Page 71 of Oathbreaker

Demanding I let him in.

But there’s nothing but silence…until there’s not.

Because as I’m standing there in my bedroom, heart aching, tears streaming, and feeling like I’m going to puke, I hear the front door open and close.

I hear Colt leaving.

And that’s when my knees give way.

Twenty-Two

Colt

It wasn’t until I was outside that I realized I have nowhere to go—and no way to get there.

I don’t know where Dash or the others live, and while I certainly have the skills and contacts to find out, that feels wrong given the way things are between us. I don’t have any friends here in L.A. and Briar’s house is pretty much the only place I’ve felt comfortable since I got out of the hospital.

The one thing I do have is money, so I’m thankful for that as I call an Uber to take me to the one place I’m familiar with that might have a friendly face.

The Sapphire Room.

There are perks to the training I have, like being able to sneak in and out of almost anywhere, but that feels like too much work tonight. So, I march up to the front door like I belong there.

“You’re not on the list,” a big, burly bouncer announces.

“My friends own this place,” I say, hanging on to my patience by a thread. The last week or so has felt like an eternity. I just want to sit at a bar and drown my sorrow for a few hours. Is that too much to ask?

“I don’t care if your mother owns the place,” the bouncer replies with a shrug. “If you’re not a member, and you’re not on the list, you don’t come in.” He folds his arms across his massive chest, and it occurs to me I probably can’t take him. Not in my current condition.

Fuck.

“Look, could you just—” I start to pull a fifty out of my wallet but then I hear a quiet, familiar voice.

“It’s okay, Ernie. He’s with me.”

Aspen.

She has a soft, friendly if not curious, look on her face.

“Thanks,” I say, following her inside.

“What are you doing here?”

“It’s been a long…week.”

“Then I have just what the doctor ordered.” She walks behind the bar, and I can see by the bottles she grabs—she’s making a Gamebreaker.

Yes. Thank fuck for little things.

I settle at the bar while she expertly makes me a drink and slides it across the bar to me.

“Thank you.” I reach for some money, but she waves me off.

“Your money’s no good here.”

“I appreciate that.” I don’t know what else to say so I gulp down the drink and push it back toward her. “Am I good for another?”

“Absolutely.” Her eyes twinkle as she makes the second one. Then she picks up her phone and types something.