Till Death(65)

“There has to be.” He squinted. “Got to admit, I didn’t entirely dismiss him when you mentioned him the first time. I just doubt he had anything to do with the vandalism.”

I wasn’t surprised. “And now?”

“Still not sure. What could be the motive? That’s the thing I’m not getting here.”

“Ditto,” I muttered. “I don’t know who else could be behind this, but what happened—that thing in the box—that’s a whole different level. This isn’t someone fooling around. This . . . this is terrifying,” I repeated.

In a way, it was even more frightening than before, because I hadn’t seen the Groom coming, but I saw this. There was no escaping it, no obliviousness.

“I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” Cole promised, squeezing my knees. “I’m going to keep you safe.”

I lifted my gaze to his. “I’m going to keep myself safe.” I paused, and I was. I wasn’t a fainting damsel in distress. I’d been through the worst, and I would protect myself. I also needed to stop being stupid when it came to accepting protection. “But I’ll let you help.”

His lips twitched up on one side. “That’s my girl.”

Placing my hands over his, I let out a shaky breath. A tendril of fear curled around my throat. “This is scary, Cole.”

Taking my hands, he hauled me up and to his chest once more. His embrace was tight and full of strength. He bent his head, brushing his lips over my forehead. “We’re going to figure out what the hell is going on.” Pulling back, he said, “I’m going to make a few calls. Mind if I hang in here to do that?”

“Who are you calling?” I asked.

“My boss. I want to fill him in on this. Tyron would probably get pissed if one of our offices step in, but I’m not going to cater to jurisdiction bullshit while this kind of thing is going down and you’re involved.”

I figured it was only a matter of time before the Feds got involved. “Make yourself at home. I’m going to go talk to Mom.”

Slipping around him, I started toward the door when Cole snagged me around the waist and drew me up against him. Before I could take my next breath, he kissed me hard and deep. My pulse immediately pounded. When he let go, I was a little dizzy. I looked up, and our eyes met. I couldn’t help it, but my thoughts tracked back to Irene. All of that had faded to the background along with the knock on the door, but now the knowledge that Cole had been married, that he’d said it had always been me, was still in the back of my mind.

“I’ll be down shortly.”

“Okay.”

I left the room and by the time I found my mother, my heart had finally slowed. Dinner service was about to begin, so I took her into the old kitchen and tried not to think of the fact that the person who took Angela’s key could’ve been the same person I’d run into.

Breaking the news about her truck to her had gone over surprisingly well with the exception of her being rightfully ticked off at me for keeping it secret.

“Don’t ever do that again,” she said, marching right up to me. She grasped my arms. “I get why you did, but you do not keep me in the dark. If something happens, you tell me. I’m a grown woman, and I can damn well handle it.”

“I know and I’m sorry.”

Mom’s lips thinned as she stared at the closed door that led into the kitchen. “Part of me wishes you hadn’t come home.”

“What?” I gasped.

“Please don’t take that the wrong way.” She faced me, eyes full of concern. “But I’d rather only see you once a year than you be terrorized or harmed.”

Little knots of dread formed in my belly. “I’m not terrorized—”

She shot me a look that shut me right up quick. “You’re strong, honey, one of the strongest people I know, but this is frightening. No one would fault you for being scared and nor do I believe for one second that you’re not.”

Mom. She knew me too well.

“I want you safe, Sasha, and I don’t feel like you’re safe here,” she admitted, eyes gleaming in the low light, and if she started crying, I’d lose it. “I wish I didn’t feel that way.”

“I know.” And I knew she really did mean that. She was beyond thrilled when I told her I was coming home. She wanted nothing more than for me to be here, but not like this.

Never like this.

Dinner service was a blur, and every smile and laugh felt brittle, but I tried. Miranda showed up during it, along with Jason, and I ushered them into the kitchen.

“Jesus, Sasha, someone sent you a finger?” Jason exclaimed the moment the door swung shut.

“Keep it down. James doesn’t know about that.” I cut Miranda a sharp look. “You weren’t supposed to say anything.”

“He needed to be here,” Miranda stated. “He’s my friend. He’s yours. You’re not shutting anyone out.”

Had she been talking to Cole? And I also wondered if Jason was more than Miranda’s friend. I really needed to find some time to talk to her.

Jason stepped to the side as James came in through the old kitchen, smelling faintly of cigarette smoke. He scowled in their direction as he shuffled to the sink.

“I wasn’t trying to cut you out,” I told Jason in a low voice. “I hope you know that. It’s just that this is . . . well, it’s kind of crazy.”