Page 77

Colton

By the time I’ve dropped off the Rooks’ armored van, I’m exhausted. My bike is in the large garage where we keep a lot of our equipment, and as I head for it, I realize there’s a black Bugatti parked next to it.

Once I’m close, Charlotte gets out, and I drop a kiss to her cheek.

“You smell like gasoline.” She sniffs. “And smoke.”

“Burned down a church.”

That pulls a smile from her. “I take it you got Haven back?”

I nod. “She’s with Xander and Lucas.”

“Everything go okay?”

The panic of turning and seeing a man pointing a gun at Haven returns. She was going to shoot—she did shoot—but she was a half-second too late. I didn’t want to abandon Jeremiah when Haven had begged me to help him, but I shouldn’t have left her alone. If it hadn’t been for Wes…

“For the most part,” I say. “The important thing is that we all made it out alive, and Isaiah is dead. And… you were right. About us needing Wes.”

“I know.” Her expression softens. “Your mother would be proud.”

I swallow down the lump in my throat. “You think so?”

“I know so. I wish she could be here to see how far you’ve come.”

“Yeah, I… I wish that, too.”

I wish a lot of things—that she could’ve watched me grow up, that she could’ve been there for all the lonely nights when I was younger, and that she could’ve met Haven.

Looking away, I ask, “How are things here?”

Charlotte waves a dismissive hand. “Oh, just fine. I have a report I’ll send to you in the morning, along with a suggested agenda. You don’t need to take any immediate action, but it’d be good for you to read them so you can think on what you’d like to do.”

“If you send it to me now, I can look everything over before bed.”

“In the morning, Colton.” Charlotte places a hand on my shoulder. “Go home to your wife.”

My wife. Every second I’ve spent without Haven has caused physical pain in my chest. It only intensifies now that I realize how close I am to seeing her again. I won’t be able to hold her—she’s probably already sandwiched between Luc and Xan—but I can peek into their room and get a look at her at least.

“Yeah,” I say hoarsely. “That sounds nice. I just…”

Silently, she tips her head to one side, waiting for me to go on. Char has always been a good listener, and she’s one of the only people who can get me to open up. It used to be just her until Luc and Xan, and now Haven.

“I’m worried. When we pulled her out of there, it was like she’d reverted to the girl she was four years ago. The real Haven is still in there, I know, but she’s hidden. What if… what if she never recovers from this?”

With a knowing smile, Charlotte shakes her head. “She did what she had to do to survive, Colton. Give her some time, and don’t underestimate her. She’s recovered once before, and this time, you won’t abandon her partway through the process.”

Guilt eclipses the pain in my chest, and I blink back the tears it brings. “Never.”

Charlotte pulls me into a firm hug. “Go home and get some sleep. I have everything handled for the next few days.”

“Are you sure?”

She laughs. “Oh, my sweet boy, of course I do. Your father may have been head of the Rooks by title, but don’t forget how much he delegated to me.”

“Yeah.” I run a hand through my hair. “We’d fall apart without you.”

Her eyes sparkle. “I know.”

As she steps toward her Bugatti, I grab my helmet. Right before I put it on, I give her one last glance.

“I can’t stop Xander, you know.”

“I’d never dream of asking you to,” she replies. “He needs to move quickly, though. He’s not the only one who wants to kill Mark.”

I nod in acknowledgment.

“Ride safe, Colton.”

“Always,” I lie. She doesn’t need the extra worry that would come with knowing how fast I push my bike on a clear, open road. Although, now that I’m thinking about it, she probably already knows.

We go our separate ways, and I take as many shortcuts as I can to get home. The cool air whips around me as I speed down the main highway.

I wonder if Haven would ever want to come out riding with me. Given her anxiety, I assumed she’d be terrified, but I’ve never actually asked her. I’d love to have her behind me, her arms wrapped around my waist, experiencing the thrill of zipping past our surroundings until everything is just a blur.

By the time I’m pulling into the garage, I’m smiling at the thought of it. I’d have to work her up to it, of course—take things slow at first. I’d get her some riding gear, too. I’m not an idiot. Accidents happen, and I want her protected.

Once I’m inside the house, I take the stairs two at a time and rush to Xander and Lucas’s room. But when I quietly open the door, I freeze.

Their bed is empty.

What the hell?

I know they made it home. Lucas texted me the moment he pulled into the garage, and the armored van is still there.

So where…?

As I step into the hallway, panic claws its way up my throat. Was Mark waiting for them when they got here? I know I pissed him off, but he shouldn’t have been able to get in here, let alone get past Lucas and Xander.

I’m in the middle of pulling my phone out to call Lucas when I see a soft glow coming from under my door. I know I didn’t leave a light on this morning, so I stalk down the hallway and throw the door open.

And there—they’re all in my bed. Haven is in between Lucas and Xander. As she always does when she’s sleeping with one of us, she has her leg draped over Xander’s body, and her arms are wrapped tightly around him.

Lucas is sitting upright with a protective hand on Haven’s waist. It looks like I woke him when I burst into the room.

“What’re you doing in here?” I ask quietly as I close the door behind me.

“She didn’t want you to be alone when you got home, and you’ve got the biggest bed.”

My gaze moves back to Haven’s sleeping form. Of course she thought of that. It’s just who she is. She thinks I haven’t figured out that she stayed home for Thanksgiving so I didn’t have to spend it by myself, but her actions are more transparent than she realizes.

Careful not to disturb Haven and Xander, Lucas slips out from under the covers. He rounds the bed and gets back in behind Xander.

“Come on,” he whispers. “She’s gonna freak if she wakes up and realizes I’m not behind her anymore.”

Quickly, I shed my clothes and crawl into bed. Lucas turns off the bedside lamp just as I envelop Haven with my body. The blankets have fallen off her a little, so I kiss her shoulder and pull them up to cover her.

Haven lets out a little sigh when I place a hand on her hip. Even in her sleep, it feels like her body is recognizing me—finally relaxing now that all four of us are together again.

Whispering “Love you, angel,” is the last thing I remember before sleep overtakes me.