Chapter 21
Colt
“Go home, Colt,” I whisper to myself as I stare at the hotel, my feet unwilling to move, my focus entirely on that building. This isn’t the time for romantic fucking gestures, and she isn’t the woman to be doing them with. She’s Denver Luxe. Married. Unavailable. Would have killed you not long ago.
You have no business kissing her. Or even coming close.
But I wasn’t the only one who felt something. I could see it in her face, hear it in the panicked way she asked me to leave. She noticed it, too. I take my phone out and call the only person I can think to call.
Ronan is half asleep. “Be dying or dead.”
“I nearly kissed Denver.”
Silence. “Okay, that’s worse. What happened?”
“Nothing. But also something. We … had a moment. I took her ice-skating. We talked. Shared. Danced.”
Ronan groans. “For fuck’s sake, Colt. You just described a Hallmark movie, and you’re surprised you almost kissed her? Where are you?”
“Outside her hotel.”
“Creepy. What’s the plan?”
I lean against my car. “Plan?”
“Yes, the plan. It’s all fine being a romantic, but what about after?
Ranger Luxe loves this woman. You walk through those doors and do what your dick is telling you to do, then you’re starting a war.
Everything changes.” I squeeze my jaw. “If you’re willing to risk everything for her, then do it.
If you’re not, then walk the fuck away.”
A war with Ranger Luxe. He may not be big-time here, but he is in San Francisco, and I’m willing to bet he’ll call in more than a few favors to destroy me if I destroy his marriage. Ronan’s right. Everything would change.
For her. A woman who has pulled feelings out of me that I’ve never had the strength to talk about. She isn’t just strong, beautiful, powerful. She’s … she’s broken in ways I understand. And even without all that, there’s something between us.
Maybe I felt it the moment we spoke at the bar.
When she’d tilted her head in intrigue and asked me why I carry chocolate in my jacket pocket.
When she’d stood across a restaurant, soaked to the bone, holding the gun that saved my life.
When she’d laughed at my stories like we were friends and not enemies.
In just a few weeks, Denver has become more than someone I know. More than a person to protect. More than Denver Luxe.
She’s worth the fight. Worth the battle. Worth the fucking war.
She’s worth everything.
Fuck it.
I pocket my keys. “I’m going in.”
“Halle-fucking-lujah. Tell me how it goes.”
He hangs up and I stride into the lobby. My heart is racing as I bypass the elevator and take the stairs three at a time. I make it to Denver’s door and knock, rolling my shoulders.
What the fuck am I going to say? I guess I’ll just have to wing it. Tell her the truth. That I know it’s messy, and more than complicated, but that we can find a way to work this out.
I wait, but she doesn’t answer. I knock again.
I can hear the television, but no footsteps approach the door. I check my watch—it’s been twenty minutes since I left. Could she have fallen asleep? She didn’t seem tired.
Or maybe she knows it’s me and she’s being the smarter one.
I run a hand through my hair. No. Something is wrong. She’d tell me face to face; she wouldn’t hide behind a door and hope I’d go away.
I call her. No answer.
I walk one door down and knock on Lewis’s room. After a few minutes he answers, squinting at the light.
“Have you spoken to Denver in the last fifteen minutes or so?”
He stares at me. “It’s one o’clock in the morning.” I glance back down the hall. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. Something is up. Do you have a key to her room?”
Lewis clears his throat. “If she rejected you, get over it.”
“She didn’t—” I sigh. “Nothing happened, but I’m telling you, something is wrong. Her TV is on, but she isn’t answering her door or her phone.”
He frowns and gestures for me to come in. After knocking on the adjoining door, he waits. “Denver?” No answer. “I’m coming in.”
The lamp is still on, and the television is rolling the credits from Casablanca. Denver is sitting on the couch, but I can only see the back of her head. Lewis approaches and crouches in front of her.
“Denver, what’s happened?”
Fear slows me down as I follow Lewis. Denver’s phone is in her lap, and she’s staring at the floor, her lips parted.
Lewis cups her cheek. “Denver?” She says nothing. She frowns gently and is mouthing words I can’t hear. She suddenly shakes her head, as if disagreeing with herself.
She doesn’t respond, and Lewis takes her phone. As he stands, I kneel in front of her. Her fingers are cold, and even when I say her name, she won’t focus on me.
She just keeps whispering.
Lewis says, “She spoke to her mystery caller just before you called, for longer than usual. I checked out Patricia Heller after I got her name, and Denver was right. She was married to the doctor that treated Theo. But he died a few months ago.”
A tear falls down Denver’s cheek, and I wipe it away. “Del?” She lifts her gaze to me, half lidded and red rimmed. “Tell me what’s happened.”
“I … He’s … he’s not dead.”
“Who? The doctor?”
She shakes her head slowly. “He took my baby from me. He took him.” She squeezes her eyes closed and shudders. “I need to go to bed.”
She stands and walks past me. Lewis catches my eye before we both follow, and she goes to the bedroom, pulling back the covers and climbing under them. I sit by her.
“Denver, who isn’t dead?” I ask softly.
Another tear falls down her cheek. “Theo.”
I look over at Lewis, who looks as confused as I feel. She told me just hours ago that Theo had died when he was born. Lewis takes my place, and I call Alistair.
He’s still awake. “Yep?”
“I need you to look into something for me.”
“Sure. Shoot.”
“Denver’s son, Theo. He died not long after he was born, but …” I glance over at Denver’s small form, Lewis whispering something to her. “I need you to make sure he actually died.”
Alistair pauses. “I’m not following.”
“Theo’s doctor, Dr. Heller, died a few months back and his wife called Denver tonight. She isn’t saying much, but she seems to think Theo is alive.”
“Holy shit,” Alistair says quietly. “Yeah, I’ll look into it. Give me an hour.”
Denver doesn’t move. She doesn’t close her eyes, or speak again, or respond in any way when Lewis or I speak to her. She remains totally still, her face pale, her lips parted, staring into nothing. It’s closer to two hours before Alistair calls me back, and I go into the living room to answer.
“She’s right. He’s alive.”
I almost stumble as I sit on the couch. “How?”
“I called Patricia Heller, tried to talk to her, but she hung up. So I looked into Heller. He quit not long after Theo was born. A complaint was filed against him by another member of staff for drinking on the job, so I’m guessing he was pushed into leaving.
I called the nurse who made the complaint, instead.
She was happy to talk; I think she felt guilty for reporting him.
But she said Heller was wasted on a night shift and told her he’d given a newborn away to an adoption agency and had lied to the mother, saying he’d died.
She reported it, but nothing came of it, and when she pushed, she was told to drop it. She eventually quit, too.”
I feel frozen in the moment, in time. “Did Heller tell the nurse why he did it?”
“Fuck, Colt, I can’t even believe I’m saying the words. Ranger Luxe told him to.” My lungs stop working. “Apparently, Ranger told Heller to call an adoption agency and claim Theo was abandoned at the hospital. Then he faked a death certificate and told Denver that Theo had died.”
This can’t be real. This is a nightmare.
Ranger stole her child. Lied to her. Let her grieve for years.
“Can you find him?” I ask. “Find out where Theo is?”
“I’m already on it.”
We end the call, and I stand, going to the bedroom. Lewis is by the window, and Denver is finally asleep. I pull the covers back and scoop her into my arms.
“We’re leaving. Pack her things. Meet me at Finn McEwan’s.”
He follows me out of the bedroom. “Why? What’s happened?”
Denver has opened her eyes again, and she’s whispering. Now I’m closer, I can hear what she’s saying. She’s asking why. Asking where he is. Her heart is breaking in real time in front of me, and I can’t fucking stand it.
“I’ll explain later, but she can’t be here right now. She needs to be with us. You both do.” I open the hotel room door, and as I wait for the elevator, I hold her closer, kissing her head. “I’ll fix this, Del. I’ll fix it.”
I just wish I knew how.
Finn opens the door and takes his glasses off when he sees Denver in my arms. I called him on the way over and he was thankfully still awake.
“What’s happened?”
“She needs somewhere to stay,” I say, and he steps aside without another word.
I take Denver upstairs to the room I used to stay in regularly as a kid, and still occasionally now. I tuck her into bed, brushing her hair back.
“Do you need anything?” I ask her, but she says nothing. Rage is pumping through me, an unimaginable amount of it, and I pull the covers over her shoulders and go downstairs.
Finn is in the kitchen with Helena. “Is she okay?” Helena asks, wringing her hands together. She’s in a robe, a mug of steaming tea in her hand.
“She’s in shock. We need to call a doctor. Finn, do we know people in San Francisco?”
He nods. “Yes. Why?”
“People who can kill Ranger Luxe?” The room falls quiet. I hadn’t realized how quickly I’m breathing or how hot my skin is, but I’m close to burning up. “Finn?”
“You need to start by telling us what happened,” Finn says.
A knock on the door pulls Helena away, and I rest my hands against the kitchen island. Helena returns with Lewis. He has Denver’s suitcases and his bag.
He sets the bags down. “Is she okay?”
“She’s upstairs,” I say. “Theo isn’t dead. Ranger put him up for adoption and lied about it.”
Helena’s hand hovers over her mouth. “Oh my God.”
Lewis shakes his head. “No. Even he isn’t that far gone.”
“How do you know?” Finn asks, jaw tight.
“Alistair checked it out. All of it. He’s finding Theo now.”
Helena leans against the kitchen counter. “Poor girl. Poor, poor girl.”
“We kill Ranger, and we do it tonight,” I say. “Finn, I don’t need your men, but I would like your support. Let’s end this.”
Lewis says, “I know where he’ll be.”
There’s no coming back from this. Ranger has crossed unimaginable lines, and there isn’t a person I know who could conceive of forgiving this.
Especially not Denver.
“No,” Finn says.
I search his face. “I’ll do it without you, if I have to.”
“You won’t do a damn thing, Colt. This isn’t your war to fight. It’s Denver’s.” I open my mouth to argue back, but he raises a hand. “This could be her only chance for closure. You’re not taking that from her. You’re angry, we all are, but it is not your blood to spill.”
I straighten up off the side and turn my back to him, trying to calm myself. A whisper at the back of my brain tells me he’s right, but my muscles are taut, and my mind is racing, and I keep hearing Denver’s voice as she asks over and over where Theo is.
“He’s right, darling,” Helena says softly.
I face them. “Then tell me what I’m supposed to do. Tell me what to do while she falls to fucking pieces.” I look desperately at Finn, my throat tight, my hands shaking. “Tell me, because I can’t stand here and do nothing.”
Helena goes to Lewis. “I’ll show you to a room, Lewis. You’ll be right next to Denver, okay?” He glances at me before following Helena, leaving Finn and I alone.
The man whose advice I seek and respect approaches me and grips my shoulder. My father, even though we’ve never said the words. And I need him now more than ever, because I’ve been this lost before, but never because of someone else’s pain.
“You’re there for her if she needs you. But you follow her lead.”
I meet his eye. “I can’t believe he’d do that to her.”
He exhales deeply. “Some men are pushed to atrocities. Some have it in their blood. Looks like Ranger lives and fucking breathes it.”