Chapter 38 #2
Hours later, we’re showered, dressed, and back in bed. There are double the men around the house, and I’m waiting for confirmation about Ranger’s plane. My phone is on the nightstand, but it hasn’t rung yet.
“Is this what exhaustion feels like?” Denver whispers. She’s in another one of my jerseys, cuddled into my side, her leg over my stomach.
“Apparently.”
My eyes are already closed, and I smile when she nuzzles my cheek. “Colt?”
“Mm?”
“Can we talk about forever?”
I smile brightly, opening my eyes to look down at her. “After the night we’ve had? Yes. Yes, we fucking can.”
So, that’s what we do. We talk about finding her a home of her own close by.
We talk about the casino, her work with Samuel, and what she wants to do about her businesses in San Francisco.
I tell her I want to work and get shot less, and she laughs.
I tell her that I want to spend more time with Holly, too.
We both agree we’ll leave this life in the next three years.
“Out. For good,” Denver says, tracing the robin on my collar. “Not even a little bit of crime.”
“Sounds good to me. A legitimate coffee shop. Baking and flour deliveries.”
She smiles. “Opening on Sundays.”
“Not …” I groan. “Denver, we’re not opening on Sundays.”
“Just for a few hours!”
I huff. “Fine.”
She wiggles excitedly. “Yay.”
We fall asleep talking about a future that’s within our reach, and for the first time in what feels like days but is only hours, the tension in me unravels.
We have a long way to go. Ranger is still out there. Theo needs protecting. Spider is still an issue, too, probably lying low and waiting for his chance to strike. It’s not gonna be easy, but as long as we’re together, we’ll be fine.
Denver groans. “Loud noises.”
I open an eye, my face buried in her hair. Sunlight is streaming through the window, warming my back. “What?”
She throws her hand toward the door. “Someone is downstairs.”
Footsteps thunder down the hall, and my bedroom door opens. “Hey, dickhead, are you still alive? Because I need to use your car—”
Wilder freezes in place and Denver throws the covers over her head. I groan and sit up. “Don’t you fucking knock?”
He grins at me. “After your eight years of celibacy, the most I’ve had to worry about is walking in on you jerking off.”
“Get out, Wilder!” He holds up his hands and leaves the room. Gray eyes peek from the covers. “Sorry.” I kiss her and climb out of bed, pulling on sweats and a T-shirt. “Do not even think about getting dressed.”
“Yes, sir,” she calls back as I close the door.
Wilder is in the kitchen, looking both smug and happy for me. I point at him. “Not a fucking word. Why do you need my car?”
“Because Holly said she wants to ride around in the loud car today.”
I toss him the keys before flicking on the coffee machine. “Fill it up before you bring it back.” I roll my shoulder, and he watches me.
“What’s with the pain face?”
I shake my head. “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later.”
He gives me a thumbs up and stalls when he turns.
Denver has appeared. Her hair is disheveled, and she twists the end of my jersey in her fingers. “Morning.”
Wilder plays with the keys in his hands. “Morning. What did you do to my brother? He’s pulling his ugly pain face.”
She bounces on the balls of her feet. “He got shot.”
“Again?” Wilder looks at me. “People either need to get better at aiming or leave you the fuck alone.”
I grumble my agreement as I pour two coffees. Denver comes to stand by me, her phone in hand. “I’m just going to call Axel about the wedding.”
“Okay.” She kisses me as she passes, and I can’t help watching her as she heads outside.
“Wedding?” Wilder asks. “That was fast.”
I grin into my coffee cup. “Not us.”
Not yet, at least.
Wilder sighs deeply. “What a difference a year makes.”
A year. Has it been that long since Wilder shot up Denver’s wedding? When he’d ranted at me that she’d deserved it and so had Ranger, and he wouldn’t change a damn thing. He was wild with grief, anger, making no sense as he screamed at me down the phone.
Our world had splintered that day.
Months later, I’d called Denver and told her to leave my brother alone.
She said she’d meet me on the battlefield, and she did. I just never dreamed we’d be on the same side.
“I love you, Wilder,” I say. “You know that, right?”
He chuffs. “Loser.”
I roll my eyes and my phone rings. The number isn’t one I recognize, but I answer, hoping it’s about Ranger’s plane.
“Colt Harland.”
“Hey, Colt,” a man says, his voice light. “How’s your morning going?”
I frown and Wilder watches me with interest. “Who is this?”
“It’s Vince. You remember me, right? You broke a few of my bones not long ago. Don’t tell me you forgot.”
I roll my eyes. “Vince, what do you want? Still having trouble getting tables?”
“Nah, that was one-time issue,” he says. “I have a question for you, though. Indulge me. What’s it like, fucking Denver Luxe?”
I straighten up, fear tickling my spine as I watch Denver through the back window. She’s on the phone, laughing.
“She looks fucking cute. Is that a hockey jersey? I’m praying for a breeze.”
I click at Wilder to get his attention and cover the phone. “Call Finn.”
“Finn can’t do a fucking thing, Colt,” Vince says. “Now, let’s break some bones, shall we?”
And then there’s nothing but darkness, and heat, and a roaring in my ears as the world explodes around us.