Page 27

Chapter twenty-seven

Colt

“ F ifteen years ago, my parents died in cold blood. It happened right in front of my brother and me, but somehow, we were the prime suspects. Someone framed us. Eventually we went to prison to await trial. Uncle Ricky kept us alive. Our parents’ will awarded him custody, and he immediately pulled us out of school, training us for seven months before we were arrested. His connections on the inside kept us safe from the giant targets on our backs. Every day we spent locked up was about survival.” My eyes bore into Maddox’s like hypnotic coals, inviting her to listen.

Her jaw unhinges, falling open in disbelief, but she says nothing, remembering her promise.

I continue weaving my story, picking up where I left off. “My parents were good people who did bad things for a living. In that line of work, danger’s part of the job.”

“Are you in that line of work?” she asks, cutting in.

“Can you handle the truth?” I raise a skeptical brow.

Her eyes narrow. “There was a murder at the bar. I’ve kept your secret, even though I’m pretty sure the bullshit they put on the news was a lie. It doesn’t matter. All that to say—yeah, I can handle the truth. Because I need to hear you say it.”

“Yes, I’m in that line of work, and being with me has the potential to be dangerous. You need to understand what you’re walking into.” There’s a warning in my words as I study her reaction.

Her forehead pinches together, but she’s quick to mask whatever she’s thinking almost immediately..

“Understood,” She replies cooly.

“My dad ran a criminal empire,” I say, the words slicing out of me. “And in the blink of an eye, everything burned.”

Maddox stiffens, but she doesn’t look away. Brave girl.

“These people—“ I spit the word, like it’s poison, “they slaughtered my parents and framed us for it. There were men on the inside twisting evidence, planting DNA, feeding the media a story that turned us into monsters.”

Her breath hitches so softly I almost miss it.

“I couldn’t step outside without a target on my back.”

The memories scrape against my ribs, sharp and jagged. I push them down and keep going.

“Then came the cuffs. The cells. The goddamn trial.” My voice cracks. “And prison.”

Maddox’s throat bobs like she’s trying to swallow the horror for me.

“Five months,” I grind out. “Five months inside a place where every bastard wanted a piece of us. Where killing us would make a nobody into a king.”

I lean forward, elbows on my knees, hands clenched so tight my knuckles crack.

“It was hell,” I rasp. “And we survived by the skin of our teeth.”

Maddox shifts like she wants to reach for me but doesn’t know if she’s allowed to.

“We owe Uncle Ricky our lives.” My jaw ticks. “I’d be dead if not for him.”

A long silence throbs between us—her heart hammering so loud I swear I can hear it.

“I don’t want that life touching Aidan,” I say, softer now, more deadly. “So I built the bar. Learned a skill. Became an award winning master mixologist. I use it as a front—do what needs to be done.”

I lift my head and pin her with a look, daring her to hate me for it.

“I’m a good man,” I say. “Who does bad things… because I’d sell my fucking soul to keep my brother out of the family business.”

Maddox just stares—wide-eyed, wrecked—like the ground’s been ripped out from under her.

Neither of us moves. Neither of us breathes. She stares, the silence stretching on for minutes between us.

“I’m sorry about everything that happened to you,” she finally says.

“But,” I interject.

“But,” she continues, “none of this explains why I haven’t heard from you for two months until you show up on my doorstep wanting to talk. I still don’t understand how you found out where I live.”

I lean forward, resting my chin on my fist. “I understand you want answers. You didn’t hear from me because my uncle has me lying low. I had to sneak out of my condo to come here tonight, past my own men protecting me.”

She looks at me, confused. “I don’t understand. Haven’t you seen the news? The dead guy from the alley. They found his body at the dump. It turns out he owed a lot of people money. The police released a statement about how he had a hit out on him.”

My jaw ticks in irritation. This murder wasn’t an attempt on me or my brother. How long was my uncle going to lie to me? And more importantly, I need to find out what else he’s hiding. It’s the only reason he would keep me lying low when there’s nothing connected to us. He’s up to something, and if I find out he involved Aidan, I’m going to lose my shit. I’ll deal with my lying uncle later. Right now, Maddox needs my full attention.

“Ironically, no. I rarely watch the news. Childhood trauma and all,” I reply, dryly.

She nods slowly. “And you found out where I live, how?”

I shift uncomfortably. “I know where you live because I’ve been following you home every Thursday night since the first day you walked into my bar. But I swear, I only did it because I wanted to make sure you got home safe.”

“I think you should leave now, Colt.” She says, emotionlessly.

“Maddox. I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you, but—I couldn’t. Please. I’ve felt something between us since the night at the masquerade, and before that, I was attracted to you. I made every one of your drinks, watched over you, and tried to work up the nerve to talk to you, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. You’re an intimidating woman, and I didn’t think I stood a chance. I realize now that I actually don’t stand a chance because I fucked up by not talking to you sooner.”

“You’re in the mafia, Colt!” she shouts. “And if your dad was the head of a criminal organization, that makes you next in line. But you were afraid to talk to me?”

Fantastic. This is going fucking great. I confess, and she’s mocking me.

“It’s Uncle RIcky’s empire now. I’m not next in line and never will be. That’s why we bought the bar, and it’s why we’re expanding. I have no desire to continue this line of work unless it becomes a life or death situation.” I explain, avoiding her question.

“But for now, it remains your line of work.” She argues. “How long will your uncle force you to work for him?”

“I don’t know, but I’m not ready. I have an empire to build. My brother is my responsibility, and I need to make sure we’re both taken care of.”

“Why me?” she asks. “Why are you telling me any of this?”

“Maddox,” I smile at her, but no amount of charm is going to get me out of this situation. “You’re fucking gorgeous, and in my opinion, you’re the kind of person who breathes life into a room. I’ve been watching you and your friends for months.”

She interrupts me, “But you know nothing about me. And then there’s the issue of just popping up two months later.”

“I understand it was an asshole move, and I should’ve snuck out sooner. Trust me, I have so many regrets. I wake up every morning wishing you hadn’t left. We could’ve eaten breakfast, talked—avoided all of this. We could’ve laid low and kept each other company.” I wink, but it doesn’t score me any points.

She stands and walks to the foyer, opening the door for me. “I promised to listen, and I did, but I think it’s time for you to leave. The last thing I need is your uncle’s friends showing up here looking for you.”

Her lip quivers, and it kills me. I didn’t want to upset her. She’s obviously overwhelmed.

“Go on,” she says, pointing out into the pouring rain. “You should’ve come two months ago.”

I stand, pleading with my eyes, as I slowly retrace my footsteps to the front door. I can see the hurt on her face. She’s pissed, but I know there’s something between us. I can tell she cares for me. The way her eyes undressed me when she answered the door tells me she craves me the same way I do. If I can break down her wall and get past her anger, maybe I can get her to admit she wants me too. If not, I’ll leave, but I feel compelled to try.

There are only a few steps between me and the front porch. Thinking quickly, I pretend like I’m going to leave, dropping my head as I step past her, but then I turn, wrapping my arms around her waist. Her curves fall against me like we’re two puzzle pieces meant to fit together. I relish in the way she feels for a moment before whisking us off the porch and into the rainy night.

We’re both soaked in an instant. I press my lips against her ear and rasp, “Now, tell me to leave.”

Tears stream down her face, mixing with raindrops. “I already did, Colt. I want nothing to do with—“

My mouth catches hers, smothering her words in a passionate, hungry kiss. She resists at first, gradually allowing her defenses to slip, and then she’s kissing me back just as fiercely. I spin her again, pressing our bodies against the side of her house as the rain continues to pour down, drenching us. My fingers tangle in her hair, as my mouth finds all the places on her neck that make her whimper against me.

“Don’t finish that sentence,” I command, pulling away. “I wasn’t done. Tell me to leave because you’re going to have to say it again and again, maybe a thousand times, before I walk away from you again. Tell me you don’t feel anything between us. Tell me you hate me, Maddox, and that you never want to see me again, but be honest with yourself this time.”

Only silence follows.

“That’s what I thought,” I huff. “Let’s get you out of these wet clothes. I don’t need you catching a cold.”

I don’t give her the opportunity to argue, instead I heft her up over my shoulder and carry her back inside, locking the door behind us.