Stone Cold Bad Read online

  “How’d you get those dimwits to leave?” Slade asked.

  Ace shrugged and put his gun in his holster. “Let’s just say that I can drop some names that will make grown men like those douchebags shit their pants.” He looked at me. “You look a little raw, but are you going in to get the girl, or what?”

  “Yep.” I slid past him. Hunter and Slade followed. I heard a muffled scream coming from behind a door. I kicked it and the door flew open. Ward had ripped Jade’s shirt open. Her mouth was swollen and red as she tried to fight him off.

  She looked up. “Colt!” she cried.

  Ward jumped up from the couch. Hunter grabbed him. I dropped to my knees in front of the couch and swept Jade into my arms.

  “You’re alive,” she said between sobs.

  “Seems that way.”

  She tucked herself against me. “Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

  “Funny, I was just about to say the same thing to you.” I lifted her into my arms.

  Hunter had Ward in a chokehold. Ward’s eyes were bulging with rage and a lack of oxygen. “Just give me the word, Colt, and I’ll squeeze his neck flat,” Hunter said.

  I shook my head. “Nope. He’s mine. Take Jade out of here.”

  Hunter released Ward. He bent over coughing and gasping for air.

  I put Jade in Hunter’s arms. He carried her out but Slade stuck around. I’d figured he would.

  Ward ran to his desk where his gun sat. I was on him before he could reach it. I turned him to face me. His nervous gaze flicked to the door. “How did you get past my men?”

  “Do you mean the guys who just scooted to their car with their tails between their legs?”

  His eyes went wide.

  “What’s the matter? You look worried.”

  He backed up and his desk stopped his retreat. “Get out before I call the police.”

  “Good idea. Then Jade can tell them what you’ve done to her, and I’ll probably mention being kidnapped and threatened with death.” I took a step toward him. “You are officially done with Jade. When I leave here, you’re going to wish you’d never gone looking for her. Who the fuck am I kidding? You’re going to wish you’d never met her.” I grabbed hold of his shirt. “Hope you have a lot of fucking aspirin in this big ole house.”

  Chapter 30

  Jade

  Hunter wanted to take me back to the car but I wouldn’t let him. He gave me his sweatshirt to cover up. My head was still spinning and every bone in my body ached, but I knew everything would feel right again once Colt walked out of the house. Seeing him alive had been like waking up from a horrible nightmare.

  A shiver ran through me. Hunter placed his arm around me.

  “Will he be all right?” I asked. “He was such a mess.” I swallowed hard. “Ray had told me Colt was dead.”

  “Amy called right after you left. We headed to the beach house first. Good thing. They were just pulling in with the van as we were leaving.”

  I wrapped my arms around him. “Thank you. I’m so sorry I brought all of this down on you guys.”

  “Nothing to be sorry about. I’m glad you’re with us. And I know Street is thrilled.”

  “I’m thrilled too.”

  Several minutes passed. “Do you think they’re all right?” I asked.

  “I doubt if Ward is, but I’m sure Colt and Slade are fine.”

  Slade came out first. I ran halfway up the lawn to greet him. He pointed behind with his thumb. “Colt’s coming.”

  I took a few steps. The front door opened and Colt walked out. He was stretching out his fingers and his red knuckles. He looked at me.

  Even black and blue, he was a sight to send a girl’s heart racing. My feet nearly flew out from under me as I ran to him. I threw my arms around him and broke into tears the second his arms encircled me.

  I peered up at his face. “I love you.”

  “I love you too, lucky number one.” He attempted a wink. “Ouch, shit that hurts.”

  Epilogue

  one month later

  From the front porch steps, we could see the sun sinking below the horizon. We’d been living together in the cottage for a month. After my final encounter with Ward, he’d been sufficiently convinced never to come near Jade again. She was free of the asshole for good, and we’d started building a life together. Jade had been working on the garden, planting roses and vegetables, while I’d gotten busy fixing all the things that needed repair. The place was really starting to look like it had when Noddy had lived there. Jade breathed in deeply and lowered her head against my shoulder as she let out a long sigh. “The ocean breeze always brings this amazing scent with it.”

  I smiled. “I don’t know if I’d always call it amazing. Sometimes it’s pretty funky smelling.”

  She elbowed me. “You know what I mean. It’s the fragrance of adventure, of faraway places and—”

  “And fish and oil tankers,” I added.

  “Stop, you party pooper.”

  I put my arm around her. “You’re right. Sorry. What has you in such a dreamy mood today?”

  “Just happy. I’m sitting with my prince charming in front of his very cozy castle and, for the first time, there’s nothing terrible about my life. Oh, did I tell you Jack has hired me back on? So I’ll have a job, and I get to work with my best friend.”

  I grabbed her around the waist and lifted her onto my lap. “Excuse me, but I thought I was your best friend.”

  She kissed my chin. “You are too, but in a different way. In fact, you’re my best everything.”

  “Best everything. I like that. Now, I think this prince should carry his princess into his cozy castle and strip her of all her finery so that they can fuck like two peasants.”

  She laughed. “Why can’t we fuck like royalty?”

  I lowered my mouth to hers. “Something tells me that peasants have a lot more fun in the sack than the snobby royals.” I lowered my mouth to hers and we kissed.

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