Chapter 23
Lilyanna
Something changed in the air surrounding us. I don’t think anyone else picked up on it. If I weren’t so in tune to every little move and every little sound, I wouldn’t have heard it myself, but I did.
There was another muffled pop, but this time it was closer. Scanning the room through my lashes, I watched the bland looks on their faces.
I was frozen in place as another fear came to me. What if it wasn’t a rescue, but another fucking problem? That’s exactly what I didn’t need right now. Quickly, schooling my features, I took another bite of my side salad.
Italian dressing with leafy green lettuce and cheese exploded over my senses as I chewed quickly before stuffing another bite into my mouth. How long has it been since I’ve eaten? Two days?
Joel’s hand kept inching up my thigh causing my enjoyment to wane. I wanted to stab my fork into that exploring hand.
I held my breath as a thump echoed through the room, and I knew the distinct sound of a body sliding to the floor.
Joel stood quickly, his chair fell back and hit the floor hard. Others quickly followed, but I kept eating my salad like it was the only thing in my world.
Who knew when I would eat again, so I shoved another forkful into my mouth and chomped greedily on it. Reaching for my water, I took a deep fortifying sip before another forkful reached my lips.
“What the fuck are you doing Lilyanna? Get the fuck up!” Joel shouted at me.
I just looked up at him as I put yet another forkful to my lips. I wasn’t moving until I had no other choice but to go and that time wasn’t now.
His fingers wrapped around my arm as the door slammed open. He quickly released me, and I just continued to put that fork filled goodness in my mouth.
Bullets started flying, and I knew a smarter person would have gone for cover just like Joel did. But I was hungry, and food may not be in the foreseeable future at this point. It would take someone to physically remove me to get me to stop.
“Get that ass down, Lily!” Cole’s hard voice echoed through the room as more muffle pops mixed with it.
Well, I guess something other than physical removal would cause me to move. Shoving my chair back, I stood grabbing my plate as I went.
Joel’s hand reached out and wrapped around my ankle. Looking down at him, I smiled. I made promises.
Looking to my left, I grabbed a gun that was sitting by one of the dead guys. Placing my fork on the plate, I grabbed the gun and pointed it at Joel.
“Remember what I said to you?” I purred the words.
Joel’s eyes grew big, and for a moment, I remembered the nice guy I knew as a child.
“Don’t do this,” he begs.
“Put that fucking gun down and get your sweet ass over here Lily,” Cole shouts at me.
Without even looking in his direction, I knew he was closing the space between us. I pulled the trigger and shot Joel right through his right hand. The hand holding my ankle released as he cried out in pain.
Another bullet to the gut had him crying out again as blood soaked his white button-up shirt. Then another to his forehead and he slumped backward. His eyes were wide and unseeing. Dropping the gun, I picked up my fork for another bite only to be stopped by Coles’ hand.
“We need to go now!” he demanded.
Sighing loudly, I placed my plate back on the table and turn to face the man that I loved.
“You better feed me,” I grumbled.
Cole’s face lifted as his lips twitched then his arms were around me pulling me in close. His warmth surrounded me before I could utter another word. Then I was lifted off my feet, and we were moving fast.
“Fuck! Is the baby ok?” Cole whispered into my hair as we hurried through the house.
“Yes,” I whisper.
I didn’t ask how he knew or how he felt.
“Thank fuck,” he sighed as he placed me into the interior of his black Cadillac SUV. The leather was buttery soft under my exposed skin.
He leaned in and kissed me hard on the lips, and I pressed into him, kissing him deeper. Then, the most embarrassing sound echoed around the quiet car. My stomach growled.
“Let’s get you fed,” he says gently, as he bucked me in my seat like a child.
I wanted to snap at him and tell him I’m not a kid. But instead, I leaned into the seat and let it surround me in comfort.
“I fucking love you. And no matter what happened in there, I will keep loving you,” he tells me fiercely.
Turning, I stared at him as he was laying it out there for me. He was letting me know where we stood. Right now, I loved him more than I ever did before.
“I love you, too,” I tell him honestly.
And I did. This man was my hero. A man that I have loved longer than I could even remember. And now, he was going to be the father of my child.
His fingers wrapped around mine as we drove down the dark road.
“You can tell me anything,” he tells me quietly.
I nodded, letting him know that I heard him.
“I’m fine. Nothing happened, well nothing that needs to be repeated,” I tell him quietly. My voice was husky with tears.
“Nothing?” he says, and I could tell he was having a hard time believing.
“He didn’t touch me like that,” I tell him, my voice hard.
I could see the relief in his body, and it caused more tears to fill my eyes.
“I meant what I said, it wouldn’t change anything,” he tells me truthfully.
Leaning over, I kiss his cheek.
“I’m fine, I promise,” I tell him, giving a little squeeze to his hand.
“I love you, sweetness,” he tells me.
And I melt into a little puddle in my seat as his pet name reached my ears.
“I Love you too. To the darkness and back,” I tell him.
And it’s the truth. The darkness was what I thought would be peace, but Cole, he was my peace.