Cole sat in first class, his hand gripped a glass of soda water like a vise as he thought ahead to Chicago where he was meeting his bandmates at the airport. Then they had an immediate flight out to Heathrow with a connection to Scotland. AJ’s body would be on board the plane. Cole couldn’t believe the laughter spewing out of his mouth as he thought what if the coffin got lost? If the airlines could lose luggage, they could lose a dead guy. As quickly as he laughed, he cried. Damn it, this sucked. He missed his best friend. He missed Shannon.
He knew he acted like, oh poor me, but he’d spent so many years wanting things. Things like Lindsey’s love and his freedom from prison, why should his life continue to be any different now? The difference being, now he wanted Shannon, and he wanted AJ. One, lost to him forever, and one, God willing would belong to him. Correction, they would belong to each other, like equal halves of one whole.
Things went smoothly in Chicago even though he had a small moment of panic when he saw Kyle Ward enter the plane. What was he doing going to Scotland? He ignored him and found his seat just as a text arrived from Shannon.
“Thank you for coming to Colorado. I don’t know if I could have managed without you.” He cracked a smile as he read the next line. “It meant so much to me having you here. Bill wanted me to thank you as well. Unfortunately, not much has changed with Amber. Dr. Splaine said Cameron can go home in a few days. Mitch’s company has generously and graciously offered the use of their jet to fly us home. Cameron says he won’t leave without Amber. We’re working on that. I believe my boy’s in love. Call me when you can. Not a second goes by that I don’t think of you. All my love, Shannon.”
While he sat quietly, he concluded. Shannon needed him and he wanted to think his presence helped Cameron and he knew Amber responded at the times he played his music for her. So the big question was? Did he continue on this quest or go back to the people who needed him? AJ would understand if he turned right around and went home. Cole could hear his voice in his mind. “Life’s too short, go for love. Nothing’s more important than love. Without it, what would any of us be? Dull, empty, lonely humans wandering the earth in a lifeless haze, struggling to survive. Love, we all need love.”
Cole knew Brad and Ted could handle everything. And when Cameron was better, they could travel to Scotland and pay their respects to Elizabeth and her children, AJ’s children. He could introduce Shannon and Cameron to his sisters. And while they were in Wales, he would ask Shannon to marry him in this beautiful stone chapel near the house he grew up in. It was built in 1670 and was still used today for special occasions. And his marriage to Shannon fit the title of special occasion.
His heart pounded painfully, and he sweated profusely. Damn, what the hell was he doing in this tin box, flying over the black of the Atlantic, when he should take care of securing his future? Shannon meant more to him than anything. She should come first. She and her injured son should come first. If something happened to Amber? He would never forgive himself. He could make a difference in her life. AJ was dead, there was nothing he could do for him now, but Amber, my God, she was only seventeen and still alive.
His thoughts turned dark. What if the security people screwed up and Shannon was killed? He suddenly had difficulty breathing, and Cole fought hard to keep the anxiety attack at bay. That would not help the situation any.
In four more hours, the plane would land in London, and Cole would turn right back around. His gut told him he had to. He closed his eyes briefly and whispered, “AJ forgive me. But I know you of all people would understand someone in need.”
“Cole,” Brad said from his seat across the aisle. “I forgot I had this. The concierge in Chicago said this was dropped off by a messenger service this morning.”
Cole took the sealed note from Brad, opened it and his world tilted once again. His stomach tumbled as though the plane did a barrel roll. Oh shit. His hands trembled as he read the typed note.
“I hope you said your goodbyes to Ms. Gallagher as you will never see her alive again. I may not be able to frame you for this murder, but I will have taken another person you love away from you. Possibly I’ll take her son as an added bonus. This time, I hope you take a cue from AJ and join him in taking your own life. AJ was so easy to convince he killed Lindsey, I almost feel sorry for him.”
Cole stole a look across the aisle and up several rows from him at Ward. Deep down in his gut he knew Ward killed Lindsey. If he just threatened Shannon and Cameron, who had he hired to do the killing? Were they professionals? What a perfect alibi he’d planned. Although his gut could be wrong, and it was someone else entirely.
Cole ran through the Denver airport, his feet barely touching the ground, his breathing labored and his heart pounding. He had to get to Shannon. Ever since he read the note on the plane he’d been in panic mode. His stomach twisted up in knots as he felt desperate and on the verge of collapse. Everything that had happened lately came crashing down around him as he tried to crawl out of the dark abyss and into the light of day. Only he was lost in a labyrinth of endless tunnels and mazes.
He’d contemplated texting her about the note the second he landed in London, but decided not to make her panic. She was safe, he had to believe that. Had to believe the security people and John were keeping her safe. Just keep telling yourself that.
He ran past the lobby desk at the hospital, past the nurses’ station and straight into Cameron’s room waving the note and mumbling like a lunatic. He handed the note to John and pulled Shannon into his arms and held her close and tight. He could feel his heart pounding inside his chest and knew Shannon could as well. But the longer he held her, the calmer he became. She centered him and led him out of the maze and into the light, into life. This one woman would never know how much she changed his life, more than changed it, saved it. Before he met her, he was a hollow human being struggling with life, and when he met her, she gave him life. Oxygen, love and everything else a person needed to survive. He now had to give the gift back to her.
“Cole. What...how...” Shannon asked, her voice breathless with surprise.
“I couldn’t go. I’m needed here more.” He pulled back and kissed her with all the love he felt for her. He didn’t care if every member of the Gallagher family watched, and he was certain they were, and watching no doubt with their jaws hanging open. Let them watch because this was something they would have to get used to because he planned on kissing Shannon every chance he got for the rest of his life.
“We need more security,” John said as he left the room with his cell phone in his hand.
Cole took Shannon’s hand and led her out into the hall where he explained everything. His heart broke for her when he told her about the threat to Cameron’s life. Her face lost all color and her body shook uncontrollably so he wrapped her in his arms and held her close, murmuring soothing words he would never remember later. “Will you be okay?”
“I…I think so. I can’t believe this bastard would threaten my son. Who is this asshole?”
“Do you remember me telling you about Kyle Ward?”
“The senator?”
“The one and only. I think it’s him. It all makes sense. He was having an affair with Lindsey at the same time she was with AJ. The only thing I don’t understand is what did I ever do to him to make him hate me so? And how did he convince AJ he killed Lindsey?” He stepped back, looked at her and winced at the tears wetting her face. “He’ll be caught, eventually. Meanwhile, we need to find out who he hired? John’s taking care of all this right now, so I want you to sit with your son and not worry about anything.” He brought his lips to hers for a quick kiss. “Do you think you can do that?”
“No.”
“I figured as much,” Cole said as he took her hand once again and led her back to her son, then had a private word with Mitch. “Do me a favor and don’t let Shannon or Cameron out of your sight unless John or I are with them.”
Cole gave Mitch credit, he hadn’t blinked an eye or questioned the why of it, he just said yes.
Knowing they were in good hands, there was one more thing he needed to do. He needed to play for Amber, and when he walked in the room and found her alone, he took a seat next to the bed and played. Halfway through the song he heard a soft female voice.
“You really were here. My father told me you were, but…”
Cole nearly dropped the guitar in shock. “You’re ...awake?”
She fluttered her eyes open, they were a brilliant shade of blue, much like Shannon’s, and Cole’s heart melted.
“Yes. Last night. I thought I dreamed all the music. I kept hearing it and trying to reach for it, but the darkness wouldn’t let me through.” There were silent tears dripping down her face onto the pillow. “Thank you. Without your music to guide me and make me strong enough to fight the force that kept sucking me into the dark, I don’t know if I could have found my way out.”
Cole wiped away his own tears and hugged Amber gently to him. “Welcome back.” Then he ran down the hall and burst into Cameron’s room. “She’s awake and talking.”
“Mom?” Cameron pleaded with wide eyes full of hope.
“Dr. Splaine said you can’t leave your bed yet,” Shannon said with a deep sigh.
“The hell with that,” John interrupted. “Jackson, grab the IV bag. Shannon carefully take his leg out of that contraption. We’ll wheel his bed down the hall. My son wants to see his girl.”
Cole stood off to the side and watched the tearful reunion between the two young people with a lump in his throat. Before they took Cameron back to his room, they made promises to get the two of them together once they were all back home and recovered.