CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

COLE

I’m showering in the locker room, washing my hair when I hear Deke. “Cole?”

“What?”

“Get your ass out of the shower. We gotta go.”

I take my time. “Where we going?”

“Austin has called me twenty times …”

“What?” I ask, spinning around, the water causing shampoo to run into my eyes.

“I checked your phone, and she’s called you fifteen. Something’s wrong, man.”

I turn off the water, rip the towel from the wall, and quickly dry off, making my way to the lockers. Shoving guys out of my way. “She sent a text too.”

Austin: Have everyone meet me at the clubhouse. Now!

“Shane! Bennett!” Deke calls out. “Let’s go!”

“Why is her phone going straight to voicemail?” I snap, trying to call her for the twentieth time as Deke flies down the highway.

“We’re almost there,” he says.

He pulls up outside the clubhouse, and I’m out of his SUV before he can even bring it to a stop.

I barge in the door to find her pacing back and forth with her head down. “What the fuck is going on?” I demand. “I’ve been calling you.”

She comes to a stop. “I’ve been calling you too.”

Deke and the rest of the guys enter, and she runs a hand through her hair nervously. I look her over for any blood or bruises. I don’t see anything, but I can tell that she’s shaken.

“What’s wrong, Austin?” I ask.

“I got home from dropping Lilly off at your dad’s, and I heard my father talking in the kitchen.” I frown. “I thought it was odd because he was supposed to be gone. I was just going to ignore him when I heard another voice. And he sounded familiar.” Her eyes shoot to Shane, and he sits down on the couch. “But the other man started talking about emails.”

“Why kind of emails?” Bennett asks.

“He swore he had deleted them. He said that the only way anyone would be able to find them was if someone looked on the hard drive. That they would have to know what they are looking for.”

“Who was this guy?” Bennett asks.

Her eyes meet mine, and she swallows nervously. “It was Jerrold.”

AUSTIN

Shane jumps to his feet. “Are you sure?”

I nod. “Positive. He told my dad that his laptop was stolen. And he got pissed. Said that you don’t steal a laptop for nothing.”

“Did he see you?” Cole demands. I shake my head. “Are you sure, Austin?” he snaps.

“Yes. I ran back down the stairs and came straight here.”

“Fuck!” he growls, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

“Did you check the hard drive?” Deke asks Bennett.

“Yes. But I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.”

“Then you obviously missed something,” Cole snaps.

“I’ll look again, but even now, I still don’t know what I’m looking for exactly.”

“Why the fuck would Jerrold be talking to Bruce in the first place? Let alone about emails?” Deke wonders out loud. No one has an answer for him.

Cole looks at me. “You’re staying here.”

“I can’t …”

“This isn’t up for discussion, Austin!” he shouts.

“Cole—”

“No!” he interrupts me.

I glare at him. “You don’t even know what I was going to say.”

“I know you were going to argue, and that’s enough.”

I place my hands on my hips.

He turns his attention to Bennett. “I want that laptop here tomorrow. And I wanna go through it with you.”

Bennett nods. “Of course.”

“Everyone leave,” he orders.

I turn around and walk up the stairs, making sure to step extra hard to let him know that I’m mad at him. Once I get up to the loft, I rip my shirt up and over my head and push my shorts down my legs. I yank back the covers and crawl into the bed. I hear the door open and close as everyone leaves. Then the lights turn off one by one.

I close my eyes as I hear him coming up the stairs—louder than I was.

He undresses and crawls in next to me. I can barely make out his outline through the light streaming in the small window. He lies on his back, his right hand under his head as he stares up at the ceiling.

I turn over, giving him my back. “Austin …”

“I’m really tired of you bossing me around, Cole,” I growl.

He sighs heavily. Moments later, his hand grasps my shoulder. “You don’t understand what he is capable of. Jerrold is a very dangerous man, and I don’t want him anywhere near you.” He kisses my bare shoulder.

_________________________________

I walk out of second period and storm over to Deke. “Where is Cole?” I ask.

He just stares at me. I stayed the night with Cole at the clubhouse two nights ago, but last night, I stayed at Becky’s. As far as we know, my father is still in town, and Jerrold could pop over at any time. Last night after practice, Cole had sent me a text saying he was spending his evening with the guys going through the emails. Today, he didn’t show up. And that’s not like him to miss class.

“Deke …” Becky growls in warning.

His jaw tightens. “At the clubhouse.”

I turn to leave, but he grabs my arm, stopping me. “Don’t go.”

I jerk my hand free and storm out of the exit. I squint, the sun actually out today, and run to my car.

I’ve been calling him since last night, and although he doesn’t rush to call me back, he usually at least reads my messages. I’ve sent him ten. Not one has been read. Something is wrong. And Deke not wanting me to go confirms that.

I walk into the clubhouse and come to a stop. The punching bag that hangs from the rafter is on the ground, ripped open. The table knocked over. Papers scatter the floor. The couch up against the far wall. A couple of the chairs are knocked over onto their sides.

I take the stairs two at a time, and stop at the top. Liquor bottles and beer cans litter the floor and bed. He’s lying on it, dressed in the same clothes from yesterday. Passed out on his stomach, he has his hands above his head. The pillows cover the floor along with the sheet and comforter.

“Cole?” I ask, placing my hand on his arm.

He doesn’t budge.

“Cole?” I say a little louder.

He growls.

“Cole!” I snap, shoving his arm.

He rolls over onto his back and opens his eyes. They’re bloodshot and land on mine. I tense. I’ve never seen them look so cold. So void. “Are you okay?” I ask softly.

He blinks a couple of times as if he’s seeing two of me. Then he slowly sits up.

“Leave,” he orders roughly.

“Cole what’s going on?”

“Leave, Austin,” he snaps.

“No, Cole! What the fuck are you doing here? Drunk of all things?”

He grabs my arm and yanks me down onto the bed. He buries his head into my neck. “Cole …”

I try to shove him off, but his hands grip my wrists and he pins them down effortlessly. I start panting.

“Fuck, sweetheart.” He straddles my hips. “You smell so Goddamn good. Did you come to cheer me up?” he whispers.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, ignoring him.

“Did you come for me to break you?” His nose traces my jawline. “Because that’s what I need, Austin. I need to break. Destroy. God, I want to wrap my hand around your delicate throat and squeeze while I fuck you.” His body pins me to the bed, and I feel how hard he is.

I take a calming breath, trying to slow my racing heart.

He kisses up my neck gently to my ear, and my skin breaks out in goosebumps. “I wanna see tears run down your gorgeous face with your mouth open in a silent scream. Begging me to stop. Begging me for air. So I’m gonna ask you again. Did you come to cheer me up?”

He pulls back and looks down at me, and I swallow at the look of nothingness in his eyes. I have no clue what happened or why he needs to break me once again, but I want to give it to him. I hate how much I want to give him what he wants. But I can’t deny that it sounds like exactly what I need too. “Yeah, Cole,” I say softly. “I came to cheer you up. Now, I dare you to do your worst.”