Chapter 28
Colson
Something’s up. I know it. Specter is being cagey as he waits by the door for me while I finish assuring Rudy that I’m okay. I wrap my coat around my body, then, holding my head high, I make my way through the club, now devoid of customers. Gus is waiting with Specter, both of them tense.
“Night, Colson,” Gus says when he sees me. “Awesome performance tonight.”
“Thanks, Gus. See you tomorrow.”
“I’ll be here.”
Specter opens the door, and with his hand on my lower back, he leads me out.
No sooner has the cold air hit my face that the sound of screeching tires pierces the silence, and suddenly Specter’s arms are around my waist, moving me behind him.
In one swift move, his hand is on his weapon, retrieving it from the holster, but the threat has passed, and a white van peels out of the parking lot, running over the curb and nearly hitting another car as it pulls onto the busy street.
“Fuck!” Specter yells, stomping off in the direction of the van.
Gus is right next to me suddenly, his hand on my arm protectively.
Specter is back seconds later, his phone pressed to his ear.
“White van with a huge yellow scrape on the driver’s side.
License plate obscured.” His intense gaze moves to me, only slightly softening for a second before the rage is back.
“Northbound on Revner Avenue.” He drags his hand through his hair.
“Motherfucker. I’m not sleeping tonight. ”
A shiver moves down my back. I don’t want to think about what would’ve happened if I’d been alone. My eyes sting with unshed tears. I don’t deserve this. All I did was defend myself.
“Yeah. See you in fifteen.”
Specter ends the call, exhaling slowly before he turns his gaze to me and Gus. “You’re going back to the house. Phantom will pick you up in a few minutes. He’s nearby.”
“I’m not going anywhere without you.”
“The fuck you aren’t. You need to be safe, and I’m not coming home until you are.”
“Specter—”
“Don’t argue with me. This is not the time. I want you in my house, in my bed, surrounded by my brothers where I know no one can get to you. It’s not up for discussion.”
I rear back, the fight in me bubbling up before quickly dying. He’s right. What would I do except be a distraction?
“Fine, but I don’t like it.”
“Neither do I.” He cradles my chin with his strong hand. “I wouldn’t survive anything happening to you, do you get that?”
I nod. “Yes. Same.”
“Nothing’s gonna happen to me, gorgeous.”
He holds my gaze, and I see so much fury in his eyes that my dick actually twitches. Interesting.
“Do you want to see him when I’m done?”
I blink rapidly, trying to make sense of the question. “What?”
“Do you want to see Bradley?”
“Are you going to…” I let my words fall away since Gus is still lingering behind me.
“Yes,” Specter says, knowing full well what I was going to ask.
I consider the question for a few seconds. Do I want to see his body and know without a doubt that he can’t hurt me anymore? Or would it be enough to hear Specter’s account of the events?
The answer settles over me as the memory of years of looking over my shoulder rears up, flooding my chest with sadness, fear, and hurt. I tried so hard to shove it down, push it away, dance it off, but it’s still there. It’s always been there.
“Yes,” I whisper, even as my chin trembles. “I want to see him.”
“Do you want to speak to him? I could arrange it.”
I chew on my bottom lip for a second before shaking my head. “No, but you could give him a message from me.”
“Anything.”
“Tell him…” I blow out a breath as my eyes blur with tears. “Tell him I hope there’s a hell just so he can rot in it.”
“You got it, beautiful.” He leans in and kisses me sweetly. “I’ll be home before you know it.”
“I’ll be waiting.” I fist the lapel of his jacket. “Please be safe.”
“I promise. I might be covered in blood when I get back, but it won’t be mine.”
A black SUV pulls up and the passenger window rolls down. Phantom smiles at us from the driver’s side.
“Customer pickup,” he says.
Specter approaches the car, and I hang back, glancing over my shoulder at Gus.
“I’ll be okay.”
“I know,” Gus says. “He’ll make sure of it.”
“He will, yeah.”
Gus squeezes my arm. “I’m happy for you, Cashmere. You deserve a guy who’s willing to do anything for you.”
“Thanks. I do deserve it.”
“Come on, love.” Specter motions me toward the car.
I wave to Gus one more time, then walk over to the SUV and slide into the passenger seat. Phantom pats my shoulder.
“Don’t worry. We’ve got you.”
I nod, holding back the building emotion. Specter leans on the door, watching me.
“Je t’aime, mon hérisson. N’oublie pas ca.” He stumbles over the pronunciation and his accent is pretty awful, but it’s the thought that counts. “Did I say that right?”
“Close enough. I won’t forget.”
Specter looks at Phantom. “Take care of him.”
“Of course, man.”
As we pull away, I lean out of the window, watching Specter until he turns and walks to his car.
“He meant what he said about not coming home until he’s done, didn’t he?”
Phantom nods. “Specter means everything he says.”
“Good to know.”
“You’re one of us now. We may be a motley crew, but we’ve got each other’s backs. We’d die for each other. That includes you now.”
I swallow around the lump in my throat as a flood of happiness washes over me, replacing the years of sadness, loneliness, and detachment. I thought being alone was the best and safest plan, but I was so wrong. This is way better.
“I’m thankful for you all.”
He squeezes my shoulder before heading for the freeway. Now all I have to do is get through the night, waiting for Specter to come home.
Then we can start our future.
Together.