I look up right as a thought clicks into place. Val and UriareHush and Black Death. I stumble to a stop, but my mouth isn’t hanging open because of the revelation.
I’m gobsmacked because Cole is sitting shirtless in the accent chair that normally sits in the corner of my room. His legs spread wide and his hands resting on the arms of the chair. His hair is a little messy, but sexy.
“Don’t look so surprised, love. I told ya I was coming for ya.”
“Get out, Cole,” I growl.
“Not before ya look at the file on the desk. Ya want the truth, I’m here to give it to ya.”
I purse my lips and walk over to the vanity where he placed a file. I pick up the file and open it. There’s a picture of a little girl inside.
Tears fill my eyes. She looks so much like Cole. I swipe my hand under my nose, not sure why he wants to keep hurting me like this.
Then I flip to the next picture and my cousin’s face smiles back at me. I flip from Raven back to the little girl and my brows knit. I’m suddenly confused as I take in the fact that the little girl looks like both Cole and Raven.
“Ach, Logan and I do favor each other, but I’m not the lass’s father. Oland had Raven murdered the same day he sent that army for ya.
“Yer call sent me to check on her. I found her dying and that little one hidden in a closet. Raven died in my arms.
“I’ve been protecting Shauna to make sure no one tries to finish the job. I wouldn’t tell ya about her because I know our enemies would use ya to try to find her—to destroy me and my brother. I needed to protect ye both. The less ya knew, the better,” Cole says into my ear.
“Why tell me now?”
“Blair and Callum. Ya have also made powerful friends willing to kill for ya and from what I hear, yer no slouch yerself.”
“Why were you guys with Aisling?”
He snorts. “We needed someone who could move about with Shauna and not be detected. Kate chose her. She’s not even my type, goofball.”
“Oh my God, Cole. I’m so sorry. I’ll pay for the car. I … I … I don’t know. I got so angry.”
Cole grabs the back of my neck and turns me to face him. In the next motion, he has his lips crushed to mine. He kisses me like a man desperate for air.
He’s taking all of mine as he deepens the kiss. It sinks in how wrong I had been and how much I miss him. I throw myself into the kiss and allow him to devour me.
He reaches for my bum and pulls me into him. Groaning into my mouth, he pulls my towel from around me and tosses it to the floor. Lifting on my toes, I try to get closer to him.
“How should I punish yer little ass?”
“Huh?”
“Ya didn’t think it was going to be that easy, did ya?”
“Come on, Cole. You weren’t spending time with me, you wouldn’t bring me here with you, and you came home smelling like another woman after I heard one calling your name over the phone. I saw you with them. What was I supposed to think?”
He grasps my throat and looks down into my eyes. The fire in his eyes should scare me, but it only turns me on. He moves his face closer to mine and I stick my tongue out to flick over his lips.
“You’re hiding the accent well, baby. Good girl. Your ass was supposed to think that you trust me.
“That I love you too much to hurt you like that. That I’d die before I see you hurt. Instead, you chose to get jealous and trash my car, which could have exposed you and Shauna,” he breathes against my lips.
My eyes go wide. I never would have forgiven myself if I got that baby hurt. I should have given him a chance to explain before I went all bonkers on his car.
“Aye, now ya understand, don’t ya? Now, baby, how should I punish ya?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll take it. I’m so sorry, Cole.”
“I’ve missed you so much. It’s good to have you home.”
