“Sure thing, be there in ten,” heanswered without delay.
We sat side by side at the bar amidstthe hustle and bustle of the lunch hour rush and I looked around trying not toappear as terrified as I felt.
“I wasn’t followed,” Cal statedconfidentially.
I blew out a breath and turned to facehim. “Jake somehow got a hold of Cole. He’s got him up in the old army bunkersoff Route 1,” I told him, my voice shaking. “He called this morning, told me Ineeded to come alone. I think he plans to take off with me somewhere,” Icontinued, my voice surprisingly calm.
I watched Cal’s entire body stiffenand eyes narrow as he tried visibly to remain calm.
“If it weren’t for the baby I wouldn’thave risked telling you. I would have gone alone, but I knew Cole would be soupset if…”
“You did the right thing,” heinterrupted me firmly, reaching out to give my arm a reassuring squeeze.
“I think I still have to go in alone.I’m too afraid that he’ll shoot Cole on sight if he spots anyone else,” I saidas my eyes swept the room. “And I think I have a plan if you’re up for it,” Ioffered.
Cal looked at me in surprise. “What’sthe plan?” he asked.
I didn’t delay in telling him exactlywhat I conjured up, and before I knew it I was behind the wheel of mypathfinder, off to get my man.
It took me four hours to get to thedeserted army base, just a mile outside of my hometown in Northern California.It was the longest drive of my life. I knew that Cal, Sal, Wes, and Mack weresomewhere behind me, but I never once saw them, which was a good thing sincethis whole plan would be shot to shit if they were spotted.
I hadn’t been back home in almost nineyears, and despite everything, I couldn’t help but think of my father, long agolost but never far from my mind. This was the last place I’d seen him alive.This was where my mother, father, and I had been a family. I’d lost a lotwithin these city limits.
Jake and I had played here as kids,the old bunkers making perfect forts. It was a typically foggy day in thecoastal town, and the weather made the old abandoned buildings appear even moresinister and unwelcoming than I’d remembered. Jake and I had terrorized eachother mercilessly, hiding in the dark corners and pouncing on each other. We’dshared countless meals and played endless games of make-believe within thedilapidated walls. That felt like a lifetime ago.
I had one thing going for me, Jakewanted me and I intended to play that to my advantage. He was also alone withno further allies. I knew that my plan was risky given his obviously volatilemental state, but I was sure it was the best bet we had.
My whole body pumped with adrenalinwhen I pulled up to the bunker we’d played in most frequently. I cut the engineand sat for a few moments with the pounding of my heart roaring in my ears.Cole had saved me in more ways than one. Yes, he’d kept me safe, but he alsosaved me from a life of solitude where I hadn’t really been living at all. I’dbeen going through the motions, I’d been surviving, but that was a far cry fromwhat my life is now. Now, he needed me, and I wasn’t about to let him down. Isteeled myself to what I knew I had to do and I got out of the car.
“That was quick,” Jake said as he laughed,making me jump when he emerged from the bunker with a gun in his hand. Hestrode toward me with purpose and dragged me inside. Despite the dim light, Iimmediately clocked Cole’s slumped form in the corner. He looked lucid as hisbeautiful eyes met mine and widened in panic. I took a quick perusal of hisbody and was relieved to see that he didn’t look seriously hurt. He had someblood running down the side of his face and his arm but he was alive. Thank God,he was alive. He was gagged, and it took everything I had not to run over tohim to assure him I could take care of him, of us.It was the hardest thing I’d ever done,to keep my face clear of emotion as I looked him over. I couldn’t give myselfaway, not if this was going to work.
“Yeah, well I’ve been waiting,” Ireplied softly, turning my attention back to Jake with what I hoped was anexpectant expression.
It was time for an Oscar worthyperformance.
I saw his brows knit momentarily inconfusion.
I sighed as though exasperated. “He’shad me followed, the house under surveillance,” I explained. “I was ready tocome to you on my own, I just didn’t know how.”
Jake’s eyes narrowed and he backhandedme across the face. “Don’t you dare fuck withme!Whatdo you think I’m fucking stupid?” he growled as I saw Cole struggling to getup. I knew it was killing him to be so helpless. But I had this handled, or Ihoped I did. I held my hand to my cheek and blinked a few times while theinitial sting subsided.
“Do you want to hear me out or do youwant to hit me some more?” I demanded angrily.
I was so tired of him knocking mearound.
He regarded me intently for a fewexcruciatingly long moments before he made a motion for me to continue. “I hadto get away for a while Jake,” I explained, hoping my tone was placatingenough. “After my dad died I didn’t know where my place was, and I feltconfused. By the time I decided to come home, come back to you, I’d alreadygotten all tangled up with the Knights,” I explained trying to look ashamed anda bit disgusted. “And then Henry and Benny were back in the picture – andthere wasn’t a way that I could see to get out of it,” I pleaded with him tounderstand as he looked at me with a guarded expression. “That night that youcame for me, I wanted so badly for you to understand, but he has the housebugged and I couldn’t tell you…” I drifted off as he seemed to hang onto myevery word. “I couldn’t tell you that I know I need to be with you. I’ve lovedyou since I was a little girl,” I said, nearly choking with disgust at the lie.“If you still want me, let’s just go. Leave him here,” I gestured toward Colewith what I hoped looked to be utter dispassion. “It can be just you and me,like it used to be.” I smiled tentatively at him hoping against hope that hewas buying this. I hated that Cole had to witness it.
I just needed long enough for him tolet his guard down, and though he was skeptical, I could tell that he wantedbadly to believe me. All I wanted was to keep Cole alive. If we got throughthis, Cole was going to be seriously pissed with me.
“So you wouldn’t care if I killed himthen?” Jake taunted, taking a few steps closer to Cole and playing with hisgun. Luckily I’d known he’d test me with this and I was prepared.
“Yes, I care,” I scoffed. “If you killhim, the Knights will never stop coming after us. Is that what you want? Let’sbe smart about this Jake,” I implored. “Let’s just go. I even packed my stuffbefore I left,” I said hopefully.
“You did?” he asked with raised brows.For some reason that fact seemed to convince him more than anything I’d said.
It was a lie, but I was going with it.
“Yes. I’ve had a bag packed for weeks.I just needed an opportunity,” I said as I grinned and grabbed his arm. “Comeon, I’m afraid I was followed. Let’s get the hell out of here,” I saidinsistently.
