Page 131 of Tortured Tones

“Was he good?” Ramona threw me a sassy smile as she nudged my hip. “Cole? He’s hot as fuck. He’s got that quiet, mysterious sexiness going on but transforms into this captivating rock god when he’s behind the drums. Is he like that in bed? Hot and dirty? I bet he is. Shit...don’t tell Wells I said that.”

Ramona had summed up Cole perfectly. But he was more than that. He had this incredible heart and uncanny desire to protect the people he cared about, and he wanted to make them happy. I clutched at the pain in my chest. “Cole is nothing like I’d expected. He’s messed up like most people are. But God, he loves his daughter. His friends. His music. That was my downfall.”

She quirked her lips. “Hot single dad. You could do worse.”

“I’ve had the worst. Luther.”

“True.” She patted my hand. “We’ve got to get to our briefing. You gonna hit the shower first? I could smell Cole on you from across the room.”

I sniffed my T-shirt. His cologne filled my head and tore my heart in two. Shit.

“I’d better.” I didn’t want to face the team or say goodbye to them and the band, but it was for the best.

After a quick shower, Ramona and I headed downstairs to the meeting room set up with platters of food for our lunch. As we ate sandwiches, Wells ran through the briefing and schedule for the evening. I slouched in my chair, hating that I wouldn’t be a part of it.

At the end of his spiel, he gave me the floor. I told them about Luther and said goodbye to everyone, stating I had to leave for personal reasons. That wasn’t a lie—I just left out the part about Cole. I’d see everyone again in LA before they headed overseas with the band.

Just as the meeting ended, Cole’s voice shattered the quiet of the hallway outside. “Ava? Ava? Where the fuck are you?”

I froze in my spot. Doors opened and shut, no doubt as he searched the other meeting rooms. Then, our door flew open. Eleven sets of eyes swung from Cole to me and back again.

He rushed to where I stood at the top end of the table. Concern darkened his eyes as he clutched my arms. “You’re leaving? Because of me?”

Shit. So much for not blabbing to everyone why I was heading home. “Not just because of you.” With all my might, I took a step back from him. “Luther’s the one who’s been following us. He hired people to follow me—not you. He’s concocting evidence to take me down in court. To keep Josh away from me.”

“The fuck?” Cole wiped his hand down his face.

“Er...folks?” Beckett stood and pointed toward the door. “Let’s leave these two alone to talk. Everyone out.”

Cole paced the length of the window as my team left. Beckett circled past me and touched my arm on the way out. “Call me if you need me.”

“You texted him, didn’t you?” I lowered my voice so only he could hear.

“Yeah. Guilty.” He nodded. “This will hopefully give you closure if nothing else.”

He was the last one to leave, shutting the door behind him.

Cole rushed forward and cupped my face. “I’m so sorry. They’re sending you home because of me.”

I grabbed and lowered his hands. “Yes. We got involved. I’ve compromised the team. I can’t do this job anymore.”

“Then quit.” Exasperation spiked his tone. “Work for me. Be my personal security.”

I jerked my chin back. “You want me to be your paid whore? Fuck that shit.”

“No.” He closed his eyes and winced. “God. No.”

“Cole, I’m not going to be a casual hookup whenever you’re at home and feel like it. I’m not one of the supermodels, A-list celebrities, or fellow musicians who exist in your world. I have responsibilities. My son. And somehow I need a fucking miracle to erase the shit Luther’s going to use against me in court.”

“We’ll work something out.” He placed his hands on my shoulders. “But please, stay. For me. For Charlotte.”

“Don’t ever use your daughter against me.” Pain rippled through my chest. “I’ve risked everything because I fell into your bed. Because I care about you and her. But Luther will go to any length to use the photos he’s taken of us together as ammo in court. He won’t let go of me. I’ll always be his puppet on a string.” Tears prickled my eyes as I jabbed my finger against his chest. “I won’t ever be the same for you. We are over. You hear me.”

“No. Stay with me until we get back to LA.”

“Why, Cole? Tell me why?”

“So we can do this.” He grabbed me and drew my lips to his.

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