Page 131 of Ride or Die

I stiffen at the sound of the deep voice booming through the house.

“It’s okay.” Cole placates me, smoothing his hand over my cheek. “It’s just Austin.”

Holding my hands up to shield my naked breasts, I search for something, anything to cover myself since my dress is in pieces. Without hesitating, Cole stands and hastily unfastens the buttons on his shirt, removing it before draping it around me.

“We’re back here,” he calls over his shoulder as he finishes buttoning me up.

Seconds later, Austin appears in the open doorway, his face expressionless as he looks from Cole, to me, to Cain’s body lying on the floor.

“You okay, Miss?” he asks me, having the decency to turn away.

“Yes.” I manage a nod although I’m far from okay. I know my face is a mess, I’m sure my nose is broken, there’s so much blood, but I’m alive. And my babies are safe.

“I need to see them,” I tell Cole softly.

He nods, and suddenly he’s lifting me off the bed. And I don’t know if I could walk if I tried, so I let him, holding onto him so tight, glancing over his shoulder and taking one last look at Cain lying there on the floor, his eyes still open wide like he’s watching me as Cole carries me out of the bedroom, away from the nightmare that has ruled my life for far too long.

CHAPTER 51

COLE

Ijolt awake, startled from one of those deep sleeps, bleary eyes narrowing enough to see a familiar figure lingering on the other side of the door. I narrow my eyes. Jagger.

Glancing around the small, dimly lit room to make sure everyone is safe, my shoulders sag with relief at the sight of Clara curled up in the armchair next to mine, sleeping soundly, Tommy on the hospital bed, fast asleep with his sister huddled in next to him, the monitors connected to him beeping steadily, without alarm.

Pushing up from my seat, I groan at the way my body objects, shoving my hair back from my face as I tiptoe out of the room, pulling the door closed behind me quietly and joining Jagger in the hallway.

“Hey,” I say under my breath, leading him away from the door.

“They doin’ okay?” he asks, nodding his head toward the window that looks into the hospital room.

“I mean, as okay as they can be.” I shrug a shoulder. “Little guy’s got a concussion. They’re just keepin’ him in for observation. Clara’s got a broken nose and fractured cheek bone, but… she’s strong.” My throat tightens at the thought of my girland the strength she possesses, the kind of strength a hero can only ever dream of.

Jagger nods, looking away. “It’s done.”

I knew without him telling me. The telltale scent of smoke that’s hanging off him, the black smudging his fingers is a dead giveaway.

“You make it look like an accident?” I gruff, keeping my voice low.

“Yeah.” He nods again, meeting my eyes as he says, “Shitty wirin’ through all them ol’ houses…”

I stare at him for a long beat, the severity of what he’s telling me, what he and Webber have just done, hitting me like a weight I wasn’t expecting, a lump of emotion stuck in the back of my throat making it hard to catch a breath.

“Thanks,” I mutter.

He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Don’t mention it.”

I walk back to the room, stopping at the sound of my name. Turning, I meet Jagger again, this time finding nothing but a glaring uncertainty in his eyes. My brows knitting together.

He reaches up and tugs on the back of his neck, and I know that move. It’s one of my own.

“What is it?” I press.

“What are you gonna do about… Cruz?” he asks after a pause, eyes finding mine.

I contemplate my answer for a moment, looking down at the floor and scrubbing my stubbled chin. Meeting Jagger’s eyes, I shake my head. “You leave him to me.”

Jagger nods, understanding falling between us and I turn and head back into the room.