Page 16

The tension in the air cracks and sizzles. Over half of it is coming from me; that they would even think I’d do that to them. Bringing Cole in would throw off the balance of their friendship—of ours.
“Let him go.”
The muscles in Lucas’ back ripple. He’s only wearing the joggers he wore into my room last night. His neck injury is pinched and red. Yesterday, I tried to soothe his wounds. Right now, I kind of want to give him one of my own.
“That’s not all we were trying to talk to him about,” Stone clarifies.
Cole shakes his head. “That was the most important part.”
“Lucas....” I seethe.
He hesitates before dropping his hand. Cole strides forward, wrapping his arms around me when we meet. I do the same, tucking my chin in the crook of his shoulder. We owe Cole so much. Just yesterday, he saved Stone and me. Ninja, who’s probably still sitting outside since I’ve never seen him get a break, is only hanging around because of this man right here.
“I was worried about you,” Cole whispers, sinking his fingers into my back. It’s a desperate hug, a reassuring one that speaks volumes. I don’t want to drag him into my room and fuck him the way I do Stone, Wyatt, and Lucas. This is something different. “I showed up last night, but they wouldn’t let me see you.”
“Yeah, because I was in bed with her,” Lucas gloats with a scowl.
Cole stiffens in my arms. He turns, but before he does, I witness the murder in his eyes. “Talk about her like that again.” He marches angrily toward my lost, disheveled guy, pointing a finger at his chest. “I’ve held back when it comes to you three because you make her happy. Talk about her like she’s a possession again, and I’ll rip your fucking throat out and introduce her to some men who’ll treat her with fucking respect.”
Lucas’ brown eyes alight like boiling pits of tar. The threats spewing from Cole’s mouth are reflected there, teetering on the edge of spilling out.
I intervene. I have to. I step between them before Cole can make it all the way to Lucas and make good on his promise.
Cole skids to a halt before slamming into my back. He takes several deep breaths, the anger seeping from him like a tornado swirling around me.
I don’t like them fighting. I love the three in front of me, and Cole is nothing short of the only family tie I have. Like a brother, he’s comforting and protective. It’s a different kind of love.
“I thought I made it clear,” Cole grunts. “Dakota’s like my sister. I don’t want to fuck her because that’s disgusting. Not that you’re not beautiful, baby girl,” he comments, his voice softening as he all but whispers in my ear. When Stone, Wyatt, or Lucas do that, I have a visceral reaction but there’s nothing when it comes to Cole. He continues, and I can tell he’s making a real effort to wrangle himself under control. “I would never do that to Charlie. Where I’m from, you don’t fuck with someone’s sibling. That’s grounds for murder.”
“Not to mention,” I start. “That I—”
“That’s right. You give it to them,” Cole snarks.
I turn my head slowly to glare at him, but all he does is smile. It’s endearing up close like this. A flame wraps up his jaw, the tip landing on the defined line of his chin, but the smile soothes the rough edges away. Honestly, I’m thankful I have someone like Cole in my corner. I turn toward Wyatt, Lucas, and Stone. “We can discuss this another time.”
Cole practically pouts. “What she means is that she’s going to kick your ass later for assuming that even if I wanted her that she’d drop her pants for me. Isn’t that right, Dakota?”
“Actually, yes.” I cross my arms. “That’s exactly what I was going to say.”
Each of them study me, and though they’re still hyped from arguing, their eyes soften—hopefully with contriteness.
“Now,” Cole says, drifting backward to the sofa, “we can talk about your other concerns like civilized men.”
Cole pats the couch next to him, and I sit there. I’m not done with the other three yet, and yes, they are going to get a piece of my mind. I just don’t need to do it in front of Cole to embarrass them further. Fucking possessive assholes.
Not that I don’t love it a little, but damn.
Wyatt, Stone, and Lucas squish together on the opposite couch. Cole waves at them dismissively to continue, and Wyatt doesn’t lose his chance. “You told us part of the story, but you didn’t tell us everything. You didn’t explain why you partnered up with Lance. You didn’t tell us how you killed Clark or where he is.”
I bristle, and Cole growls. Wyatt gives me a pained frown. It’ll suck to hear it, but maybe that’s something I should know. That part of my life still feels incomplete. Maybe I can bury the secrets along with Clark if I can get his body back?
“I figured Dakota would ask me when she was ready, just like when she wants to know her given name. I’ll tell her anything at any time.”
“I don’t ever want to know that,” I state definitively. The talk I had with Stone only reinforced my decision, making me put to words what I was feeling inside. I’m Dakota. That’s all I need to know. I may not be a Wilder on paper, but I’m still Dakota. If I go down the rabbit hole of my past, it will infiltrate my cellular makeup, and I’ll end up living as a hermit like my father.
“And that’s your decision. I don’t care.” Cole turns to me, the diamond stud in his ear sparkling in the morning sun. After a moment, he says, “And it’s up to you if you want to know what dipshit over here wants to. I’ll tell you everything I did and why.” He glues his eyes to me, and I see the sincerity for myself—not that I doubted him. I was scared shitless of him, but I never really doubted he’d tell me the truth.
I take a deep breath because I have a feeling I’m going to need it. “Start from the beginning.”