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Cole looks beautiful in his suit The color is so dark that it htens his tie as he looks atht?"

I pull my knees to my chest and see his eyes follow the sweep of ht of being alone I’ forme I don’t want Cole to leave, but I try to banish the crazy thoughts before theymy life like this A bolt of deter a little longer

A wicked grin crosses my lips I stand and allow the robe to fall to the floor Walking toward Cole, I wear nothing but a smile Cole freezes His eyes watch me move toward him Tension lines his shoulders and spills down into his areous When I reach Cole, I thread ently kiss his lips The feel soft and warm, completely perfect

Cole sucks in a breath and slowly releases it after the kiss His eyes close as he does it I step away, loving the effect I have on him Cole smiles for a moment and then his eyes open He looksthat exact sa at s andhim "I’m sure Sottero will appreciate a buck-naked Anna at court"

"I knoould," he says, not looking back at ainst the doorway "Maybe I shouldn’t coainst you--to prove whatever whacked point she’s trying to aze He only looks at e to let his eyes dip lower "There’s no way for your testimony to support her claim since you weren’t there"

"But you were, and it doesn’t seeo away I can’t stand watching this happen to hi this, Anna, but now I intend to I’ hting back" He looks atme There’s no question in his voice He knohat he wants He knohat he’s doing and he’s infors that are worth fighting for" He winks atmy words back to et hurt, but I think he’s ht choice I can’t hide it Cole s stupid Keep the doors locked until you leave Get in and out of your apartment as fast as possible Stay out of alleys and abandoned buildings I’ll see you this afternoon"

"Cole," my voice catches I step toward hiet in here?"

"No, baby," he shakes his head "The doorman doesn’t let randoe No one can get in there either without the guard letting theh There are a ton of ca to ride your motorcycle in later?"

"I don’t know Which is better? The bike or the train? I could end up in a car alone With the bike, I’ll end up in the parking garage alone I can park the bike on the street when I get there" Goosebu my life because of this douche I rub the buers on my skin

"Take your bike I’ll keep an eye out for you, and you better believe that if you’re a second late, that I’ll co for you" I smile Cole crosses the room and pulls me to his chest He presses a kiss firmly to the top of my head and says, "No one will hurt you"

I nod as he pulls away I watch Cole walk out the door and my pulse ticks up a notch It nearly explodes when I shower The scene froh my mind in an endless loop I watch the suds swirl down the drain and remember the ribbons of blood on the bottoet out of the shower, I’ve nearly peed myself twice

"Stop it, Anna" I say out loud, just to prove that I’ It feels like a ghost is breathing downthat the noise will help I blow out my damp hair and clip it back to the nape ofhere I’d already discussed this with Cole Erab my suit If not, the backup plan is to buy another one Maybe it’s a stupid tiht and there’s no way I’ to find another one in a few hours and make it to the courthouse on ti she’s ho "Anna, are you okay?"

"Yeah, Em I’m fine I’m at Cole’s Are you okay?"

"God!" she speords at remlin and then asks, "What the hell happened? Edward said an aniot in, and then James came by to make sure you were okay He said you asked hi the apart on?"

"Edward didn’t tell you?"

"Tell h me I clenched my free hand and wanted to hurl the phone at the wall "That soot in yesterday? He was supposed to stay with you last night Did he--"

She cut me off, "Yeah, he stayed, but he didn’t tellThe ass slept on the couch all night He was really tense, so of course, we fought like crazy Then, when I tried to call you, you didn’t answer" E to steady her tirade "How’d you know soot inside?"

My veins fill with ice when she asks the question The red letters flash inon my mirror with my lipstick--‘whore’" My voice is too soft I can’t hide howfoul words, but she says nothing "Em?"