Into the Fading Twilight (Starlight Grove, #2) (114)

My lips curved as I sat back on the couch and studied my ice cream, memories from earlier in the evening washing over me.

Kol ended the call and set the cell on the coffee table, then tugged my feet into his lap. “What are you smiling at?”

I grinned at him. “I love being kinky with you.”

Kol’s mouth quirked as he began massaging my foot. “Kinky, huh?”

“I mean, I feel like what we did qualifies,” I challenged.

He let out a soft laugh. “Fair enough. You still feeling good?”

“I feel way better than good.” I met his gaze and didn’t look away so he would know I was giving him the whole truth. “I feel free. I can’t explain it, but it helped erase something for me. Helped me reclaim what it means to let go of control, even just for a moment.”

“I love that, Phoenix. So damn much.”

And it was then that I realized it. I was happy. Even with all the darkness swirling around us, I was blissfully happy. More than that. I was at peace.

My phone dinged, and I fought the urge not to scowl at it. I didn’t want anyone intruding on my happy bubble. I muttered a curse as I read the text.

Cora:

At the gate.



“What is it?” Kol asked.

I winced. “I forgot I told Cora to come over after her shift. I wanted to make sure she was okay.”

Kol simply smiled and reached for his phone to open the gate. He stood and bent to kiss me quickly. “I’ll make her an ice cream sundae, too.”

God, he was too good to me. So damn understanding.

I set my ice cream down on the coffee table. “Do I look like I just had sex?” I called into the kitchen.

A low, rumbling chuckle was my answer.

I grumbled something under my breath as I dipped into the hall bathroom to check out my reflection. Another wince. My cheeks were pink, my hair resembled a bird’s nest, and my eyes looked slightly glazed.

Pulling out my hair tie, I tried to remedy the only thing I could. As I stepped out of the bathroom, I heard a door slam outside. Oh well. This was the best I was going to get.

A scream tore through the air, freezing me in midstep. Then a shout. Another scream.

Kol was in the entryway in a flash, his feet sliding into shoes as he yanked open the drawer on a hutch along the wall. He retrieved a black box and pressed his fingers to the top. It popped open, revealing a gun.

My stomach dropped as fear swept through me.

“Stay inside,” he ordered.

“Kol,” I choked.

“Stay inside,” he begged.

I nodded quickly.

Kol jerked open the door, and just as he did, Cora stumbled up the front steps, holding her side.

“What happened?” Kol barked.

A bloodied switchblade tumbled from her hand and landed on the front porch with a clatter. She looked up at us in panic. Blood seeped through her pale-blue shirt. “He stabbed me,” she choked out. “I got him back, though,” she wheezed. “Started … carrying … for protection.”

“Get her inside,” I yelled. “We need to check her wound.”

Kol moved then, helping Cora inside as his gaze jumped around, looking for her attacker before locking the door. But all that was left was a bloody switchblade on the front steps. We hurried to help her onto the couch.

“Shit, shit, shit,” I said, seeing the blood seeping in earnest now. “Get a towel.”

Kol dipped into the kitchen as I gently lifted Cora’s shirt. Her features contorted in pain as I took in the angry slash across her abdomen. It was deep. I didn’t think it was deep enough to injure an organ but certainly deep enough to cause a hell of a lot of bleeding.

I looked up as Kol returned, tossing me the towel. “Thank you.”

His gaze locked on Cora. “Who?” Kol demanded. “Who was it?”

Pain lanced Cora’s features as I pressed the towel against her cut. “That reporter. It was Reese.”





CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO


Kol




MY WHOLE BODY VIBRATED, FURY MAKING MY MUSCLES tremble with the force of holding myself together. I should’ve known. Some part of me had—I knew, but I should’ve pushed harder. Had Dex do another sweep into the creep’s computer.

But I hadn’t.

I’d been too focused on Travis. So sure he’d escaped death and come back to destroy us all a second time. Or some twisted copycat sparked to life by his crimes.

Fucking hell.

I wouldn’t let this monster escape. I wouldn’t let him go on to ruin someone else’s life.

“Nova,” I clipped, moving toward the front door.

Panic lit her features as she looked between Cora and me. “Hold this to your wound,” she instructed her friend as she pushed to her feet and hurried toward me. “What are you doing?”

I rifled through the drawer in the hutch, finally landing on what I needed: a tactical flashlight. I grabbed it and tested the beam. Batteries were still good.

When I was sure I had everything, I turned back to Nova. “Lock the door after me. Set the alarm. Call 911 and then my brothers.”

Nova’s hands snaked out, gripping my forearms. “No. You’re not going out there. Wait with us. Wait for backup. Mav and Orion, at least.”