Page 34 of Unbroken (Amber Ridge #4)

Becket gripped his shoulder. “You know we’re all looking out for her, right? She’s family.”

“I know. I just hate that we have to. She should be safe to walk the street on her own.”

“I’ve felt that frustration, brother. I know it well.”

Someone walking through the trees had Colt straightening. Then he realized who it was.

Burt. Not only Burt but also his nephew Pete, who worked as his delivery driver. And they were holding pizza boxes. A lot of them.

Jesus Christ.

“You ordered pizza from Burt?” Becket laughed.

“No.” He wove through the crowd, but Addie got there first.

“Um, hi. Who are you?”

“I’m Burt.” He smiled at her, his voice loud and larger than life. He still wore his red apron from the shop.

She shook her head. “No. I’m sorry. I explained you didn’t need to bring pizza.”

“Didn’t need to? This is for Colt and Noah. They’re family. I had to.”

“But—”

Noah touched Addie’s arm. “No, it’s okay.”

“My boys!” Burt shouted. “You reopened the park! I would hug you but…pizza.”

Colt chuckled. “It was nice of you to do this.”

“Of course. Like I said, I had to.” He looked back at his nephew. “Come on, Pete.”

Pete wore his usual bored expression as he followed his uncle to the food table.

Addie turned to them. “I swear I told him not to come.”

“I believe you.” Noah sighed. “It’s fine.”

“Burt means well,” Colt agreed.

“Although, now he’ll stay, and we’ll actually have to eat it,” Noah said with a frown. “That could be a problem.”

“I can sneak slices away while he’s not watching,” Addie said. “Stash them somewhere.”

Noah grinned. “I knew you’d be a good fit here.”

“I’m sure I can wrangle some more people to help you,” Colt added.

Addie checked her watch. “It’s almost time for you guys to speak. Are you ready?”

“Speak?” Colt asked. Who the hell said anything about speaking?

“Just a quick thank you,” Noah said like it was nothing.

Of course Noah knew about this. So why the hell hadn’t he said anything?

Addie moved over to the music and turned it down before lifting a microphone. “Hi, everyone. If I could have your attention?”

The crowd quieted.

“I’m Addie. I take care of the admin side of things here. And I’d like to call up Noah Hayes and Colt Reed, the new owners of the park and the men responsible for the reopening!”

The crowd roared and cheered, and Colt was pretty sure he heard Becket hooting. He followed Noah toward Addie.

Noah spoke first. Because of course he did. He’d probably rehearsed an entire speech. He covered all the main points, thanking Randy’s team, mentioning everyone who’d contributed to the opening.

As Noah spoke, Colt found Indie in the crowd again.

She was watching him, a soft smile on her face.

And he felt the same thing he always felt when he looked at her.

Love. But not the kind that just lived in the heart.

It took over every part of him. His bones.

His blood. It was all he felt sometimes.

When Noah handed the microphone to Colt, there wasn’t much more to add. “I think Noah covered most of what needed to be said, but he’s always been the more organized of the two of us.” The crowd chuckled. “I will add that there’s one person who has helped me get here…my wife.”

He watched as her smile widened.

“Indie, you’re my best friend. And I’ve made some pretty crappy decisions in my life, but coming home to you was the best one by far. Well, second to loving you.”

There was an audible sigh from the crowd.

“This park may be under my and Noah’s names, but it has your fingerprints all over it,” Colt finished. “I love you, Cricket.”

The crowd clapped, and tears gathered in Indie’s eyes.

Then someone from his peripheral vision caught his attention. His brows flickered at the sight of his mother, Ben by her side. She wasn’t supposed to be here.

He gave himself a mental shake as he returned his attention to the crowd. “Have a good evening, everyone. And eat—there’s so much food!”

He handed the microphone back to Addie. She turned the music back on, and the crowd returned to their conversations while Colt wove through the group, his gaze never leaving Indie. She met him halfway.

“That was beautiful,” she whispered.

“ You’re beautiful.” He gripped her hip. “I know I’ve brought a lot of baggage to our marriage with my parents—”

She touched a finger to his lips. “I love you, and nothing your parents do or say has anything to do with that. I love you .”

“I never had a good example of a father, and he never showed me how a good husband was supposed to act. But I will spend my life trying to do better than him.”

Sadness flickered through her eyes. “You are nothing like that man. You’re the best husband, and you’ll be an amazing father. I know that because I know you .”

She said it with so much certainty. Like it was a guarantee.

He lowered his head and kissed her, letting her soft lips smooth the jagged edges of his nerves.

When he lifted his head, frustration slipped into his tone. “My mother’s here.”

“I saw her. You should talk to her.”

“I never get out of that talk feeling good.”

“Maybe tonight will be different.”

Maybe. Maybe not. “Come with me.”

“I would but…this is your night. I don’t want to make this about her and me. I’ll wait here with the girls.”

He kissed her temple before heading toward his mother. She held a glass of champagne and was looking over her shoulder.

“Looking for Ben?” he asked.

His mother turned back to him. “No, someone just bumped into me. Didn’t even apologize. Gosh, some people are rude.” She shook her head. “Anyway, Ben’s just talking to someone. You know how much he loves to chat.”

Colt nodded slowly. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

“Margaret at the grocery store mentioned it.” Hurt tinged her voice that he hadn’t told her. But had she expected him to invite her? As far as he was aware, nothing had changed.

“Are you staying safe?” he asked.

“Thanks to Ben. Are you and Indie?”

“We are.”

“And…the baby?”

“Baby’s good. We heard the heartbeat yesterday. It was strong.”

His mother’s eyes widened. “Wow. That’s…I mean, it must have been very special, especially after all you two have been through.”

“It was.”

She nodded quickly. “Well, I’m sure you have lots of people to talk to. I’ll go find Ben. I just wanted to come and support you. I love you, dear. And I’m proud of you.”

“I love you too, Mom. And thanks.”

She touched his arm before walking away.

Was it possible she was finally coming around? She’d asked about Indie. Asked about the baby and acknowledged how hard it was to get here.

Time would tell.

He was just heading back to Indie when a flash of movement in the trees caught his attention.

He stopped, his gaze narrowing.

Then he saw it again. A man. Just a blur because he was running away.

Fuck.

Colt took off, sprinting toward the forest. A voice shouted his name. Either Becket or Jesse, he wasn’t sure. He didn’t stop or slow.

He sprinted around trees and leapt over roots. Wind whipped across his skin and his heart pounded in his chest. He ignored all of it.

He could just see the guy ahead. The distance between them was shortening.

Then the sound of a motorcycle roared.

There was a road ahead.

No .

He pushed his body to move faster, needing to catch this guy. Needing this to end.

But he hadn’t yet reached the road when he saw the asshole jump behind someone on the back of a bike and the two people rode away.

He’d lost him. Shit!

Jesse stopped beside him and was already pulling his cell from his pocket and calling the station.

Colt cursed again, his hands on his head. He wanted to fucking hit something.

When Jesse hung up, he looked at Colt. “What the hell was he doing here?”

“I don’t know.” He had no fucking clue. Watching?

But his gut told him it was more than that.