Page 91 of Resist

Well, no, it didn’t. It flickered. And that was all it would ever do. I was past mothering another child, and I had to make that abundantly clear before what we had together went any further.

Watching him serenade the excited woman on stage with a dirty yet gentlemanly manner, my heart seized with … fondness. For a second, I might’ve said love, but it was way too soon for that. He was young; I was old. He was at the peak of his time; I was trying to stop my ever-ticking clock. He had no baggage; I needed a luggage carousel. Lucas and I were Yin and Yang — together perfect, apart… not so much. We epitomised the notion of opposites attract, and deep down I loved that. It was different from everything I’d ever known, and I adored that Lucas could show me that. But I wasn’t naïve enough to let us get too far ahead of ourselves. All I could do was ride this wave with him before it crashed. And I suspected it would crash at some point. I just had to make sure the crash was soft and dissipated quickly for both our sakes.

Deciding to move backstage to greet the guys and congratulate them at the end of the show, I exited the theatre and walked down the corridor, past the toilets, to the backstage door, where a figure stood in the darkness, waiting. My instincts told me to stop, turn around, and go back to where it was safe, but as the owner of the revue, my instincts also told me to tell this person they needed to leave our restricted area.

“Can I help you?” I asked, tentatively moving forward.

The figure stepped out of the shadow and smiled, familiar cold eyes piercing me. “You’re a busy woman, Helena.”

My heart rate accelerated and I paused. “What are you doing back here?”

“Waiting for you.”

“Colin, you need to leave.”

He casually strode forward, hands in his pockets, a sway to his steps. “Now that’s not very nice, is it? After all, I did fund this…” He removed one hand and swept it around him. “This venture. Interesting choice, I must say.”

“What I do and don’t do is no longer your business.”

Colin stopped roughly a metre away and slammed his hand against the wall near my head. “Why are you being so difficult?”

I jumped and moved back two steps. “You haven’t changed at all.”

He lifted his hand, which was when the backstage door opened and the guys came filing out, Lucas in front. My eyes met his and they must’ve said all the things I needed them to say.

“STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM HER,” Lucas yelled.

He moved quickly, grabbing Colin by the shoulders and throwing him up against the wall, his forearm pressed hard under Colin’s chin.

“Easy, mate.” Colin slowly raised his hands. “I was just talking to her.”

Lucas’s eyes turned sinister and he pressed harder, which was when I was subtly moved back by Brad, the rest of the guys staying close, ready if needed.

“Lucas, let him go. I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine. What’d he say to you?”

“Nothing.” I reached out and touched his arm, my hands trembling.

Lucas loosened his grip, and Colin bent over, coughing.

“Did he hurt you?” he asked, cupping my face in his hands.

I shook my head and wiped a tear that was threatening to fall. No way in hell would I let Colin ever see me cry again.

“Oh, I see how it is.” Colin stood up and fixed the lapels of his jacket. “You’ve bought yourself a group of fuckboys.”

The whites in Lucas’s eyes near turned red with rage, and he spun around and swung his fist right into Colin’s nose. Blood sprayed the white, painted brick wall like a work of art, and Colin slid to the floor.

“STOP!” I screamed, lunging for Lucas.

“GET UP, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!” He pulled Colin to his feet. “Come on, hit me, or am I not vulnerable enough for you?”

Lucas went to land another punch, but Josh secured his arm and held him back.

Colin wiped the blood from his nose and laughed, his evil drawl sending a shiver up my spine. “How’s this for a newspaper headline tomorrow: Wild Nights performer charged with aggravated assault. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”

“You son of a bitch.” This time I lunged for him but was held back by Brad.