Page 86

I’d left Stormy all alone with a bunch of people she barely knew, and now I felt bad about it. Dialing her number, I took the mug and nestled it on my lap.

“Did Sleeping Beauty finally wake up?” she said when she answered.

“Ugh, sorry about that. I was in a bad way. Did things get awkward after I left?”

Stormy snorted a laugh. In the background, Shiloh babbled a mile a minute.

“No, it was fine. Don’t feel bad. Christ, we all know you’re stressed out. It’s not a big deal,” Stormy said.

“You got home okay?” I asked, a new fear inching up my chest. “What if Kyle finds out you’re my friend or something?”

“All good. Langston followed me home.”

Sipping my tea, I recalled the desire I’d seen on Langston’s face when Stormy had arrived the previous morning.

“And, uh, did Langston make any moves or anything? Ask for your number, maybe?”

“What?” Stormy blurted, sounding genuinely confused. “That big beefcake? No way. Why would he want anything to do with me? A single mom? Nah. He was nothing but a gentleman.”

In all the time I’d known Stormy, she’d never seen herself the way others did.

She was a knockout. Smart and funny in a sarcastic way most men found enjoyable.

Yet, she always assumed guys merely tolerated her.

When Marcus had begun to pursue her, I’d eventually had to pull him aside and tell him that subtle wouldn’t work and he’d have to come straight out and tell her his feelings.

Now that she was single again, I wondered if I might have to do the same thing.

Although, there was a possibility that Stormy was actively trying to miss the signs Langston was sending.

She’d lost the love of her life less than a year ago.

Was it too soon to think of those things?

I didn’t want her to stay lonely, which she was, but it couldn’t be easy to lose someone like that.

When Cole had vanished all those years ago, I’d been heartsick and broken for several years—and he hadn’t died.

Were it not for Ashton coming along, I might have slipped into a depression I’d never get out of.

“Besides,” Stormy said, “even if that guy had the hots for me, most guys don’t want to be tied down with a baby. Especially one that isn’t theirs.”

She didn’t know Langston the way I did. He loved kids. He was a surrogate uncle to Ashton, and he’d done an amazing job in that capacity. Langston was the type who, if he found someone he cared for, would jump at the chance to be a daddy.

“Maybe some guys are like that. Langston is a different breed, though.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Stormy said. She steered the conversation to more banal things.

New movies and TV shows, a book she was reading, and shopping.

All of it, I was sure, calculated to keep my mind off Ashton, and maybe a little to keep me off the topic of Langston.

I appreciated that, even though it didn’t really work.

Stormy was the best friend I’d ever had, and she deserved happiness again.

I hoped Langston would go ahead and make a move, because he was the exact person she needed in her life.

After saying goodbye, I put my cup aside, got dressed, and went downstairs to see what the others were up to. It wasn’t as early as I’d initially thought, and I found the men gathered around the table, the remnants of a few pizzas sitting off to the side.

Cole grinned at me. “Welcome back to the land of the living.”

“Very funny,” I said. “What are we up to?”

Cole rose from his chair and hugged me. Sinking into his embrace, I pressed my ear to his chest and heard the rumbling growl of happiness.

“My wolf’s on edge,” he said. “Being near you keeps it under control.”

A happy little jolt of pride speared into me, knowing I could do something to calm him and the beast that lived within his body and mind.

“This is really sweet and stuff, but can we get back to business?” Trent said with a grin.

“Right,” Cole said, sitting down and pulling me onto his lap. “Are you sure you want to be here to hear about this, Aves?”

That old nickname. When he’d shown up on my porch step, using it after all those years, it had filled me with unmitigated rage. Now, it sent a pleasant shiver through me.

“It’s fine,” I said. “Seriously. I may not want to see what you do, but I need to be involved. I have to know what’s happening, otherwise I’ll feel like an outsider. I can’t be on the periphery.”

That was true. Nothing about this was pleasant, but it didn’t change the fact that it had to be done. It was the least I could do for my son.

“We talk to him,” Langston said. “Try to be simple at first. Calm conversation, maybe a few hinted threats. Not enough to get him to clam up, but enough to scare him.”

“Yeah,” Trent agreed. “No one wants to be tortured or hurt. Having dealt with the guy, I doubt Kyle does a good job of engendering loyalty. If we’re lucky, this guy will crack fast.”

“What do we think he’ll have, though?” Porter asked. “He’s a fucking lackey. Hired muscle. For all we know, he doesn’t know shit.”

“He’ll know something,” Cole said. “He has to. Otherwise, all this was for nothing. I refuse to believe that.”

Running my tongue over my lip, I imagined Langston snapping a pair of pliers open and shut in the guy’s face. I had to suppress a shudder at the thought. Though, thinking about the awful things Kyle might be doing to Ashton took away any hesitation I felt.

“I think it’s worth it,” Farrah said, leaning back in her chair, her nose wrinkled in disgust. “Even if we have to resort to physical punishment. It’s a good price to pay to prevent that psycho from hurting anyone else.”

“Speaking of Kyle,” I said, remembering the conversation I’d had with him the day before, “he’s still got it in his head that I’m going to give myself to him.

” I glanced at Cole, worry building in my chest. “He’s fixated on me for some reason.

” I frowned. “Why does it seem like he’s obsessed with me? ”

“My guess?” Farrah said with a bitter smile. “He envies what Cole has. The pack, the respect, and—” she glanced at me and shrugged “—his mate.”

That was possible. If that was true, it meant he’d do anything to get Cole out of the way.

“If he thinks getting rid of Cole will help him with that goal,” I said, shifting my eyes to Cole, “he may target you even more than he has so far. We need to think about that. Maybe I’m not the only one who needs around-the-clock protection.”

Cole raised his lip in a disgusted sneer. “That fucker won’t put a hand on you, otherwise he’ll draw back a nub. I’m not worried about myself?—”

“You should be!” I exclaimed, eyes widening. “He’s a maniac.”

“I think what Cole is saying,” Trent said, “is that he can take care of himself. The most pressing issue is your protection and getting Ashton back.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but Trent cut me off with a sharp look.

“There are things that need to be done,” he said. “This is inherently dangerous, but Cole, just like the rest of us, knows what’s at stake.”

I closed my mouth, not entirely placated. I’d never win this argument.

“What we can do with that information is use it,” Cole said.

“If Kyle truly does want Avery, and it isn’t just some psychological ploy, then he may get sloppy.

He might try to come for her himself. Maybe…

” Cole trailed off, eyes narrowing. “Maybe we fuck with him the way he’s been fucking with us.

” He looked up, a wicked grin forming on his lips.

“What does that mean?” I asked, eyeing him.

“He wants you, and I’m in the way of everything. If he makes contact again, you should string him along, seed the conversation with things that will make him think you’re turning on me.”

“Oh, shit.” Farrah leaned forward, a hungry gleam in her eyes. “Yeah. Avery, you should tell Kyle how controlling Cole is. That he’s stifling you, keeping you close, and that it’s miserable to be around him.”

“I think I can do that,” I said. What was a little lying when lives were on the line?

“Even better,” Langston said, “tell him you’re scared of Cole. Lay on some bullshit about him getting paranoid, that you need someone to help you get away from him.”

An icy fist wrapped around my heart as it dawned on me what Langston was saying.

“You want me to get Kyle to come out and try to take on Cole,” I said. “To come and save me or something?”

“Exactly,” Langston said, nodding to me and then Cole.

“I like it,” Cole said. “He’s unhinged enough to believe it.”

I swallowed hard. “Okay. I’ll come up with something when he calls next. I’m not going to like it, though. It’s going to put an even bigger bullseye on your back,” I said to Cole.

He kissed my cheek and squeezed my shoulder. “Like we said, I can fend for myself, but I’ll be careful.”

“Let’s go talk to the guy,” Porter said, jerking his head toward the basement. “He’s had enough time to stew.”

“As much fun as I’m sure that will be, I’d rather get out of here before you start,” I said, more images filling my mind of what might happen down in the basement. It made my stomach twist in disgust.

“Fair enough,” Cole said. “You want a ride back to your house?”

“Stormy’s would be better.” No part of me relished the thought of being alone.

“I’ll escort her,” Zayde said. “I’m more of a computer guy. I’ll let these guys handle all that. I can stay outside and watch the place while I’m there, too.”

“Thank you,” I said, shooting Zayde an embarrassed smile.

“That works,” Cole said. “I doubt Kyle will do or try anything so soon after yesterday, but better safe than sorry.”

Cole walked me to the door, but before I stepped out onto the porch, he pulled me close, pressing his lips to mine. The kiss was long and deep and sent a shiver through me. God, I wished there weren’t anyone else around so I could tear off his clothes.

“I’ll let you know when we’re through,” Cole said as he pulled his lips from mine.

“I’ll wait for your call.”

He squeezed my hand before releasing it. Stepping out on the porch, I looked back. Cole winked. There was a confidence in his eyes that I wished I had. It would be nice to be sure of myself.

Following Zayde to the cars, I did my best not to worry about what was about to happen in that basement.