Page 30 of Freeing Denver

“Then people will question why I’m here,” Denver says. “And we can’t tell them the truth. The family is already under a microscope. Throw an affair into the mix?”

“It wasn’t an affair,” Alistair says. “You left Ranger.”

Denver rests her cheek on Holly’s head. “We made a point to everyone that we were stronger than ever just days ago. We can’t flip that just because Colt is awake; it’ll be obvious that we were together beforehand. I’ll have to go back to California untilenough time has passed that people believe our marriage broke down.”

I stand, walking to the end of the dining table and looking out of the window.

The morals are so fucking skewed. We break the law every day. We lie. We steal. We kill. But we draw the line at divorce and women in power. If it wasn’t doing this to us, it’d be fucking laughable.

I came into this world with an idea of what my life would be like. Guns, money, adrenaline rushes. Life on the edge. I didn’t decide to be who I am ever thinking I’d want or have a family. I was a naïve, wide-eyed kid who saw gangsters and thought it’d be exciting, and I wanted to make a name for myself. So, I made an impression by approaching things differently—by making changes that needed to be made. Reducing the internal wars, pushing for building relationships between families where the rivalries were so old the reasons for them were long forgotten.

If I could do it before, I’ll do it again.

I face Denver. “You’re not going back to California. I said I won’t allow us to be separated, and I meant it.”

She watches me. “Colt, if they know we’re together, things will change. There’s a reason Finn kept who you are quiet. The assumption that he had an affair could have ruined the family name.”

“Fuck the family name, and fuck the standards they set that they don’t even stick to. Most of these fuckers who will judge us have more than one girlfriend behind their wives’ backs. Alexei had three at one point.”

Alistair lets out a breath. “That was a mess.”

“We tell the truth. You left Ranger. We fell in love. That’s it,” I say, keeping my eyes on Denver’s. “We deal with the fallout as a family.”

I’ll step up. I’ll take my place as the head of the McEwan family with Denver by my side—at least until we have a replacement.

Denver runs her hand down Holly’s back and takes a breath. “Okay. I’ll go and see Ranger tomorrow.”

“And do what?” Alistair asks.

Her breath shakes. “Ask for a divorce.”

Denver pacesthe bedroom and shakes her hands out. “I’m sweating.”

“That’s understandable.”

“I feel like my heart might explode.”

“Then let me come with you.”

She stops before me. I’m sitting at the end of the bed, resisting the urge to fall asleep in it, my body a dead weight. Holly is downstairs with Alistair, and Denver needed a minute to breathe through her decision, but she’s mainly mumbled, paced, and laughed occasionally.

She gets to her knees before me. “I love that you offered, but you and Ranger being in the same room again? Bad idea.” I brush her hair back and she closes her eyes, leaning into my touch.

“Denver …” The way I say her name has her opening her eyes again. “A lot happened before the explosions. You were going through so much, and then with Finn and Wilder dying, I understand why you stayed to help, but …” The words stick in my throat, but I need to say them. “I understand if what happened between us feels more permanent because of circumstance and not because you want to be here.”

She leans back. “Excuse me?”

I sigh. “I don’t mean … I just mean, if what we had was a momentary thing?—”

“Momentary thing?” She gets to her feet. “Are you saying that’s what it was for you?Momentary?”

I stand, my jaw tense. “The complete fucking opposite.”

“Then why would it be any different for me?”

“Because you were going through hell, and I’m just saying you don’t have to stay with me because?—”

“Oh, you …” She growls and punches my chest. “You’re a fucking prick, you know that? I don’t love you because I needed a warm body to lie with. I love you because I love you. Because … because you make me feel good, because we have the same hopes, because you’re fucking great. Although right now I want to punch you!”