Cole's Mistake (Haven, Texas 8)

You’re not hurting anyone I love again, asshole.

“No. No. Please. Please. Don’t hurt me. No!” she cried out as he reached down for her. Before she could hesitate, she tugged the knife out and swung, somehow embedding it in the side of his neck.

He stared down at her in horror, his hand rising to his neck.

She did it! She’d stabbed him. Holy. Fuck. Holy fuck. Her heart raced, sweat broke across her forehead as her breath came in sharp pants.

Don’t throw up. Don’t throw up. Stay awake, Keira!

She’d done it. She’d fought back. She’d gotten the bastard. He couldn’t hurt her or Julian ever again.

“Little bird,” he managed to say before he collapsed on his back. Keira took a deep breath and then she screamed.

“I can’t believe he nearly got you. I nearly let him take you,” Cole stated.

Keira was sitting on Cole’s lap in Saxon’s living room. It was filled with people: cops, Raptor Inc. men, the two men who’d been injured were being checked by Doc, and a very grouchy Renard who was sitting on an armchair. He was angry that someone had snuck up on him. He also wasn’t happy she’d used his favorite knife to kill Vincento. And he’d proclaimed that loudly until Saxon had had a quiet word with him.

But none of them penetrated the bubble around Keira and her two men.

Julian sat next to them, his arm around Keira, who sat sideways on Cole’s lap, facing him. Her knee had an ice pack wrapped around it. Doc had already checked her over. Thankfully, her knee didn’t seem to be as bad as she’d first thought. He’d given her some drugs to take the edge off the pain.

“I’m all right. I promise. He didn’t hurt me.”

“He could have,” Julian said bleakly. “We were so busy trying to play fucking hero, and he went for you. He had a gun!”

She cupped Julian’s cheek. It surprised her that out of the three of them, she was the calm one. In fact, other than being tired and drained, she felt really good.

“Guys, I’m good. I promise. And I think you’re both forgetting something important.”

“What?” Cole asked darkly.

“He’s dead. We’re finally safe. He’s dead, and we don’t have to worry about him. I don’t know about the two of you, but I feel lighter. I feel safer. I feel almost like me again.”

Julian leaned forward and kissed her lightly. “You’re right. Even though I’ll probably have nightmares about what could have happened for the rest of my life, the true nightmare is over. We’re safe.”

They both looked at Cole. He scowled. “I’m still mad. And I have new gray hairs.”

“Would it help if I let you spank my ass?” Keira teased.

“Help? No, it wouldn’t help.” He seemed to think about that. “Well, maybe a little bit.”

She leaned in against him. “You can spank it then fuck it then do the same to Julian.”

“Hey!” Julian protested. “I didn’t nearly die, why am I getting spanked?”

“Because it’s hot?” Keira asked.

Julian just grinned, shaking his head. Then he leaned forward and kissed her lightly. Before turning to Cole. “Keira’s right. We should be thankful for what we have. A dead asshole and each other.”

“To dead assholes and each other,” Keira stated.

“Fine,” Cole muttered. “To dead assholes and each other and the rest of our lives. Together.”

Epilogue

“You sure you want to do this, little bit?” Cole asked, coming up to stand beside her. He slipped his arm around her waist as they stared at Fet.

Julian stepped up on her other side, wrapping his big hand around her much smaller one. They both surrounded her with their heat and protection.