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Fury rolled off me in waves. I was doing my best to lay low, then this motherfucker had to mess up a sincere conversation.
“Let’s go.” Cole quickly grabbed my wrist and practically dragged me behind him.
“Stop it, Cole! Let. Me. Go!” I dug my heels into the pavement, pulling him backward.
“I don’t have time for this, Shae,” Cole growled as he glowered at me.
My nostrils flared, and I fast-talked myself out of punching Cole in his nose. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t do me any good since he was stronger than I was. “You hurt him. What the hell is wrong with you?”
Cole flashed me a searing look. “Now.”
A thick tension swirled in the air between us. He tugged on me and took off in the opposite direction, pulling me along with him. I looked over my shoulder, realizing a crowd had formed around Ibrahim.Shit.Suddenly, the toe of my shoe caught on a raised crack on the cement, and I tumbled to the unforgiving ground, the pavement ripping open my knees and palms.
“Shae!” Hurried footsteps sounded behind me. “Oh, my God. Are you okay?” Zoe asked while she placed a hand on my back.
She must have been looking for me once people started to gather. My long hair covered my face, and embarrassed, pain-filled tears gathered in my eyes.
“We have to go. Zoe, she’ll call you later.” Cole scooped me off the ground and into his muscular arms. It took everything inside me not to hang onto him and hide from watchful eyes. I was beyond horrified, and my knees stung like a son of a bitch.
Cole set me down a block away, and I attempted to brush off the few pebbles that were stuck to my palms.
“Get on.” He climbed on his motorcycle then started it. The engine roared to life right before the police sirens wailed through the air. He handed me a helmet, and I slid it into place, numb and in shock from how my apology had turned into Cole pummeling Ibrahim in public. I wouldn’t have ever pegged Cole as a street fighter, but maybe he was. Every cell in my body burned with guilt and a desire to help. What he’d done to Ibrahim was awful and entirely uncalled for.
He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes cold and hard. “I’m not going to say it again. Let’s go.”
My need to get out of downtown and away from the crowd outweighed my desire to tell him to fuck himself. Not to mention, the cops would be here any second. If I stayed, then I would have to testify against Cole, and Daddy would have another mess to deal with. I didn’t care about my stepbrother, but I did care about my father.
I carefully lifted my leg over the seat, my knees stinging with every movement. Once I was settled in behind him, I folded my arms in front of my chest. He looked at me before he gripped my wrist and wrapped my arm around his stomach, holding it in place. The bike lurched forward, nearly sending me flying off the smooth leather. It only took me a second to realize that I had to hang onto him if I wanted to live.
Giving in out of sheer terror, I grabbed his waist and held on for dear life.
Cole swung a quick U-turn, then weaved in and out of traffic until we reached a sideroad. With a hard right, my pulse kicked into high gear and I tightened my hold on him. It was clear Cole was comfortable on a bike, but I’d never been on one. My legs clampedagainst his as he picked up speed, avoiding the potholes on the side streets.
The realization of the events minutes ago hammered my brain. I’d apologized to Ibrahim, then he’d been beaten to a pulp and left on the sidewalk as Cole pulled me away from the scene. What really pissed me off was that I’d been in the process of making things right with Ibrahim. The thought of Cole’s vicious outburst made my stomach tighten, and I shuddered, accidentally hitting my helmet against Coles.
He leaned into a curve, and I followed his body, pressing against his back. I wasn’t sure when, but we’d taken a backroad with winding curves and steep hills. For a moment, my thoughts calmed with the wind against my skin. Was this what freedom felt like—speeding on the open road, embracing the danger, and witnessing the beauty of the trees?
A rush of calm enraptured me. All my life, I’d been on display. I had to be good enough, rich enough, beautiful enough. But at this moment, none of that mattered. I was truly free. My anxiety melted away as I fell into a rhythm with Cole, feeling his muscular body against mine and for a split second ... trusting him.
Within minutes, Cole pulled into a gravel driveway and slowed, the rocks crunching beneath the tires. The sound reminded my stupid brain about reality once again, and my anger kicked up a gear as I replayed the events that had occurred in downtown Spokane in front of the world. The cops would be sniffing out this bad play like a terrier looking for a cow patty to roll in. Cole hadn’t bothered covering his face, so there were plenty of eyewitnesses to the attack. Confusion clouded my mind. Nothing about this situation was acceptable by any means, but I didn’t understand what was behind Cole’s actions. Julia had asked me to stay away from him, and I’d happily obliged. Maybe she should talk to her son and not me.Iwasn’t the problem.
Cole parked and cut the engine in front of a gorgeous, modern rustic home. An abundance of trees surrounded the house, and I released a sigh. This place was peaceful and quiet with no expectations … yet.
My stepbrother climbed off the motorcycle and removed his helmet. He held his hand out, offering to assist me off.
I placed my palm in his and sucked in a sharp breath. A spark of electricity traveled up my arm with his touch, igniting the air around us as I hopped off. Removing my helmet, I set it on the seat of his bike. Cole’s gaze fell to my knees. Blood had streamed down my shins and dried. Pain shot through my legs as I followed him up the steps and into the house.
“Where are we?” I asked softly, not wanting to disturb the monster currently sleeping inside Cole.
He met my question with silence as he unlocked the front door and waltzed in. I gasped, soaking in the comfort and safety of the blonde, redwood floors and open plan. A cozy stone fireplace begged to be used. The worn-in brown leather couch and chairs complimented the living room that opened to the dining and kitchen area. I noticed the staircase to the left and wondered if the bedrooms were upstairs. The minute I’d stepped into the fortress, I realized I never wanted to leave. Even though I was here with Cole, the home felt safe and inviting.
“My place. I inherited the place from my grandpa,” he mumbled as he released my hand and dropped his keys on the brown and white granite counter. He ditched his jacket and tossed it onto the kitchen island. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
My attention darted around, trying to assess the situation as I followed him into the bathroom. It was small but easily held a shower, single sink, and toilet.
“Sit.” He lowered the lid, then pointed to the commode.
I did as he instructed, overwhelmed by the environment and the shock of how I got here. “I need to text Zoe, but she has my phone.”
