It's been two weeks since Cole and I told each other that we loved each other on Thanksgiving, which was a beautiful day with the family, because that's what they are. That's also two weeks that we've been coming up with a plan to free me from Ryan for good, hopefully.

"When is your shift over?" Cole asks from the table sipping his coffee as I make eggs, bacon, hash-browns and toast this morning for breakfast.

"Eleven. Drew is taking me and waiting until it's over unless you show up" I tell him as I carry his plate to him. I give him a kiss as I set it down in front of him and then make mine.

"Where are you going?" I ask

"Nowhere until tonight, workshop is full today, then I'm going on a short run. I'm gonna try to make it to the club before you're off. Don't wear those leather shorts please baby, I don't like that"

I roll my eyes and smile "I thought you liked my biker queen shorts?" I teased

"You're my Queen, I don't like anyone else seeing your ass like that"

"Okay babe I won't, I'm actually going shopping with Lana today and I'm going to the bank to talk about the cash withdrawal like the manager told me to"

"Good, I want this settled as soon as possible because for New Years, I booked a suit on the strip, we're going to party our asses off bringing in the new year and I want this all behind us by then" he smiles his knock out smile and I can't help but mirror it.

"Where?" I ask excitedly

"Uh uh baby...it's a surprise" he winks

"Maybe if you're extra good, I'll get something new to wear for you, something sparkly" I tease with a wink back and he raises an eyebrow at me

"Really?" He leans over to me "red?" He asks against my lips

"Morning lovebirds" Lana sings walking into the kitchen in her white silk robe heading straight for coffee. "Bacon smells good Hail, when do you want to hit fashion show?" She asked

"I can be ready in 20, you?"

"About that, yeah"

"Nope, you've got training First Ladies, remember?" Bennie says walking into the kitchen

"I already showered" I complain

"It's fine, you won't sweat with this, let's go Phoenix! Rise from those ashes!"

"Bennie" I chastise her and roll my eyes, she's been calling me Phoenix because I'm rising from the ashes of my life and learning to fly or some shit. I secretly like it.

I stand up and Cole slaps my ass "go kick some ass baby, it's hot"

——————-

"No Hailey, come on, you're leaving your left side wide open. You're going to get hit, always keep your hands up. You've been practicing for weeks, this is day one stuff. Again! Drew? Get in there" Bennie yells out

"Don't take it easy on me Phoenix" I don't however secretly like it when Drew calls me that and I swing at him, connecting on his jaw.

"Wasn't planning on it" I say through clench teeth.

"What the fuck Hailey?! I wasn't even ready"

"Ready now?" I ask with a wicked smile as I stood in my fighter stance Bennie showed me

"You're sick, you actually enjoy it!" He laughs with his head back "let's go then"

He brings his hand up, open handed Only, to slap me but I deflected it with my left hand and threw a right jab at his chest not wanting to hit him in the face again.

We dance around a bit and when I try to swing with a right hook, he caught my hand and twisted me up like a pretzel and my arm was behind my back in a flash "get out of it" he growled in my ear

"Ugh" I grunted as I pulled against him with everything I have "I can't!" I yelled

"Yes, you can, calm down and breathe. Now, take a deep breath and as you step forward with your right foot, throw that ass back hard into me and twist out, go"

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath and pictured Roxie grabbing Coles dick and did what Drew told me, accept her face made me see red, and when I spun out of the hold, I hit him hard in the right eye.

"Holy fuck Hailey!" Drew cried out putting his hand up to his eye

"Oh my God, Drew-I'm so-

I just busted out laughing so hard I doubled over holding my stomach.

"I'm glad you think it's funny, you've actually got a hard ass punch"

I'm really sorry, let me see" I asked putting my hands on his to look at his eye. Yep it's going to be black and blue.

"What the hell happened Prospect?" Cole asked from the glass slider door

"Your old lady gave me a black eye" he yelled at Cole

Cole smiled with pride "Good! You need it" he laughed "heading over to work in the shop"

I ran over from the yard to the door to talk to Cole.

"See you later, I love you"

"Be safe, take your gun and don't leave Drew's side, although after this morning, I don't know how much help he really is"

I gasped and slapped him playfully "don't ever let him hear you say that. He loves you and this club. I love you more though" I gave him a quick kiss

"Love you baby, call me later or if you have any trouble" he gave me a long kiss and then walked over to the shop. Damn his ass is hot in those jeans

I ran back over to everyone in the yard.

"Okay, I think we're good for today Bennie, I've got to get to the bank. Drew seriously, I'm sorry, are you ok?"

"Of course, leave in 15?"

I look at Lana and she nods "sounds good"

————————

The afternoon went quickly. I got some new clothes, including a New Year's Eve dress and a new lingerie outfit for Cole to enjoy on the special night. We will be ringing in this New Years right.

My nerves were out of control when I was at the bank looking like a lunatic asking for 2.5 million dollars in unmarked bills in 20's, 50's and 100's. I thanked God that they didn't need my parents permission anymore when I accessed my trust. The bank manager said it would be in three days from now. I filled out all of the required paperwork for such a withdrawal, spoke to the manger for a few minutes and then I went to work.

———————-

Drew followed my in my Jeep to the club. Cole and I decided that it would be best if I had to work, which I did for my sanity, that it would be best to work in his club where I would have constant protection.

I parked in the back lot and grabbed my bag so I could change inside. I waited for Drew to get off his bike next to me before I got out so he could walk me inside. This is how it's worked every day since I started. He or Cole would wait while I worked and then follow me home. I only worked three days a week anyway. The rest of my days I would help Cole around the shop or with the club. The things he let me know about anyway.

I was settling in well here. Starting Over In Sin City couldn't have been going better. Cole and I couldn't be better and we actually have a plan to deal with Ryan, so I don't know why the deep feeling of dread hit me once inside the club.

A panic attack hit me hard. I couldn't breathe, my heart pounded against my chest as it tried to escape my breast plate. As I gasped for air, Drew's phone rang, I met his eyes with panic.

"Cole?" I choked out over the lump in my throat.

"Yeah" he answered "fuck, ok, ok, yeah right now" he eyes dropped from mine "I know Ghost" he hung up

"We gotta go" His voice tried to conceal his fear but I read it all over his face.

"Is he-

"No! God Hailey, no, but he's been shot and Ghost is almost home with him. We're on lockdown, which means you're done here. Let's go, I'll drive because there is no way I'm letting you drive right now"

My heart ached, it literally hurt in my chest as terrible thoughts and images swirled inside my mind. This damn ride seemed to take twice as long as usual.

I had my seatbelt off and was out of the car before it stopped and I ran for the house.

"Where is he?" I asked aggressively when I got inside the living room.

The fragmented magnificent seven looked at me minus one set of beautiful eyes.

"In your room"

I didn't even finish listening to them before I bolted down the hallway to our bedroom and burst through the door.

Cole lay on our bed looking pale

"Jesus Christ Cole, what happened? Are you ok? Where were you shot? Who-

"Shhh...I'm ok, Come here baby" His voice was horse and low as he held his right arm up to me to crawl into trying to calm me down.

"Let me see" I asked with a broken voice as tears broke over my eyes as I stood over him.

"Look" he said lifting up a clean black tee shirt to reveal a 4x4 patch of gauze "I'm ok, it just grazed me but it wasn't meant to, which means we're in the shit now. Lockdown, that means no one goes out unless it's necessary. It won't be necessary for you to leave and if it is, it'll be with me. Lay with me baby, I'm tired"

I went over to the desk drawer and grabbed out a blunt and lighter. Then I light a candle and turned off the lights and crawled next to my beautiful knight in shining armor, on the side he wasn't shot on.

"Don't ever scare me like that again" I tell him and light the blunt "here"

"I wasn't trying to scare you. You do it baby, I'm tired" he smirked. He may have been shot but he's still horny.

He watched me through the candlelight bring the blunt to my lips and inhale. Carefully I leaned up to his lips that he had parted for me, I blew gently into his mouth and gave him a soft kiss.

We lay there and cuddled as much as we could without hurting him and finished the blunt. I gave him a few shotguns to help him sleep and ease his pain, even though he said it was just a flesh graze and didn't penetrate his skin, I still was careful.

"Why did they shoot you Cole? I need you to be honest with me. Please?"

He sighed and I could see the internal battle in his mind on whether he wanted to really let me into his club life.

"Another club wanted in some of our business and they were trying to push me out by taking me out" he waited for my reaction and it took everything in me not to cry. I can't lose this man. I can not.

"Listen Hailey, this stuff happens in the businesses I deal in. Remember the scar on my back, the exit wound on my shoulder, not the first time this has happened. I know you're scared but it will be ok"

"I can't lose you Cole. I can not. You're all I have now" I tell him as I lay on his chest, my fingers stroke his stomach, keeping clear of his wound. "I love you too much to live without you now"

"You won't lose me. I'm a tough mother fucker remember?" He tried to laugh but stops immediately and hisses through the pain when he does. "I love you baby and it's going to take a Hell of a lot more than a scratch to put my ornery ass down. Wild horses, you ever hear that saying? Wild horses can't keep me from you, however, I really am tired, let's get some sleep. I love you"

"I love you too Cole, so much" I hug him around his broad shoulders and kiss his face all over before giving him a soft kiss on his lips "I'd miss this face too damn much. Do you need anything before we go to sleep? Water? Anything?"

"Uh uh, just you" he said with his eyes closed

I grabbed an extra blanket and blew out the candle and settled in next to Cole,who had fallen asleep so fast and deep, that he was snoring softly. I brushed his dark-blonde hair back and kissed his forehead

"love you, don't ever leave me" I whispered

"Never" he mumbled and fell back into his deep sleep with his arm behind my back along my side.

I'm not sure how long I lay next to him just listening to him breath and the comfort that gave me. I'm so far gone into him, but the funny thing is, the more I give into him, the more I find of myself.

"Dear God, I know I'm probably a hypocrite right now for asking but please, if you can do just one thing for me in my life, don't take him from me. Let me have just one thing, just one little bit of happiness, keep Cole safe. Amen"

I said my not so silent prayer to God. Then watched Cole and listened to him breathe until I feel into a deep and comforting sleep.