Chapter Seven
“No,” Lesley cried and lunged for Cole’s arm.She’d do anything to stop him from going inside the apartment.“You can’t go in there.They could be waiting.”
Cole didn’t seem to hear her.He brushed her hand aside as if her grip were no more effective than a child’s.
“Cole,” she pleaded a second time.
He had apparently forgotten her presence until Lesley climbed out his side of the car and ran after him.With all her weight she pulled against his arm.“Cole,” she cried frantically.“You could be killed.”
He turned to her then, his eyes shining with an unnatural light.Hate.Never had Lesley seen anything more vivid in a man’s eyes.Cole hated with an intensity that paled under every other emotion.His reactions were single-minded—even common sense was banished under the all-consuming drive.
Realizing nothing could effectively stop him, Lesley flung herself in front of Cole.His hands tried to push her behind him, but she clung to him, her own fear giving her strength beyond her normal capabilities.
“Lesley,” Cole groaned and gripped her around the waist, holding her upright.His face muscles had relaxed and the intensity had waned.“If anyone was in there waiting, they could have killed us both several times over.”
“Oh.”She swallowed and loosened her hold.
“You put your life on the line for me.”His face loomed bare inches from her own.“Why?”
“I...I didn’t want to see you hurt.”Her love had driven her just as his hate had him.But she couldn’t tell him that, she couldn’t give him another weapon.
Cole raked a hand through the dark hair that swept naturally over his forehead.“You can be the most exasperating female.”
“Me?”she shouted incredulously.
He ignored her outrage and folded her fingers in his.“Come on, let’s go see what damage they’ve done.”
“Who?”Lesley wanted to know.“Jennings?”
Lesley felt the tremor that went through Cole as he tensed and glanced down at her.“No, that isn’t his style.Jennings has others do his dirty work for him.”
Cole pushed open the door to his apartment with one hand.It banged against the wall, and the sound vibrated through the room.One flip of the light switch and the area was flooded with light.
Lesley let out a sickened gasp at the mess that lay before her.The living room was in shambles, the furniture slashed and the stuffing pulled from the cushions.Something had been thrown through the television screen and the shattered glass was everywhere.Her gaze followed the path of destruction through the apartment.
Speechless with shock, they moved into the kitchen.The contents of the refrigerator had been dumped on the floor.Egg yolks and milk jelled on the linoleum.A bag of flour had been carelessly tossed across the top of the counter and stove.
“Oh, Cole.”Lesley could hardly bear to look.In all her life she had never seen worse chaos.“We’d better phone the police.”
“No!”he shouted.
“Yes,” she returned stubbornly.“You can’t let this kind of destruction go unreported.”
“I know who did this and I know why.The police won’t help.”
“But, Cole,” she argued.
“I thought you said you could trust me?”He made the shouting words a question.“Were you just lying to me?”
Lesley stared back at him dumbfounded, unable to answer.
“And why should I tell you anything?What right do you have to invade my life and demand answers to questions that are none of your business?”
“None,” she answered in a soft, trembling voice.“None whatsoever.”
Cole rammed both hands into his jeans pockets and shot a gaze at the ceiling.Neither spoke for several long moments.
“They didn’t find what they were looking for.That’s the reason for this.”His hand made a sweeping gesture toward the kitchen and living room.
