Epilogue
EPILOGUE
COLTON
As I follow everyone into the penthouse, I can’t believe how much work was done while we were gone. You would never even know the mess of glass and bullet holes that riddled this place the last time Leena and I were here.
Once Ryan figured out how the security system was hacked before, he was able to design a whole new one. So, instead of running off to find a new home until the Deck tracked them down again, they basically just secured the building tighter than Fort Knox.
I slowly set down the bags I helped carry up and pause, suddenly feeling incredibly uncomfortable. Sure, I shared a bed with Leena, Sebastian and Luke when we were on the op, but that was different. This is their home, not mine. And they’re going to need to use my– the guest room, I mean. It’s their family and they have a lot to fucking deal with. And I don’t know where I fit into any of it.
So I guess this is it.
I stare after them for one last moment. Gazing at the life that isn’t mine.
Then, I leave.
—
Fucking someone on stage tonight probably would have helped take away some of the tension, because the amount of alcohol I consumed certainly fucking didn’t. But even as the thought crosses my mind, I realize how uninterested I am in that. How doing anything with anyone aside from Leena would just feel... hollow.
Leena. Fuck!
I quickly lock the front door to the club, then pull out my phone, checking it for the first time since I left the penthouse this afternoon.
She’s called three times and texted me twice, but I can’t make myself look at any of them. Of course she would check in, that’s just how she is. And I did leave pretty abruptly, which I’ll have to apologize for later.
I’m still thinking about that, and about what a fucking disappointment I am, when I’m finally crawling back to my empty flat fifteen minutes later. I walk down the hall slowly.
Leena deserves so much fucking better than this. Than me.
I cannot believe I just went and got myself shitfaced drunk instead of just fucking talking to her. What the fuck is wrong with me?
I suddenly stop. And I decide it’s time to make a change. I need to be better, for Leena. For me.
I’ll keep my promise to the guys, I won’t fuck anyone on stage, or anywhere else. I’ll leave my bed empty for her. Tomorrow, I’ll wake up at a decent fucking time and go to work on Monday morning like a responsible fucking adult. Because that’s what she deserves. Not… this.
I have a shit-ton of paperwork to catch up on anyway after being gone so long.
I can text Leena tomorrow, and maybe we can plan a night later this week when I can see her. Maybe sometime when she isn’t so busy and has the time for me. Maybe the guys will even bring her to The Club once in a while, and I can see her then too.
I set down my duffle and stare at my door for a long moment, knowing how empty it will be on the other side. I run a hand over my face before pulling out my key.
“Colton,” I hear a deep voice say from down the hall. I turn to see Sebastian walking toward me.
“Seb?” I say, then glance down at my phone. “It’s three-thirty in the fucking morning.”
“I know.”
We stare at each other as he shifts uncomfortably on his feet.
“How did you know where I was? You’ve never been here,” I ask, just to push past the awkwardness.
“Leena.” He lets out a chuckle, then steps forward, reaching into the front pouch of my bag. He holds up a tiny rose gold necklace with three little interconnecting hoops.
I stare at it hanging between us, the tiny tracker pendant still hooked onto the back.
I hold out my hand, and he drops the delicate piece of jewelry into my palm. I’m… confused. Then my eyes flash to Sebastian in concern, because she never fucking takes it off. I can’t think of a single reason why she would.
“She knew you would ditch, was worried you wouldn’t come home. She just wanted to make sure you were okay,” he says.
“So, she sent you after me?” I chuckle, because I can’t think about how he just said, “come home. ” I can’t get my hopes up like that, because it’s not my home, it’s theirs.
“Leena doesn’t know I’m here,” he says and I stare, waiting for him to continue. “She and Lu fell asleep hours ago. I… stayed up to see if you’d come back. When you didn’t…” he trails off.
Okay, now I’m so fucking confused.
My voice is soft, tired and more than a little sad when I finally break the silence. “You gave me a key, probably out of pity, and you let me be with Leena because it makes her happy. But I don’t fucking belong in your relationship, Seb.”
He stares at me for a long moment.
“It’s not pity, Colton.” He raises his voice, then gets frustrated and runs his hand through his hair. “It’s understanding. I’m an orphan too, remember?”
I watch him carefully, thinking about that.
I did forget.
I forgot he’s an orphan, that his sister took off and doesn’t want anything to do with him. I forgot how alone he was before they found Leena, before he realized he could be with Luke too. I see now that if anyone understands the type of loneliness that I’ve been through, it’s him.
And I just fucking left him without saying a word. I left all of them.
I put my face in my hands, feeling like a complete dick.
I hear him take another breath before speaking again. “You have a key because we like having you around. And I didn’t tell Luke we should let Leena fuck you only because he could tell she wanted to. I told him that because you deserve to be happy too, Colton.”
I just stare at him.
Who is this man? Is he being serious?
I think… maybe he is.
“I don’t know where the hell you fit into our relationship either. But I know we want you home. Come home. Please. I think Leena might cry if you’re not there in morning, and you know how much I fucking hate when she does that,” he says and I chuckle.
I do know, because I know them.
“What about Luke? How does he feel about all of this?” I ask, because I honestly don’t know.
“It was Lu’s idea to make you the fucking key, Colt.”
—
I follow Sebastian into their bedroom– our bedroom I suppose, setting my duffle quietly onto the floor so I don’t wake Leena. She’s naked, barely covered by a sheet, and all curled up in Luke’s arms. Her face is buried in his bare chest and her long black hair falls to the bed behind her.
There’s just enough moonlight coming in from the window that I can see the little black heart I tattooed on her shoulder.
I smile.
It might be my favorite tattoo I’ve ever done.
I watch Sebastian strip down to his briefs, then crawl into bed next to Luke. The man is still mostly asleep, but he manages to roll to his back, keeping Leena tucked against him. He tips his chin up toward Sebastian and their lips find each other in the dark. They are both smiling as they share a kiss that is slow, sleepy and passionate.
It’s beautiful.
I pull Leena’s necklace from my pocket, and stare down at it for a long moment. “So we don’t lose you,” is what Luke told her when they gave it to her. And Leena tucked it into my bag, because she didn’t want to lose me.
I let out a breath, then strip down to nothing before crawling into bed beside her. I kiss her tattoo, and she starts to stir.
“Colt?” she says, rubbing her eyes and turning toward me. She lets the blanket fall down to her waist, but she doesn’t care.
She knows she’s beautiful.
“You forgot this,” I whisper, reaching around her perfect neck to clasp the necklace. My fingers trail over her skin, straightening it so the three little hoops rest perfectly at her collar bone. She reaches up, holding my hand to it.
“What are we going to do tomorrow?” she asks, and I love the random questions she comes up with when she’s half asleep.
“It’s Monday, Leena. Don’t we all need to work?” I chuckle.
“Mondays fucking suck. And we just got back. We can work harder on Tuesday, right guys?” she directs toward Sebastian and Luke.
“Whatever you want, sweetheart,” Sebastian says. He’s already half asleep himself, one thick arm draped over Luke, who has reached up to hold it tighter to him.
“How about we go skydiving?” I ask her. Sebastian chuckles.
“I’ve never done that before. We should do that,” Leena says in her sleepy daze and I stay perfectly still. I stare at the woman who already has my heart, but just keeps surprising me.
“Colton?” she says after a long moment.
“Yeah?”
“I didn’t think you were coming home,” she whispers.
I still.
Then I pull her into my arms. She fits so perfectly, tucking her face into my neck and resting her hand against my chest. I take a deep breath and stare at the painting that hangs in the room. It’s just a splatter of paint.
But it’s inspiring.
I wrap my arms tighter around the woman I’m in love with and just… hold her.
“I’m home, beautiful. And I’m not going anywhere.”