Page 118 of Freeing Denver

I thought coming home would fix what Eli broke, but I’m haunted by a question, one I’m too afraid to speak, even if Colt offered me comfort after hearing it.

Who am I now?

I’ve been so many people. Deedee, Deluxe, Little Bird, Mrs. Ledger, Del, Robin.

But they were masks, weren’t they? The daughter, the celebrity, the wife, the mom, the partner, the victim.

Have I ever just been Denver?

Who is this version of me?

Who do I become after freeing her?

Because I really am free now. I’m no longer expected to fit into a skin that never felt quite right, or a name that didn’t roll off my tongue. I guess now I’m just Denver.

Is she strong enough to survive these next few weeks?

My phone lights up with a call. Colt gave it back to me earlier, and I ignored the endless messages, too afraid to face them.

I answer.

Quinn sighs. “I was hoping you’d be asleep.”

“Why? Too afraid to tell me you missed me?”

She doesn’t laugh, but then, I didn’t expect her to. “You’re no longer a person of interest in the murder of Vincent Capelli Jr.”

I close my eyes and let the relief wash over me. “Do you have any other leads?”

“My brother said that Eli Eddards did it,” she says, and my eyes snap open. “Said Eli confessed, even bragged about it, which is why he’s on the run. And Kitrick said he’s willing to testify to that, so … you’re off the hook, Deluxe. Again.”

I hug myself and watch Colt sleeping. “I hope you catch Eli.”

“Do you?”

I sigh deeply and rest my head against the wall, still staring at Colt. “I’ve given up trying to convince you people that evil isn’t as black and white as you want it to be.”

“Does that make you gray, Deluxe?” Quinn asks, but there’s surprisingly less bite to her tone than I expect.

My smile is small. “Morally gray sounds cooler.”

“I’m sure it does. Stay off my radar, Mrs. Harland.”

She hangs up, and I place the phone down. I approach the bed, where Colt is on his back, sleeping soundly until I pull back the covers and straddle him. He takes in a deep breath and looks up at me.

“You’re up?—”

I kiss him, and he rests his hands on my hips, gripping them gently. His kiss is slow, unsure, testing waters he doesn’t have to test. I pull off the shirt I’m wearing and toss it aside.

“Are you sure?” he whispers against my lips.

I nod quickly. “Just … keep talking to me, okay? Keep reminding me it’s you.” His grip on me tightens, but I can’t handle his sympathy, not now. “Talk to me, Colt.” I kiss him again. “Just keep talking to me.”

Chapter 35

Colt

“Idon’t understand how,” Holly says, poking Denver’s belly. “It isn’t big enough to be a baby.”