Page 77

AVERY

M y phone rang, and my heart leapt into my throat. With shaking hands, I picked it up. Unknown number. My mouth, suddenly dry as sand, fell open. Was it Kyle, finally calling to get my answer?

It had been a day since the meeting, and I was at Cole’s house.

Zayde wasn’t here yet. How would we trace the call without him?

For a moment, I thought of calling out to Cole to come join me, but I had to know if Ashton was okay.

Even though Langston and the others weren’t here, I was going to answer.

I’d come up with some reason for Kyle to call me again.

All I wanted was to hear my baby’s voice again.

Taking a deep breath, I answered on the fifth ring. “This is Avery,” I croaked.

“We’ve been trying to reach you about your car’s extended warranty?—”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I hissed, swiping the screen to end the call. My hands were shaking so much that I nearly dropped my phone.

“What’s wrong?”

I glanced up as Cole walked into the room, his brow furrowed with concern.

“Fucking robocall,” I said through gritted teeth and collapsed onto the sofa. “I thought it might have been Kyle.”

Cole sighed and joined me, putting an arm around my shoulders. “He probably won’t call this early in the morning. It’s not even ten yet. Stay calm. Farrah and the others will be here soon.”

The night before, we’d decided that Farrah and I would stay at Cole’s house.

He wanted us close in case Kyle called. She and Trent would provide security, and Zayde would be there to track any call that came in.

Cole, Langston, and Porter were going to North Crest later that afternoon to see about the tax-collecting thing and also to try to extract Dallas.

Knowing I’d have plenty of support while Cole was gone did nothing to dispel the anxiety that was slowly worming its way up my stomach and into my heart.

“Just remember the plan, and it’ll all be fine,” Cole said, rubbing my back.

“You sound confident about that,” I said, giving him a wry smile. “I wish I could feel that way. You know how Kyle will react when I tell him I’m declining his gracious offer of being his sex slave.”

I’d sacrifice myself in an instant to save my son without question.

But we’d all come to the realization that even if I did agree, it wouldn’t go well.

Why would Kyle give away his trump card?

Him holding Ashton hostage was the only thing that could make me do what he wanted.

Kyle had to know that once my son was free, I’d take the first chance I got to slit his throat.

As scared as I was about Kyle’s reaction, it was the only option I had.

We couldn’t allow him to have both of us in his clutches.

“He’ll be pissed, sure,” Cole admitted, “but try not to freak out. Zayde will figure out where he is. From there, Langston, Trent, and I will take over.”

“Okay,” I said, but even to my own ears, I didn’t sound convincing.

There was a knock at the door, then Farrah peeked around the door. “Just me.”

“Come on in,” Cole said as he stood.

I rose as well, twisting my phone around nervously as I did.

Farrah gave me an awkward smile. We’d begun burying the hatchet, but that was one big-as-hell axe, and I might need a backhoe to fully bury my resentment and anger.

Knowing that her father had forced her to do what she’d done didn’t make it any better.

Honestly, I’d never had a great opinion of her because she’d always been so snippy and aloof toward me when Cole and I had dated in high school.

The only thing that redeemed her was the way she’d already latched on to Ashton as family.

It seemed the one thing Farrah really cared about was her pack, her family.

“What are you guys going to do with Dallas if you get him?” she asked, crossing her arms and leaning against the kitchen counter. There it was, that pack and family loyalty.

Cole shot me a glance before opening his mouth, but Farrah cut him off before he could utter a syllable.

“You aren’t going to hurt him, right?” Farrah glared at Cole.

Cole rubbed his hand over his face. “Look, I care about Dallas, too, but there are bigger things going on here.”

“That’s not an answer,” Farrah bit out.

Cole’s shoulders sagged. “I don’t want to hurt him, Farrah, but if it’s clear that he’s really on Kyle’s side, that means he’s an enemy.” Cole pinned her with his gaze. “And we will treat him like an enemy.”

Farrah glared back at him for several seconds. I could almost see the wheels spinning in her head, connections being made, realizations becoming clear. She didn’t argue with him, nor did she agree. Instead, she let out a humorless laugh and shook her head, turning to look out the window.

“I get it,” she finally said. “I do. I just can’t believe he’d do these things of his own volition. I refuse to believe it. I have faith in him. When we bring him in, you’ll see.”

“You’re right,” Cole said, the muscles in his jaw flexing. “We’ll for damn sure see where his allegiance lies. Then, I’ll tell either you that you were right, or I’ll ensure Dallas knows exactly how badly he fucked up.”

A chill ran down my spine. I’d never seen him look so determined. A dark look entered his eyes, and there was no amount of money on earth that could have gotten me to switch places with his half-brother.

“Ashton’s safety is all that I care about,” Cole continued.

“I’ll do anything to make sure he’s home safe.

Hopefully,” he added, lightening his tone a bit, “Kyle calls soon, so we can track him. That would be the best option.” Cole’s gaze flicked to the window behind Farrah. “Looks like everyone else is here.”

A truck and an SUV had pulled up in the driveway, and a few moments later, Langston, Porter, Zayde, and Trent came walking in.

Their arrival dissipated the tension that had built between Cole and his sister, and I was grateful for that.

I hadn’t really known what to say, or if I should even say anything.

“How’s everyone doing?” Langston asked as he entered the kitchen. “Any word from Kyle?”

“Not yet,” I said.

“Good.” Zayde took his laptop out of his backpack. “Don’t want the action happening without me.”

“It’s got to happen soon,” Trent said. “He doesn’t seem like the type who likes waiting.”

The others all agreed. From what I saw in their eyes, they all seemed to think it was a foregone conclusion that Kyle would call, and we’d wrap everything up nice and neat. The sick sensation in my stomach, however, told me things wouldn’t quite be as easy as everyone thought.

“Do you want anything?” Cole asked, putting a hand on my back. “Water or something?”

“I’m fine,” I said, giving him a slight smile.

“What kinda phone do you have?” Zayde asked.

I handed it to him, and he dug through his bag until he found a cord that would connect to it before giving it back.

“What do I do when he calls?” I asked.

“Simple,” Zayde said. “Holler at me, and I’ll plug this end into my computer.” He held up one end of the cable. “Then I’ll plug this end into your phone.” He held up the other end. “After that, you keep the dude on the phone. I’ll do the rest.”

“Got it,” I said, shoving the phone into my pocket. I swiped my sweaty palms on my pants. Cole noticed and took my hand.

“You nervous?” he asked.

“Do you really need to ask that?”

“Right.” His mouth twisted to the side. “Good point.”

“Anybody hungry?” Trent asked where he was rummaging through the fridge. “I could make some sandwiches or something?”

“I could eat a horse,” Porter said.

“Go ahead and make some,” Cole added. “But be quick about it. Kyle could call at any minute.”

That turned out to be wholly untrue. We ate in strained silence, each of us sending furtive glances to my phone the entire time as it sat on the table.

The hours ticked by, until it was almost time for Cole and the others to leave.

Cole and Langston grew more tense as it dawned on us that Kyle might not call.

Farrah looked the most worried. No call meant they were going after Dallas.

Realizing they’d be leaving soon, I sent Stormy a text, asking her to come over whenever she was free. I’d need all the support I could get.

Finally, in the early afternoon, Langston glanced at his watch and sighed. “We gotta go, guys. The rest of the team is meeting up with us in twenty minutes.”

“ Shit ,” Cole hissed. “What the fuck is he waiting on?”

“No clue, but we’ve got our backup plan,” Langston said.

Cole shot a look across the table at his sister. “We still good?”

She stared back at him for several long seconds before nodding. “Yeah. We’re good.”

With a single nod of his head, Cole stood. A dam broke in my chest, sending a flood of fear and worry through me. I stood and put my hand on Cole’s arm.

“Are you guys sure you’re going to be safe?” I asked, my voice tight and strained. “You’ll be careful?”

He brushed his knuckles gently across my cheek and looked into my eyes. “We’ll be fine. I promise.”

I swallowed past the lump in my throat, then lunged forward and hugged him tightly. “Please be careful,” I muttered.

“I will,” he said, running a hand up and down my back.

“Ashton’s already in danger. I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you, too.”

Cole lifted my chin and kissed me long and hard. I didn’t care that the others were watching. I kissed him back, worrying that it might be the last time. Our breath mixed until we were breathing each other in and out, becoming one. When he finally pulled away, my heart thudded like a war drum.

“I’ll be fine. Trust me,” he said.

Langston and Porter got up and headed toward the door, but before Cole could join them, Stormy burst in, looking harried.

“Are you okay?” she asked, slightly breathless. “I came as soon as I could. Had to wait for Mom to get home from the store to watch Shiloh.”

“I’m okay,” I said.