Page 179 of The Pact

It’s risky, but I need to see where he’s at with me.

My fingers reach out, grazing his arm. His whole body freezes. “Thank you. I love when you make eggs. Yours are my favorite.” I take my hand away, giving him space. Still, he offers a small smile.

Baby steps.

There’s an onion on the counter. Picking it up, I pull open the drawers, looking for a knife. I reach into grab the only one I find, but Cole’s hand latches onto my rubbed raw wrist, making me wince in pain.

“I’ll cut the onion, you do the eggs.” I almost had it. My hand pulls back and I offer the drawer to him as a show of faith.

I haven’t seen any other weapons on him so far, although now I know he has at least one. Turning as if I don’t have a care in the world, I grab a bowl from the shelf and start cracking eggs.” Cole keeps one eye on me the whole time. I pretend it doesn’t bother me.

We eat in silence. I finish half of my omelette, but every bite makes me want to vomit. I hoped he would put the knife in the sink. However, he tucked it into the back of his pants.

Picking up our dishes off the table, I tell him, “I’ll take care of these.” Scraping the leftovers into the trash, I casually ask, “Can you take this out? I’d hate to smell it all night.”

With the only weapon in his waistband, he seems to not mind my request. I watch out of the corner of my eye as he ties up the drawstring and steps outside. My hands frantically pull open the drawer where the knife was and I grab the only other thing that lies tucked back into the corner.

Either Cole didn’t see it or he didn’t think it would do me any good.

I slam the drawer shut as the door creaks back open and tuck it into the pocket of my shorts. Almost as soon as he walks in, he looks me up and down. Fuck. He’s caught me. But then I hear something, the thing that’s alarmed him.

Police sirens in the distance.

We both freeze. My breath sticks in my chest. I try to determine if they’re getting closer—so is he. Moments later, the wailing disappears. I keep the disappointment from my face, turning to continue washing the dishes. No one is coming for you, at least not any time soon.

I wipe my hands on my shorts after I’m finished and turn to find Cole stoking the fire. I’m not sure how the rest of this night will play out. Walking to the couches, I memorize the layout of the cabin. There’s a long hallway, likely leading to a bedroom and bathroom. To my right is the door and a window near it. On the sill sits a set of keys. My keys to freedom, eventually.

Sitting down on the couch, I stretch out, resting my feet on the low coffee table. This is it, the homestretch. I need to make him believe me, trust me enough to fall asleep. That’s when I’ll make a run for it.

I tilt my head back and close my eyes. Giving him the illusion of my trust.

Cole’s footsteps get closer, but the couch doesn’t dip. Instead, I feel the soft brush of his hand over my jaw and down my neck. “You’re always so beautiful, my love.” I open my eyes and let my head fall to the side, giving him a sweet smile.

I want to shrink away from his touch. I want to tell him to stop calling me his love. But I can’t.

“You always know what to say to make me feel special. I love that about you.” He finally sits next to me, but not before pulling the knife from his back and tossing it into the fire, ensuring I won’t be able to touch it. “Aren’t you afraid that you might need to use that on me later?” I tease.

He sighs. “I’m not too worried, Thea. If I wanted to hurt you, all I’d need is my hands.” He’s right, Cole’s already shown me that. Saying it out loud is scary, nonetheless.

My head finds his shoulder and I ease my body into his. “There’s one thing I’m still confused about. What exactly happened to Gavin? Did you kill him?”

Cole’s body tenses for a moment, although I think my nonchalant tone helps to ease it.

“Gavin’s right where he needs to be. You don’t have to worry about him.” Frustration wells in my chest. Cole wanted to be forthright about everything else. Why can’t he give me this?

Pushing away the bitterness, I murmur, “Thank you.”

“For what?” He sounds confused.

I smile and stare up at him. “You don’t know how much meeting you has changed my life. I was doing good before I met you, but there was something crucial missing, something Gavin stole from me.”

He’s looking down at me. I watch the shadows and light from the fireplace dance across his face. “What’s that?”

“Hope,” I say plainly. “Hope that love still exists, that I could heal from years of rejection and could be strong enough to bring down my walls. Hope that someone would one day protect me the way I deserve to be protected. You gave me that.” I feel his shoulders drop, the tenseness of being on edge fading away a little. The words are true. He gave me all of that—in the form of his brothers. Cole could have broken me beyond repair, but Damian, Sutton, and Wes made me strong enough to withstand him.

He’s far weaker than any of them. And too smug to realize it.

Cole falls asleep with his arms wrapped tightly around the front of me, making sure I don’t go anywhere. I, on the other hand, don’t sleep at all. Kind of hard to with a deranged murderous man pressed against my body.

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