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But then, there was a knock at my door.
Dread washed over me as I got up and opened it, only to find Cole standing in the hallway with a stoic look on his face. My heart nearly leaped out of my chest when he said, “We’re leaving.”
“Is this it?” He didn’t answer. He simply gave me one of his looks, letting me know that I’d asked for something he couldn’t give. “Should I be worried?”
“I’d tell you no, but you will anyway.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“Can’t say for sure, but you won’t be alone. We have a couple of prospects hanging back to keep an eye on things.”
My voice trembled as I whispered, “Okay.”
“Hey, it’s gonna be okay.” He stepped into my room, and I suddenly felt engulfed by his presence. I didn’t mind. After not seeing him in days, I relished it. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
“I don’t like this.”
“I know.” He stepped closer. “But it will be over soon.”
“That doesn’t mean you won’t get hurt.”
“No, it doesn’t, but it doesn’t mean I will either.” He gave me a slight grin. “It’s not my first rodeo, Em. I’ll be fine. We all will.”
I wanted to reach up and wrap my arms around him, beg him to stay, but I knew it wouldn’t do any good. This was his life. He lived for his brothers, for the club, and there was no way he would ever turn his back on them when they needed him most. “You promise to be careful.”
“Always.”
“And you’ll come back to me?”
“I’ll do my damnedest.” He reached over and took my hand. “You don’t have to worry. We’ll get through this.”
I nodded, even though the knot in my stomach remained. “I should be used to this…”
“Don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.” He ran his thumb over my knuckles. “But at least I have someone to look forward to coming back to.”
There was barely any space left between us when I told him, “Don’t do anything stupid.”
“I can’t promise you that.”
“Cole.”
His name had barely left my mouth when his gaze shifted over my shoulder. When his expression changed, I turned, and all the air rushed from my lungs when I found Jax standing there, watching us. The easygoing Jax I knew and loved had been replaced by a man I almost didn’t recognize.
He looked so angry, so hurt, and all that emotion was directed at us. He didn’t say a word. He just stood there, glaring at us, then his eyes dropped to our hands. He shook his head as he grumbled, “Un-fucking-believable.”
“Jax,” I muttered.
He held up a hand as he growled, “Don’t.”
Cole released my hand, and it only seemed to harden Jax’s expression. He looked at Cole, then at me. And for a second, I thought he was going to lose it. Instead, he turned and stormed away. I called out to him, but he didn’t stop.
I turned back to Cole and said, “Oh, God. What are we going to do?”
“Nothing we can do. Just have to hope that he’ll come around.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“He will.”
