Page 7

I sat there on the floor, sobbing in Colt’s arms for what felt like an eternity.

Every painful secret I had buried, locked away in a tiny fragile box, had just shattered wide open.

He had seen everything—the bruises, both fresh and fading.

His eyes had traced, with silent horror, the places Jason had left his mark.

Day after day, I had endured his unwarranted anger, convincing myself I could keep it hidden.

But there was no hiding it anymore.

I had to tell Colt the truth, even if it changed the way he saw me forever.

Slowly, I lifted my head, swiping at the last of my tears.

He placed one hand gently on my thigh, the other under my chin, tilting my head until our eyes met.

“Please,” he whispered, his voice raw. “Tell me what happened, so I can make it better.”

I took a deep breath, searching for the right words .

“A couple months after I moved to Dallas, I met a man named Jason. At first, he was everything I thought I wanted—the person you imagine spending forever with.”

Colt’s eyes darkened as I spoke.

“The abuse started small, with harsh words… telling me I was stupid, that I annoyed him. I brushed it off… convinced myself it was a one-time thing… that it was out of character for him to speak to me that way. Eventually, we moved in together. Looking back, it wasn’t a good idea, but that’s what we did.

Things were going good for a few months. No angry outbursts.

Then one night, we were out with some friends.

I was having a great time, laughing, enjoying myself.

But as soon as we got back to our apartment, everything changed.

In the elevator, Jason started yelling, accusing me of giving one of his friends ‘the look,’ as if I wanted to sleep with him or something.

I had no idea what he was talking about, but he wouldn’t listen.

And then… he slapped me across the face. ”

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to keep going.

“That was how it usually started—with jealousy and baseless accusations. Words turned into slaps. Slaps turned into punches.”

I lowered my gaze, ashamed.

My voice was barely above a whisper when I added, “I made excuses for him. Forgave him when I shouldn’t have.”

I took a deep breath. Colt was still watching me intently, his expression unreadable, waiting for me to finish .

“Last week, he came home drunk—again—accusing me of stealing his phone and hiding it to mess with him. I swore to him I didn’t know where it was, but he didn’t care. He grabbed me by the wrists and slammed me into the wall.” My voice wavered.

“That was the hardest hit I’d ever taken from him. In that moment, I knew it would only get worse. So, I waited until the next morning, packed everything I could, and left. I had nowhere to go, so I drove to the only place I knew I’d be safe—Silver Creek.”

I hesitated before lifting my gaze to meet Colt’s, bracing myself for his reaction.

His jaw tightened.

“So that’s why you’ve been wearing long sleeves? And why you flinched that morning in the kitchen when I put my hand over yours?”

I swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes.”

Dropping my head in shame, I covered my face with my hands.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you, Colt.” My voice cracked.

“I didn’t want you to think any less of me.

When I left Silver Creek, I was so determined to make it on my own.

I needed a fresh start after my parents died, and I thought leaving was the only way to find it.

But then… everything fell apart. And I was too ashamed to come home, to admit to everyone that leaving was the wrong decision. ”

I let out a shaky breath, the weight of my words pressing down on me. “I didn’t want to come back… broken.”

Colt pulled me against his chest, his grip firm. He radiated strength—broad shoulders, a wide chest, the solid muscle of his arms wrapped tightly around me. A vein pulsed in his neck.

Was he mad at me? Disappointed?

Just as I was about to ask, he stood, scooping me into his arms like he had earlier, carrying me to the bed.

He set me down gently, then kneeled beside me, his hands wrapping around mine.

“Look at me, Ellie.”

I hesitated, but the strength in his voice pulled my gaze to his.

“You didn’t deserve what he did to you,” he said, his voice steady. “This is not your fault. None of this is your fault.”

He said the last part like he was disappointed—but not in me.

I took a deep breath, trying to let his words sink in.

“And as long as you’re on this ranch, you’re safe, El.”

After hearing those words come out of Colt’s mouth, I started crying again.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” I sobbed.

“Stop saying sorry. You have nothing to be sorry for.”

He pulled me back in, holding me close. The warmth of his chest against my cheek, the way his fingers ran gently through my hair—it sent me back in time.

Back to that night. The night everything changed.

I clutched Colt’s shirt, my breath coming quicker, the memory clawing its way to the surface.

The smell of fireworks filled my nose, and the distant sound of laughter and music lingered in my mind.

I had been so happy that night—carefree, surrounded by friends, shooting off Fourth-of-July fireworks on this very ranch.

Then, the sheriff’s truck pulled up.

“Do you remember that night? When my parents died?” I asked. “It started out as such a good night. I was so happy, laughing with everyone. I still remember the smell of the summer breeze and fireworks.”

“I remember, Ellie,” Colt said, tightening his grip like he was trying to comfort me but also himself.

“Then the blue and red lights of the sheriff’s truck flashed across the yard.”

The memory played out in my mind in perfect, agonizing detail. The way the sheriff stepped out of his truck, the somber look on his face, the way he gripped his hat like he wished he didn’t have to say what was coming.

Everything after that happened in slow motion.

“Ellie Brooks?” he asked, scanning the crowd.

“That’s me,” I said, raising my hand.

“Miss, I’m sorry to tell you this, but your parents were in a car accident tonight. I’m very sorry. They didn’t make it. They died on impact.”

The moment the words left the sheriff’s mouth, I collapsed. The fireworks were still exploding, filling the sky with staccato crackles and thundering booms—but all I could hear was the sound of my own screams.

Colt caught me in his arms that night as my world changed forever, just like he did tonight .

“I remember screaming so loud my throat burned,” I choked out. “And you—you held me, right there in the grass, until I couldn’t scream anymore.”

Colt exhaled sharply, his hand still caressing my hair. “I remember,” he said quietly. “I remember wishing I could take the pain away. Just like I want to right now.”

I stood there, letting his words sink in. Colt had always made me feel like I was one of the most important people in his life—protected, cared for, safe.

But never in the way I truly wanted.

Never in the way I had always longed for.

I swallowed hard, pushing down the ache I had carried for him for as long as I could remember.

No matter how much I wished for more, he had never given me a reason to believe he saw me that way.

Maybe he never would.