Cole's Mistake (Haven, Texas 8)

Take a breath. She just needed to take a breath. She gasped, letting air into her lungs. The black receded from her vision. She still shook. Still felt ill. But she could breathe. She came back into the room to find herself sitting on Julian’s lap. Cole crouched in front of her, one hand against her chest and the other cupping her face.

“Good girl. There she is. There’s my good girl.”

Her breathing sounded harsh, raspy, but she was breathing.

“I won’t let him hurt you. I won’t let him hurt you.” Julian kept repeating the words, holding her tightly as she trembled in his arms.

“Sorry. Sorry.”

“Listen to me. Both of you.” Cole’s voice was stern. Unable to be ignored. His eyes burned into hers. Then he moved his gaze to Julian. “I will not let him hurt you. He may see this. He may come. But we will be waiting. And I promise, he will come out of this second best. His time is up. Nobody touches what is mine and lives.”

The words were completely over-the-top. Alpha. Neanderthal.

Yet she welcomed them.

“Remember, I am your weapon. And I will destroy him.”

Julian held Keira close to him, unable to let her out of his grasp.

You need to be stronger than this.

If not for himself then for her.

Joel’s office had turned into command central. The owner of Raptor Inc., a guy called Travis, had skyped in and was talking to Julian, Keira, Cole, Joel, and Haven’s sheriff, Jake. Julian had Keira wrapped up tight in his arms.

“We’ll have extra people there within the next few hours,” Travis reassured them. “They’ll blend into the community. Keep watch for Vincento. He could mobilize at any time. Best that we’re in place before he gets there.”

“I want bodyguards on Keira and Julian at all times,” Cole stated.

There was silence. Travis looked over at Joel, who sighed and turned to his brother. “Are you sure that’s the best move?”

“What do you mean? How could that not be the best move?”

“If Vincento can’t get to them, he might wait,” Travis stated. “He knows where they are and you can’t keep bodyguards on them forever, he could settle back and wait for a good time to take them.”

“What do you suggest we do?” Cole asked.

More silence.

“They want you to use us as bait,” Julian told Cole.

Keira let out a small whimper, and Julian drew her closer. He stared at the bunch of men fiercely. “No one is putting Keira in danger.”

“No, they’re not,” Jake said.

Joel nodded.

“Neither of you are being used as bait,” Cole stated. “I’ll be the bait.”

“He could come after you,” Travis agreed. “That might work.”

“Work better if you used me as bait as well,” Julian stated. Fuck. Shit. He just wanted this over with. He wanted Vincento out of his life.

“Not happening,” Cole stated.

“Julian,” Keira said quietly. “You can’t.”

He looked down at her, reaching out to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “I have to, kitten. To make you safe. To make us all safe.”