Chapter 26
Colton
Eliminate them. That statement should horrify me.
I should grab Ollie and run as fast as I can.
But as I stare into Ronan’s eyes, I see the truth.
I need him. I need his help. I need his protection.
I can’t do this alone. But the main decision to stay is because I want to.
I want to be with Ronan. He has proved himself to me time and again.
The night I walked out of his apartment ready to run, he didn’t stop me.
He still provided a safe place for me even though he didn’t want me to go.
Everything that he is doing now is for Ollie and me.
Not because he has to, but because he wants to.
“Okay,” I breathe out. “We eliminate them.”
Ronan places a kiss on my forehead. “That’s the correct decision.”
“Conor is working on tracking and finding them. Once we have their location, we will pick them up. We plan on it being quick, so they don’t have time to plan anything.” Kieran says. I’m a little surprised by his input. Up until now, he hasn’t been the most talkative.
“What happens to them after you pick them up?” I don’t really want to know, but I also need to.
“We end them and their business.”
The way Kieran says “end them” sends a chill down my spine.
We are talking about murder, taking the lives of several people.
My mind is trying to reject the idea that I’m willing to be a part of it.
But my gut is telling me that it’s the only way to stop them.
Ollie will be safe, and if I have my way, he will never know the horrors that our parents were a part of.
Duncan comes in a little while later, followed by Liam and Declan.
Everyone seems to know what to do. It’s like watching the gears and movements of an expensive watch.
No one is talking over the other. Questions are asked and answered efficiently.
It strikes me as amusing that all of the men in the room use as few words as possible when speaking to each other.
It’s how Ronan communicates, quick and effective, no unnecessary words.
Ronan stands and comes over to where I’m sitting. Leaning over me, he kisses me. “I’m going to go grab two trackers. One for you and one for Ollie.”
“I thought you said they couldn’t get to us here.”
“I want to be prepared for everything. I should have already done it. I need to rectify that.” He kisses me again and leaves.
“Xavier was kidnapped not too long ago. He wears a bracelet and a ring with trackers. I won’t lose him again.
I’m sure Ronan feels the same. Xavier had security with him; their fuck up almost cost him his life.
” Declan is already intimidating, but now with him thinking about his fiancé’s kidnapping, he is downright terrifying.
“I have no problem wearing it or having one on Ollie. I’ll take every safety net I can get.” I mean it too. I don’t think we are in danger here, but I don’t want to take any chances.
I go back to my work. So far, I have found seven children who have been sold and the monsters who bought them.
I don’t know the exact number of children.
I asked Ronan to only send me a few files at a time to work on.
I don’t know that my heart could take all of it at once.
Guilt riddles me because of it. I got Ollie out, but these kids had no one to save them.
Time passes, but I’m unaware of it until I feel Ronan’s hand on my neck.
I lean back into his grip. His fingers hold steady, gently pressing into my skin. He constantly says that he is addicted to me, but right now it feels like it’s the other way around. I need his touch and attention. My mind and body would shut down without it.
“Here,” he holds out a small box. Nestled inside is a silver chain, its Figaro links thick but not overly so.
Ronan picks it up and clasps it on me. My fingers run across the cool metal.
I know it’s for my safety, but I can’t help but think that Ronan is marking me for the world to see.
I read a book once where the main character collared his boyfriend.
I pretend that is what he is doing. Ronan is claiming me with his collar.
He adds the matching bracelet to my wrist.
“Give me your hand.”
I extend my left hand out to him. He places a solid silver ring on my index finger. Why am I disappointed that it’s not on my ring finger? I just met him. But in that short time, he has become so important to me. Trying to hide my emotions, I give him a small smile.
“Thanks.”
“What is it?”
I shake my head, not wanting to say what was going on in my head. I can’t help the blush that I know is staining my cheeks. He cocks his head, and without saying another word, he pulls me to my feet and leads me from the room.
“Now, tell me. I want to know what just went through your mind.”
I close my eyes and want to melt into the floor.
“Look at me, Colton.” He takes my chin between his thumb and forefinger, lifting my face to meet his. “I need to know.”
“It’s stupid. Please don’t make me say it out loud.” I try to plead with my eyes. My pulse is hammering. How can I tell a man that I just met that I wanted more? Hasn’t he done enough? Provided enough already? And here I’m wishing that it was a forever ring he was placing on my finger.
“Colton, I haven’t learned you yet, and I want to. I can’t do that if you don’t talk to me. I can’t properly process your body language if you don’t tell me things first.”
“I just had a moment of wishful thinking about the necklace and ring. That’s all. It’s not a big deal.” I try to pull back to step around him, but he takes my hand in his. He rubs his thumb across my knuckles, stopping on my ring finger.
“You will wear my ring, Colton. And when I put it on this finger, it will be forever.” The kiss that he gives me is demanding, claiming. My pulse is racing, and it feels like my heart is going to come out of my chest. If this man puts a ring on my finger, I will never take it off.
“Never keep your feelings from me. Remember the rules? They go both ways.”
“Okay. But sometimes it’s embarrassing. So it’s hard to say out loud.”
“I don’t understand embarrassment. If something is true and factual to you, then why be embarrassed, especially with me?”
I recall how Alessia explained this to me before. He doesn’t understand or relate to most emotions. He processes them and figures out how to react afterward.
“I’m not sure that I can explain this correctly so that you will understand.
Sometimes I don’t get it myself. Like with the ring, I just met you, and I’m already thinking long term.
Just because you tell me that I’m yours and you will protect me doesn’t mean you are thinking the same thing.
” My shoulders slump. This is harder to explain than it looks.
“Colton,” Ronan straightens my shoulder. “You are my forever, you and Ollie. I will give you the world and burn it down at the same time. You’re mine.”
“How can you be so sure?” I whisper.
“Because it’s factual. There is no going back for either of us.”
He is so confident in his words that I believe him. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I burrow my face into his neck. His scent envelops me, and I breathe it in. When his arms wrap around me, I feel it in my bones. He’s mine just as much.