Absolution (The Protectors 1)

“Okay, let’s go ahead and get your statement written up,” Kyle said, snapping me out of my reverie.

It took another hour to get everything down on paper and I struggled to keep my emotions in check as I described the sordid details of the many times Eduardo had committed my torment to film. When we were done, all I wanted to do was take a shower and try to rid myself of the filth the memories had left behind.

Kyle shook my hand and then escorted me back to the guys who’d been assigned to keep me safe. I couldn’t remember their names and they didn’t speak to me other than to tell me what to do as they escorted me from place to place. Both men flanked me as we walked towards the elevator.

“Jonas!”

At the sound of my name, I felt my heart soar at the same time that my stomach crashed. They’d come.

My bodyguards immediately shoved me behind them as we all turned and I could only get glimpses of Mace and Cole striding towards us. I saw Ronan at the end of the hallway but he stayed where he was.

A mix of emotions went through me at the sight of my men. I was thrilled that they’d come for me after all, but I knew they wouldn’t understand why I’d done what I’d done, and we’d be back where we’d been two days earlier.

“Sir, I’m going to need you to stop right there,” I heard one of the bodyguards say as he reached for his gun.

“No, no,” I said quickly. “They’re with me, they’re friends,” I said. “I want to talk to them.”

The bodyguard didn’t remove his hand from his gun but he kept it holstered. But neither man moved as Cole and Mace reached us.

“Get the fuck out of our way,” I heard Mace growl.

“Sir, if you want to speak with Mr. Davenport, you’ll need to arrange it with Mr. Ridgefield.”

Shit, this was bad. No way Mace and Cole were going to let me go without talking to me. At least a dozen people were milling about in the hallway and many of them were stopping to watch the confrontation.

“Please,” I said, grabbing one of the bodyguard’s arms. “Just a couple minutes.”

The man glanced down at me and then finally relented with a nod. He moved enough to let me pass by him but when he and the other bodyguard only took a few steps back, I knew my men and I were going to have an audience whether we liked it or not.

“What the fuck were you thinking?” Mace bit out as he dragged me into his arms. Since my answer would take a lot longer than the few minutes I’d been granted, I remained silent and just held on to him. His hold bordered on painful but I loved it. And then Cole was wrapped around me and while the hug wasn’t as tight, his lips settled against my neck and I heard a long rush of air brush over my skin, like he’d been holding his breath in for a really long time. Guilt went through me as I realized how much my disappearance hadn’t just hurt them…it had scared the hell out of them.

“Sorry,” I murmured against Cole.

I felt Cole nod and then he was kissing me, not caring who watched. “Don’t ever do that to us again.”

I nodded. I turned my attention to Mace and grabbed his hand. “Please, please don’t go after him,” I whispered so my bodyguards wouldn’t overhear. “The D.A. thinks he has enough for a warrant.”

“Mr. Davenport,” I heard one of my bodyguards call.

I gave him a quick nod and then turned back to Mace. “Promise me,” I said harshly, desperately. I knew it was unfair to ask him to make that kind of promise but I didn’t care.

“I promise,” Mace finally said.

I could only hope he was telling me the truth because his eyes were hooded. I reached up to pull him down for a kiss. “Everything’s going to be okay,” I said against his lips.

Mace gave me a nod but I was the one who had to tug my hand free of his as I turned to go because he refused to release me. I’d gone a few steps when I turned to give Mace and Cole another quick look and I saw both of them turn their attention on a young, well dressed woman walking past us. Then everything was a blur.

One of them shouted my name as the woman turned towards me and then a hard body slammed into me as a gunshot rang out. I managed to see Mace wrestling with the woman who was holding a gun. He hit her hard enough to knock her down.

I knew it was Cole on top of me but I was having trouble getting my bearings since I’d hit my head on the floor. But that only lasted for a few seconds because I knew instantly something was wrong when Cole didn’t move. And then I felt it – something warm and wet seeping into my shirt.