Page 21 of Strip Search
Chapter Ten
Cole
Today has been enlightening, to say the least. I’m fucking exhausted, but before I can go home, or pay Jade another visit, I’ve been tasked with dropping Molly off at her place.
“I still say we kill you off. Think about it, you could start over somewhere else, and they would probably give you a new car too.”
“Fuck off, Cole.” Molly flips me off for the fifth time today.
I can’t fight back the deep chuckle that escapes. This whole entire situation is fucked up. I’m not convinced that her car trouble was mere coincidence. Either way, it gave me the opportunity to have a few minutes alone with her.
In the back of my mind, I can still hear the tiny voice that begs me to give into this woman. To make her mine.
“Do you believe him?” I can sense the worry in her timid voice.
“Dallas? Yeah, I do. Cody’s following up with his story as we speak. Knowing what I know though, I expect it will come back ironclad. Shit, we would have barged in the club a hell of a lot sooner if his boss hadn’t called and delayed us.”
“I was scared. A little,” she admits softly.
Fuck if that confession doesn’t tug at my heartstrings, but I’m not about to admit that to her. “You wanted to run with the big guys.”
“Yeah. I did. I still do. It doesn’t mean I can’t be scared, or nervous,” Molly snaps at me. Out of the corner of my eye, I see her turn in the passenger seat to face me. “You guys didn’t train me for that part. How do you turn off the fear Cole? What if Dallas wasn’t clean? I panicked, I could have gotten killed, or worse, blew the whole thing.”
It’s not lost on me that she thinks blowing this case would be worse than her death.
Instinctively, I reach over and take her hand in mine, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Start listening to me, yeah?”
“Not a chance.” She laughs.
“You’re fucking infuriating,” I growl.
“Hmm. I feel like I have heard that before.”
“You learn to deal. Do this long enough, and you’re able to shut everything off. Or at the very least, you learn to have a better poker face. Besides that,” I run my thumb over the back of her hand. “You’ve got Cody and me watching your back, always. Nothing would have happened to you.”
“Unless you were too late,” she whispers.
I’m pulling into the parking space outside her apartment building now. Putting the truck in park, I turn to face her. “We won’t ever be too late. I promise you that. But, now – you’re going to start sparring with us, with the whole team. Running through drills and practicing. Until it becomes second nature, and then we keep going. No stopping. The more confidence you have inyourabilities, the less nervous you’ll feel.”
Molly gives me a weak nod and half smile. “Okay.” Releasing my hand, she tugs at the hem of her shirt like she’s suddenly nervous around me. “Do you want to come in?”
Fuck yes, I do.“Nah. I’m going to go by Smitty’s see what the new baby’s up to.” It’s when the words leave my mouth that reality really hits me. Jade wasn’t the answer – this time.
She lets out a sweet laugh. “You’re a dork. Babies don’tdoanything except eat, sleep and poo.”
It’s my turn to chuckle at her assessment. “Regardless, I’m swinging by his place before I head home.”