Free Stolen Innocents (The Shadow Series Book 2) by Addison Kline

ground Trafford walked on for the way he treated the waitresses in the restaurant. The only one Jesse seemed to be polite to was Tristan.
     
    “My boyfriend has a name,” Tristan said curtly.
     
    “Yeah, Cole…” said Jesse, as his voice became coarse and rough with attitude.
     
    Tristan stared at him with a wary look on her face.
     
    “Tell him I’m taking you out tomorrow night…” Jesse said coolly as he grabbed Tristan’s hand again.
     
    Here we go again…
     
    “Jesse…” Tristan said softly as she removed her hand from Jesse’s grasp. “Cole is a good guy whether you admit it or not. And I have no intentions upon seeing anyone else.”
     
    Suddenly, the bell that hung over the front door of Monte’s Café rung loudly, and Cole jogged in from the scorching June heat. He stood at the front register as he sorted through the mail that had arrived earlier that day. After a moment he looked up, and his thoughts turned to rage as he took in the sight of Jesse Trafford with his hand squeezed tightly around Tristan’s wrist. Tristan appeared to be backing away from Jesse as he stared at her. Apparently their conversation had taken a turn for the worst. Jesse appeared to be asking a question, and Tristan was reluctant to answer. Cole had warned Jesse to leave all the waitresses alone – especially Tristan. Cole sighed in disgust as he observed them, trying not to jump to conclusions. He had no problem whatsoever laying Jesse Trafford out, flat on his back, but he knew Tristan could not stand it when men tried to do her fighting for her. Reluctantly, Cole kept his distance… For now.
     
    “Let’s just pretend this never happened, Jesse,” said Tristan sternly, now more angry than irritated.
     
    “Tristan…” Jesse said as he squeezed her wrist tighter.
     
    “It’s Miss Morrow to you!” spat Tristan venomously as she ripped her wrist from his grip.
     
    She turned on her heel and made a beeline for the kitchen. Cole watched as Jesse reached for Tristan’s shoulder in an attempt to turn her around, and Cole saw red. As Tristan raced towards the kitchen she whipped right past Cole and stormed out the back door.
     
    Before Cole could take charge, Joe had barreled out of the kitchen. He slammed his hands down on Jesse’s table causing Jesse to jump back towards the window.
     
    “What did I tell you about bothering the girls in here?! Time to go!”
     
    Joe lifted Jesse by his shirt collar and pushed him out the front door, causing to land face first in the dirt.
     
    “You’ll be sorry, Monte! Mark my words!” yelled Trafford as he scrambled off down Mountain Road.
     
    ***
     
    Cole pushed open the back door of Monte’s with a loud squeak. He found Tristan sitting red-faced and seething on the bench that sat against the back wall of the property. She kicked at the gravel with her white sneaker as she stared down at the ground, deep in thought. Cole was trying to keep his cool. One of the things that Tristan loved most about Cole was his ability to keep a level head when things got heated. He wasn’t a hot head like Tommy, Adam, or her father, Jack. He worked well under pressure and he rarely lost his cool.
     
    “What did he say?” asked Cole calmly.
     
    Tristan simply shook her head. She wasn’t in the mood to talk about it. Though he didn’t like to, Cole pressed the matter. He had to know if he needed to kick Trafford into next month. Lord knows he could have the Morrow boys assembled on Mountain Road in less than an hour, if need be.
     
    “Tristan…” Cole urged, trying to get a conversation out of her.
     
    “I don’t want to talk about it,” Tristan said abruptly.
     
    “Tristan, you can tell me,” said Cole. His patience was hanging on by a fragile thread. Tristan looked up at Cole with watery eyes.
     
    What did that bastard say?!
     
    Tristan wasn’t exactly known for turning on the water works. Trafford must have really said something vicious.
     
    “Let’s