Cole kept holding Vanessa's wrists with one hand while sliding his other slowly down her arm, passing over her face, caressing her gently, and then placing it on her throat. "What happened to this big mouth of yours, Vanessa? Won't you say anything witty?" he whispered.

Vanessa opened her eyes and looked at his. "I don't play games, Cole. At least, not this kind. But I master many others..."

Cole cupped her face and ran his thumb over her lips, opening her mouth slightly, licking his lips with his tongue simultaneously, then running his teeth along his lower one lightly.

"What happened with your big mouth, Cole," Vanessa echoed his question. "Won't you say anything?"

At that moment, body vibrations spoke instead of words. Cole's hand lightly gripped Vanessa's throat—not roughly, but in that passionate, arousing way. His lips met hers. His playful tongue dipped into her mouth, sending chills over her body.

His kiss was intense. Primary. It overwhelmed her senses. It was as if no one had ever kissed her before. It was as if no one had touched her before.

Suddenly, a ringing from Cole's pocket interrupted the pleasant sounds of running water.

No one paid attention. But the phone kept making an annoying sound.

"Seriously? This thing still works?" Vanessa asked as if to herself, not completely breaking the contact of their lips.

"I don't care," Cole whispered.

But the ringing continued.

Cole took the phone out of his pocket and put it to his ear. "It better be important, Mike," he growled angrily. After a few seconds of silence, he replied, "I'm coming."

After hanging up, he looked at Vanessa, staring in confusion. But without saying anything, he just left the bathroom.

Vanessa remained under the running water alone. Despite this passionate moment between them being interrupted, she was starting to get angry with herself. How had she let this happen in the first place? What was going on with her? Having sex with someone was one thing, but what was happening between her and Cole was different. To think about him constantly... To let him make her feel this way... In this inexplicable way, even with just one kiss... What did that mean?

***

Meanwhile, downstairs, Jackson and Rebecca, who were still there, were in Mike's company. All three stared in amazement as they saw Cole coming down the stairs while water dripped from him.

"Damn, Cole! Why are you all wet?" Rebecca asked him, unable to hold back her laughter.

Cole didn't answer her but turned directly to Mike. "Come with me, Mike."

The two entered the office.

"What happened?"

"There was a fight outside the club. Owen is in hospital."

Owen was one of the people who worked at the security company. Although Cole did not interfere in the management there, several boys, including Owen, were among his most trusted people. But more importantly, Owen was Mike's stepbrother. Their parents had married while the boys were still young, and like most children in a similar situation, they weren't happy about that fact at first. , But over the years, they had grown closer and felt like blood brothers. And Mike's relatives, Cole considered like his relatives too.

"Is he okay?"

"Yeah. A few broken ribs, but he'll be fine." Mike walked over to Cole as he spoke, pulling his phone out of his pocket. "But there's something more. I checked the camera footage. Look." He played the video and started talking in between. "Everyone can be seen leaving the club. They look cheerful. They are saying goodbye to each other, Clive and the others leave together, and Owen and Jessica leave in the opposite direction alone. They cross the street but stop and talk to each other for a while. Then these guys come and directly attack Owen. Look at this." Mike paused the video and zoomed in on the screen. "I've never seen these two before, but the third one. Doesn't he look familiar to you?"

"Jerry's boy."

"Coincidence?"

"I don't believe in coincidences. Wait for me, I'll change, and we're going to the hospital."

***

Before long, Cole and Mike were in Owen's hospital room. Jessica, his girlfriend, was also there. She still looked upset and scared.

"How are you, bro? Jessica."

"I'm fine, Mike. It could be worse," Owen replied. "Boss, hello," he addressed Cole as well. "There was no need for you to come."

"Sure we'll come," Mike scolded him.

Cole walked over to Owen's bed and patted him on the shoulder. "If you need anything, just say. I'll go talk to the doctor. I've already ordered two men to stand guard at the door just in case. Get some rest." Owen nodded appreciatively, and Cole turned to Jessica. "Do you want me to take you home?"

"No, Mr. Willker, thank you, but I'd rather stay here."

"Okay, they'll be bringing over an extra bed in a little while so you can settle in comfortably as much as possible."

"Thank you!" she replied kindly.

While Cole talked to the doctor, Mike and Owen only exchanged a few words about what had happened so as not to upset Jessica furthermore.

Around ten minutes later, Cole returned to the room.

"Come on, Mike, let's go. Let's let them rest."

Mike got out of his chair, said goodbye to Owen and Jessica, and he and Cole left.

"Dan,"—Cole called Danny while they were walking to the car—"I'm going to need backup. Send me some of the boys in fifteen minutes. I'm sending you the address."

"Shall I ask why?"

"No."

"Whatever you say."

Cole hung up the phone, and Mike worriedly asked, "Where are you planning to go, Cole?"

"I have an old friend I will pay a visit to."

"Cole. Don't go back there. Don't you think we'd better call the police?"

"What do you expect the police to do? Jerry is my responsibility, Mike. And I'll deal with him."

"Then I'm coming with you."

"No, you're not. You had nothing to do with that."

"It's about Owen."

Cole clenched his fists. "I know. Goodnight, Mike." He got into the car and drove off without waiting for Mike to get in.

"Damn it, Cole!" Mike shouted out after the car. But he has left with no other choice but to call a taxi to go home.

***

Fifteen minutes later, Cole and three of the security guards burst into a small old bar owned by Jerry, where he and his gang used to hang out.

"There's nobody here, Boss."

It looked like the bar hadn't been open for a long time. The chairs were turned upside down and placed on the tables. There was a lot of dust on the bar counters, and on one, with a finger in the dust, was written: Try again.

"I see," Cole said angrily, pounding his fist hard on the counter. "He has changed the spot. Rat!" he shouted as he walked around the dark establishment. "Destroy everything to the ground," he ordered the boys and left.

***

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, in a similar basement bar, Jerry Brennan was drinking low-quality scotch with several other men and grinning triumphantly. "Good job, guys! I'm sure Cole got the message."

"It was so much fun, Jerry!" one of the men added with a smirk.

"More fun to come!" Jerry continued. "He thinks he's the greatest? Invincible? I'll show him who's greater!"

Jerry's voice sounded menacing, and his hatred for Cole was written in his eyes. In addition to aggression, even madness could be detected in his entire behavior.

***

4 a.m. the same night

Vanessa woke up again from nightmares. The murder of Steve and Grace, her adoptive parents, did not give her peace, even when other things occupied her mind. She tried to go back to sleep but without success. So she got up and took a short walk around the yard.

It was quiet outside. Peaceful. And beautiful.

I have to stay focused on the job, she thought. I need to stop thinking about Grace and Steve. I need to stop thinking about Cole. And everything that's distracting me.

While walking, suddenly, her eyes fell on a door on the side of the house, which was slightly open.

"What is this?"

Vanessa hadn't noticed this door before. She approached and entered. A few stairs led down to what looked like a home gym. A punching bag hung from the ceiling at one end, and Cole was beside it, pounding it tirelessly.

He was barefoot and without a t-shirt, just a bottom. His body was covered in sweat and glinted from time to time against the dim light.

Vanessa took a few more steps quietly inside and leaned against the wall. She watched his every move. He kept hitting the punching bag. He had probably spent hours there. And didn't look like he would stop soon. He was angry.

She wondered what had happened. What Mike had told him? And where they both went earlier?

As she wandered through her thoughts, she didn't notice that Cole had seen her and had approached her.

"Why are you not sleeping?" he asked her quietly.

"Nightmares. You?"

He reached up and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. "Problems."

Cole didn't seem in the mood for conversation, so Vanessa decided to leave him alone. "I'm going to bed," she told him, trying to keep her distance.

"Good night, Vanessa," he said to her, then walked back to the punching bag.

"Good night, Cole," she whispered as she closed the door.