stay here in the SUV.
What if he was hurt? What if he needed help? What if Ava-Jane was hurt?
I didn’t stop to think. Technically, I was staying inside the vehicle. I climbed between the seats from the back and into the driver’s seat. I started the engine, then adjusted my seat forward.
I set the Range Rover into gear and drove as fast as I could down the dirt road. Soon, I saw some horse yards and outbuildings.
And then a southwestern-style adobe house that was on fire.
No.
I skidded to a stop, then spotted Bastian and Landon with hoses, trying to tame the flames.
Where was Cole?
God, was he inside. I climbed out, staring at the burning house. Then, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye, and that’s when I spotted Goodyear rounding the building.
Holding a red fuel can.
He’d done this. The rage that had been bubbling inside me for so long exploded. I sprinted toward him.
He spotted me coming. “What are you doing here? This is private property—”
I punched him.
He made a pained sound and dropped the fuel can. My knuckles throbbed, but I punched him again. There was a crunch and a spurt of blood as his nose broke,
Pain exploded through my hand and I shook it.
Goodyear dropped to his knees in the sand, cradling his nose. “You little bitch—”
“You are evil,” I spat. “You have no soul. You’ve hurt so many people. You’re done, Goodyear.”
He glared at me. “You think you’re going to stop me?” He spat on the sand. “You’re trash. You’re nobody. Even your own father didn’t want you.”
“You won’t get away with your chaos and destruction anymore. I won’t let you hurt anyone else.”
With a low sound, he launched up and tackled me. I hit the sand on my back and Goodyear on top of me.
“I’ll fucking end you,” he yelled. “You really thought you could stop someone as powerful and influential as me?” He got his bulk on top of me. “This is where you belong. On your back, in the dirt.” His hands closed around my throat.
Oh God. I shoved my hands against him.
Before I could do anything else, his weight was lifted off me.
I watched Cole slam Goodyear into the ground. I scrambled up. Cole looked like some demon that had escaped hell. He was covered in soot, his face twisted with rage.
I turned and saw the others were there, all dirty and sweaty.
Then I saw a group of four women huddled together, all wearing tiny slips of dresses and shivering.
“Lili?” Ava-Jane step forward. Her shocked face was smudged with dirt and her blonde hair was tangled.
“Ava-Jane.” I rushed and hugged her. “I’ve been looking for you.”
“You…came.”
“I told you that we were going to escape. I had a little help from some friends.”
Nash stepped closer, gripped my shoulder, and squeezed.
“I’ll take you all down!” Goodyear screamed, spittle flying. “I’m Chadwick Goodyear. I’m untouchable.”
“No, you’re not,” Cole said. “Three years ago, you ordered Delta Team to be killed.”
“They were mercs. They were disposable.”
I saw the pain on Cole’s face.
“No, they were better men than you’ll ever be. They were good, loyal, decent. You’ll pay for killing them. You’ll pay for hurting Lili and trying to kill her. You’ll pay for what you’ve done to these innocent women.”
Goodyear made a scoffing sound. “I have teams of high-priced lawyers. I’ll tie this all up in court for years. I’ll never see a jail cell.”
I walked to Cole and pressed my hand to his arm.
“He’ll never stop. He’ll hurt and kill more people.
” I looked into Cole’s eyes. Eyes that I was falling in love with.
“I need you to be a hero. I need you to take one more scar to your soul.” The soul I’d then nurture and hold in my hands for as long as he’d let me.
He stared at me for a beat, then he nodded.
He pulled a gun from the waistband of his pants.
Goodyear’s eyes widened. “Wait—”
“For Ava-Jane Jones.”
I heard Ava-Jane stifle a sob.
“For Lili Armstrong.”
I squeezed his arm.
“For Brent Green, Austin Ramirez, and August Zillman.” Cole raised the gun. “And for Jason Quinn.”
He fired.
One shot between the eyes.
Goodyear fell back in the dirt, his sightless gaze staring at the darkening sky.
“Good riddance.” Ava-Jane came over and spat on his body.
The other women came forward as well, one spat on him, and the other two kicked Goodyear and uttered curses.
“Let’s get you ladies some blankets and into a vehicle.” Landon stepped forward, speaking calmly. “My name’s Dr. Landon Bradshaw. We’re going to take good care of you.”
Cole stood there staring at Goodyear.
“It’s done,” I whispered, pressing into him.
Then Cole scooped me up and carried me away.