Page 9 of Unbroken (Amber Ridge #4)

“I didn’t believe it.” But obviously her subconscious did if she was dreaming about it. “But I did break up with you, so if you wanted to date other women—”

“I did not want to date other women—which is exactly why I didn’t. It’s not even remotely true.”

Of course not. It was another way for Sylvia to hurt her.

“My mother’s friends with Audrey’s mother,” Colt said, stepping closer. “When she was moving into her house, her mom asked me to help. I did. There was Burt’s pizza as a thank you, and that was it.”

Her tummy did a strange roll at the thought of Colt eating pizza alone with Audrey.

“Cricket.”

She looked up.

“Did you hear me mention Burt’s pizza?”

A small smile played at her lips. “Your idea or hers?”

“It was the only place that was open. And it was as terrible as always. And Savannah’s a Marine. She was at my place when my mom got there—once. And I told Mom we were discussing a job. I don’t know why she’d say otherwise.”

She wrung her hands together. “I’m glad. Not about the pizza. I would’ve been surprised if it had been good. But that you didn’t date.”

“Did you?”

“Date?”

“Yeah.” Something flickered over Colt’s face. Uncertainty? Maybe some fear?

“No. Even if I wanted to, which I didn’t, I wasn’t in the mental place for that.” Hell, she’d barely been living.

He looked at her so intensely that, for a moment, she didn’t breathe. She had to force the air into her lungs as she turned and started walking again. Colt met her step for step.

They were almost at The Tea House when a guy stepped out of the café. He had a bag strung over his shoulder.

Indie immediately stopped. His head was down, but she could see who it was.

“That’s him,” she whispered.

“Who?”

“That guy was in the grocery store when I saw your mom. I don’t know who he is, but your mom went really pale and almost ran out of there.”

The man lifted his head, and Colt went very still beside her.

But only for a second—then he moved quickly, grabbing Indie’s arm and tugging her behind him.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Colt suddenly growled. And that rage…it tore through every word.

The man lifted a brow as he stepped closer. “Well, that’s not a nice way to greet your father.”

Fury coursed through Colt’s veins. Fury that Gordon Sharp dared to ever show his face in this town again. That the asshole was standing so fucking close to Indie.

“It takes more than some DNA to make a father,” Colt said, voice low and dangerous. “I’m going to ask you again. What are you doing here?”

Twenty-six years. It had been twenty-six damn years since he’d set eyes on his father, and the asshole looked every one of those years, plus more. The smoking and drugs must have finally caught up with him.

Gordon lifted his hands. “Hey, you may not like me, but I’m still the man who raised you. You’re still a Sharp.”

“Wrong on both counts. You didn’t raise me, and my last name changed the second you left town.”

There was a small narrowing of his eyes. Yeah, the asshole didn’t like that. Good.

Gordon tilted his head to look around him at Indie. “You his?”

“Don’t talk to her. Don’t even look at her.”

There was a small lift of the corners of Gordon’s lips. “She the girlfriend?”

“She’s none of your business. Last chance to tell me why you’re here.”

He chuckled, his gaze going to the street before flicking back to Colt. “I’m here to see you , son. To see your mother. It’s way overdue.”

“The fuck you are.”

“Don’t believe me?”

“I believe that you’ve only ever cared about one person—you. So if you’re here, that means you want something. Tell me what it is so I can say no and you can fuck off back to wherever the hell you’ve been the last twenty-six years.”

“Jesus. You’re a different person than the kid I left.”

“Than the eight-year-old you tried to control with fear? Yeah, I am. And I will knock you to the fucking ground if I have to. You won’t even see it coming.”

Indie touched his back, and he pushed her farther behind him. Even with him in between them, she was too damn close to the asshole.

Gordon’s eyes narrowed, then he made a mistake…he looked behind Colt at Indie. Again . “I might have better luck talking to your pretty lady than you. What do you think, honey?”

Colt moved so fast, the asshole didn’t see him coming. He grabbed Gordon by the collar of his shirt and shoved him hard against the wall. Then he got close—really fucking close. “You talk to her again, and I will kill you. Do you understand?”

“Colt! Don’t.”

Indie’s startled voice was loud behind him, but he barely heard it, all his focus on his father. On the cascade of memories of the things this man did to his mother. Of him not giving a shit about anyone but himself.

“You belong in prison,” Colt growled.

“And yet, here I am.”

Indie touched his arm this time. “Colt…don’t do anything you’ll regret.”

He’d regret doing nothing even more.

“Colt.” A new voice sounded. Jesse’s. “Everything okay?”

“Not even close,” Colt said quietly.

His father lifted a brow. He almost looked amused. “What’re you gonna do, son? Hit me in front of the sheriff? Do it. It might make you feel better.”

That was the thing. It wouldn’t.

“Colt.” This time, Jesse touched his arm. “Step back, man.”

Colt lowered his head and got so close he could see every fucking pore on his father’s face. “Leave Amber Ridge. You don’t want to stick around and see what I’ll do.”

His father’s lips twitched. “Is that a threat?”

“It’s a warning.”